B&W 35mm film recommendations

[Taz777]

I (finally) got my B&W film just in time for the weekend.

 

[Ariston]

You're in London so Ultrafine Extreme isn't going to be easy for you to obtain. If you're after trying a few rolls, it's worth considering if you are developing yourself or getting a lab to do it....and if you're having traditional prints made, scanning yourself or having a lab scan.
EDIT - I've just seen your answer. It's worth finding out what chemistry the lab uses and processing technique.

I've settled on Ilford HP5+ for any situation where I require a fast film. I develop myself in ID-11 and shoot it at anything from 400 to 3200 ISO, developing as appropriate. For sunny outdoor times I use Fomapan 100 but this can be a bit finnicky with developers and developing techniques.

HP5+ is probably the most versatile, along with Kodak Tri-X but the former is more available and cheaper in England. You might even find some at Boots. If you're in London, try popping into Process Supplies near Farringdon, they have just about every film on the market available to buy over the counter. I'd have a go with both HP5+ and FP4+, see how they differ. You might find you prefer one for portraits of people and another for landscapes.

I wanted to revisit this post, because I just pulled out a roll of Ultrafine 100 (120), and on the box it says it was made in the EU. I wonder why it is harder to get in the UK than the US...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

You'll love HP5 for its versatility. Xtol 1+1, D-76 1+1, Pyrocat-HD, and Bob's yur uncle!

 

[MattKing]

I wanted to revisit this post, because I just pulled out a roll of Ultrafine 100 (120), and on the box it says it was made in the EU. I wonder why it is harder to get in the UK than the US...

It is the product of contract manufacturing for a US retailer. Quite likely (but not certainly) manufactured by Harman to the specifications of Photo Warehouse.
If a UK retailer contracted for something similar, and of course put their brand name on it, that film would be more available in the UK.
It would probably cost more than the Photo Warehouse product - after all, Ilford products are frequently more expensive in the UK than from the big US retailers.

 

[pentaxuser]

I wanted to revisit this post, because I just pulled out a roll of Ultrafine 100 (120), and on the box it says it was made in the EU. I wonder why it is harder to get in the UK than the US...

Good question. I suppose that if it is allegedly Kentmere 400 then who ever makes that and provided it is in the EU that maker might not want to compete in its own home market with its own film?

Just a thought

pentaxuser

 

[Ariston]

Good question. I suppose that if it is allegedly Kentmere 400 then who ever makes that and provided it is in the EU that maker might not want to compete in its own home market with its own film?

Just a thought

pentaxuser

This was kind of my thinking, too. It is simply sold in the UK as Kentmere.

 

[pbromaghin]

Simon Galley did at one time post that their policy was that they would not rebrand the Kentmere branded products that they were by that time manufacturing and selling. The statement above reflects a change from that policy.

Right. We need to remember that Simon is off tanning on some tropical beach with a big cigar and an umbrella drink right now.

 

[MattKing]

This was kind of my thinking, too. It is simply sold in the UK as Kentmere.

But not in 120 (if it is the same as Kentmere).
Based on what I've been informed of about the fairly extensive changes required to make use of a film that starts out as a 135 emulsion in 120 format, it isn't simply a matter of slitting the film differently and changing the edge printing.
It may be similar, but it isn't the same as Kentmere.

 

[Wallendo]

I wanted to revisit this post, because I just pulled out a roll of Ultrafine 100 (120), and on the box it says it was made in the EU. I wonder why it is harder to get in the UK than the US...

UltraFine films are not the same as the current UltraFine Xtreme films. It may be a different film. In fact, some of the older "UltraFine" 120 rolls had backing paper issues.
It has also been my experience that all the Harmon films I have purchased are labelled as made in England or the UK, not made in EU. Maybe they are tricking us by labelling it this way, but it suggests the 120 is made somewhere else in Europe.
It's possible that the 120 film is a completely different film than the 35mm. I doubt that a smaller company like Photo Warehouse would have the resources to design and prototype their own films. Likely, they are picking older formulae from established manufacturers, and may have different manufacturers for different lines.

 

[Ariston]

UltraFine films are not the same as the current UltraFine Xtreme films. It may be a different film. In fact, some of the older "UltraFine" 120 rolls had backing paper issues.
It has also been my experience that all the Harmon films I have purchased are labelled as made in England or the UK, not made in EU. Maybe they are tricking us by labelling it this way, but it suggests the 120 is made somewhere else in Europe.
It's possible that the 120 film is a completely different film than the 35mm. I doubt that a smaller company like Photo Warehouse would have the resources to design and prototype their own films. Likely, they are picking older formulae from established manufacturers, and may have different manufacturers for different lines.

I am unsure about the 35mm - I buy it in bulk and it doesn't even have an date on it, much less where it was manufactured.

Just to be clear, the 120 film is the current Ultrafine Xtreme 100, and it is made in the EU.

 

[MattKing]

Just to be clear, the 120 film is the current Ultrafine Xtreme 100, and it is made in the EU.

Or possibly "confectioned" in the EU.
As in slit, edge printed, combined with backing paper, etc.

 

[ME Super]

When I shoot B&W, I'm typically shooting Ilford's FP4+ if there's lots of light, or their HP5+ if there's not so much light. I really like the way HP5+ looks, so tend to use it more often anyway.

 

[Paul Howell]

Photo Warehouse who sells Ultrafine in the US on the 120 rolls side with bar code, under Cat and ISO is very small letters Made in EU. If made in England will at some point say made in UK. as country of origin. 35mm cans do come in box, no ID but assume same as 120.

 

[Agulliver]

I think that companies based in any EU country, and for now at least the UK is, can use either "Made in EU" or "Made in England", "Made in Italy" etc.

Simon Galley laid it out. No Ilford or Kentmere product is offered under any other brand name nor sold to any retailer/reseller to be sold under any other brand name. The current Harman managers have said the policy has not changed, they just forgot to specifically say twenty times that Kentmere was included in said policy.

They may be similar, but they're clearly not the same. Even the development times for Ultrafine Extreme and Kentmere are different. Kentmere 100 and 400 have *never* been available in 120. And it is not a case of simply making wider cuts of film from the same stuff that 135 is made from. The substrate is a different thickness for 120.

 

[Paul Howell]

What Mr. Galley may have said years ago may or not hold up today, Harman has changed hands, and while Harman may not sell any Ilford rebranded emulsions we don't know if Kentmere is still included. You are right, Photo Warehouse development charts lists 8 rather 9 minutes for UFE 100 in D76 stock, 9 minutes for Kentmere 100. Saying that I found 8 minutes to be somewhat thin and when using D76 I go with 9 minutes.

In the end it doesn't matter, UFE and Kentmere are very good budget films. In my case my shoot around film, does not replace Tmax when I travel or shoot for what to me is an important situation.

 

[destroya]

it is more than likely an offshoot of kentmere, but not the exact formula. I get the same times for Xtreme and for the new APX 100 and 400 films. both types are made in 35mm and 120. so maybe they, ultrafine, just contracted out and purchased and already developed and saleable formula for themselves. cheaper as there is no development needed for a new emulsion.

Xtreme is a good inexpensive film. i wont say cheap because its a very shootable film, just, to me, has a lower silver content then a film like Fp4. in the end, does it really matter what exact emilsion it is? shoot it if you like it. I love the fact that there is a low cost film option in 120 that can produce great prints and does not break the bank. there is a lot of positive news around the films, so hopefully they will continue to sell well. maybe 4x5 will be offered? or a slower film, like the apx 25? Photo warehouse will not disclose who makes it because im sure its in their contract that they can't. I dont mind. the finishing screams Ilford quality. I usually buy 20-40 120 rolls and 3 bulk rolls of the X100 when they have their twice a year sales with 10% off, usually around july 4 and after thanksgiving. so keep you eyes open to their thread in the advertisers forum here.

buy it, shoot it, reload and buy more!

john