Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Dear Aric, I use BW film a lot, but my experiences are rather conservative. Usually I go for smaller grain (and you can't get it with TMAX 3200 - but then it's a reliable film, and its got a distinct, but quite beautiful grain - IMHO), and with old-type films (like PanF) I tend to use Perceptol, while for more modern films I find liquid Ilford HC developer quite practical (diluted 1:31; 8 mins standard development time). When exploring Leica optics nothing beats XP films for me. I admit I haven't tried Diafine or Xtol - so I can't offer any comparison. Martin >I have had mixed, and unexpected, results with various high speed black and >white films. I have good results with Tri-X (consumer) pushed to 1600 and >processed in Diafine. The resulting images are very contrasty, but good, >with pleasant but not intrusive grain. I had very disappointing results >with TMAX 3200 at 1000 ASA, also processed in Diafine. Low contrast and >huge grain. Neopan 1600 at 800 in Xtol(3:1) was between the two, with hazy >grain that doesn't look harsh, but also obscures finer details. > >Anyone have a pet high speed film/developer/exposure combo? My interest is >available light interior "street" photography, dawn/dusk cityscapes, and >outdoor street photography. > >TIA, >Aric