Topic: Which 4x5 B&W film do you shoot? Post photos!

[Morgynn]

Hello!

So I've been shooting 4x5 instant with my Graflex Crown Graphic since I've had it-- mainly because I'm experienced with instant and couldn't resist the allure of big polaroids! However, I'm currently learning to develop large format B&W film and am working on setting up my own darkroom (just using tray dev). I have a photographer friend who generously donated about 20 film holders to me... so amazing... but now I get to decide which film I want to put in there. He told me I probably just want to stick to ISO 100 bc of my lens, which just doesn't allow for much speediness. I'll invest in alternative lenses eventually.

For those of you who shoot 4x5, which is your favorite film? And by all means please post some photos and showcase your work with certain films!

[LT]

Hi Morgynn

Do you mean it is your shutter that is limiting you? Not sure how your lens would affect film speed? I suppose it depends on what aperture you are using ... Wide open might be a problem for a standard shutter at the faster speeds.

I tend to shoot hp5+ at ie 200. I sometimes shoot it at ei 400, but don't have any problem with it being too fast for my shutter, but I rarely shoot at an aperture wider than f16.

I wouldnt place any real value on examples on a monitor - and other variables like exposure index, developer, printing, scanning and so on will all alter the characterstics of the image, but here are some examples:


Mull Head by LeonTaylor27, on Flickr


shed 7 by LeonTaylor27, on Flickr

[Paul Mitchell]

Hi Morgynn

Are you looking for a fast film to shoot handheld? In which case HP5 should be just about do-able. Anything slower you really need a tripod.

Here's a couple of mine on Fuji Acros rated at 100





and even one on the now defunct Polaroid 665



Paul

[Sandeha Lynch]

Invariably something cheap, and usually Chinese like the Era 100 in these two shots.  Both dev'd in Rodinal.


120122_era1_03 by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr


121007_era1_09 by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr

[LEAFotography]

Ooooooo these are all beauties!

And a film I've not come across (Era 100).

[Ezzie]

I think Era 100 is out of production. I have some left in 135, but can´t get hold of more. A decent film

[Terry]

I'm with Sandeha--I like cheap film!  Here are two I shot in 4x5 on Arista 100 (which I'm pretty certain is really Fomapan).  I've also got some Ilford that I'm saving for some big project (I guess).  I shot some Shanghai sheet film and quite liked it, but I stay well away from their 120 film.  Mostly I develop in Rodinal.  These two were seriously stomped on to make the files small...

[mikezvi]

I'm sure you'll see a lot of hp5+ responses, but I'll add a +1 there, too.  I settled on hp5+ pretty quickly and I don't really ever see a reason to change, I adore it.

I don't have many examples of scanned film because I don't have a scanner large enough, but these are two examples, and even so they took a quick trip through the GIMP, so I don't know how useful they are for judging the film itself

[Morgynn]

Wow... thanks everyone! I am planning to start out with something cheap like Artista 100... and I do have a heavy duty tripod. My camera is basically impossible to shoot handheld, at least for me right now.

[Pete_R]

I've only ever used Fomapan 100 in my very, very, very limited experience of shooting 4x5. Here's a couple.


Letcombe Bassett by ridgeway photographer, on Flickr


Thames at Days Lock by ridgeway photographer, on Flickr

Both Fomapan 100. RO9 1+50.