ChrisR
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I'm going to have to but my first packet of sheet film soon. I was going to buy Foma 400 (and still might) on the simple grounds that you can get a pack of 50 for around the price of a pack of 25 from Ilford. However, @steveo_mcg commented about the "comedy reciprocity failure" and also softness and tendency to scratching, both of which seem backed up by other research.
Why ISO 400? Shooting on a tripod the speed should be less important, but I suppose I'm worried about reciprocity failure, and an extra couple of stops seems like a good idea. And presumably grain disappears as a really serious issue at sheet film sizes. But maybe I'm wrong?
I haven't found a direct comparison for sheet film, although we do have the Petapixel article from a year or so ago (https://petapixel.com/2017/08/26/ultimate-guide-every-bw-iso-400-35mm-film-market/ ) though that is for 135 film. I guess it lists several films that aren't made as sheet film. There's also the issue that sheet film (AFAIK) is made on polyester backing while most 135 is on triacetate. I've no idea what difference that makes to shooting, though presumably it makes a difference to how the film dries and scans. However, the article referenced is interesting in its qualitative discussions about different films.
I haven't found a comprehensive UK supplier that rivals Macodirect and fotoimpex when it comes to sheet film. Although the latter seems to have better prices and slightly lower postage, it seems slightly less comprehensive, so I used Macodirect here. I include ISO 320 as well as 400 films, since Tri-X (my favourite in 135) appears to be 320 in sheet film sizes. So these are the per-sheet prices in Euros of the various 4x5 sheet films they offer, based on the smallest quantity offered (presumably cheaper per sheet in larger quantities):
Bergger Panchro 400 €1.64
Foma Retropan 320 €0.94
Foma 400 €1.16
Ilford HP5 €2.00
Kodak TMax 400 €3.69
Kodak Tri-X 320 €3.25
Rollei Infra-red 400 €1.58
Rollei RPX 400 €1.32
Fomapan 400 reduces to about €0.80 per frame if bought in 50s rather than 25s. It looks superficially attractive therefore, apart from the issues mentioned above. But with processing costs ranging from £3.20 per frame upwards (and from £6 for process and scan), the price advantage rather fades away. I'm therefore rather drawn towards HP5+ , which I'm sure @thedarkshed would advise me towards.
So, what's your favourite black and white ISO 320/400 sheet film?
Why ISO 400? Shooting on a tripod the speed should be less important, but I suppose I'm worried about reciprocity failure, and an extra couple of stops seems like a good idea. And presumably grain disappears as a really serious issue at sheet film sizes. But maybe I'm wrong?
I haven't found a direct comparison for sheet film, although we do have the Petapixel article from a year or so ago (https://petapixel.com/2017/08/26/ultimate-guide-every-bw-iso-400-35mm-film-market/ ) though that is for 135 film. I guess it lists several films that aren't made as sheet film. There's also the issue that sheet film (AFAIK) is made on polyester backing while most 135 is on triacetate. I've no idea what difference that makes to shooting, though presumably it makes a difference to how the film dries and scans. However, the article referenced is interesting in its qualitative discussions about different films.
I haven't found a comprehensive UK supplier that rivals Macodirect and fotoimpex when it comes to sheet film. Although the latter seems to have better prices and slightly lower postage, it seems slightly less comprehensive, so I used Macodirect here. I include ISO 320 as well as 400 films, since Tri-X (my favourite in 135) appears to be 320 in sheet film sizes. So these are the per-sheet prices in Euros of the various 4x5 sheet films they offer, based on the smallest quantity offered (presumably cheaper per sheet in larger quantities):
Bergger Panchro 400 €1.64
Foma Retropan 320 €0.94
Foma 400 €1.16
Ilford HP5 €2.00
Kodak TMax 400 €3.69
Kodak Tri-X 320 €3.25
Rollei Infra-red 400 €1.58
Rollei RPX 400 €1.32
Fomapan 400 reduces to about €0.80 per frame if bought in 50s rather than 25s. It looks superficially attractive therefore, apart from the issues mentioned above. But with processing costs ranging from £3.20 per frame upwards (and from £6 for process and scan), the price advantage rather fades away. I'm therefore rather drawn towards HP5+ , which I'm sure @thedarkshed would advise me towards.
So, what's your favourite black and white ISO 320/400 sheet film?