Ilford FP4 is probably THE best slow/medium B&W film on the market. Expose it
at 100ASA and develop as per instructions. It does not take too well to push
/pull processing, you need HP5 for that.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Tris Schuler
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 27 September 2001 05:23
Subject: Re: [OM] B/W film specs
I haven't touched it for years, but for awhile a daily I worked for in UP
Michigan sent me preloads full of HP5 instead of Tri-X, which was what we (like
everyone else) habitually shot for our halftones. My experience then (as memory
serves) was that HP5 had a lot more contrast to it than did Tri-X, almost to
the point where you might be tempted to say it was a "contrasty" film emulsion.
Not bad film, mind you, and I think that its contrast, as it related to
halftone process, was what one of the paper's editor's liked about it. The
results did appear to be more "stunning" in their own fashion when published on
newsprint.
In any event, this film certainly had a different look to it than Tri-X, and
it also didn't strike me at the time as being as tonally balanced as Tri-X. How
forgiving it was in the darkroom I could not say, though I regularly sent
canisters up with direction to push it a couple of stops, with no issues on
that score. I never worked with it myself in the darkroom, though, just saw the
results in my paper--and again, we're talking halftones here, not critical work.
Does anyone know if Ilford has changed this emulsion over the years?
Tris
It is an Ilford film. Sold under the Ilford brand as FP4 Plus 125. They
recently started selling it for private label. I have not tired the PL
stock, but I assume it is the same as the Ilford branded stuff. I really
like the Ilford and have shot with it for years when I use B&W (which is
not all that often, sorry to say.) It has a nice tight grain structure,
very nice tonality is VERY sharp and pushes well. You can also pull it a
stop. Expose for the shadows. The film is very tolerant in development. I
expose it at 125. Overall the film is very forgiving and easy to work
with. I like it better than Plus-X. If you like Tri-X and want faster
speed try the Ilford HP5 which is a 400 asa film.
Jim Couch
Henrik Dahl wrote:
> Having used Tri-X for a long time I today wanted to try something new
> so I bought another B/W print film labeled FP4. The thing is the shop
> cans these themselfs (cheaper) so no manufacturer is stated, just
> "FP4 125" Does anybody know anything about this film. For example if
> to measure for shadows or highlights? Does it gain from over- or
> underexp? Tolerance?
>
> Henrik Dahl
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