My favourite films

My favourite film/developer combinations change on an on-going basis so this is just a snapshot of my favourites at the moment.

35mm black and white

I really like Tri-X developed in D76, but the film I use most is Ilford XP2 developed in Rodinal. XP2 is supposed to be developed in C41 chemicals, but I really like it stand developed in 1:100 Rodinal for about 90 minutes. Great tonality, good contrast and very fine grain make XP2 a winner in my book. XP2 also dries nice and flat for easy scanning and, being a C41 film, you can use digital ice when scanning if you wish, unlike ‘normal’ B&W film.

My wife on our 30th wedding anniversary Olympus OM-2N, Ilford XP2, developed in Rodinal 1:100 for 90 mins

35mm colour

This is a tough one – I use Agfa Vista and Fuji Superia (basically the same thing) a lot because they’re cheap and I like the results. I think my favourite colour film, though, has to be Agfa CT Precisa – which is re-branded Fuji Provia. Reasonably cheap, wonderful colour rendition and fine grain. For bright days this is my go-to colour film, otherwise it’s some variation of Superia (200, 400, 800 or 1600 depending on the available light). I do find transparency film easier for scanning and in the Jobo it’s no harder to develop than C41 film.

Ogmore & the Bristol Channel Olympus OM-4ti, Agfa CT Precisa, developed in Tetenal E6 kit

120 black and white

For hand-held photography my go-to film is Tri-X developed in D76 but without question, the film I use most is Fuji Acros 100, developed in Rodinal 1:25 for 6 minutes at 20C. I do also like Ilford FP4 and Delta 100, though, and with Fuji films getting ever more expensive I may switch allegiance at some point, but for the moment Acros is the one that gets the most use, especially in my Hasselblad.

Llantwit Major Hasselblad 503CX, Acros developed in Rodinal 1:25 for 6 mins

120 colour

For hand-held shots I tend to use Fuji Pro 400H. I prefer it to Portra, mainly because I find it easier to scan. I always seem to have trouble getting the colour balance right with Portra. I know I should use Vuescan and Color Perfect, but I like to keep things simple and just use Epson Scan. The colour film I use most though, by some margin, is Velvia 50. What can I say, Velvia is just a magical film to use, especially in the golden hour at the beginning or end of the day.

Llantwit Major, Hasselblad 503CX, Velvia 50 developed in Tetenal E6 kit

Large format black and white

My go-to film for 5×4 black and white is Fomapan 100 for the simple reason that it’s cheap – and I like the results. I usually develop it in Rodinal.

The Bwlch, South Wales, Crown Graphic, Rodinal

Large format colour

At the moment, the 5×4 colour film I use most is Provia, because I bought 100 sheets of expired Provia so I have a reasonable supply in the fridge. I think my favourite would still have to be Velvia 50, though. Shame it’s only available from Japanese sellers (as far as I know, anyway).

Rhoose Point, Crown Graphic, Velvia 50

It will be interesting to do this again in a year’s time and see whether my tastes have changed by then.