Graflex.org

Northport · Joined: 06 Jul 2002 Posts: 5 Location: St. Louis, Missouri

What sheet film made today approximates Kodak 400TX or 125PX, or the discontinued Kodak films Super XX and Super Panchro Press. I am looking for sheet film which is suitable for general daylight use and is not subject to flare as opposed to studio film which is subject to flare.
Peter

Sjixxxy · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 109 Location: Midwest US

The J&C Classic 400 is sold under the premise of being like Super XX. I want to try some, more for the price then anything, but it just keeps staying out of stock.

http://www.jandcphoto.com/

MikeS · Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 71 Location: East Tennessee

Well, the 125PX is Plus-X, still being made by Kodak, so I would imagine it'd be pretty close

I've also used Arista's edu films, both in 400 speed & 200 speed, and they seem pretty good.

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-Mike

t.r.sanford · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:19 am Post subject:

I think "Tri-X Professional" (EI 320) is still in the Kodak catalogue, and it would be my first choice.

Barney · Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 47 Location: Lewistown, Montana

Kodak Black and White Tri-X Pan Professional in 4 x 5 sheets is readily available. It is rated at ASA 320. I shoot lots of it. It is very nice film both indoor with flash, and out door with bright highlights. Bergger BPF 200 is also available I know at the following pro shops. B&H in New York, and Glazers in Seattle. It did cost $17.95 per 25 sheet box at Glazers. I shoot it also, and presently develop both of these films in D76H 1:1. Bergger approximates Super XX. You can shoot both of these emulsions at their rated speed with success contrary to what you read. The cost of Kodak Tri-X Pan Professional was $45.10 for a 50 sheet box at Glazers. Haven't bought any lately but they have a web site. George Masuda at Glazers is the one to talk to about Large Format. He has shot tons of it, and a lot of it through a Graflex Camera. He is an ex-Air Force Photographer. He is also a very nice person. Hope this helps a little.

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Best Regards: Barney

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

If you believe the stories.

Berger is really Forte
J&C 200 is really Forte
Arista.edu from Freestyle is Forte.
I guess Forte is Forte-))

The J&C and Freestyle versions are usually a fair bit cheaper then the other labels.

Barney · Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 47 Location: Lewistown, Montana

Could be...but I don't believe the stories; no more than I believe shooting Tri-X at ASA 200 or 250.

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Best Regards: Barney

45PSS · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:29 am Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-26 18:42 ]

t.r.sanford · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:33 am Post subject:

Under harsh lighting conditions with pronounced shadows, 4x5 "Tri-X" works very well at EI 250, or even slower. Years and years ago, David Vestal wrote an article provocatively calling for exposing "Tri-X" at EI 6. He was trying to make his readers stop and think, but he had a point. The nice thing about large format is that you don't worry very much about grain, so you can concentrate on tonal scale, and on shadow detail.

Sjixxxy · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 109 Location: Midwest US

t.r.sanford · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:59 am Post subject:

Even with miniature cameras, "Tri-X" can yield printable negatives in those "Oh, rats, forgot to stop down" situations, if you're willing to work at it. Even when one isn't thinking it through, one tends naturally in difficult lighting situations to make a second exposure at a wider aperture ("when in doubt, use f:8," as they used to say). This works often enough to suggest that overexposing the highlight and midrange areas sometimes pays off.

Northport · Joined: 06 Jul 2002 Posts: 5 Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Thanks for all your replies. I hope no one minds if I re-reply collectively. Plus-X is wonderful film; unfortunately, it is no longer made in sheet film. Tri-X is also wonderful film, but unfortunately Tri-X 400 and Tri-X 320 apear to differ in more than just speed. Tri-X 400 is a general use outdoor film made in 135 and 120 formats, whereas Tri-X 320, though useable for general outdoor use is more suitable for flash and studio use and available in 120 roll and sheet formats. I have used T-Max, which I do not like, and suspect that the Ilford Delta films behave much the same, since the chemistry is similar. Yet to try are Ilford's HP5+ and FP4+. Their literature indicates that these sheet films are suitable for general outdoor use. I guess that I was hoping that someone knew something about Kodak's film offerings about which I was ignorant. Regarding the films of Eastern Europe, I worry about their quality, consistency and availability. So that leaves me with Kodak's Tri-X 320, which I have used and with Ilford's Fp4+ and HP5+, which I have yet to try. Thanks again for all the responses.
Peter

graywolf · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 1:55 am Post subject:

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

I was going to mention that Durst USA sells Forte to but from looking at the website it's Efke. So much for my memory. But that means multiple importers for the various eastern European films.

Barney · Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 47 Location: Lewistown, Montana

Northport.........Why don't you like T-Max?

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Best Regards: Barney