Ilford ULF, Film Tier List, and More! - Large Format Friday LIVE

[@philliproe204]

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! Starting to get back to black and white photography, the zone system, and developing and printing. Do really appreciate all your interesting videos!

[@areallyrealisticguyd4333]

as a casual shooter I mostly agree with this list. The amount of times I've needed high speed color film is about 0. I think if you work with the light that's given you really don't need anything higher than 400. Personally my only gripe with the black and white listing is how criminally low Fomapan is. I think Foma gets better the larger format you shoot it in. as a cheap and everyday use film I think it's amazing

[@MatMarrash]

Totally fair assessment of Foma films. They are still the best value panchromatic film out there and if volume is the name of the game they've got it!

[@GreggObst]

Regarding the Lomograflok instant back, thanks to Keith Canham, I can now vouch for that fitting under the 4x5 reducing back on his wooden 5x7. You must slide in the ground glass protector before inserting the Lomograflok back. That protects the ground glass, and then you have to be careful when inserting the Lomograflok and give it some time to dissipate the shake on the camera before tripping the shutter. The same procedure applies to using a Horseman 6x9 and 6x12 roll film back on his 4x5 or 5x7 with the 4x5 reducing back. Also, Brooklyn Film Camera sells nifty 3D printed rigid plastic boxes for the Instax wide frames shot with the Lomograflok back if anyone is looking for a storage solution for in the field.

[@MatMarrash]

This is great news, thanks Gregg!

[@mikenorton2727]

In my time Kodak Gold 100 and Fuji film Pro 160NS colour negative film was my favourites in 4x5.

[@MatMarrash]

Oh man I'd love to try some Gold in sheet film sizes! And I think I've got some frozen Pro 160 around here somewhere....

[@mikenorton2727]

Think I needed a extra filter for longer exposures as recommended on the film specs for the Fuji. Nowadays I will in future try the Kodak gold 200 and try out in roll film sizes. 6x9 or 6x12. Wish for the gold100 again.

[@ChristopherMay]

You're a brave, brave man for handling that tier list the way you did, LOL. That being said, I pretty much agree with your rankings with a few tweaks. I think I might have put Ektar a bit higher for my own personal purposes but it took me quite a while to come to grips with it, so it kind of makes sense where it's at. I'd probably put FP4 and Pan-F a bit higher, too but only because Plus-X and Panatomic-X aren't available anymore. The reversal films are tough for me because K64 isn't available anymore. E100 is probably my favorite of the current stocks, Provia not too far behind. The former leans a little too blue for me, the latter a bit too pink/magenta at times. Velvia 50 has its moments but it's not an all arounder by any stretch of the imagination. Velvia 100 and I have never gotten along and I'm OK with that, LOL. None of them compare to the look of K64, though. I know we're never getting Kodachrome back but it would be cool if Kodak would release an E-6 "E64K" with a color palette similar to the dearly departed K64. A guy can dream... Tri-X is definitely my S-tier stock, though I do prefer the 400 speed variety in smaller formats to the 320 large format stuff. I picked up an FM3a after rediscovering the joy of 35mm earlier this year and Tri-X 400 is all that camera gets fed. I shoot it all the time! I keep pondering a one camera/one lens/one year project with that one but it would be hard to put the Rolleiflex and the big cameras down for a whole year! Like you, I've never really had good luck with the Cinestill stuff and I don't really shoot it anymore. That might be slightly influenced by the fact that I'm still waiting for the 4x5 400D (or at least an update on it!), too. I think I'd put Foma in B-tier. I know they have their issues but they're cheap and cheerful film stocks that are great for learning on and great for burning through random camera acquisitions (like all the Soviet stuff that I've been picking up after visiting Vlad Kern's unreal collection...another story for another day...). I have yet to try the Kodak Cinema stocks outside of their Cinestill modifications. Maybe that's something to try since I have sent a few ECN-2 rolls (Koji 125T) to Atlanta Film Co. Your description of the 50D sounds interesting. I've been shooting some Rollei Infrared 400 in the Rolleiflex again now that summer is back in full swing. I know it doesn't get too far into the IR spectrum but it's a lot of fun with an R72 filter and using it on a TLR means that I can compose and shoot without constantly putting the filter on and off of the camera! It'd be even better if I had a Rolleiflex Wide but my pocketbook says that I can't do that, LOL. Still, the fun that it brings me means that I'd probably rank it in A-tier. I should probably get some of it to try in one of my 4x5's. Wish it was available for the 8x10! Speaking of 4x5's, I have to tell you that I managed to pick up a pretty cool camera! I work for a company that has RHS for our initials. Lo and behold, in the 1940's, there was an RHS 4x5 camera produced in the US (I think in New York but I couldn't verify that)! Naturally, I had to pick one up for the collection. It's kind of a beast for 4x5 but it's a good-looking camera and has bellows for forever, so I can use some of my 8x10 glass on it. I'm pumped!

[@xander1052]

I am definitely suffering big time from GAS lol, I really want to get myself a camera in 645. Also on the tier list, XP2 is my baby (love the massive exposure range it provides), Gold and vision 3 have better tones than Portra imo (250D is an easy S tier for shooting handheld) and well, I love the look provided by Ektachrome.

[@liveinaweorg]

Aargh, missed another LFF Live and it was at a time I could have made. Anyway, glad to see you back on form Mat and a great episode. I've been out with the MPP VII 4x5 over the past few weeks and am loving it. Question is: do I need some half plate film from Ilford? Hmm.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks for checking out the replay Morris! Those MPP cameras are solid as a rock, happy shooting and you've still got a month to decide on that half plate film. Pre-cut is very nice unless you're a whiz with a Rotatrim or similar cutter.

[@erikepskamp1991]

Bummer that I missed this live. Great episode. I have some Kodak Safety Film 5062 of unknown age. how should I shoot it.

[@MatMarrash]

Hey Erik thanks for tuning in to the replay! Hmm, 5062 is very old Plus-X stock so I'd recommend testing it around ISO 50-64.

[@andyvan5692]

great video, and fyI the 70mm film also fit the aero technika's by linhof, for areal photography, where you needed such a length of film, quite a unique magasine, if you have seen pictures of one, like a lunch box, with a power socket to do the camera like a trailer plug, designed for aircraft powering.( I don't think this was for 'motion pictures' just in liew of a 250 or 750 bulk film magasine, like in the 135 format that nikon and cannon had (F1 and F2\F3 nikon, to offer 50+ single exposures!).

[@lillianvalentine1975]

I hated delta 100 and now it’s what I use in sheet with HP5 too

[@MatMarrash]

The biggest thing I had to get over with Delta was that it wasn't TMAX. With a little TLC in my process, it's a solid stock to shoot.

[@Brackcycle]

So glad I wasn’t the only one who failed with Caffenol and Pan F, also what developer do you recommend for Foma 100? I have wasted so many 5x7 sheets with Caffenol. Anyone with a caffenol recipe that works with it?

[@LonelyTreePhotos]

On the XFilm 320, not sure when you last shot it; I think it was previously repackage doubleX. It's way better this go around than the circa 2019. That said, it's not the "best" looking film out there but the cost/quality for just shooting around is great. I'd stick with the FP4 or HP5 for the shots I really care about. The polyester base is great to work with and the great tonal range combined with the cost gets me shooting a lot more than I would normally on 120.

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks for following up on the newer X 320 film. I haven't shot it since the first go around and it may be worth another try!

[@LonelyTreePhotos]

Look forward to hearing/seeing your results if you should! It apparently has a limitied infrared capability that renders an interesting (to me, at least) look.

[@GreggObst]

Ben Reynolds needs to buy a 4x10 and two boxes of HP5+. There I said it. #4x10ftw

[@brendanhayes5565]

hi MAT HOW LONG DOES BLACK AND LAST IN A FREEEZER

[@MatMarrash]

Black and white films can last a long, long time in the freezer. The oldest B&W film that I've developed was a roll of my Grandfather's B&W film exposed during World War II. This film had been refrigerated for ~ 30 years and then sat at room temperature for another 40 before being developed.

[@brendanhayes5565]

Thanks Mate cheers

[@marikapi01]

Ahhh, I missed the life .

[@MatMarrash]

Maybe next time! :)

[@marikapi01]

@@MatMarrash watching the replay right now

[@brycepinson8641]

Delta 100, Ektar 100, Velvia 100 are top tier for me.... unpopular opinion, but portra400 is meh.... and E100 is hot garbage. I wish it wasn't. But the color shift is usually vile.

[@MatMarrash]

E100 is unforgiving and not great when let to expire. E64T however...