The day Kodak stop making Tri-X will be a very sad day indeed, there’s no other film like it. Fuji Neopan 1600 came close, and I did use it quite a bit, but it was discontinued a couple of years back and not replaced with anything even slightly similar.
The thing I love about Tri-X is it’s ‘push-ability’, its box speed is 400iso, but I regularly shoot it at 800, 1600 and have gone as high as 3200 and still got a usable negative. For that classic creamy toned grain I rate Tri-X at 1600iso, at which I shot all the images here. This is something no £200 software can replicate, I don’t care what anyone says…
Hi Phil, I never really had much luck with Tri-X, but these images look great. What are using to develop?
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You’re still losing me with the film stuff, haha, but the images are great! 🙂
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“The day Kodak stop making Tri-X…”
No no no! Don’t even put that out into the world! It really is so versatile a film.
(I really miss Neopan 1600. I’ve gone ahead with the 400, but it’s like dating someone on the rebound. It’s okay, but just not the same…)
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I’ve always done film…..D76 all the way…for decades. what’s great about film is it’s longevity. I frequently print decades-old negs. Then too, you can easily make a print that’s unique..nothing like an inkjet print…
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TriX is my all time favorite film. I’ve been stocking it for a while now but I’m afraid I’ll have to turn to Ilford sometime in the near future, and again I agree Neopan 1600 is just amazing good. I love using it at 6400 ISO.
Have you tried the HP5+ or the Delta 400?
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As my confidence has increased (read: I don’t think I’ll blow an entire roll of film and get nothing); I’d like to start shooting some film this year. Can you give a newbie some recommendations?
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Get yourself a cheap second hand 35mm, there’s plenty around. I’d recommend an Olympus OM1 or OM2 or Nikon FM, etc.
I don’t develop much of my own stuff, I pay £4.50 to get the negs developed and then scan them myself. You can get a perfectly good scanner for less than £150.
Start out shooting 400 iso colour negative, it has a huge latitude/margin for mistakes.
Shoot everything that interests you!
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I’ve already got a film camera (we got it second-hand for our daughter when she was taking a photography class in high school). I will likely need to get it cleaned and I know where just to take it. Thanks for the advice!
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So you’re halfway there!
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Great images and useful words, as always Phil. Cheers!
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Thank you!
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Great images and great post, as always. Just want to let you know that your posts consistently inspire me to get out and shoot more.
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You should really try developing your own stuff. It’s much less expensive and all of the equipment can be stored in a cupboard. No need for a darkroom – just a lightproof bag. It’s also another way to control the outcome of your prints as you play around with development times and a little bit of chemistry. Great post. Love seeing Tri-X (being a fan myself).
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Where do you get your Tri x developed Phil? Are they OK with pushing?
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Hi, Brendan, I get all my negs developed at Peak Imaging in Sheffield. Yes, they handle push processing really well.
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Cheers Phil- I thought it may be them (I use them for colour, but haven’t tried the BW).
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These are beautiful! And yes it’s very sad about all of the different film types becoming discontinued – I haven’t had a film camera myself in probably ten years, because as my grandma says it’s so hard to find film these days (granted she lives in a small village in rural Manitoba so none of her stores carry film, but I see her point) but I want to take a photography class as an elective for my degree and they require that you use a 35mm camera remarkably, so I will be in the market once again! Your blog has been inspirational for the type of work you can still do with film, thank you.
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It’s my pleasure. Thank you.
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Can’t believe you don’t develop your own film, Phil. If you’re not doing Tri X in D76 then you’re only getting half the fun. Shame on you! 🙂
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I know….I hang my head in shame!
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So the question is, “What are you going to do about it?” Come on – how about a New Year’s resolution?
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OK…I’ll shoot some 120 on my Holga Wide this weekend and dev it myself. It’s not even as though I don’t have the tools and chemicals!
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Good luck, Phil. If it doesn’t go well just blame me for nagging you…
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I’m not worried about Tri-X, it’s the best-selling black & white film in the world
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