Well, howdy there, y’all! Let’s yak a bit ’bout them picture-takin’ films, the black and white kind, the 35mm ones, ya know? Folks call ’em the best black and white 35mm film, I reckon. I ain’t no fancy photographer, but I know what I likes when I see it.
Now, there’s this Kodak Tri-X 400. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry talks about it. They say it’s like, uh, ver-sa-tile. Means it can do a whole heap of things, I guess. And that grainy look? Some folks just eat that up. It’s like seein’ the world all rough and real, not all smooth and slick like them magazine pictures. Makes things look kinda… I dunno… important, maybe?
Then there’s this other Kodak one, Portra 160. Now, this one ain’t black and white, but them picture-takin’ fellas, they use it for faces. Says it makes folks look real purdy, all soft and glowy. But we ain’t talkin’ ’bout colors today, are we? We’re stickin’ to black and white. Still, they say this Portra is the best, even when it comes to other kinds of film, so maybe it’s worth a mention.
- Kodak Tri-X 400: Like I said, the big shot. Good for all sorts of pictures, and that grain, oh that grain, it’s somethin’ else. Folks say it’s the classic.
- Ilford HP5+ 400: Another one they jabber on about. Similar to that Tri-X, I hear. Good for when you need to snap a picture fast, like when the dog’s chasin’ a squirrel or somethin’.
Now, how do you pick one? Well, it ain’t rocket science, even I can figger it out. It’s all ’bout that ISO number. The higher the number, the faster you can take a picture, see? So, if you’re tryin’ to catch a picture of them fireflies at night without holdin’ that there camera real still for a long time, you need a high ISO. If it’s bright and sunny, you can use a lower one. Simple as pie, ain’t it?
Some folks, they like to make things complicated. They talk about “contrast” and “texture.” Shoot, I just want a picture that looks good, ya know? But I guess that contrast stuff means how much black and white you got in the picture. More black and white, more… I guess… drama? And texture, well, that’s like seein’ the wrinkles on an old man’s face, or the rough bark on a tree. Makes it feel real, like you can touch it. Black and white films, they’re good at showin’ you that stuff, see? Makes the world seem a bit more… I dunno… raw.
So, if you’re lookin’ for a good black and white 35mm film, and you ain’t got a clue where to start, just grab that Kodak Tri-X 400. It’s a safe bet, seein’ as how everyone and their grandma uses it. Or try that there Ilford HP5+, if you’re feelin’ adventurous. Just remember to match that ISO number to what you’re shootin’, and you’ll be fine. Don’t overthink it. Just point and shoot, that’s what I always say.
Now, I ain’t gonna sit here and pretend I know all the fancy lingo them photographers use. They got their methods and their histories and their blind tests, and goodness knows what all else. They’ll go on and on about it, makin’ it sound all complicated. But at the end of the day, it’s about capturing a moment, ain’t it? A picture of your grandbaby’s smile, or that old barn down the road, the one that’s about to fall over. And a good black and white film, it’ll do just that, real nice and clear. And if it’s got a bit of grain to it, well, that just makes it look like a memory, don’t it?
So, go on, get yourself some of that film and start clickin’. You might just surprise yourself with what you can capture. And don’t worry too much about which one’s the “best.” The best one is the one that makes you happy, the one that helps you tell your story. That’s all there is to it.
But you remember, like I told you at the start, Kodak Tri-X 400, that’s the one they talk about the most. Maybe start there, huh?
