Response to If you had to choose just one B&W film ....

Pan F+ at EI 50, developed in Rodinal 1+25 for six minutes at 68 degrees F. I'll gladly forego the versatility and convenience of faster films for the incredible sharpness, long tonal range and virtually grainless 11"X14" prints from a 35mm negative of this fabulous combination. It makes me think: no wonder some 19th century photography looks so gorgeous. - A slow film developed in Rodinal is hard to beat. Perhaps most of the advances in the last 100 years are advances in convenience rather than in quality. As to why I use 1+25, rather than 1+50 or 1+100: I simply haven't yet tried the other dilutions yet; I certainly will in the future, and I'll learn from the experience, but I'm not in a big hurry, as the 1+25 dilution (recommended by Ilford on the Pan F+ box) looks so beautiful! -Ollie

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