Re-evaluating HP5

I’ve been out and about with my Pentax Spotmatic more recently. At the start of the year I said that I’d try and use a different camera each month, well that’s gone out of the window, but I am making the effort to use the cameras in my stable as the opportunity presents it’s self. I think before too long I’m going to have to reduce the number a little, I am all said and done, a camera user, not a collector! That said the Spotmatic is a keeper – it’s so smooth to use, and the results it produces are good. To quote a recently read Pentax brochure…. “it’s not that it’s just sharp, it has strong quality”.

This time out I thought I’d load up a roll of HP5, people seem to get good results from it, and sing it’s praises, for many it seems to be a film of choice. I’m not one for faster films by choice, I don’t like grain for the sake of it, and last time I used HP5 I wasn’t that keen. Time to try again and re-evaluate. I found myself at the local garden centre.

I was pleasantly surprised. Obviously it’s more grainy than FP4, but it’s not as bad as I remembered. I took a few shots that included some areas of sky and those I am not so keen on. Apart from that, I enjoyed using it. I developed the roll in Ilfosol 1+9 at 20° for 6.5 mins.

Once again Ilford does the job – I’ve just brought another 3 rolls, watch this space!