A Film Grain Comparison

By Tony Warren

17 January, 2025

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Gear Theory

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Film Theory
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For as long as I can remember, which is very long time indeed, grain has been high on the list of a film photographer’s preoccupations. My recent sally into sub-miniature has brought this aspect into even sharper focus. A negative of 8 x 11 or even 13.5 x 19 mm demands some pretty stellar performance in this area.

While it is less of an obsession these days, but having tried numerous films with various 16mm/110 cameras, I thought I would share what I have found for interest’s sake.

Full frame as captured in camera.
Full frame as captured in camera.
Camera set up used.
Camera set up used.

I set up my copier with the biggest magnification I can achieve – reversed Micro Nikkor with all the E-mount and F-mount tubes available to me – on the 20Mp Sony A3000 I use. These examples are then resized to 72dpi without interpolation. The image at 72dpi is about 6ft or 2m wide so I will let you do the math.

All the films are processed in Rodinal at various dilutions and regimes as recommended by the massive Development Chart in the main or trade.

Results

Adox CMS 20 II
Adox CMS 20 II
Ilford Delta 400
Ilford Delta 400
Foma 400 rated 100.
Foma 400 rated 100.
Ilford FP4+
Ilford FP4+
Lomography Orca
Lomography Orca
Rollei Retro 8-S.
Rollei Retro 80-S.
Rollei Infra Red 400, normal spectrum.
Rollei Infra Red 400, normal spectrum.
Rollei Superpan 200.
Rollei Superpan 200.
Rollei RPX25 stand processed and rated 100.
Rollei RPX 25 stand processed and rated at ISO 100 as recommended by Geoff Chaplin.
Ilford XP2 trade processed.
Ilford XP2 Super, trade prcoessed in C41.

Conclusions

There is certainly a range of fineness available but, apart from out and out copying emulsions, not as wide as probably once was the case. The flexibility of some emulsions is quite surprising and throughout acuity is fine.

It really points up the strides that have been made with the materials involved and at the processing stage also, including my own technique probably. Processing does have a part to play and care in carrying it out. I managed to achieve some impressive reticulation with one Orca film which was downright ugly.

For really grain free results there is only the somewhat tricky path of processing copy film for continuous tone. The Adox CMS is amazing in this respect but it has zero latitude and exposure has to be spot on.

The Rollei films are very good, apparently based on suveillance films, the RPX 25 stand processed å la Chaplin is particularly notable. Being able to rate it at ISO 100 rather than 25 is a boon. 80S isn’t bad either.

FP4+ is interesting as probably an ‘old school’ film. It is a favourite of mine though and is no doubt much improved from its early days too. I get the feeling that Orca isn’t based on a surveillance film either.

The Foma emulsion performs well too but I haven’t tried it at box speed. Stand processed as here though shows it to be no slouch.

I use Rodinal exclusively at present for convenience and consistency. Other developers will be able to produce finer results but I can only offer these which I hope might be of interest.

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About The Author

By Tony Warren
In my 60 or so years of serious involvement in photography I have seen the demise of the viewfinder, the rise of the SLR and the eclipse of them all with the meteoric development of the digital camera. Through it all, however, and above all else, the image is what it is all about so I now use film alongside digital. Whatever is the most appropriate or practical. My contributions will hopefully be useful for anyone interested in using film and also how a died-in-the-wool antique like me is continuing his life-long addiction in the digital age, using both platforms. The major benefit of an extended retirement is that I can spend most of my time nowadays with photography and writing about it.
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Comments

Ralph Turner on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

An interesting comparison, Tony, thanks for sharing.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

Thank you Ralph.

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Gary Smith on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

Thanks Tony! I suspect you were looking for fine grain so I'll forgive the lack of a Tri-X example. Having recently processed some color negative film I don't know whether to be disappointed in: the film stock, my metering, my processing or my choice of s/w to do the color inversion. I'm glad that I've come back to photography.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

Hi Gary and welcome to the unpredictability that is photography! And you are correct about fine grain - I was looking at it for sub-miniature principally. If it helps, I find that sharpening can have a terrible effect on grain in post. Regards.

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blanko_photo replied:

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

I've had good results with Fuji Super HR-23 in my Kiev Vega-2. Here's my favourite image I've taken so far with it: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/815843471985213450/1216855616178491422/IMG7842.jpg?ex=67b6f15a&is=67b59fda&hm=0c4ab72e0448e358548dad283e181ea698a5ba10d11e72ccb0644997ff9ad326& I think that was rated at ISO 50. 12 hours stand development in 1:100 Ilfotec HC, when developed in a regular regimen at Fomapan 100 times, I found it to give best results at ISO 10 but it would be difficult to use handheld unless you've got a bright sunny day.

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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

That is so interesting and a good result. Your processing must be similar to the one used by the local chemist who processed my early efforts 70 years ago. He used to leave film in the developer overnight - I must try that with Rodinal.

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Daniel Emerson on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

Hi Tony,
Thanks as always. So are these crops or full frame, (crops I am thinking) and if crops what would the absolute size be?
regards
Daniel
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 17/01/2025

Definitely crops, Daniel. The shot of the millimeter scale is full frame and the individual film sections are roughly 6' x 4' full size at 72dpi.

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Geoff Chaplin on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Excellent post Tony! Remarkably good results from all films considering the 60ish times enlargement.

Shooting colour film with a pinhole camera I prefer the grainiest slow film I can find - almost impossible now manufacturers have done their 'best' to eliminate grain as much as possible.

I agree that Aviphot slow films are very fine grain (beware Rollei 80S in 120 - I've had a batch of failed film) but even so FP4 remains my favourite B&W emulsion in 35mm, though I love Foma 100 almost as much despite the grain and halation.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Thank you Geoff and thanks for having given me some new information on some of the films. I agree about FP4+ but Rollei 80S has really interested me for 35mm and 16mm. I think grain has become a little more sensitive an issue thanks to digital's scrubbed up smoothness. Shame really - it has always been part of a film's character and interestingly most software include some way of adding it.

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Marcus Gunaratnam on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Hi Tony,
an excellent account,I too used Ilford FP4in the 70swhen the plus version was not available, I shot mainly half frame,processing in microphen or neofin blue.I found that being a bit OCD helped and I used to filter all solutions using a buchnerfunnel and venturi pump arrangement,with antistatic effect of 'earthing' my enlarger and controlling the temperature with a modified aquarium thermometer.I produced quite acceptable 8x10" prints mostly of weddings . I use an Olympus pen FT with a 1.8 standard lens stopped down 2 stops for DOF.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Thank you Marcus. FP4 and the Plus have been my favourites too. I had a spell with Plus X when I was trying HC 110 but I always seem to come back to FP4+. Your technique is impressive and puts me to shame, lengthy spotting sessions the result of course. The Pen FT lens was one of the best I seem to remember. Forgive mt ignorance, but what is OCD?

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Ibraar Hussain on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Thanks Tony
A very interesting informative read.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Thanks Ibraar.

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Zheng Li on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Hi Tony, thanks for sharing the results. You might want to add Adox HR-50 and Ilford Pan F+ 50 to the mix. The HR-50 is really fine grained.
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 18/01/2025

Thanks for the suggestions, I will keep an eye out for the Adox. Only one dealer I have found down here in NZ imports Adox. Pan F I have used qute bit in the past but didn't put it in here because these are all from sub-miniature negs.

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Jeffery Luhn on A Film Grain Comparison

Comment posted: 19/01/2025

Really good info, Tony! It saddens me to see that FP4 is so grainy in comparison tests, because I like using it. It seems to have the creamy tones I like in the 120 size when developed in HC-110. I like Rodinal for the convenience, and I often use it for HP5 4x5, but it's always been too grainy for general 120 and 35mm shooting. In your tests, Rodinal and Rollei SuperPan 200 looked really good. Quite attractive considering the box speed, which would allow me to shoot handheld with my 120 folding cameras. Based upon your tests, I'm going to try that combo.

I am currently getting acquainted with Pyro CMK and FP4, so once I have a dozen rolls in the bag with that combo, I'll go for SuperPan 200 and Rodinal. Thanks again for your posting!

My goodness...so many film and developers and so little time!!
Jeffery
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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 19/01/2025

Thanks Jeffery. I think their is as much choice as ever these days if not more. Bear in mind I did this in relation to sub-miniature which is very different to 120 and FP4+ is still a very special film for me in larger formats. The Rollei films appear to be derived from surveillance film stock with extended red sensitivity and a very modern emulsion which give them their character just as FP4 and older film have a different look so it boils down to what you are using them for I guess. I have never used pyro developers but I remember they give rich tonality.

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