I brought this film based on two things: 1. I had not tried it before 2. It was fairly cheap. So my expectations were for something a bit grainy and a bit mild in contrast but fairly okay. On recieving my prints from the lab I was a little blown away. Where I had been thinking more Kentmere it was actually much more Tri X and Delta - wonderful detail, only a hint of grain and just the right amount of contrast, even on fairly dull days. Whilst not as good as Tri X, the price difference does make the gap between them fairly small.

It's taken a few rolls for me to find the development process that gives me what I'm looking for, but it was worth the effort.
It seems that Rodinal 1+50 is the key for me!

It's never easy splitting up. We've all been there. We've all cried in our beer over happier times.

I'd have quite liked these six months ago, but something else has come along.
Look, if I'm honest it was always in the background and it's time to let go.

Pushing AGFA 400 a stop works just fine if grain floats your boat.

But put the tiniest tweak in and it ends up lumpier than Elephant Man's boat race.

Maybe it works better on some things than others and it's got just about enough latitude to get some detail off the brickwork in the arch that frames the castle and give a bit of character to the old barn by the harbour.

But the telegraph poles down the Black Fen are just too noisy. And the tin church - half my fault for not spotting the sun kind of dappling through the trees - just doesn't cut it.

So why five stars..? Because if you like noise and want to bring your own ghetto blaster to the party you'll love this.

But I've gone right off it for now. Maybe I'll get over it. Maybe we've grown apart. Or maybe I just need some space while I see how things work out with Tri-X.

Shot these at 800 - give it a bum-kick and it gets a bit noisier and contrasty-er.

Still half like it, although HP5 looks better to me when you push it and doesn't throw its toys out of the pram quite so much grain-wise.

In the endeavour of trying to increase the amount of contrast I get from this film, I shot my latest roll at ISO 800, and developed it in HC110 dilution E for 14 mins at 21°C. The increase in contrast is very noticeable, and much more like what I would usually expect.
If you've not tried pushing this film, maybe you should give it a try!?