Fujifilm Neopan 400 in Bellini Ecofilm

I came into a large stash of expired, but cold-stored Fujifilm Neopan 400 a year and a half ago. After shooting a couple dozen rolls, I was starting to think I didn’t like this film very much. I prefer more native contrast in my films, I find the grain structure to be intrusive rather than pleasing, and altogether too often I find the middle grays just blend into a blah mess. (Don’t you love my highly technical photographic terminology?) Then I developed two rolls of the stuff in Bellini Ecofilm, which is supposed to perform like Kodak Xtol. I like this film a lot more in Ecofilm. Just look at those excellent blacks. I’m pessimistic that my usual developers for this film, F76+ and HC-110, could have done that. Nikon N90s, 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-D Nikkor Ecofilm tames Neopan 400’s grain. It’s still there, and still ugly, but only when I pixel peep. At Web sizes, it’s a lot more pleasing. Nikon N90s, 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-D Nikkor If I told you this photo was on T-Max 400, you’d probably…