And possibly image quality?
The lens were excellent and Ilford Pan F was a slow 50 ASA with consequently smaller grain size. With film I think grain size tended to degrade image more than lens quality. You could blow up a frame of Pan F film many times more than, say, Ilford HP5 400ASA film without grain becoming visible.
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I love grain to bits, not everyone’s cup of tea!
Used in the right way it can provide an edge to an image and some handy shutter speeds in low light conditions.
You previously mentioned taking pictures of bands at gigs. I remember Konica 3200 colour film, discontinued I believe.
I just used to push HP5 to 1200 ASA (from memory) as you say very grainy and contrasty but atmospheric.
I liked Ilford film It was more reliable than say Kodak, (and British) funny thing is I rarely used FP4 that was their standard film at 120ASA (again I think that is right going from memory) a compromise between grain and speed.
Personally I’d buy film in bulk and load it into cassettes myself, so much cheaper and efficient, if you had a special job or a test run you could load enough for say 10 frames take it, develop it and have prints the same arvo.
If I needed colour (rare but happened) would buy Ektachrome because there were processors who could have it done in a few hours.
All in the long distant past for me now.
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Blimey! when I shot film, it was 100, 200 or 400.
400 asa was noticeably grainier than 100 or even 200.
Nowadays 3200 iso might look a little murkier than 100 but barely noticeable. I have cameras on Auto ISO with a max limit 3200 for when I want a high shutter speed and big aperture at the same time. The uncontrolled max is 25600.
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I couldn’t help sharing this link, so pertinent.
What memories!
I’m actually sitting in the pub at the moment and stumbled upon this article 
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I’d forgotten you had to buy platform tickets in the UK. Strange business.
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Money well spent for the hardcore trainspotter 
That was me until I discovered girls
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I started photography with 35mm with a cheap Olympus camera, before switching to digital. Never a fan of conventual film as it was expensive and you ended up with a physical print which you had to put somewhere, taking up space. I was never really happy with the results, probably because I had a naff camera. Switching over to digital was a revolution for me and never looked back. However, I did manage to take one exceptional shot, taken in Key Largo, Florida in 2001.
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Another topic entirely 
I finally made an executive decision and ordered a camera I like.
It’s to be delivered during the week which gives me time to order a 52mm yellow filter since I’ll be shooting almost entirety in black and white. The red filter will come later for a bit of dramarama after I’ve reacquainted myself with the basics after all these years!
I’ll be in town tomorrow with Chilli jnr so we’ll pop into Boots and check out the processing prices for 35mm and how much it extra it would cost for pushing the film from 400 to 800.
I was going to start with the T - MAX 3200 but it’s bloody pricey and I’ll save that for indoor shots, gigs etc 
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But why, Mr Boot?
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How long have got Besoeker?
But seriously, as no doubt I’ve mentioned previously, for me it’s a bit like music, vinyl vs digital downloads/streaming. The former in both cases are more tangible, something of substance. No doubt if I’m honest there’s a bit of a nostalgia trip involved too
Anyway I’m dreadful with modern technology. I’m happy to stick with the dark ages!
I vaguely remember pushing HP5 to 1200ASA, it gets quite contrasty and grainy but then you print it on soft paper, gives a lot of atmosphere to the shot. I used to buy it in bulk them put it in saved cassettes - was much cheaper that way. I used to photograph bands, singers and artists either live or in rehearsal.
Unfortunately I have long since lost all the notebooks where I wrote this stuff down, developing times etc, even though I still have all the developing tanks, thermometers and changing bag, my enlarger has long gone. Steady consistent temperature was a most important thing as I recall. It was a lifetime ago.
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Food for thought Bruce although I’ll be entirely at the mercy of the processer.
A darkroom is way out of my reach.
Having said that there is a well regarded local photography club. If I remember correctly they embrace film photography. I’ll have to get in contact at some point.
Fairy 'nuff. Mr Boot. I have had a few different camas included film caners but now it is digital, a Canon, with three different lenses. It’s a hobby - that and the dog
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A very happy and alert looking subject Besoeker
Having a bit of a rummage online I discovered this, a revelation
Also found what appears to be quite a reputable online processing business that develops film for less than half the price that Boosts charge although it is a postal service, and they sell the above film.
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