What to use?

G

goo0h

Well-known
Local time
2:24 PM
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
692
Location
North Texas, USA
View My Gallery
Tomorrow evening I'm going to try to take a few pics of some kids in a high school play. Not sure what speed I'll need to shoot at, but guessing either 1600 or 3200. Now the question is, what film should I try? I seem to have gotten a small pile of various sorts and while options are nice, I must admit the choice is confusing me. What I've got on hand:

  1. Neopan 1600
  2. Delta 3200 (bought this past Summer)
  3. Neopan 400
  4. HP5+
  5. Delta 400

For the developer, I've got a fresh packet of XTOL to mixup, a developer I have the most experience with so far.

A natural choice might be either NP 1600 or Delta 3200. I've used NP 1600 and for the most part it has worked out pretty well. Amazingly low grain for the speed, but sometimes the contrast can get to be a bit crazy. (In terms of tonality, I think I like NP 400 better.) Would this Delta 3200, a film I've never used before, be any better?

Then lately I've heard about the great success folks have had with pushing films like HP5+, so part of me is thinking of just loading that, then set the ISO to whatever I need, then push as necessary and be done with it. I wonder if the contrast of HP5+ pushed to 1600 would be worse than NP 1600 @ 1600? Can HP5+ be pushed to 3200, or is that asking too much?

I've heard that Delta 3200 can get cloudy, so ambivalent about using that.

See what I mean? 😉
 
It's a problem because you 're going to need every last drop of ISO you can get to close the lens (say f/2.8?) for the group shots. FWIW I have always had much better luck with Neopan 1600 and HP5+ @ ISO 1600 than Delta 3200 @ ISO 1600. I 've yet to take a photo that I like with Delta 3200 rated at nominal speed (or any other speed to be honest), perhaps others are better/luckier. In your place, and as much as I am keen on Neopan 1600, I 'd opt for HP5+ pushed at 1600, it just has a more conventional look, at least to my eye. Assuming that you will be using ISO 1600, then an aperture of f/2 and 1/15s should get you at least some shots. You 'll really have to shoot when there is less action on stage. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
Pitxu said:
I agree with telenous, I've had some pretty good results with HP5 pushed to 1600 by using a developer that allows a long, slow development time. When using very long development times keep a constant eye on the temperature.
Click to expand...
I have to admit I've gotten results that seem pleasing to my eye with HP5+ @ 800 with my new ZM 50 F2 lens, so I think I'll try HP5+ @ 1600 and see how that goes.

Since I'll probably use XTOL, which seems to have been OK with HP5+ @ 800, I looked on the massive dev chart and they say 18 minutes for XTOL 1:1 at 20C. Were you thinking of something longer?

I've heard some folks having good results with XTOL 1:2 (would then be 21 minutes), but I've never tried that ratio before so a bit hesitant about it.

And how do you watch the temperature when the (in my case stainless steel) tank is sealed? Though, I generally try to dev early in the morning when the room temp is pretty close to 20C anyways. Is that what you mean? Or do you mean keeping the tank in 20C water in between agitations?
 
If you use Delta 3200, develop it in DDX 1+4. It has a lovely smokey feel to the grain much like an old scotch on the pallate.
220906844-M.jpg
 
Neopan 1600, pushe it to 3200 and will still get very nice results

Delta 3200, shoot at box speed and develop for 6400 to boost contrast.
With Xtol you shouldn;t get grain problems, and then if it apperas, it just adds "character"

Anyway, this WILL BE and experiment, expect to get something but since you have not tried any of these before do not promise to get great pictures.
 
titrisol said:
Anyway, this WILL BE and experiment, expect to get something but since you have not tried any of these before do not promise to get great pictures.
Click to expand...
HA! I never promise great pictures! 😉 I learned that a long time ago, and have had no reason to change. Besides, I'm one of those eccentrics using film, so folks don't expect much anyway. I don't mind that. 😉

I'll probably try the HP5+ pushed this time, but I'll bring the NP1600 and Delta3200 in case I feel particularly inspired towards those at the last minute.

Thanks folks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom