High Speed Black and White film for Theatrical Shooting

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bluelight

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Hello,

Just wonder what's a good B&W film choice to shoot Dancing performance in a theatre?

I am thinking more for speed and contrast.

Thanks
 
Meaning to control contrast? The lighting will create a lot of contrast already. Tri-X or HP5+ will give you good results at 800; that should be fast enough for normal stage lighting (EV 9 on Fred Parker's chart).

EDIT: If it's going to be dimly lit, you can also try Neopan 1600, but you will have a bit more grain.
 
Inevitably, Delta 3200 (max ISO 1250) or TMZ (max ISO 1000 -- both in speed-increasinging developers such as Microphen or DD-X) will give lower contrast than 'pushed' HP5 or Tri-X (max ISO 650+) or Neopan (max ISO maybe 800). Because Delta 3200 and TMZ are 'long toe' films they should give acceptable contrast at 1600-2000.

But is low contrast what you need? And how fast a lens can you lay your hands on? And remember how many excellent pictures were taken in the days of old, slow films, pushed mercilessly. For some of the basic theory behind the meaning of film speed, you might care to look at:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps iso speeds.html

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps neg density.html

Cheers,

R.
 
I like Neopan 1600. I just rate it as marked. Grain isn't too bad:

2549549778_92470399bb_b.jpg


2549549722_207b038632_b.jpg
 
Most stage lighting is quite contrasty. The actors/dancers/musicians are mostly very well lit. The most you'll need is Tri-X in Diafine, but if you can shoot at f/2.8 or f/2 at 1/30 second while rating the film at 400 and develop in a normal developer you'll probably like the negatves better. Diafine can look flat.

Fuji 400 and 1600 both use the SAME developing times which is a great feature if you shoot both
 
Thanks guys,

It seems that Pushed Tri-X or Neopan 1600 would be a good start.

For Roger, I shot a dancing performance earlier with XP2 at rated speed and it seems to be lacking in contrast. I ususally like to have clean backgroud and the images seems grainy on a black background. I probably didn't nail the exposure right.

The shots are amazing Andrew and Roland..

Cheers,

Ed
 
Thanks Al,

I have fast lenses available ( 1.2/1.4 ) but I am lacking the skill to focus fast enough. I am guessing that 1/.8/2.0 will give me buffer for human error. On the other hand, I need to rely on higher shutter speed to capture the movement ( I hope I am good enough to estimate the best moment to freeze the movement between actions with slower shutter speed).

I just got my developing kit with D-76 and I may start with it....

Cheers,

Ed
 
Neopan 1600 @ box speed developed in 510-Pyro, or - if your light is very contrasty - Tri-X @ 1250-1600 in Diafine (lowers the contrast quite a bit).
 
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