Kodak BW400CN

biomed

biomed

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I shoot mainly shoot XP2. Not too long ago I found a grocery store selling off most of their film stock. I picked up 35 rolls of BW400CN for a buck each - none of it expired! I shot a roll or two of this film a few years ago, but have not played around with it very much. Any tips such over exposing slightly (this works well for XP2)?

Thanks,
Mike
 
That's an incredible deal, Mike! I bought some last year that was a bit expired for about the same price. I have had the best results shooting it @ EI 200.
 
I've shot a good deal with both films; I've had a slight preference for XP2 on one or two technical terms, but like BW400CN enough to have largely switched to it in the last year, mostly for pragmatic reasons: (1) it's always in stock, and (2) it's at least a buck and a half per roll cheaper, both likely a consequence of it being made not all that far away from me. 😉

Technically, the two big differences between the two films are these:

- BW400CN has an orange mask, just like color-neg films, whereas XP2 doesn't. The principal consequence here is that XP2 can be printed on conventional b/w paper in the wet darkroom with relatively little issue (you might need to use fairly high-contrast paper), while BW400CN would be a bit of a bear in this regard; on the other hand, it's a good deal easier for a minilab to make fairly neutral b/w prints from a roll of BW400CN, on account of that orange mask.

- BW400CN doesn't have quite the push-/pull-ability that XP2 has. XP2 can be pulled as far back as EI 50, and pushed as far as EI 800, without a change in development. BW400NC can probably be pulled as far back as EI 200 or so (never pulled it farther than that myself), but it doesn't like being pushed without a change in development time. (I've pushed this film's predecessor, T400CN, by slowing down the transport on a Noritsu processor I was in charge of when I worked at a photo agency; results were not bad, but not always worth the effort, IMO.)

I normally rate BW400CN at EI 320, and that works for me most of the time.


- Barrett
 
According to my film dealer, Kodak BW400CN is supposed to be shot at ISO200. I don't know if it is true or not but it says it gives more contrast.

So far, I only shot it at ISO400.
 
I also shoot BW400CN at 200. I haven't used any in a while, I like films I can process myself, but it is good stuff.

zavattaro3.jpg


plaza-7-14-06-num3.jpg


Both shot with an Olympus OM4T, EI 200. Top was shot with Zuiko 50mm f2 Macro, bottom with Zuiko 35mm f2
 
meven said:
According to my film dealer, Kodak BW400CN is supposed to be shot at ISO200. I don't know if it is true or not but it says it gives more contrast.

So far, I only shot it at ISO400.
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The only way to know for certain is to shoot a few rolls from box-speed down to EI 200. Between those two, it can all be good, depending on what you're aiming for.


- Barrett
 
I like BW400cn for the richness of the tones it gives. I haven't had much experience w/ the orange cast, but you can also easily correct for it in PS. It's a wonderful film at iso 400. Check out the work of Graham Battison, at www.geebeephoto.com, w/ his IIIf/Summitar combo, for samples of wonderful landscape work w/ this film.

A few samples from me:
2524710329_f4a680effc_o.jpg


2850331826_48d84db79a_o.jpg


3207925165_03070fc79c_o.jpg
 
Steve: Good stuff!

In terms of scanning, the existence of an orange mask, IMO, is neither here nor there. It's more of an issue in terms of wet printing, where XP2 has something of an advantage, although you still can't print exactly as you would with a conventional b/w film.

I've been discovering certain nuances of BW400NC with time and experience. I guess that's the reason I only buy the stuff two bricks at a time now. 🙂


- Barrett
 
That was a good very deal on the film. When I was shooting Kodak BW 400CN I habitually shot it rated at 200 or 100 if using a yellow filter. It was very nice film to shoot and scan. I am sure you will enjoy using it.

Bob
 
ditto on the deal, whatta find!

back in his film days, Jeff Ascough used BW400CN for his gorgeous wedding work. i believe he shot it about 1/3 to a full stop slower than box, and his tones are incomparable to my eye.

a great film. once i work thru my small stock of XP2 (got a deal awhile ago) i'll be returning to it.

really nice shots, everyone.

steve, thanks for that link. his images made with the IIIf are beautiful, as is his other work. delicate use of filters with the 400CN, i think.
 
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Got two rolls for experiment with stand development with rodinal, as I did with XP2! Here, one roll is sell at 5.35 € or 6.02 €! Thinking of doing one at ISO 200 (as I did with the XP2) and one at ISO 400!
 
Rhodes said:
Got two rolls for experiment with stand development with rodinal, as I did with XP2! Here, one roll is sell at 5.35 € or 6.02 €! Thinking of doing one at ISO 200 (as I did with the XP2) and one at ISO 400!
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Is this a common way of developing chromogenic BW films? I thought these films were C-41 process only.
 
I bought 2 3-packs recently for $4.50 a pack recently. That's the best deal I've seen and I would have bought more if I could have.

I don't love the film, it does a good job and scans well but I shoot B&W for chunky grain.

Here's a recent shot with it...

3700669837_6d143a4186_o.jpg
 
biomed said:
Is this a common way of developing chromogenic BW films? I thought these films were C-41 process only.
Click to expand...

Well, from what I know, I do not know😱! The story is more like this, I wanted to experiment stand development with rodinal, found a internet page with one photographer explaining his try and showing the resaults. I thought into doing the same! Worked very well, so now I have a method of developing "C-41 B&W" films. Insted of giving to the local photographer shop! Decided to try with the kodak films.
It may work, it may not work, but as Chriscrawfordphoto says:
I like films I can process myself
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