Terao
Kiloran
Hmm, good points. Epson is very, very good in low light. I think all is pointing to using that exclusively, unless I happen to luck out with a great day (last Saturday was blue skies and huge contrast (see my Flickr gallery...)
kully
Happy Snapper
mr roberts said:
At f/4 you're looking at 1/30 at 1600...eek. Just took a reading, 11am and it's 1/60 at f/5.6 (ISO400).
I'd take the 21/4 for group shots, I took my 21/4 to a wedding in the summer on a R2a - terrible - too much clutter in each shot and I couldn't get close enough to make it go away. Wish I'd not decided to slip the 85/2 into my pocket.
Toby
On the alert
Terao said:
Yes, I shot last Saturday and was using 100 iso for the job, but unless you have a fully working crystal ball it's the RD-1 every time.
mdelevie
Established
about the minilab / C41-BW constraint
about the minilab / C41-BW constraint
I think the constraint of using C41 film at a minilab is a bit too limiting, because it caps the ISO at 400. Is there any way you can send the film out to a proper lab, ie one that will develop normal b&w film?
That would open up the possibilities of pushing 400 speed film a stop or two, or even using the high speed emulsions like Delta3200 or Tmax3200.
The attached photos are not 'keepers', (sorry, the good ones go to the bridal couple...) but hopefully they give you a look at what ISO3200 film will get you in terms of grain & dynamic range. This was a fairly dimly lit wedding, my ambient light reading on the altar was 1/30th at ISO800 and f/2.8. The last shot used flash, and shows what Delta3200 looks like when overexposed by +1 stop (ie, exposed at ISO1600 and processed normally for 3200) -- much less grain, creamier grays, much better.
My point is that you have lots of options in B&W high-speed film, but none if you stick to C41 chromogenic process. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your wedding shoot -- don't forget to enjoy yourself!
Mark
about the minilab / C41-BW constraint
I think the constraint of using C41 film at a minilab is a bit too limiting, because it caps the ISO at 400. Is there any way you can send the film out to a proper lab, ie one that will develop normal b&w film?
That would open up the possibilities of pushing 400 speed film a stop or two, or even using the high speed emulsions like Delta3200 or Tmax3200.
The attached photos are not 'keepers', (sorry, the good ones go to the bridal couple...) but hopefully they give you a look at what ISO3200 film will get you in terms of grain & dynamic range. This was a fairly dimly lit wedding, my ambient light reading on the altar was 1/30th at ISO800 and f/2.8. The last shot used flash, and shows what Delta3200 looks like when overexposed by +1 stop (ie, exposed at ISO1600 and processed normally for 3200) -- much less grain, creamier grays, much better.
My point is that you have lots of options in B&W high-speed film, but none if you stick to C41 chromogenic process. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your wedding shoot -- don't forget to enjoy yourself!
Mark
Attachments
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nikon_junkie
Established
Man, you Brits live in the Dark Ages!
I'm still experimenting with with my M6 at weddings, but having done nearly two dozen with a D200, I would definatly go the RD1 route. Digital (RAW) is a lifesaver at times, and being your first it will take LOADS of stress away. I can't stress how much of a relief that will be for you...
This way you never have a doubt as to whether you got a shot, and in particular if it's one of the must haves.
I agree with the last post, and ditch the C41 ISO 400 stuff and add a few rolls of Delta 3200 or Neopan 1600 rated at 1250 for a different look and a bit security ISO wise.
In case Murphy shows up at the wedding and kills your RD, take some 800 color film just in case. Err on the side of caution and avoid 400 film.
Since you are not the sole photog, I would ride that extra stop all day and night.
I'm still experimenting with with my M6 at weddings, but having done nearly two dozen with a D200, I would definatly go the RD1 route. Digital (RAW) is a lifesaver at times, and being your first it will take LOADS of stress away. I can't stress how much of a relief that will be for you...
This way you never have a doubt as to whether you got a shot, and in particular if it's one of the must haves.
I agree with the last post, and ditch the C41 ISO 400 stuff and add a few rolls of Delta 3200 or Neopan 1600 rated at 1250 for a different look and a bit security ISO wise.
In case Murphy shows up at the wedding and kills your RD, take some 800 color film just in case. Err on the side of caution and avoid 400 film.
Since you are not the sole photog, I would ride that extra stop all day and night.
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Terao
Kiloran
Well, its all changed again - the Bessa T died this weekend (jammed shutter) and I doubt I'll have it fixed in time. Still want two bodies so I'm going to take Dad's old Agfa and his 90 for candids, loaded with something very fast (always liked Delta 3200) and have the 21mm (my new favourite lens after the last two days shooting on the Isle of Wight) on the R-D1 with the Nokton 40 in my pocket if the light gets really scary...
Oh and I was out at 3pm yesterday - f/4 1/10th @ ISO200!
Oh and I was out at 3pm yesterday - f/4 1/10th @ ISO200!
Terao
Kiloran
Hmm, or I could use the Zorki 
Terao
Kiloran
Well, I ended up shooting almost exclusively digital. Just didn't have time to use two bodies. Results are in my flickr gallery, impressed with the ISO1600 shots in particular (which also proved to me that 400 film wouldn't have cut it. Some shots were 1/7th @ IS01600 @ f1.4!!!)
Monz
Monz
Dear Terao,
I shot a wedding in North England about 6 weeks ago. Admittedly the light was better at that time than it is now, I used Fuji Neopan 400 and had the films developed using the Ilford mailorder service. See my gallery for some examples of the results. I took along my Leica M6 with three lenses (50mm summilux, 90 mm elmarit and 28mm Voigtlander Ultron) and a 8 mp digital SLR as a backup. The 50mm and 28mm were the most frequently used lenses and I hardly had any need to use the 90mm. Everything was hand-held of course with no flash.
Apart from Neopan 400, I'd also suggest Ilford Delta 400 and possibly Kodak 400CN if you want C41 chemistry.
Best wishes and good luck!
--
Monz
I shot a wedding in North England about 6 weeks ago. Admittedly the light was better at that time than it is now, I used Fuji Neopan 400 and had the films developed using the Ilford mailorder service. See my gallery for some examples of the results. I took along my Leica M6 with three lenses (50mm summilux, 90 mm elmarit and 28mm Voigtlander Ultron) and a 8 mp digital SLR as a backup. The 50mm and 28mm were the most frequently used lenses and I hardly had any need to use the 90mm. Everything was hand-held of course with no flash.
Apart from Neopan 400, I'd also suggest Ilford Delta 400 and possibly Kodak 400CN if you want C41 chemistry.
Best wishes and good luck!
--
Monz
w3rk5
Well-known
Terao..........you've got some great shots. A quick question for ya..........how bright was it at the wedding reception in Lymington? I'm asking because you have a colour picture of "roses" in well lit room. All the wedding recptions I've been to are very poorly lighted or just plain dark.
Monz.......just checked out your "wedding_Z&R" seires. Nice work.
Monz.......just checked out your "wedding_Z&R" seires. Nice work.
Terao
Kiloran
@w3rk5:
Thanks
It wasn't brightly lit at all - candles (nightlights) on the tables and some tungsten lighting from candelabra high in the ceiling (room was about two storeys high). I was able to shoot ISO200 @ f/1.4 and maintain reasonable shutter speeds (1/30th-ish) so I guess that will give you the best idea of how bright it was...
Thanks
It wasn't brightly lit at all - candles (nightlights) on the tables and some tungsten lighting from candelabra high in the ceiling (room was about two storeys high). I was able to shoot ISO200 @ f/1.4 and maintain reasonable shutter speeds (1/30th-ish) so I guess that will give you the best idea of how bright it was...
Terao
Kiloran
@monz:
Cheers - had I shot film it would have been the Ilford C41 process. Agree re lens choice - stuck almost exclusively to the CV 40mm Nokton...
Cheers - had I shot film it would have been the Ilford C41 process. Agree re lens choice - stuck almost exclusively to the CV 40mm Nokton...
CJP6008
Established
I did a wedding last w/e in Sussex, UK - Portra 400 and 800 with Neopan 1600 at EI640 in Peter Hogan's precysol for the getting ready (in OM4Tis with 50mm f2 macro (an incredible lens giving an amazing 3D look) and a Ziess Ikon (50 planar and 35 biogon), P3200TMZ at EI 3200 for the lads in the pub. Ceremony on the Portra 800 and Neopan 1600 (again at 640) in Ikon and M7 (the latter with the 50mm 1.5 Sonnar). As the light failed the P3200TMZ was king. Both the Neopan and the TMZ have what digital can never give me - grain! Nice, sharp grain. I hate C41 process B&Ws - as one lab owner I know said, "what are they for - they print rubbish from the minilab and print rubbish in the darkroom". They just never look sharp.
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
Pushed TriX to 1600 or 3200 was what I used in dimly lit weddings.
It was fun to be the photgrapher's helper running around with a Rollei 35 or with a small Zeiss Ikon and seeing the faces of the customers a few weeks later when the BW came out (from my own darkroom work)
The main phographer was using a Rollei 66 for the church and posed shots and a Nikon F4 for the rest of the shots.
It was fun to be the photgrapher's helper running around with a Rollei 35 or with a small Zeiss Ikon and seeing the faces of the customers a few weeks later when the BW came out (from my own darkroom work)
The main phographer was using a Rollei 66 for the church and posed shots and a Nikon F4 for the rest of the shots.
R
Robert
Guest
I find the HP5 film hard to beat, either developing it myself and scanning or sending it to Ilford labs.
I have used XP2 in the past but was disappointed with the colour of the proofs and the carelessness showed to the negatives by my local lab.
I will be going to a wedding as a guest next Friday and will be using HP5 without a flash.
Regardless of what medium is used the workflow can be very time consuming whether preparing photos for upload or printing at home
I have used XP2 in the past but was disappointed with the colour of the proofs and the carelessness showed to the negatives by my local lab.
I will be going to a wedding as a guest next Friday and will be using HP5 without a flash.
Regardless of what medium is used the workflow can be very time consuming whether preparing photos for upload or printing at home