B&W Film for Kyrgyzstan in August

[winzenbourg]

Howdy all,

I'm heading to Kyrgyzstan in August for a three-week mountain biking trip across the country. I'll be bringing one M body and a 35mm f/2 lens. I plan to shoot a mixture of landscapes, riding shots, environmental portraits, and street scenes.

To keep things simple, I'd ideally like to bring just one B&W film stock. I've been shooting a lot of Ilford HP5+ and FP4+ lately and I love them both. My question is: am I better off with 125 speed film or 400 speed film? Intuitively I think 400 would be safer overall, but I wonder if it would be too fast at times. I don't know much about the light in Central Asia in summer, but I'm expecting it to be quite sunny most of the time. Anyone with travel experience in this region want to chime in? Or, anyone with experience rating HP5+ at 200?

Thanks!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Riding shots and streets scenes are good at @400.
I'm using HP5+ at 1200-1600 on any travel. And using x4, x2 and clean filters to keep shutter speed at 500-1000 during the day and still able to shoot indoors.

Kyrgystan in summer is hot and dry.

Regarding 200 - HP5+ is good film for push and pull. It is great film to be just one for the travel. At 200 you'll get less grain and more "details" on the negative.

Print from HP5+ on sunny day with x4 filter at 1600:

same:

Print from HP5+ on less sunny day with x2 filter and at 1200.

 

[KenR]

Tmax 400

Tmax 400

I know that there is no love for Tmax 400 here on RFF, but it is my go to film for traveling. With a yellow or red filter by day, no filter after dusk. I've used it in 35mm and 120 depending more on the weight of the camera that I can carry than anything else.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

HP5+ at EI200 works great.

Chris

 

[benji77]

I was there back in July 2014.
The light in the mountains are amazing. The city was hot, and people not very used to cameras.
Delta 100, Acros 100, Provia & Ektachrome 100 were choice of ammunition. More than sufficient for the light.

My set with the GF670 & Konica Hexar AF can be found here 🙂

 

[paapoopa]

I was there back in July 2014.
The light in the mountains are amazing. The city was hot, and people not very used to cameras.
Delta 100, Acros 100, Provia & Ektachrome 100 were choice of ammunition. More than sufficient for the light.

My set with the GF670 & Konica Hexar AF can be found here 🙂

amazing series of pictures you have there benji 🙂

 

[bobby_novatron]

+1 for what Ko.Fe. said earlier, HP5+ is extremely versatile and has such forgiving latitude.

I went to Italy a few years ago, and shot EI 200 in the daytime. In dark spaces or evening I would push to EI 1600 if needed.

IMHO HP5+ (and Tri-X for that matter) look better at EI 200 than any other speed, but that's just me.

Best of luck with your journey / trek, it sounds like it will be amazing!

 

[Trius]

I know that there is no love for Tmax 400 here on RFF, but it is my go to film for traveling. With a yellow or red filter by day, no filter after dusk. I've used it in 35mm and 120 depending more on the weight of the camera that I can carry than anything else.

Count me among the TMY-2 lovers!

 

[benji77]

amazing series of pictures you have there benji 🙂

Thank you!

 

[Harry Lime]

Kodak Tri-X. Rate it between 200 and 1250.

If you rate it at 400 and have a fast lens you'll be able to shoot all day and into the night (f1.4@ 1/30th).

 

[John Bragg]

HP5+ @ Ei200 is my go to film for everything. It is amazingly versatile and a breeze to scan or print. It holds details in shadow and highlights exceptionally well. This example.is in strong Cornish sunlight.

Sculptured tree stump, Charlestown, Cornwall. by John Bragg, on Flickr

 

[Rayt]

Count me among the TMY-2 lovers!

Me too. Lots of love for TMY.

 

[vnukov_pk]

kodak 5222. But generally iso 100 would be enough. fp4 is great @400, as is tri-x @200.

 

[blue4130]

I only shoot 400 speed film. I bought a cheap 3 stop ND filter that is light and since I only shoot B&W, I don't worry about a color cast from it. Gives me many more options when shooting.

 

[winzenbourg]

Thank you for your thoughts, everyone. I've decided to go with HP5+ shot at 200-400 based on what I've read here and because I'm accustomed to it and can bulk roll it cheaply. I will be sure to post a link to photos when I return!