back in film, need some tips on what b/w films

[jasperamsterdam]

Hi All,

This is my first post, I just bought a M6 wich should be here tomorrow🙄 ! I've used digital camera's for the last 5 years (e10,d100,20d, and still use 5d and fuji f30) wich are great and i will keep using for work and stuff.

After borrowing a m6 last year the fever bit me since i love street photography for wich the big 5d got me the wrong attention for people (You are press!)

So i took the plunge and bought a m6 and 40mm summi c. Planning to keep it simple and use b/w film, because the look is great, something different from the super clean 5d files.

My first serious shooting with it will be on my first trip to NYC, for wich i will leave my 5d at home😕!

I already bought some new tmax 400 to practice not having the abililty to up, or lower the iso for 36 photo's, i use it in my dads retina 3C.

It's already sunny here(amsterdam) , and i should be in NYC as well when i'm there. So i think i need some slower film too.

Can anyone give me a tip on what two films to bring to NYC?

I'm looking for a 400 film wich can be pushed to 800 (Tmax 400 New?) Plus a slow speed (50/100) film with similar look. Or can i pull the new tmax to 100?

I plan to do my own developing and make highres scans of the negatives, in wich the grain is perfectly nice and visible.

Thanks in advance

(to have a look at some of my photo's)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasperamsterdam/

 

[aparat]

Since you say you already like T-Max 400, I would suggest you get T-Max 100 as well. One of the most important things about BW film, to me anyway, is to pick one film and try to master it before moving on to the next.

I personally use Ilford films because I want to support Ilford and because they make fantastic BW products.

aparat

 

[Borghesia]

T-max 100 is an excellent and smooth b/w film, but also consider the Fuji Acros 100 (shot at 80 asa). I find the Fuji giving more detail against the T-max 100.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

"Can anyone give me a tip on what two films to bring to NYC?"

None, seriously. In NYC you have Bhphoto&Video & Adorama etc. where you can buy all types of film & low prices.

 

[Keith]

The Acros is an excellent film and a good suggestion and would be best complimented with 400 Neopan which pushes very well to 1600 showing nice but not overpowering grain. I personally don't have a lot of varied experience with black and white films but of the ones I have used the Fuji stands out to me. 🙂

 

[jasperamsterdam]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks all

I will try the fuji acros and neopan out, it sounds good to have a film that can be pushed to 1600. And I will buy the film at b&h or Adorama! *these stores where already on the top of my sightseeing list!

Am i right to think the C41 b/w emulsions give a different look in terms of tonality and grain? I'm looking for the real b/w look to scan highres to fully show the grain, and leave USM out of the picture..

Does anyone uses only 1 film (lets say the new tmax 400, or Neopan 400) and rates it from 100 to 1600 depending on the light?

Thanks in advance, i know i'm unclear in my questions..

 

[Keith]

If you go to B&H they have a great deal on Neopan 400 ... they are out of stock at the moment but they usually have the grey import version of the film for $2.99 per roll of 36. Same film but not made in the US. Hopefully they'll have it by the time you get there. 🙂

I'm told that C41 doesn't show grain at all because it's dye based!

 

[JeffGreene]

T-max 100 is an excellent and smooth b/w film, but also consider the Fuji Acros 100 (shot at 80 asa). I find the Fuji giving more detail against the T-max 100.

Fuji Acros is a nice film, but it doesn't stain as well as Ilford 100 and TMAX 100 in the staining developers. If you're not using a staining developer or plan on third party development any of the three would do. I also recommend picking a film and sticking with it until you learn it. Mine is Ilford 100 for the same reason mentioned earlier, their commitment to B&W.

Respectfully,

Jeff

 

[JeffGreene]

Thanks all

I will try the fuji acros and neopan out, it sounds good to have a film that can be pushed to 1600. And I will buy the film at b&h or Adorama! *these stores where already on the top of my sightseeing list!

Am i right to think the C41 b/w emulsions give a different look in terms of tonality and grain? I'm looking for the real b/w look to scan highres to fully show the grain, and leave USM out of the picture..

Does anyone uses only 1 film (lets say the new tmax 400, or Neopan 400) and rates it from 100 to 1600 depending on the light?

Thanks in advance, i know i'm unclear in my questions..

If you're looking for grain, and a 400 speed film don't forget Tri-X or HP5Plus. Personally, I like the fine grain of Delta 100 and TMAX 100.

 

[myoptic3]

Some good suggestions here. I like HP5 for it's grain and Tri-X for it's tonal look (the old Tri-X was a lot better, to me), but I have seen some great shots w/ the Fuji films too. I second the idea of using one film and sticking to it, as it eliminates a lot of problems and frees you up for other stuff, but you will have to try out some different films to find your favorite. You may want to practice w/ the Leica before you leave for NY w/ some of the films. Getting the hang of a manual focus RF camera w/o AE is a different experience, and I always have to shoot a few rolls of film before I get it down if I have been using my AF SLR's . The C41 B&W might be good for that, but I don't much care for their grainless, smooth look.

I may be wrong on this, but I think you can shoot different frames on one roll at different speeds and develop w/ Diafine. I have never used it, but it sounds like a great concept. Just like pushing your ISO up on some shots w/ a digital camera.

 

[vieri]

If you are newly back to film after many years & if you like to show some grain, I'd suggest old style emulsion versus T-grain film to start; if you want to stick with Ilford, I'd take:

- Pan-F 50, FP4+ (125 ISO). HP5 (400 ISO); if you want to process them in Diafine, this will give you 80, 200-250, 800 ISO with nice but controlled grain and the possibility of developing all the films together in the same tank regardless of time and temperature;

If you prefer Kodak, I'd go with:

- Plus-X 125 & Tri-X 400, if you soup them in Diafine is going to give you 250 & 1000-1200 ISO which is a pretty good combination for daylight & nighttime or indoor shooting. again with nice & not excessive grain & very good tonality;

If you like Fuji, take:

- Acros 100, 400 & 1600, soup them in D-76 or Rodinal, or HC-110 at their box speed and you are good to go.

Enjoy NYC!