Best B&W film with flash...

[dadsm3]

Hello: I have a hall rented for my daughter's confirmation this weekend, and have my M6 loaded with Portra colour film (for my wife) and my brother's D70 for television-looking shots as back-up...I was wondering what I should use if I wanted to get some decent b&w shots. I've been to this hall before....it's quite pretty, with lot's of indoor statues, waterfalls, and interior gazebos, but not a lot of light. I think flash is required, but hate blown out faces.....
I'll be using an M3 with a wide selection of lenses, and a Vivitar 285HV. Has anyone tried using Tmax100 and setting the flash at 200ISO? I know some of you are going to suggest a high ISO film and no flash, but trust me, my wife won't like 'em.....
What I'm looking for is a combination that will give me some decent resolution without blowing away faces, while keeping the grain at a level my wife won't notice or criticize. Am I asking too much?
Mike
PS: Or am I wasting my time trying to please a woman?

 

[wlewisiii]

I'll suggest Plus-X. But the kicker is that I'll say you need to rate it at EI400 and use Diafine to develope your negs. It's the only low light combo I know of that will give you the lack of grain you're looking for. If you do go this route, do not use the flash. This only works, IME, with available light. Now, I'm not anti-flash, I use it reasonably often, but for what you say you want to do, a flash is the fastest way to ruin it. If you can bounce it (with a softbox on it as well) then, perhaps, but I'm still not sure it would work.

Good luck,

William

 

[Kin Lau]

Not much time for this, but I would suggest bounce flash if at all possible, but sounds like you'll have very high ceilings.

I've been experimenting with the Lightsphere II, which I'll be using for a friends wedding. It works _very_ well for using flash up close. I don't know if you'd be able to get one by the coming weekend tho. Check it out at http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html . The only problem, is that the Vivitar 285HV's zoom head might be trouble some for this.

Otherwise, try taping a 2L plastic translucent milk jug/bottle over the flashhead, and just have it pointing straight up.

Also, with ISO100 indoors with flash, you'll need a tripod. Otherwise, it'll just look like a dark cave.

ps. I had the LSII on a Vivitar 283 less than 6 ft from my wife's face and there were no harsh shadows and no hot-spots or red-eye, and that was on digital... film will be even more forgiving.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Here is an example of Ilford HP5+ shot with flash.

Wayne

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Here is an example of Ilford XP2 shot with flash.

Wayne

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Here is an example of T-Max 100 with flash.

Wayne

 

[dadsm3]

Kin...very impressive...I'll certainly be looking into that Lightsphere. Wayne, what pretty subjects in both shots....I just happen to have some HP5+ loaded in one of my M3's, that 1st one is gorgeous. The second is beautiful too, but faces blown a bit...I'm not familiar with XP2. What's the ISO of that film?
Mike

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

XP-2 iso is 400 and is a C-41 process film. Here is and example of Tri-X 400 iso.

Wayne

 

[dadsm3]

Wayne, these are direct flashes?

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Off camera flash at approximately 45 degrees. (Not shot with a Leica either 🙂 )

You can get a PC synch cord for your 285 that is about 20 feet long and either put the flash on a light stand, tripod or have your wife hold it for you. With a small powered flash like a 285 I think you are throwing away good money on light diffusers.. you will still end up with a small light source and will have effectively cut the power of your flash by 1 1/2 to 2 full stops. That is not something you want to do.


Wayne

 

[dadsm3]

Just happen to have one of those cords...just tested and working. So....I just do everything (1/50th and Vivitar reading for F-stop) like the flash was mounted right on my camera, and let the thyristor handle the rest?

 

[RicardoD]

Wayne,

Can you go into a bit more detail on your flash setup. Are you firing it directly at your subject 45 degrees from the line connecting your lens to the subjuct? What kind of flash is it? Are you bouncing it or have a large diffuser? Kinda of a newbie so forgive me if for any obvious questions.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Just happen to have one of those cords...just tested and working. So....I just do everything (1/50th and Vivitar reading for F-stop) like the flash was mounted right on my camera, and let the thyristor handle the rest?

Yep.

Wayne