BW film that with C41 process method

Well, I'm also a complete newbie into B&W, not being able to build-up my own darkroom I used to scan my films (Nikon scanner) and print from files.
That means my usability measure for me boils down to better scanability.
So, guys, how would you rate Kodak 400CN vs. Ilford XP2 as long as scan is involved in the workflow ?

Thanks, Alex
 
Wow Floyd, wonderful stuff, thanks for sharing.
The images look very smooth, very flattering to the authentic Hawaiian women faces.
Is that the same film as Kodak T400CN or this is natural B&W silver film ?
 
Thanks, understood.
How long it is on the market ? I just wondering I have yet seen such on the shelves at our pro photo shops in my country...(though I never asked for one in particular yet)..
 
ARCHIVIST said:
Remember that essentially all C-41 b/w will have only the longevity of colour negative film and not that of traditional b/w film.

Peter
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what is the longevity of colour negative film vs bw film?
 
How would you guys compare shooting the chromogenic films and scanning negatives to shooting say...kodak 400UC and scanning the negs? I know, one's color, one's not. I end up converting the 400UC in photoshop anyway.

Sort of sideways on topic here...
I was just in an Osco Pharmacy and noted that their 400CN film is on clearance at half price. That's $5.50 for the box...2 rolls...I think.
Oh crud. Well, I was picking up pain medication, so you can't blame me if I've got this wrong.
 
Conventional b/w film, properly developed, fixed, and washed, offers solid longevity (conservatively going well past the century mark). Up until recently, the only color film that could make that claim has been Kodachrome, and that's provided it's kept in dark storage. Color negative film has been at the bottom of the totem pole until roughly the last fifteen years or so, and in the last ten years, has seen considerable improvement (I've seen figures inthe range of 60-70 years, according the gang at Wilhelm). Chromogenic b/w should likely ride on this positive longevity curve as well, provided it's properly stored. (Note: this goes for all those CDs and DVDs you're burning as well.)


- Barrett
 
dazedgonebye said:
How would you guys compare shooting the chromogenic films and scanning negatives to shooting say...kodak 400UC and scanning the negs? I know, one's color, one's not. I end up converting the 400UC in photoshop anyway.

Sort of sideways on topic here...
I was just in an Osco Pharmacy and noted that their 400CN film is on clearance at half price. That's $5.50 for the box...2 rolls...I think.
Oh crud. Well, I was picking up pain medication, so you can't blame me if I've got this wrong.
Click to expand...
Headache? Take two of those Kodak 2-packs and call us in the morning...:p

About scanning: it depends on the scanner (for the record, I use a Minolta 5400, first generation). Oddly enough, I find films like Porrta and Fuji Press come out so good that the image file requires only minimal touch-up in PS, usually a bit of trimming in levels and curves, but that's it. Black-and-white chromos, while almost as easy, end up getting a bir more work, since b/w is about tonality, and I get a lot more picky as a result. This is why nailing exposure in b/w, IMO, is more critical than in color; color neg film seems to have a wider "fudge factor" than b/w, and I'm not necessarily talking about latitude. I've seen XP2's "sweet spot", which for me has been around E.I. 320, and that film becomes magical in late-day light. But I have to work it just that extra bit, post-scan. Not complaining, though, because it works.


- Barrett
 
I find that while colour film converts to black and white quite nicely, a good conversion usually takes a degree of work and some time considering various alternatives. XP2 or BW400CN takes that problem away :D I also like "thinking in black and white" while shooting, rather than considering whether I should shoot for colour or with the aim of BW conversion for each shot (I'm easily confused). OTOH, I hate it when I see a perfect colour shot, and all I have loaded is BW. Oh, well...

...Mike
 
Mike: Tell me about it.

Which is why, when everything else in my bag is loaded with b/w (as it ususally is), this is usually on my hip and loaded with color.


- Barrett
 

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amateriat said:
Mike: Tell me about it.

Which is why, when everything else in my bag is loaded with b/w (as it ususally is), this is usually on my hip and loaded with color.


- Barrett
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Barrett,

Yep. I've just bought this for a similar purpose. I was thinking in terms of Provia, but I'm not sure about the inconvenience of having it developed. So I'm trying various colour neg. films to see if there's one I'd like as my "grab it in colour" reserve.

...Mike
 
Mike: That's the move. :)

It'll nail exposure nicely with 'chrome, but if processing isn't as easy as you'd like, I think Kodak's UC400 (first choice) or Fuji Pro 400/800 (second choice) will do quite nicely.


- Barrett
 
amateriat said:
I think Kodak's UC400 (first choice) or Fuji Pro 400/800 (second choice) will do quite nicely.
Click to expand...
Barrett,

I have one of each of those :) (and a few more besides). I'll take your recommendation and try the UC400 first. Thanks for the advice.

...Mike
 
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