C-41 Black and white exposure

[Gravatar]

Here is the question. SHould I be treating my c-41 black and white film (Kodak CN 400) the same way I do color c-41 films with regards to exposure. In most cases with color, unless the scene is just SUPER contrasty, I expose my film between 2/3 a stop and a full stop over what the scene averaged metering recommends. If is contrast enough I will spot meter of the darkest area with details and expose for 1 to 1 & 1/2 stop less. Sometimes this method gets me in trouble with extreme circumstnces, but I meter this way only 20% of the time anyway. The reason for the over exposure for area exposure has been to get richer colors out of the film especially within the shadows. SHould I be shooting the CN400 at EL 200 for better shadow detail where the scene is tame enough to not require spot metering? Thanks for the advise in advance.

Grav

 

[rxmd]

I'm shooting XP2 at 200 to 250 and can't complain about shadow detail.

Philipp

 

[OldNick]

C-41 has enough lattitude that it is hard to go wrong. I cut the ISA in half, for a while, and now use the printed value. Either way, I got acceptable results.

Jim N.

 

[venchka]

I just began shooting BW400CN and had the same question. My first roll of XP2 Super was loaded last night. Thanks for the information. So far, I have shot BW400CN at 320 and I have been very pleased. I am easily pleased, by the way. 😀 I was thinking about shooting my next roll at 250. If what y'all and others have said is right, I may go back to 400. I did open up 1 stop for a recent photograph to maintain detail in a shaded porch.

Here are my recent examples, @ 320. Pool table & bass player strictly by the camera meter. Wild Bill's Steak House +1 stop from camera reading.