Film to make me say ‘wow” film

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texchappy

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As a tangent on the ‘I think I’m film-phobic’ thread I thought I’d ask this in another thread as it might be helpful for others.

What film currently available would I want to shoot that gives me the best chance to give me results that would make me say “WOW” and get me hooked on film?


(though slide and B & W suggestions would be welcome please include some C-41 since that’s the easiest to get developed for me).

TIA,
Tony
 
For color negative, my picks would be a couple rolls each of Ektar 100 and Portra 400. That gives you two totally different looks, and different speeds to handle different lighting situations.

For color slide, Fuji Velvia 50 or 100, and Kodak Ecktachrome 100. Again, two different looks.

For B&W, there are many more choices. Two that I like are Fuji Acros 100 and Kodak Tri-X 400. But really, you could just pick any 100 or slower film (Ilford Pan-F 50 is nice) and any faster film, and that will give you good examples.
 
First of all, what would make you say "wow"? Kind of difficult to suggest a film if you don't tell your preferences.

I say "wow" when I see a 6x9 Fuji Provia 400X slide. But then I only use Provia 400X, maybe not your taste and you'd prefer Velvia. In B&W I like the look of Fuji Neopan 400 (C41 proces) because it gives me a nice range of smooth greys. But some people prefer a grainy hard contrast b&w.

Just get a few rolls, shoot them and enjoy.
 
texchappy said:
As a tangent on the ‘I think I’m film-phobic’ thread I thought I’d ask this in another thread as it might be helpful for others.

What film currently available would I want to shoot that gives me the best chance to give me results that would make me say “WOW” and get me hooked on film?


(though slide and B & W suggestions would be welcome please include some C-41 since that’s the easiest to get developed for me).

TIA,
Tony
Click to expand...

Any black and white film which you develop yourself. When you see the negatives hanging up you will say "WOW".
 
The only time I heard a "wow" emanate from myself was when looking at my first roll of (135) Velvia slides. Such amazing detail and colour - I never managed to get the same feeling after scanning them though. But in the back-lit viewer and magnifier: "Wow"!
 
Colour and b&w are two totally different animals in that, outside of cross-processing, colour film processing is fixed. It's either (proper) C-41 or (proper) E-6. Yes, there is "push" processing in colour, but that is not all that common and not easy to find if you send out your colour film.

B&W, OTOH, has a HUGE variety of processing options. So the look that may cause you to say "Wow!" for b&w is a reflection of a combination of factors, the emulsion being only one.

So, first decide whether you want a "colour wow" or a "b&w wow". Then peruse photos per/according to that choice. Don't limit yourself to the web, though. Go to galleries, exhibits, showings, any place you can see prints as much as you are able. Real prints are the real standard.
 
If you can manage to view some well-made 8x10 or 8x20 or larger B&W contact prints from large format negatives in a museum or gallery somewhere, you will say "wow". Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee prints fall into this category, for example.
 
my WOW experience developing my first own roll of tri-x, i decided to develop the roll myself while i was shooting it on holiday. read up on development for a couple of days, made my order and when i got home i had all the necessary tools waiting at the door.

i did use d76 at the time and the results were exactly what i wished for:

6680526885_5ab2e841a3_z.jpg


6704125671_fc1529292a_z.jpg


so my advice would be the same as stated above. get some tri-x, D76 or XTol and go. :)
 
45tim said:
my WOW experience developing my first own roll of tri-x, i decided to develop the roll myself while i was shooting it on holiday. read up on development for a couple of days, made my order and when i got home i had all the necessary tools waiting at the door.

i did use d76 at the time and the results were exactly what i wished for:

6680526885_5ab2e841a3_z.jpg


6704125671_fc1529292a_z.jpg


so my advice would be the same as stated above. get some tri-x, D76 or XTol and go. :)
Click to expand...

well done.
 
texchappy said:
As a tangent on the ‘I think I’m film-phobic’ thread I thought I’d ask this in another thread as it might be helpful for others.

What film currently available would I want to shoot that gives me the best chance to give me results that would make me say “WOW” and get me hooked on film?


(though slide and B & W suggestions would be welcome please include some C-41 since that’s the easiest to get developed for me).

TIA,
Tony
Click to expand...

Ektar 100 for its wild palette and superb sharpness. Scans extremely well too. It's my summertime film and it is one C-41 colour film I feel comfortable using in high contrast situations.

Portra 400 for its portrait-friendliness and amazing flexibility. I shoot it at ISO's anywhere from 320 to 800. Brilliant, forgiving, versatile emulsion. It's the Everyman of colour film. Pricey but worth it. More in my freezer than any other.

Ilford XP-2. Since you listed C-41 as most accessible, this film is my go-to b/w for the same reason and it delivers. Nice contrast and some great inky blacks. Extremely versatile from ISO 100 to 800, too. Scans nicely at the lab.

Fuji 200 or 400 Experia/Superia. Cheap and very good value. I stick close to box speed and definitely meter for shadows, and when doing so, I can click away happily. 135 only, but what else for a P&S film?

You want samples? Try Flickr. Better than the few I've uploaded.
 
I would suggest Portra 160 and Portra 400. I think Ektar is too exacting to recommend to someone not used to film (that's why I don't use it :D). The WOW factor is not just in the results, it's in the carefree nature of using it, and the character of the glorious old lenses that are opened up to you in using film cameras. By carefree I mean spend a sunny day walking around with Portra 400 in camera, set the shutter to 1/250 and the aperture to f16 (or some equivalent combination). Snap away merrily then take the film to a good lab and get them to scan the film. You won't have spent the day agonising over your histogram, and when you get your results back I'll guarantee a smile on your face. You also won't need to spend the evening in PP trying to stop your RAW files looking so drab:
Warning, no meter was used in the following film shots. Compare to the equivalent digital shots below.
Pete

Film:

CNV00006.jpg

CNV00009.jpg

CNV00025.JPG
 
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