First Roll of B&W

[fraley]

Hello All,

I posted some pics from my first roll of B&W, Ilford 400, with my Bessa R2. They're on my main gallery page. Actually it's the second roll of B&W but we won't talk about that! That very first roll was jinxed..

These were scanned by Photoworks on Market St, San Francisco. 72dpi and 600x400. That's the lowest resolution, I think I'll try the midrange next time - 255dpi.

 

[Rich Silfver]

I like photoworks a lot.

For b&w negative development and contact sheet printning I really like Oscar's photo lab down on Brannan and 7th street. They do a really good job.

I use Gamma SF as well some times (on Clementina) but they seem to be a bit uneven recently.

For E6 there is only one place in SF for me and that's New Lab on Bryant 🙂

 

[peter_n]

Good job Michael! 😎 Was the film you used Ilford HP5Plus?

 

[fraley]

Good job Michael! 😎 Was the film you used Ilford HP5Plus?

Thanks Peter, it was Ilford Delta 400 Professional. I'm just trying different films without any real plan, since I haven't used much other than 100 or 200 speed Kodak color print film for years. B&W is much harder to shoot, isn't it? You have to be much more disciplined about your subjects, and the tonal range seems go flat on me much more often than with color. But I really like a lot of the B&W work I see here by others.

 

[fraley]

For b&w negative development and contact sheet printing I really like Oscar's photo lab down on Brannan and 7th street. They do a really good job.

I use Gamma SF as well some times (on Clementina) but they seem to be a bit uneven recently.

For E6 there is only one place in SF for me and that's New Lab on Bryant 🙂

Thanks Richard! These are good tips. I've been wondering where to go. A very helpful Ritz camera guy steered me to Photoworks. Calumet recommended Gamma but I haven't tried it yet. I'll try Oscar's first. Do they scan to CD too? I like getting film back with CD lately, easier to email and post here 🙂

Okay I'll date myself, do you remember Gassar's on Geary St? I used to frequent that establishment in 1974 (!) when I was taking photo classes at the Art Institute. I had a dorm friend Marc Greenberg who was very much into streetshooting with his Minolta. He got a job at one of the Kearny St. camera shops. Wonder what became of him?

 

[Rich Silfver]

I do like CameraWorks - but I think they're a bit expensive.
They're good though.

I think oscars scan as well.

Here are their links:

Oscars: www.oscarsphotolab.com

Gamma: www.gammasf.com

In 1974 I wasn't even living here - was still back in Europe 🙂

Oh, and I know everyone is supposed to hate Gasser's over on 2nd street..but you know what...I like them 🙂

Another place, apart from Gassers, that I frequent for film is "Photographic Supplies" over on Bryant and..hmm....close to 2nd street.

 

[peter_n]

Delta 400. Interesting. I'm on the lookout for a low-grain thick emulsion 400ASA film and was leaning to Fomapan 400, but the fact that it's not known by processing labs here has put me off. (I don't have a darkroom.) Now I'm onto HP5+, hence my question.

I'm thinking of using AandI Labs in LA for my processing - a pro lab that charges $6.50/roll for 36exp 35mm B&W (& color). Don't know how that stacks up with what you're paying in SF. A good pro lab here in Boston in $10-11/roll. 😱 Maybe I should get my own development kit...

 

[fraley]

I'm thinking of using AandI Labs in LA for my processing - a pro lab that charges $6.50/roll for 36exp 35mm B&W (& color). Don't know how that stacks up with what you're paying in SF. A good pro lab here in Boston in $10-11/roll.

PhotoWorks charges 6.00 per roll, B&W or Color. They do custom printing but also take in point-and-shooter business. I'm going to check out some of the leads Richard gave me too. I don't know if any of them do mail-order.

 

[GeneW]

Thanks Peter, it was Ilford Delta 400 Professional. I'm just trying different films without any real plan, since I haven't used much other than 100 or 200 speed Kodak color print film for years. B&W is much harder to shoot, isn't it? You have to be much more disciplined about your subjects, and the tonal range seems go flat on me much more often than with color. But I really like a lot of the B&W work I see here by others.

Michael, the Delta films are similar to Kodak T-Max films in that they're fairly exposure sensitive. You'll have more shooting latitude if you go with the traditional iso400 B&W films:

- Kodak Tri-X 400 (a classic and will never let you down)
- Ilford HP5 Plus (very similar to Tri-X but slightly different tonal response)
- Fuji Neopan 400 (lovely stuff, finer grained than Tri-X or HP5)

Gene

 

[Rich Silfver]

I believe NewLab does mail orders.
For E6 I've found no better place (they recently added C-41 as well but have not tried that at their place yet).

They have a site at: http://www.newlab.com/