Neopan 400 135mm

gilpen123

Gil
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Sep 8, 2008
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Hi guys, I'm pretty ok exposing this film at it's rated ASA. I really have not tried it in other speeds as I don't want to mess up my shoots, infrequent as it is, every frame is important to me. I have seen some rating it at 200 and 320 but haven't seen actual results. Anyone rating this film other than 400? Samples will help a lot. Thanks!
 
I always rate it at 320. I really think that which developer you use should determine what speed to rate it at. I develop Neopan in Rodinal or a Rodinal/HC-110 mix.

The first one is developed in Rodinal 1:50 for 10 minutes. The second one in the Rodinal/HC-110 mix ( 8ml HC-110/ 2ml Rodinal/490ml water ) for 9 minutes.

Hope this helps.

Edit: The photos were shot with 120 film. My experience has been the same with 135.
 
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I've shot it at 800 a couple of times last year and liked it.
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Gil, if you were to try a roll at, say, 320 to start with, the change would be small enough that you are not going to lose any pictures. If it looks like a step in the right direction, in terms of shadow detail and gradation, then you could try a roll at 250. Cautious experimentation, one step at a time: what can it hurt?
 
Better yet, the next roll you shoot, after you take a shot, try taking the same shot but give it a stop more exposure (equivalent to rating it to 200). Develop normally and see how you like it. You can then compare it directly to the 400 shot. If you have a lens with 1/3 aperture stops, you can try 320 or 250 equivalents too (+1/3 and +2/3).

If you like the way it looks for the most part, you can think about pulling development a little bit, but with only 1 stop of overexposure, you wouldn't have to.
 
Just experiment with a roll. How much will that cost?

I rate it about the same as you (320) in Xtol but would rate it slower if using a developer that generates less speed, like Rodinal, D76, Perceptol, etc
 
After doing some tests I chose an ei of 250 for Rodinal and HC-110 to easily retrieve shadow detail I like. I proof on Grade 3 paper. If I proofed on Grade 2 I could probably use ei 400.

As long as you are not dropping shadow detail, it is a matter of fine tuning.

You could shoot a couple of shots at 400 and 250 on the roll, and see which prints better.
 
I normally use D76 at ASA400 and depends on the lens I use, shadow details are good. Now I got several packs of Xtol and I'll try to over expose in 1/3 stop increments and see what happens. Unfortunately, I can not import liquid developers to Philippines as normally shipper won't allow them so I'm stuck with powder. I actually plan to test the Neopan whole roll at ASA 320.
 
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