Second roll of film...improving!

[Al83]

After underexposing the majority of my first roll of film using the Sunny 16 rule with my Canon P I took some good advice from the forum to print off and use an exposure guide. I've tended toward what feels like over-exposing on this roll but most of the images look a lot better!. Thank-you to those of you who've guided this novice so far!

Now...another question if I may. A number of my shots were made in bright sunlight. I've noticed that the transition from light to dark shadow seems much more pronounced than when I take a similar photo with my digital camera. Is this normal for film?

Someone said that shooting film with a Rf could become addictive...I am beginning to believe it 🙂

Thanks, Alan

 

[BLKRCAT]

Likely limited dynamic range of digital. Or if you are shooting jpg or some mode where the camera is applying a profile to the jpg in camera that could be your problem. Just shoot them raw and take the file into an editing software that will allow you to control the shadow detail.

But what do I know, I dont shoot digital (much)

 

[Gan|Path]

What you are seeing is the inherent "enhanced" dynamic range and contrast of Film vs Digital files. It really depends on the Film, lens and the developing times. My personal preference when shooting on a sunny day(high contrast) is to have a low contrast lens or film to balance the highlights and shadows, but there are lot of people who like high contrast in BW.

 

[mfogiel]

If you are making your first steps with film, buy a few rolls of XP2, and expose them to your best ability, but as if the film was 125 ISO, not 400. Then, develop normally in any lab. Y0u will be amazed with the resuts.

POWAZKI #35 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[KoNickon]

I'm assuming you're using color print film or black and white -- i.e., negative film and not slides. Generally you'll do fine by overexposing, since negative film (especially color) is very tolerant of overexposure. You can either set your meter for a film speed 1-2 stops slower (like 125 instead of 400, as suggested above), or meter for the shadows and let the highlights take care of themselves.

I tend to follow Sunny f11 -- Sunny f16 is probably better for slides. I'd also note that in your corner of the world this time of year, the sun, even in full daylight, is not going to be "Sunny f16" anyway.