Underexposing bw film

[papo]

Are the results different with bw than with color? Ive read somewhere that underexposing bw still has the ability to disolay more detail compared to color - can anyone confirm?

Generally speaking, is there anything to consider when underexposing? Hres the thing, my Hexar AF only has a shutter speed of 1/250 max so i wonder if underexposing is the proper way to approach this in sunny situations. Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[jgrainger]

Hello,


If your camera has a limiting top speed then it's possible you may be thinking of overexposure.. colour negative film can usually take a couple of stops overexposure just by shooting with it and having it developed in the normal way. Some people prefer to overexpose colour negative film a stop.


Black and white film is a bit less tolerant than colour negative film, there's some leeway but a neutral density filter can be enough to get a correct exposure. There's a difference between being able to take a picture compared to being able to change the exposure and development by small amounts to alter the contrast and grain.

 

[retinax]

The top speed of 1/250 might make you overexpose, certainly not underexpose. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot 400 ISO film with it if I had to in full sun, at f/16 you'd only overexpose by less than a stop, which should be no problem, and most of the time is helpful with shadow detail. But lower ISO film certainly gives you more options for exposure when you expect sunny weather.

 

[Artingei]

Are the results different with bw than with color? Ive read somewhere that underexposing bw still has the ability to disolay more detail compared to color - can anyone confirm?

Generally speaking, is there anything to consider when underexposing? Hres the thing, my Hexar AF only has a shutter speed of 1/250 max so i wonder if underexposing is the proper way to approach this in sunny situations. Any advice?

Thanks!

ND Filters are a must have with a Hexar AF.

I would guess color negative film has a wider exposure latitude than B&W film in general, but it seems you think about this too much because you don't know wether you are under- or overexposing when 250th of a second top speed limits you. 😉

You can't shoot film faster than 400 ISO with your Hexar in the sun without ND filter…

ND!

 

[papo]

I did think of underexposing in order to compensate available light situations that may be too harsh. If its already really bright, i dont need to overexpose.

As for ND filters, i had one on my old Fuji and they take away plenty of detail, which i didnt like so much.

 

[retinax]

I did think of underexposing in order to compensate available light situations that may be too harsh. If its already really bright, i dont need to overexpose.

Can you elaborate? I don't understand what you mean by this.