kennjg
Member
I use a Bessa R that I recently loaded with some 400 speed film. I have seen some posts suggesting that it might be best to shoot at 200 speed with this film. What advantages does this offer? Is there a downside to this as well?
Using different film speeds
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kaiyen
local man of mystery
Oh boy. big question here. First, check this out:
http://photos.kaiyen.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Filmspeed
Basically, you would expose at 200 if you are not getting adequate shadow detail at 400. Exposure determines shadows, development determines highlights.
Your best bet is to just shoot at 400 (maybe 320 if you want to be at least a little safe, since few developers will give you 400), and see if the results are okay. If not, then go to a lower speed.
The downside is that you've lost a stop of speed. That can make all the difference in the world depending on your lighting conditions.
allan
http://photos.kaiyen.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Filmspeed
Basically, you would expose at 200 if you are not getting adequate shadow detail at 400. Exposure determines shadows, development determines highlights.
Your best bet is to just shoot at 400 (maybe 320 if you want to be at least a little safe, since few developers will give you 400), and see if the results are okay. If not, then go to a lower speed.
The downside is that you've lost a stop of speed. That can make all the difference in the world depending on your lighting conditions.
allan
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
well - it also depends on which film... many c41 color and bw process films perfom a bit better if you overexpose them slightly (often showing less grain, and better shadow detail, while still holding the highlights).
traditional bw films run the gamut, and depend wildly on processing as to whether or not you get any significant benefit from shooting a stop over.
traditional bw films run the gamut, and depend wildly on processing as to whether or not you get any significant benefit from shooting a stop over.
R
rpsawin
Guest
Not to pick nits, but which film(s) are you using?
Bob
Bob
kennjg
Member
Film is Fuigi Superia 400 speed.
R
Richard Black
Guest
Fuji 400
Fuji 400
Are you dissatisfied with the results you are getting? If you are, you may want to experiment with a lower asa rating. If not, don't worry about what others find satisfactory. I shoot Fuji color film almost exclusive when I use color film and find that rating it at what Fuji posts for it to be quite acceptable. Given the vagaries of the development techniques at the various outlets that I have available, I don't think I could tell that overexposing the film made any difference. Unless the lab reads each frame before printing, I can't see how one could tell. Just my opinion!
Fuji 400
Are you dissatisfied with the results you are getting? If you are, you may want to experiment with a lower asa rating. If not, don't worry about what others find satisfactory. I shoot Fuji color film almost exclusive when I use color film and find that rating it at what Fuji posts for it to be quite acceptable. Given the vagaries of the development techniques at the various outlets that I have available, I don't think I could tell that overexposing the film made any difference. Unless the lab reads each frame before printing, I can't see how one could tell. Just my opinion!
Bryce
Well-known
Color negative film gives a little bit more saturated colors and slightly less noticeable grain if it's overexposed a little bit. A stop is slightly to color negative materials.
That said, you likely won't see a huge difference.
That said, you likely won't see a huge difference.
kevin m
Veteran
Underexposure is 'death' for color negative film. And by 'death' I mean muddy colors and obvious, ugly grain. iso320 is my default setting for NPH, and when there's lots of shadow detail I want to keep in a scene, I'll use another 1/2 stop exposure compensation. The highlights can almost always be saved and even if they can't, a little blown white in a wedding dress looks much better and more 'natural' than a muddy, grainy brown/black tuxedo. 😉
