What films to pack

[chrismoret]

Maybe some of you remembered the thread were I told y'all about the discussion with my girlfriend about what camera's we should take to our trip to India this coming fall.
The decision is that the D300 is for her, and the M4p for me.

So I thought to bring lots of Tri-X for B&W. And for color lots of Fuij Colorpro400H, or something like that. Are that good choices for the kind of travel. Have no experience photographing in that kind of conditions.

So, again....good advise is needed, please.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I remember the other thread: great you'll use the M... Both 400 films are a great idea... A few rolls of 3200 film for nights or low light interiors would be fine too, and also a bit of slow film for wide open shots under direct sun...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Pirate]

One thing I thought about when planning film for a trip, when bringing different ISO's like this, it would be nice to have the films in 12-shot instead of 24 or36. If you want to change rolls, you must use all the shots first, but you may not see anything worth shooting to finish the roll. So what do you do?

With 12-shot rolls it would be much easier, but then, maybe you don't like to change the film so often?

Just a thought.

 

[Chris101]

One thing I thought about when planning film for a trip, when bringing different ISO's like this, it would be nice to have the films in 12-shot instead of 24 or36. If you want to change rolls, you must use all the shots first, but you may not see anything worth shooting to finish the roll. So what do you do?

...

Rewind the film but leave the leader out and write the number of shots taken on the metal cassette. Then reload it later and continue shooting. Most of my vacation film is marked this way.

12 shot rolls are difficult to come by anymore, unless you roll your own.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

One thing I thought about when planning film for a trip, when bringing different ISO's like this, it would be nice to have the films in 12-shot instead of 24 or36. If you want to change rolls, you must use all the shots first, but you may not see anything worth shooting to finish the roll. So what do you do?

With 12-shot rolls it would be much easier, but then, maybe you don't like to change the film so often?

Just a thought.

For many years I did what Chris says: changing rolls and continuing them in other moment after permanent marking frame number on them...

Some years ago I discovered the comfort in using two bodies for different speed films. A second body with cap is great even if I bring one lens only.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Turtle]

If you intend on not always shooting stopped down, you might want to take some FP4 or other 100 speed as if you go when hot and sunny, you will be around f11-f16 at 1/1000th.

I'd agree for TriX as a great all rounder as it can be pushed nicely too. At dawn and dusk the TriX will do nicely, but in mid day you might need to pull the TriX to control contrast in harsh light.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Stick with one film, and I'd advise against packing fast (1600 or 3200) film -- too high a chance Xray machines will ruin them.

Keep it simple. Tri-X, if you like it and are experienced with it, is a great choice. Or some other 400 speed film if your preference is there -- you can always push them a stop or two with fine results, if you need extra speed.

Keep it simple and you won't go wrong.

 

[35mmdelux]

India is a color explosion place. Lose the tri-x. Sure HCB did it, but that was eons ago.

 

[mw_uio]

Chris - here is a cool combo - Ektar 100 + Ilford Pan F 50 + 100 speed B&W.


Mark
Quito, EC

 

[TareqPhoto]

Yes, for india as colorful, i will think about color films as well and not only B&W, so for colors, definitely i will take Ektar100 and Velvia 50 there or Provia 400F for landscapes and nature, Pro or Porta for portraits definitely. B&W you are doing great with Tri-X, think about something else like Neopan 100 and Delta 3200, good to have 3 films or 2, one slow one medium and one fast even one film can be pushed or pulled in between, but i like to have more options open for me, and you are experienced with push pull processing but i am not, so that i will take more than one speed films.

Good luck!

 

[robbeiflex]

I shoot Ilford a lot, and with FP4+ and HP5+ can cover from iso 50 to 1600 with some pushing and pulling. For India I would also take a lot of colour film!

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Unless taking around sunrise or before dusk the light tends to be pretty intense in India most of the time. I found myself shooting mainly the Acros I had with me or pulling the neopan to 200. I think some faster film if you need it for after dark otherwise you'll be struggling the rest of the day with too much speed with 400 asa.
Have you decided where you are going yet? I would thoroughly recommend Haridwar and Rishikesh in the autumn/fall if you are in the North west.

http://www.triptodelhi.com/haridwar-travel-guide.html and if you are in Delhi the Lotus Temple as pictured on this site is a must see. Need more advice on anything PM me. I've seen a great deal of the north.

 

[mich8261]

I would recommend Fuji Astia for colour. Great colour saturation, just not exaggerated like Velvia. I second your choice of Tri-X.

 

[chrismoret]

Thanks for all the thoughts. Sure helped out on this one!

Just got back from the Photo-store to pick up my stash of film: 12x Tri-X, 12x Velvia, and 5x Ektar. Some eyebrows were raised when the pile of boxes got on the countertop 😱.
So the visa's are here, camera's checked, films in the bag, what are we waiting for?....oh..., the plane doesn't leave 'til halfway September.😀
I'm keeping them cool till then.

 

[johannielscom]

So, Kansas is going bye-bye 😉

Switching mid-roll and writing the shots on the leader is the way to go. Just advance one frame past the noted number, to make sure no shots overlap!

If you happen to run into a vintage camera shop and they sell 5x7 inch field cameras by the Indian brand 'Vageeswari': I'm looking for film holders for that camera 😀 I'll cover your costs!

 

[mwooten]

And take a ND filter too.

 

[xxloverxx]

Also consider shooting 1 roll in strong daylight and finishing it before the light goes; pull to 100 or 200. Then at night shoot another roll at 400; finish off in the morning and rate another roll at 100 when the light gets strong.

Just a thought.

 

[Vics]

If it were me, I'd go with one film, but it's not me. The thing I like about your choices is that they are both 400 ISO. That way you don't run the risk of having the wrong speed in the camera. I've not been to India, but it seems from my vantage point, in California, to be a colorful place. I hope you'll be taking just one lens! Post some pics when you return.
Vic

 

[chrismoret]

So, Kansas is going bye-bye 😉

Switching mid-roll and writing the shots on the leader is the way to go. Just advance one frame past the noted number, to make sure no shots overlap!

If you happen to run into a vintage camera shop and they sell 5x7 inch field cameras by the Indian brand 'Vageeswari': I'm looking for film holders for that camera 😀 I'll cover your costs!

I'm definitly planning on scouring for rare camera parafenalia when I"ll get the chance over there. I'll keep my eyes open for the film holder.
And thanks for the mid-film-switch tip.

 

[chrismoret]

Also consider shooting 1 roll in strong daylight and finishing it before the light goes; pull to 100 or 200. Then at night shoot another roll at 400; finish off in the morning and rate another roll at 100 when the light gets strong.

Just a thought.

That's no problem with the Tri-X, they will be processed by myself. But the color films are going to be processed by a lab, I don't know if that's a possibility( the push or pull). Nevertheless a great tip, thanks!