What Should I get for B&W ?

M

mw_uio

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I have some KA Ching $$$ and want to get some B&W film. I do know that I want a total of no more than 20 rolls.

I was thinking about a mix of T-Max 100, T-Max 400, Plus X-125, Tri-X 400 in the Kodak line. What do you think, or should I go on a run with Fuji, Ilford?

I will be sending this out for processing. Also what filter should I be using? Right now I have a skylight filter.

It is my little gift to myself.

thank you

Cheer
Mark
Quito, EC
 
When you say 'sending out for processing' I presume you mean to a local lab. If so, I'm not sure you want to get the traditional B&W film listed. Get the Ilford XP2 Super or Kodak B&W Portra (or whatever they call it now). Awesome stuff for neutral or toned B&W prints. Most labs are NOT set up to do regular B&W. You would be really disappointed unless you do your own processing at home in darkroom.
Steve
 
I was not happy with Kodak BW400CN (C41) from the last roll I got back from the Kodak Pro Lab and wanted too go with some tradional B&W film, and then send it back to Canada to have a lab develop and scanned. I am still debaiting on what I want.
 
mw_uio said:
I was not happy with Kodak BW400CN (C41) from the last roll I got back from the Kodak Pro Lab and wanted too go with some tradional B&W film, and then send it back to Canada to have a lab develop and scanned. I am still debaiting on what I want.
Click to expand...
i haven't used the chromogenic stuff for a few years, but i remember having a very, very strong preference for the ilford. the kodak has an orange mask like regular color neg film, and this made it weird to print. plus it felt somewhat mushy next to the ilford.
 
For 20 rolls, I would stick to one or two films & buy them based on what speed you use. Since you're not developing this yourself, it wouldn't be a bad idea to talk to the lab you plan to use & see what they find works well--this will give you an idea of what yields decent results in their processing.

For all-around film, just getting all Tri-X would be fine. If you know you want to shoot in bright light & want finer grain, get some T-Max 100 & don't overexpose it. If you want to do some low light stuff, try rating Tri-X at 1600 or get some T-Max 3200P & shoot it at 1600.
 
This is encouraging! quattro98..... yeah the better idea is 10 of Tri-X 400, and 10 of T-Max 100, and go with that and see what happens with different conditions. I really do not know what to expect as I really have not shot true black and white. I do like to shoot in 'Aperture Priority' as I do not have the luxury of standing around and looking in the view finder and adjusting aperture and shutter....I just set the aperture so that I get a 125 shutter speed of a 250 shutter speed, when in 'A' mode. Where I like to go is the centro historical part of Quito in the day time but not after 6pm as it is dark out. I have to watch my back. I am now going online to look for the best deal for the Tri-X 400 and T-Max 100. I know I can get T-Max 100 locally, but the
Tri-X 400?

I found some photos on Flickr of a Italian who used Tri-X 400 and his photos said to my self, that is the effect I want of the grain, tonal, balance....etc...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiolanotte/page7/ This is what did it too me.
I guess I would like to produce a few keepers and have them framed to remember. I like the street !!!

Cheers

Mark
Quito, EC
 
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