Which B&W film - if I'm not processing?

[don sorsa]

Darkroom-wise: I agree with the bunch above - spend a couple dozen bucks and a little time to see if you enjoy developing your negatives and deciding which are worth printing and which should be "archived" for the unknowable future. If you don't enjoy processing your own negatives, then invent a system so others do it for you regardless of the additional expenses. Rule #1: Photography should be fun and we should all concentrate on the aspects we find most enjoyable, as much as possible anyway.

Film-wise: With C41, shoot 2-3-4 rolls of the available types and see which looks you prefer. (Of course this look can evolve as tastes develop.) With DIY B&W, shoot rolls of 1600, 400 and 100 and decide which is easiest to process and most pleasing, and then stick with your preferences. Take your top choices and spend the rest of your natural life trying to make good pix that you like and mean something to others.

At the risk of repeating my comments on other threads (and ideas advanced by Ken Rockwell and folks on this list), every modern camera, lens, film can help us make great images. Don't let equipment worries prevent you from seeking excellent images.

Don

 

[Doug]

One more voice in the chorus! When you prefer not to develope the negs yourself, a C41 B&W film is a great choice, either the Kodak that you've already used, or Ilford XP2.

I've used XP2 (and its forerunner XP1) for many years, and very much like the smooth creamy tonality. It does tend to be a little low in contrast in lab prints, but there's a huge breadth of detail on the neg's highlights (and shadows if you're generous with exposure). This is my preferred B&W film.

I've also used a wide variety of conventional B&W films over the years, and have a particular fondness for Ilford Pan-F, Ilford FP-4, and Kodak Tri-X. When I use these films nowadays I devlope them in Diafine, as already suggested, for the ease and lack of fussiness. About as easy as it gets, when you wish to take that first step toward doing your own.

Above all, enjoy!

 

[st3ph3nm]

Hi guys,

I've been away from here for a bit.

Can I just say a very big thankyou to everyone for their comments, advice and encouragement. Not to mention the extra threads that were spawned re. scanning etc. All very helpfull.

I've now started looking at getting a changing bag, but that'll be a little way off, yet.

It seems the way to go (for me and my limited space) is to do that, and rather than printing, get a film scanner and work that way. Or try Kris's route. Or probably both.

In the meantime, I'm also keen to try XP2 (thanks Doug), as it seems to offer what I'm looking for (short-term), going by your comments. Just gotta find somewhere easy to get to that stocks it. Kris, is Vanbar open on weekends?

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Kris]

Hi Steve

Vanbar does open on Saturday but only from 0800 to 1200. If you can't find any film you want to try from local shops, you're welcomed to PM me. I can get them from Vanbar and meet up with you somewhere for photoshooting or coffee or beer or else. 🙂

There is a downside of using slide film for later conversion to B&W: exposure is critical. With negatives, I can just aim the camera at shadow and if both > and O lights up on my R2, then it's all good. With slide films, I will get clear piece of film where the highlight is if I do that trick.