Kodak 160VC + my Canonet

[schrackman]

I'm sure Kodak 160VC is a fine film, just not for my particular Canonet. I find it interesting that my QL-17 either loves a film or hates it. No in-betweens. And with every new film I buy I put it through a series of different subjects and lighting conditions to try and see where it might fare best. But this film pretty much failed miserably in my Canonet. But again, I don't blame the film per se.

Below is perhaps the best photo came off the roll, and this is scanned from a print with no color corrections from PS, just a tad of sharpening. It was shot in an old graveyard on a hill in Chehalis, WA, with the fog just lifting in the morning. I think I had the aperture at 1.7 or 2.8, can't remember the shutter speed but it was probably @ 500.

I think Fuji NPS 160 is about the best negative film I've used on my Canonet so far, so I'm gonna stick with it (see my flickr for examples) along with Kodak Elite Chrome and Fuji Provia slide film.

Aaron, what have you found to be your favorite color films for your Canonet?

Ray

[Xia_Ke]

...Aaron, what have you found to be your favorite color films for your Canonet?

DOH! And after I just gave you grief for not using yours enough...LOL

Honestly, I haven't touched my Canonet, or any 35mm camera, in a LONG time. Ever since I started shooting MF, I haven't really looked back. I also haven't shot any color film with it. I'd be interested to see some comparison shots of the various films you've used though in varying conditions to show the differences.

[photophorous]

Hi Ray,

It's been a while since I shot my Canonet, and I've mostly used it with B&W, but I was happy with the results from cheapo Fuji Superia Xtra 400. That film never ceases to amaze me, especially for the price.

What is it you're having trouble with? If you're meter is underexposing, that could make just about any negative film look awful.

Paul

[schrackman]

Shame on you Aaron and Paul! lol that little Canonet of yours needs to be used every now and then, and if not just send them to me. I'll take care of them.

I generally don't keep my negatives from films I tend to dislike using on my Canonet. But I'll see if I can find some. I dont' think the problem is exposure, though. I always set the camera to "A" mode so the aperature is set automatically to the shutter speed that I select. Rarely do I manually focus when using a new film. I could shoot manually but when testing I like to be consistent. I can't really say what the problem is with some films. I just know which films do the best or not in my little Canonet. The same thing seems true with all the b/w film I've shot. It does great with Ilford FP4+ (in Rodinal) and PanF 50, good to very good with Kodak BW400cn, and just terrible with Tri-x 400. I've yet to try Afga with the Canonet, but it seems to do very well with my half frame Parat.

Oh, and yes, Paul, Superia does seem to do very well on the Canonet as well.

Ray

[brmill26]

I think I see what you mean, Ray. The colors just don't seem great.

I just got 24 rolls of outdated 35mm B&W on eBay; about half TMAX400 and the other half 100. I've never shot either, so I'm looking forward to running them through the Nikon... whenever this ridiculously cold weather warms up.

[schrackman]

I just finished the roll of Velvia 50. Will be dropping it off tomorrow! Now I know why I really hate 36 exposure film...takes me too long to finish it! lol

Ray

[Greg McCary]

Ray I don't shoot a lot of Kodak 160VC but I have shoot a ton of NC. In my Canonet and M6. It seems it can be hit or miss. Reala is much more reliable than the Kodak. The VC I have shoot look almost just like the NC.

[Axle]

Yeah I agree. I love Portra 160VC, (I have two rolls laying in wait for use later and a roll of 400NC). But those colours don't look like the usual I get from Portra.

Fuji Pro 160S I've gotten some nice work out of.