complete newbee

[bill509]

I posted about suggestions for my first camera and was helped out greatly; I bought a good used Canon AE-1. I realize this model is no longer made; it fit everything I needed in a camera and will allow a good selection of lenses for a good price. Now I need help finding a good 200 b&w film, any suggestions or knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

[92135011]

i dont know of many 200 speed BW films...they are just not all that popular.
Why not use a nice 100 or 400?

[mjs1973]

Check out the review section on this site. They have a section dedicated to B&W film. Here is the link. I ran into a guy this weekend who recomended Agfa Scala B&W film. It's a slide film, and a little expensive, but from what I read in the reviews, is a very nice film. My B&W use is limited to Kodak Tri-X and T-Max. I like them both but I don't know if they come in 200. Good luck.

[another view]

I'm not aware of any 200 speed B&W films either. I've never used Scala before, but try to find someone to develop it first - I guess there are only a couple of places in the US that do it. Can't remember who, but it's probably expensive too.

B&W is a whole different world - the ISO speed is more of a starting point than an absolute rule. A lot of people shoot Tri-X at ISO250 and develop it normally at ISO400, this gives more shadow detail. Tri-X can also be shot at 1600 if it's developed with a two stop push; it will be grainy but it has a unique look to it. If you decide to do stuff like this, it's probably best to develop it yourself. It's really not hard or expensive, and doesn't require a darkroom unless you want to make prints with an enlarger. I don't do it often, but I develop the film and then scan the negatives so I don't need a darkroom. Nothing beats a real darkroom B&W print made by a master though...

[Dzerzhinski46]

The only 200 speed black and white film I know of is Ilford SFX. But it is a extended red film, for semi infrared effects. I would recommend you start out with something versitile, like Tri X or HP5 Plus. Both are 400 speed films, but they are very good all round films. You might also consider one of the chromogenic films (black and white films you develop in color chemistry), such as Ilford XP2 Super, and Kodak 400 TCN. They are very versitile, push well, havd a wide latitude (read, they are very forgiving), and have a very fine grain.

Besides the film, find a good lab that you trust to make your prints. If you are really serious about black and white, you may eventually want to develop your own film, but it still pays to find a trusty lab to make your prints. Good luck.

Drew

[bill509]

Thanks for all the help so far; I like to have some kind of idea of what I?m looking for before I go into the shop. Tomorrow ill go to Ritz-camera and get a few different rolls. Unfortunately its that or wall-mart within a half an hour and all the good shops close before I can get there from work.

[mdmc]

Should be all the B&W film available. Forte is a name I recognize and has iso 200 print.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=11&Submit.y=9
Mark.