Film preferance...

[RockinKamraKlikr]

I photograph mostly outdoors and was wondering what kind of film everyone prefers, both black and white and color. I work mostly with Tmax 400 B&W and wanted to experiment with some other kinds, but first thought I'd see what you guys thought. Thanks for your imput!

[another view]

The magic phrase with film selection: "It depends" ;)

Do you develop, scan and/or print your own B&W? I'm personally not a TMX or TMY fan but like their 3200. I usually use Tri-X in D76 developer but I'm not very experienced with it. If you don't process yourself, I've had good luck with Kodak's recently discontinued T400CN which is a C41 (color process) b&w. They have the new BW400CN but I haven't tried it. It scans really well, but the trick is finding the right lab.

If you're talking about nature photography, most people use slide films. The ones I use most are Fuji's Provia 100F and 400F and Velvia 50.

[Clemmie]

Konica still makes a C-41 process B&W 400. The number escapes me at the moment - I don't normally shoot the stuff.

In Color print films - I can recommend Fuji Superia, widely available in 100/200/400/800. Am also getting GREAT results with Konica VX (the newest boxes may say Konica-Minolta VX), which comes in 100/200/400/800/1600.

Superia, you can find at any Wal-Mart in the land.

The Konica VX is a bit harder to come by. I order mine from B&H, where it's about 20% cheaper than the Superia. Also pretty fresh stock - I have a batch now with late-2006 expiration dates.

[RockinKamraKlikr]

I develop my own Black and White, but for color photos I take them to a lab. I'm just starting to get into color photography (my first experienceses with serious photography where in a class where we took and developed black and white) which brings me to another question... how hard is it to find a good lab you can trust with your film? I mean are they all that different? My family has always taken our snapshots to Wal-Mart but is that out of the question with photos you really care about? Thanks for the advice and Ill check out some of those films you guys mentioned. Feel free to add more to the list ;)

The magic phrase with film selection: "It depends" ;)

Do you develop, scan and/or print your own B&W? I'm personally not a TMX or TMY fan but like their 3200. I usually use Tri-X in D76 developer but I'm not very experienced with it. If you don't process yourself, I've had good luck with Kodak's recently discontinued T400CN which is a C41 (color process) b&w. They have the new BW400CN but I haven't tried it. It scans really well, but the trick is finding the right lab.

If you're talking about nature photography, most people use slide films. The ones I use most are Fuji's Provia 100F and 400F and Velvia 50.

[Franglais]

I photograph mostly outdoors and was wondering what kind of film everyone prefers, both black and white and color. I work mostly with Tmax 400 B&W and wanted to experiment with some other kinds, but first thought I'd see what you guys thought. Thanks for your imput!

I used to use Tmax 400 but I never liked it somehow. Others have started talking about black & white C41 films so I'm going to continue.

These films have many advantages:

- standard processing (C41)
- finer grain than the equivalent silver-halide films (like TMAX 400)
- real ISO is 500-800 ISO rather than 400 ISO
- great overexposure latitude
- scans like a colour film i.e. dust-removal technology works

I find that in Photoshop I can bring the mid-tones right up to give me luminous shadows, detail in the highlights and dark blacks. In most lighting conditions I can get a result that looks right.

The best film was Kodak T400CN, but that was discontinued. I've now switched over to Ilford XP2 Super (keeping my fingers crossed that they will survive going bankrupt)

In colour outdoors - I use Fuji Provia 100F if possible or Reala if the lighting is difficult. For people I use NPH400 or NPC160 but that's probably outside the subject.

Charles
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