oops...wrong ASA

[rlynn5]

Please don't laugh...

I took some pictures for the bride and groom to be a couple of weeks ago. This was before I had been properly educated about film speed and I was using the highest I could find because I thought that was best. We were taking some shots outside on a very sunny day and I was using 800 speed film (with my 50mm lens and the camera set mostly on automatic with a few aperture changes). Ordinarily, I wouldn't be too worried since this is what I've always done, and these types of pictures are the reason they asked me to take pictures at their wedding in the first place. The problem is I had been using some 400 speed film before that and I forgot to change the ASA on my camera back to 800. What will this do to my pictures? The mother of the groom has developed the pictures, and everyone that has seen them says they look great, but since this is a very nice family, I don't know if they're telling the truth or not. Is it possible I completely ruined these pictures?

[mjs1973]

What film did you use? Print fill has a lot of latitude when it comes to under/over exposure compaired to slides and digital. It is very possible that the developer/printer was able to get pretty good results from your over exposed film.

You should ask the family to see the pics so you can judge them for yourself.

Also, what camera are you using? If the camera you're using reads the DX coding on the film canister, it would have adjusted the ASA automatically, assuming the film you used is DX coded. The only film that I have ever used that wasn't DX coded, is film I bought in bulk and rolled myself.

[SmartWombat]

One stop of over-exposure, probably not ruined.
Though the whites in the dresses might be over-white and showing little detail.

[another view]

One stop of overexposure should be fine with neg film. I used to expose my ISO400 at 250 (+2/3) for a little more shadow detail and "insurance" that I wasn't underexposed if the meter was fooled, etc. Underexposure can cause more problems - I'd say that generallytwo stops over and one under are passable and right on to one stop over is good.

The faster the film speed, the more contrasty it seems to get so I'd probably recommend shooting 800 at 640 (+1/3), but again 400 should be OK.

[rlynn5]

Thanks everyone...I fell a little bit better. I will be seeing the pictures, probably within the next few days when mother of the groom gets back to town. I just wanted to know what I should be expecting.

I was using my old camera, Canon AV-1 (old school, I know, but I love that camera) For the most part the couple was wearing bright colors (these were basically engagement pics that will be used as favors at the wedding).

I have an N80 now, so I shouldn't have this problem again.

As always, thanks for your input and for continuing to help educate me!

[Greg McCary]

I did the same thing this last weekend when I used the old manual camera. I shot 400 and the camera was set for 200. The lab pulled it out though. Paul was right. The sky was a bit much, but everything else seemed OK. I got used to the DX coding on my Rebel sometimes I forget.....

[another view]

I have an N80 now, so I shouldn't have this problem again.

Nothing wrong with an old camera. When I was talking about exposing at ISO250 I'd manually set the camera that way. I'd still have to remember to put it back in "DX" mode so that it automatically choses the ISO speed of whatever film was being used if I changed film speeds. This can obviously still lead to problems - automated cameras still can't think for you!