First use B&W film?

[sammacoy]

I will have to shoot some B&W photos in the coming month usng the B&W film. Cam anyone recommend what are the good film to use ? and Where can I get a nice place to develop ? What would be the cost like ? Thank You.

[eugene]

Good b/w film? It depends on what sort of quality are you looking for? Be it high contrast? Grainy? etc..etc.. Each roll should cost about RM8-15, depending on choice.

Typical developement of b/w in shop cost about rm8/- and takes a week. QC for it isn't something that is highly recommended. Sometimes you get good results and sometime you don't. Most shops should be able to develope it. All they do is just take your roll and send it in to some dude who does all b/w delopment around here. So it doesn't matter which shop you send to since chances are the roll of film will be develope by the above mentioned guy. 8)

[BooYeah]

Well... i think Kodak TMax 100 or tmax 400... are prettty safe... you won't go wrong with these two. Personally like Delta 125.... it gives a nice contrast.... bttw.. still new at all this.. still trying different films... experimenting stage.. = )

[maxby]

Try Tri-x or HP5......very forgiving film. If you are shooting a lot of film why don't you do bulk roll and develop the negatives yourself...cost about RM1/- per roll for processing. Then scan and use photoshop to edit. ;)

[Thalis]

Maxby

Do you mean scan the negs or the final print? I hear that negs aren't too scan-friendly... but chromogenic films are (T400CN & XP2 Super)...

[eugene]

No offence BooYeah... ;)

T-max 400 ain't the most forgiving. As for T-max 100, it ain't forgiving at all!

Don't belive me? Take a look at this high contrast photoJane Doe (http://eugene.photomalaysia.com/blackandwhite/jane.htm) . This is due to overdeveloping the film by 15secs ONLY. Taken with T-max100

For beginners, I strongly suggest advoiding them unless you are sure with your developing skills (or in this case, confident with the person developing it). A minute mistake in the timing/temperature and the film can produce results not wanted.
:lol:

Btw, this is getting really out of topic. If anyone of you want to continue discussing about b/w films, do start a new topic on it. We wouldn't want others to miss out on the topic of discussion would we?

[Brian]

Originally posted by maxby@Jul 29 2004, 12:17 PM
Try Tri-x or HP5......very forgiving film. If you are shooting a lot of film why don't you do bulk roll and develop the negatives yourself...cost about RM1/- per roll for processing. Then scan and use photoshop to edit. ;)
I wuz gonna say the same thing after BooYeahs post...the old tech films have a much broader exposure range and hold highlight detail better then the new tech films (like TMax or Delta). They also tend to push & pull better. New tech films have better sharpness thanks to even grains, but that same property gives them less exposure tolerance (especially in the highlights).

Old tech films are safer if you are just getting started. They are also (usually) cheaper and more forgiving if you self-process. :)

[Brian]

Originally posted by eugene@Jul 29 2004, 05:27 PM
Btw, this is getting really out of topic. If anyone of you want to continue discussing about b/w films, do start a new topic on it. We wouldn't want others to miss out on the topic of discussion would we?
Done. I split the thread :good2Bking:

[yoong]

If you want to save the hassle of developing, you can try using chromogenic B&W like T400CN -Kodak.

[Brian]

Originally posted by yoong@Jul 30 2004, 08:58 AM
If you want to save the hassle of developing, you can try using chromogenic B&W like T400CN -Kodak.
:gunz2: :bunny:

That's just one small step above shoting color and converting to B&W in PS :pissed:

(just kidding. i just felt like posting something with a gun and a little pink bunny in it :P )

[yoong]

Originally posted by Brian@Jul 30 2004, 05:05 PM
:gunz2: :bunny:

That's just one small step above shoting color and converting to B&W in PS :pissed:

(just kidding. i just felt like posting something with a gun and a little pink bunny in it :P )
sometimes we gotta go wat we gotta do... :lol: :lol: :P and bring back the old smileys too!

[sammacoy]

Thanks a lot for all the feedbacks and recommendation.
Will try it out be my actual shooting.
Really appreciate for all the effort. :)

[eugene]

Do post the results here. I am sure we are all anxious to see it.

[maxby]

Originally posted by eugene@Aug 1 2004, 05:41 AM
Do post the results here. I am sure we are all anxious to see it.
Hear!!! hear!!! :nodyes: :nodyes: :nodyes: :ph34r: