B&W Chromogenic film processed in traditional B&W chemicals

[David Lyga]

Is there any advantage to processing chromogenic B&W film in C-41 as opposed to the easier B&W traditional developers? (Grain, acutance?) Speed is not an issue here as I have tried both.

 

[Ian Grant]

Yes major advantages it's designed for the C41 process and grain etc is far finer in C41 and overall the results will be far better quality prints. The C41 processing is no harder than conventional B&W, it's so simple.

Ian

 

[danegermouse]

the main advantage is it produces predictable and intended results. you will get some images from traditional b/w chemicals but they will be far from optimal. i just recently found an old roll of the stuff in one of my camera bags and shot it. i was tempted to develop it in b/w chemicals but figured for a couple of dollars i may as well do it "properly". i find that although the colour cast is a bit weird, the negs still produce good prints in the darkroom. of course the c41 diy option is also there.

dane.

 

[markbarendt]

... in C-41 as opposed to the easier B&W traditional developers?

After shooting and developing C-41 film for better than a year now, in both B&W and color, I have to say that referring to traditional B&W processes as "easier" seems truly quaint now.

When I look at the whole context of how I work, C-41 film and processing makes my photographic life much easier and more productive.

 

[Fanshaw]

After shooting and developing C-41 film for better than a year now, in both B&W and color, I have to say that referring to traditional B&W processes as "easier" seems truly quaint now.

When I look at the whole context of how I work, C-41 film and processing makes my photographic life much easier and more productive.

Do you use a bought processing kit or do you make up the developer solutions from basic chemicals? C41 kits that I have seen are expensive, which puts me off using them for B&W film.

 

[markbarendt]

Do you use a bought processing kit or do you make up the developer solutions from basic chemicals? C41 kits that I have seen are expensive, which puts me off using them for B&W film.

If someone gave you a roll or two that you are just trying to use up, sure, break out the Rodinal and have fun or just take them to your local mini-lab and be done with it.

If all you shoot is B&W, a "normal" B&W film might be a good choice instead. The chromogenics though have some real advantages worth considering even if B&W is all you do.

If you shoot color and B&W C-41 rocks.

I think of chromogenic B&W films as one-color, color films, not as B&W.

One of the beauties of C-41 is that I can shoot a roll each of Kodak BW400cn, Ilford XP2 super, Kodak 160VC, and Fuji NPZ and develop all 4 different rolls in one tank, in one go.

If I tried to use one tank in one go to do a roll each of TXP, TX, TMax100, TMax 3200 I'd probably have a mess. So with normal B&W film I end up running most every roll alone or at best paired.

I started C-41 with this kit, 55fp475, which can technically do 300+ rolls. I figured if I got 50 rolls out of it I'd be happy and I did way, way more than that.

If you are going to do 50+ rolls in half a year this isn't expensive.

 

[Fanshaw]

I started C-41 with this kit, 55fp475, which can technically do 300+ rolls. I figured if I got 50 rolls out of it I'd be happy and I did way, way more than that.

If you are going to do 50+ rolls in half a year this isn't expensive.

Thanks for this. I think that I would need to switch completely to chromogenic to make it economic.