BW films @ ISO 1600

[Bosaiya]

Certainly you should tailor your combination to achieve the look you're after.

 

[Matus Kalisky]

- Peter -
I see your point about the limits of the film pushing. Indeed - this is a technique which one applies only in particular cases. Most of my BW shooting in "normal" conditions is done with FP4+ or delta 400 close to their box speed.

Still - I would like to try some low light stuff and hope to get better results that I didi with the Delta 3200 + Pyrocat HD (not optimal combination).

Obviously technically better results are obtained from 6x6 than 35mm, however my Rolleiflex T is f/3.5 and the 35mm RF goes down to f/1.4 or even faster.

------

Actually those "low grain shots in Rodinal" were actualy from Delta 400 @ 400 ...

I have checked a bit more and finally decided to go with DDX and see what comes out - and will post the results (though will take some weeks)

I am still putting myself together to get an enlarger (more matter of space than money) as I do know that scanning does no good to grain size in BW films.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

The 3200s are the only ones that come close to 1600 in true speed. Neopan 1600 is a complete waste of time at 1600 unless your brightness range is limited as you will lose loads of shadow. That said at 500-640 in my M it is a wonderful documentary film for available light work. Developed right it has very smooth contrast and great tonal range. It rarely is rate and developed right, hence the frequent comments of sever contrast and soot and whitewash tones.

D3200 at 1000-1600 developed for 3200 times is magic. Unique look and modest contrast. Great film for contrast control of very high range scenes, such as dawn sunrises through fog etc.

I dont push unless the SBR is very low, in which case the shadows are going to record properly anyway and I am really stretching the rest of teh range while allowing the lows to drop a touch from their reality (bit still falling within the range of the film). If shooting inside a building with windows in the frame, you have little choice but to select a film with higher true speed otherwise you will have thin shadows and blown to hell highlights.

Tip for Neopan 1600: Start by rating it a stop faster than Neopan 400. Get your dev right and the two films have almost identical tonal ranges and the Neopan 1600 will still have grain to rival TriX/HP5 shot at half the speed. 1600 it is not, however.

 

[funkpilz]

Being a student, I have to watch my budget. I bulk load HP5+, which I often shoot at 1600 and stand develop in 1:100 Rodinal for 90 minutes. The results are rather nice and contrasty, and the grain is quite attractive if a bit on the coarse side.

 

[Robert Budding]

The 3200s are the only ones that come close to 1600 in true speed. Neopan 1600 is a complete waste of time at 1600 unless your brightness range is limited as you will lose loads of shadow. That said at 500-640 in my M it is a wonderful documentary film for available light work. Developed right it has very smooth contrast and great tonal range. It rarely is rate and developed right, hence the frequent comments of sever contrast and soot and whitewash tones.

D3200 at 1000-1600 developed for 3200 times is magic. Unique look and modest contrast. Great film for contrast control of very high range scenes, such as dawn sunrises through fog etc.

I dont push unless the SBR is very low, in which case the shadows are going to record properly anyway and I am really stretching the rest of teh range while allowing the lows to drop a touch from their reality (bit still falling within the range of the film). If shooting inside a building with windows in the frame, you have little choice but to select a film with higher true speed otherwise you will have thin shadows and blown to hell highlights.

Tip for Neopan 1600: Start by rating it a stop faster than Neopan 400. Get your dev right and the two films have almost identical tonal ranges and the Neopan 1600 will still have grain to rival TriX/HP5 shot at half the speed. 1600 it is not, however.

I agree that Neopan 1600 isn't the best at EI 1600, but it's stunning at EI 800.

 

[clayne]

Anything 400 and above - with XTOL, but I've used D-76 for pushing with fine results.