I was looking for some information regarding a flash unit that could deliver about f45 or f64 around 10 feet. I'm currently shooting plus x 125 speed film - I would consider pretty much any other film too. I'm shooting this old timey 50s prom with an 8x10, I just need a frontal flash to give the look while retaining the focus. I attached an example of the kind of image I'm going for, however the final photos will be done in a high school gym, so I'd like to have more party decorations and such in focus. I'm using reflective decorations and clothes to help with the lack of light towards the back of the frame. I'm guessing a monolight would do the trick, I was able to get f 11 with my vivitar 285hv at full power.
Tri-X will give you the look and more speed. I think my Norman FS-10 fresnel head and a 2000 W-s pack can give you around f:64 at 10 feet with ISO 125, but if you want some light on the background, a faster film will give you room to adjust the focus to a broader setting. This presumes you want that kind of shadow like in the sample photo, otherwise it's best to light the background separately.
If you want to use that film it sounds like a job for a single 1500WS studio strobe and a big softbox.
You're not getting Plus-X in 8x10. You can't even get in in 4x5. Kodak stopped making that a long time ago. Freestyle seems to have the largest selection of 8x10 films around and these are your choices. I'm curious to know why on earth you'd want to do this with an 8x10 camera? Just popping a flash on a 35 mm SLR and firing away can produce that sort of look. 8x10 film costs anywhere from $2 to $5 a pop. That's rather extravagant.
