Film Choice. Going Steady or Playing the Field?

copake_ham · Mar 30, 2007

Lately there have been a couple of threads dealing with discontinuance of certain film types Even though the manufacturer in doing so also announces what it considers to be "new, improved replacements". The recent thread on Kodak discontinung its pro UC400 etc. in favor of the Porta line immediately comes to mind.

When I read threads like this, I find I have a fairly sanguine reaction to the actual news. Generally I consider the news to be benign, or even positive. So long as K, F or I is investing in R&D, it is inevitable and positive that new films be devised and older technologies discontinued. Creative destruction is the source of progress. At least I think so.

But a lot of folk seem to react to news such as this with a very negative response. They apparently have a high degree of loyalty to a particular film type based on their familarity and satisfaction with it. So, when such a film is discontinued for a replacement, they express the anger and frustration of "abandonment".

I figure that the difference is, while I have certain favorite color films (e.g. F's Velvia 50 comes to mind) I am very open to trying and using various color negative and chrome films. True, I am an amateur and don't have a professional reputation invested in a "certain look" and may not be representative of how others here feel.

So my question is whether most folks here prefer to just use one or, at most, a couple of film types, virturally to the exclusion of all others; or are you more like me - kind of roaming the field - with maybe a couple of preferences but no real hard loyalties?

Terence · Mar 30, 2007

I think it is more a factor for those who develop their own negatives.

That said, I develop my own, and despite being an engineer (with all the technical baggage that implies), I am not really beholden to any one film developer, paper combo. I have some films I love, such as SFX, and others I use merely as tools that produce negs I can work with, such as Pan F, FP4 and HP5.

My developing technique is more Julia Child than nuclear physicist. "A pinch of this . . . a sprig of that . . . and some more wine . . . " So long as the temperature is between freezing and boiling, the developer is fine. Maybe I develop a shade more or a bit less, but it's hardly what some of the folks here would call "repeatable".

I miss the loss of choice and have only "discovered" some products after they were discontinued, but such is life. I enjoy the process and try not to get too bogged down in what I consider the minutiae. To me it's a hobby. If I make it so difficult it feels like work I either won't enjoy it or I'll avoid doing it.

Edit: Sorry. Just noticed this was in the color section and all I talked about was B&W. Simply substitute Provia and Sensia wherever you see FP4 and HP5.

Paul Howell · Mar 30, 2007

I think of my film options in 2 broad catagories.

1. Shooting around what ever I can get that is cheap.

2. It matters, I stick to Kodak UC 100 and 400 in 35 and 120, I dont think I have shot color 4X5 in years.

Roger Hicks · Mar 30, 2007

Terence said:
If I make it so difficult it feels like work...

By which time it may be too late. 'Turning pro' can be overrated!

Cheers,

R.

Terence · Mar 30, 2007

Roger Hicks said:
By which time it may be too late. 'Turning pro' can be overrated!

Cheers,

R.

That's what happened to me. As a child I played in the mud. Now I'm a construction manager and it often seems like work. But at least I get a paycheck, whereas I used to just get yelled at for tracking mud in the house.

pentaxuser · Mar 30, 2007

I have generally stuck to one colour neg film - The Fuji Superia range from 100 to 1600 but mainly 100 and 400.

I have tried Kodak(once), Konica(several rolls) and Agfa(once) without the same degree of success. In the case of Kodak it was probably because I was using a roll that my son had carried around in a rucksack in horrendous heat for months in Australia. So not really a fair trial. In the case of Konica I had new film but the colour palette wasn't ideal for me.

The Agfa Vista was the best of these three other makes. I ran out of Fuji at a wildlife safari park and the park only carried Agfa. Its slightly muted colours suited animal photography and I have a framed picture of a lioness which I think looks particularly good but Agfa is alas no more, although occasionally Vista will make an appearance at some suppliers.

I might make an attempt to buy more for shots requiring muted colours if I could but Fuji Reala might equallty fit the bill or the new Fuji pro film.

pentaxuser

PHOTOTONE · Mar 30, 2007

When the T-max line of films was introduced, I was told by the local camera store that Kodak was going to phase out Tri-x, Plus-x. So they weren't going to carry them anymore. Boy were they wrong. Strong demand for the traditional Tri-x and Plus-x have kept them available to some degree even today. I think Kodak was even surprised that "some" people didn't just love T-max.

Chan Tran · Mar 30, 2007

I think I will stick with the Kodak Portra line of color negative films until they stop making them.

wirehead · Mar 30, 2007

There are two problems...

1)Kodak is dropping unqiue emulsions. Like 160T and 320T. Now the fastest tungsten film is 64 speed.
2) Kodak isn't telling us ahead of time. I'm not above changing from UC400 to 400VC, but I'd like to have some warning first.

I didn't complain about Velvia 50 being dropped because I, unlike everybody else, actually prefer the 100.

eddym · Mar 30, 2007

As far as color films go, I've been shooting Kodak for almost 30 years... well, longer if you count the snapshots I used to make before I got "serious" about photography.
My first favorite was Vericolor VPS160. Beautiful film, especially for portraits! Then I think there was a 400 version, then a "commercial" version -VPC- with more contrast, and the film continued to evolve and improve.
Then it was replaced with Portra, that came in four flavors. The NC was supposedly the closest to Vericolor, so that's what I shot. And it was good.
Then, in shooting ballet, I was asked to shoot color instead of B&W, and needed a fast film. I shot Supra 400 and pushed it, and then later Supra 800. They were both good films. I don't think they are still around, and I guess now it's just Portra, which has been improved yet again.
So I guess to answer your question, I've been "going steady" with Kodak in color films, though in B&W I have gone over to Iflord.

gr82bart · Mar 30, 2007

I've pretty much stuck to Kodak Ektachrome films, including tungsten films, for the past several years. But, I'm not wedded to it. I use to shoot nothing but Kodak Kodachrome when I was a student.

In terms of B&W I can't remember when I started, but it was pretty much Agfa Scala from the start. I don't shoot B&W often and I've rarely shot negative films. When I do it's Kodak T-Max, Kodak Aerial 2524 respooled 120, Kodak HIE or Ilford Delta 3200 for those times when I need it.

When I did shoot B&W negatives, it was whatever I could find for cheap - usually hand rolled Kodak or Ilford films.

I like the Kodak products because they are readily available anywhere in the world. I like the new saturated slide films especially.

I've shot slide films since the very begining. My first roll of film was a 36 exposure roll of Kodachrome 64. I like slides mainly because it gives me the greatest number of print and viewing options with Cibrachrome chemistry, my scanner & PS, as well as my DayLab printer for Polaroid transfers and even 4x5 prints/negatives from Polaroid Type 55 film/negatives from a single roll of film.

Regards, Art.

braxus · Mar 30, 2007

I don't generally shoot just one film type. Since photography is a hobby with me and not a business, I can shoot whatever roll I feel like putting in the camera that day. "Um today maybe I'll grab my 1N and Elan 7 and shoot some Efke 25 with Gold 100". Then the next time might be my Pentax 67 with Pentax 645 with 160VC and Tri-X. I do tend to stick with Kodak films, but I have used Fuji (I like Velvia 50 and Reala). So it doesn't kill me when 100/ 400UC gets discontinued in 120. I'll just shoot the VC films from now on when my UC runs out. Its when the only film choices will be Max 400 and nothing else will I cry foul. I still think there are plenty of choices of film out there today, even with lets say half of Kodaks former films available are axed. But I feel for the pros that get used to one film type and get to know it well. Starting over can not be fun for them. But I was suprised 400UC was axed being its probably Kodaks most popular color pro film in 400 these days. Its the choice of films out there that is part of the fun in photography with me.

My one concern is the only place I can get my pro film from is 30km away, and if what they say is true- will no longer be bringing in Kodak products. They sell hardly any film at all these days, so I can't get the variety I like. That would mean from now on I'll have to drive over 100KM to the best store that supports film users still just to get my film. Luckily Im not worrying for now because I have such a large stash of film in the freezer and I dont shoot that often, I wont run out for a long while. Maybe years. Any film I use up I on occassion stock it back up again, so I really never run out of the freezer stash.

film_guy · Mar 31, 2007

I don't stick with one type of film for long (with color), but with B&W once I find something fine (and well within my price-range), I generally stick with it. I started out in 35mm color with Kodak's Potra line, but then I find their reds to be too saturated for my tastes. That's why I moved to Fuji's NPH and NPZ line for color. I need a toned down color film for my scanning, and currently Fuji's the best. I guess the one of the main reasons for me sticking with one film is that it's readily available from the local stores. If the local stores sell cheaper Kodak films compared to Fuji, I'll shoot Kodak more.

I don't shoot slides (yet), so I don't have any thoughts on that.

Anupam Basu · Mar 31, 2007

Color: Velvia 50 has been my standard macro photography film - I push it a stop on occasion. I mostly shoot early morning or in overcast condition but for the occasional sunny shoot, I'll switch to sensia. I shoot very little else in color and will pretty much try a variety of films when I do.

BW: I find a film that I know and have tested properly for EI and development time to be better than a film a I don't. So I keep to the cheapest film that gives me good results - Arista.edu ultra (fomapan 100) i 4x5 and shoot just that. My 35mm handheld RF standard is tri-X.

-Anupam

roteague · Mar 31, 2007

I shoot mostly Velvia (no surprise), although I have been known to run a roll or two of Provia 400F through the camera. I've been shooting more 100 Velvia over the past couple of years, but when I look back at my images, my favorites are those shot with Velvia 50.

PatTrent · Mar 31, 2007

As long as it's available, Kodachrome is my one and only slide film.

For C-41, I've pretty much stayed with Fuji Reala or Superia 400, although I recently got a very good buy on some 400UC. So both Kodak and Fuji are in the freezer now.

Tri-X (both 400TX and 320TXP, depending on the film size) and FP4+ are my mainstays for B&W, and I use a lot more FP4+ than Tri-X. Now and then I have a "PanF+ fit" when I get an overwhelming urge for it (with Rodinal, semi-stand, of course).

Thanasis · Mar 31, 2007

I tend to have "long term relationships" with films. For the last year, I have been using Velvia 100 for all landscape, macro and night photography. I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but my film choice tends to dictate the subjects that I photograph. With the Velvia 100 I am pretty much unabe to shoot people, portraits etc. I have a second body that I load up with Superia 100 which I use to satisfy those cravings.

At this stage of my development as a photographer, I am more interested in teaching myself good techniques and gaining a deeper understanding of the materials that I am using. Therefore I tend to restrict myself in the subjects that I shoot.

jgjbowen · Mar 31, 2007

As long as Kodak keeps making TMY in 5x7, 8x10 and 7x17 I'll be a customer.
If they ever stop, I'll likely use FP-4.

I prefer Tri-x for 4x5 and have used it for 25 years.

35mm color is the flavor of the month! I tend to use Fuji E6 films and Kodak C41 films.

Snapshot · Mar 31, 2007

Lately, I've been experimenting with different films and I'm even shooting slide again. I'm not particularly loyal to a specific film brand, although I'm now inclined to support companies that support my hobby (e.g. Ilford).

Film Choice. Going Steady or Playing the Field?

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