Film for night photography

[RattyMouse]

Tmax 100 is a good film for night exposures. I'm also fond of Ilford FP4+. I've heard good things about Acros 100 but never used it. From what I understand, the TMax 100 has similar reciprocity characteristics to Acros, although perhaps not as good.

Definitely not as good. Fujifilm Acros can go 120 seconds without any compensation needed. TMAX 100 needs additional exposure starting at ONE second.

 

[MattKing]

Definitely not as good. Fujifilm Acros can go 120 seconds without any compensation needed. TMAX 100 needs additional exposure starting at ONE second.

from the Kodak data sheet (F4016) for T-Max films


Adjustments for Long and Short Exposures - T-Max 100

[TABLE="width: 650"]

If Indicated
Exposure Time Is
(Seconds)

Use This
Lens-Aperture
Adjustment

OR This Adjusted
Exposure Time
(Seconds)



1/10,000
+1/3 stop
Change
Aperture



1/1000
None
None


1/100
None
None


1/10
None
None


1

+1/3 stop

Change
Aperture



10
+1/2 stop
15


100
+1 stop
200

[/TABLE]

 

[StoneNYC]

from the Kodak data sheet (F4016) for T-Max films


Adjustments for Long and Short Exposures - T-Max 100

[TABLE="width: 650"]

If Indicated
Exposure Time Is
(Seconds)

Use This
Lens-Aperture
Adjustment

OR This Adjusted
Exposure Time
(Seconds)



1/10,000
+1/3 stop
Change
Aperture



1/1000
None
None


1/100
None
None


1/10
None
None


1

+1/3 stop

Change
Aperture



10
+1/2 stop
15


100
+1 stop
200

[/TABLE]

I still agree Acros is SIMPLER for up to 2 minutes.

However I also don't like the "oh you have to correct it by aperture" thing, because I choose my aperture and depth of field VERY carefully, and I don't want to have to lose the depth because they wanted to make their film look like it had better reciprocity by bit adjusting the time properly and instead adjusting the aperture. I find that a cop out.

 

[removed account4]

for years i used tmx(100) for night exposures
never let me down processed in sprint
i used it f22@45 seconds but could have easily
shot it at faster speeds opened up

sodium vapor lamps are helpful

 

[MattKing]

I still agree Acros is SIMPLER for up to 2 minutes.

However I also don't like the "oh you have to correct it by aperture" thing, because I choose my aperture and depth of field VERY carefully, and I don't want to have to lose the depth because they wanted to make their film look like it had better reciprocity by bit adjusting the time properly and instead adjusting the aperture. I find that a cop out.

It only recommends an aperture-only adjustment when the difference is just 1/3 of a stop. Otherwise, in most cases it gives you both options.

On what camera do you have a shutter that allows you to make an accurate adjustment that will increase an exposure of 1 second by 1/3 stop? Or an exposure of 1/10,000 second by 1/3 stop?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I enjoy TMax 400 for long exposures at night. Even though Acros has better reciprocity characteristics, the TMax is two stops faster to begin with, which makes a big difference up to about 5-10 minutes. I shoot at the same EI as I do during daytime, which is about EI 250 in replenished Xtol or D76 1:1.

 

[StoneNYC]

I enjoy TMax 400 for long exposures at night. Even though Acros has better reciprocity characteristics, the TMax is two stops faster to begin with, which makes a big difference up to about 5-10 minutes. I shoot at the same EI as I do during daytime, which is about EI 250 in replenished Xtol or D76 1:1.

This is true, again Acros is just simpler the first 2 minutes lol.

Plus you are getting different contrast with the different film speed

 

[StoneNYC]

It only recommends an aperture-only adjustment when the difference is just 1/3 of a stop. Otherwise, in most cases it gives you both options.

On what camera do you have a shutter that allows you to make an accurate adjustment that will increase an exposure of 1 second by 1/3 stop? Or an exposure of 1/10,000 second by 1/3 stop?

Any LF camera... About as accurate as the full stops will be...

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Plus you are getting different contrast with the different film speed

That's not correct. While the film has a certain amount of contrast itself, the final contrast of your developed negative is determined by you.

By changing developing time, developer concentration, developer temperature, and agitation, YOU ALONE determine what the contrast will be.

 

[StoneNYC]

That's not correct. While the film has a certain amount of contrast itself, the final contrast of your developed negative is determined by you.

By changing developing time, developer concentration, developer temperature, and agitation, YOU ALONE determine what the contrast will be.

Rider: when developed at standard times given by the company for developing their films...

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Rider: when developed at standard times given by the company for developing their films...

Deep deep abyss. Which I shall not plunge into.

 

[StoneNYC]

Deep deep abyss. Which I shall not plunge into.

Hehe yes, and at "box" speed hahahaha