Please advise on my scenario...

BimmerJake · Aug 6, 2009

I'm trying to decide what would be the best film to use during my sister in law's wedding (there is a professional on hire but there are a lot of restrictions on where the photographer can go, and i'll be closer to the platform, plus i'll be shooting b&w).

no flashed permitted during the ceremony but there are a lot of large windows and lighting should be good enough. i was thinking about fomapan 400 or ilford fp5. my wife is worried about grain (something that doesn't bother me at all but she doesn't care for) so i was wondering what a good developer would be. the desired outcome would be a softer smoother look.

is there anything else i need to take into consideration?

thanks guys

-after some more thought i'm leaning towards foma 400 and maybe diafine. anyone use this combo? seems like it should be an easy combo.

Anon Ymous · Aug 6, 2009

If you do a search here, you'll find that the nominal speed for Fomapan 400 isn't it's true speed. 200 seems to be a reasonable value, something that can be clearly seen even by having a look at the manufacturer's datasheet. Since you're going to uprate the film, I'd say use HP5+. It will give you better negatives to play with.

bdial · Aug 6, 2009

If you want to minimize grain, consider using T-Max 400. Xtol should get you full box speed.

Kevin Caulfield · Aug 6, 2009

Whatever developer you decide to use to minimise grain, please do a test roll before you develop the wedding photos in it.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 6, 2009

Delta 400 has a great look and finer grain than the traditional grain films. There are a number of processing options, depending on your priorities, and many of them are to be found on the technical data sheet, which you can download from the Ilford/Harman website.

GJA · Aug 6, 2009

did you mean HP5 or FP4?
Id use either Delta 400 or Tmax400 in either Xtol or DDX.

Leighgion · Aug 7, 2009

I've found plain old D-76 with Tri-X can already produce pretty fine grain if I do my part. I'd think that a T-grain film like T-Max or Delta should be able to deliver everything you need and can reasonably expect if you do your part and use a developer/dilution that'll give moderate contrast to keep your look mild. For me, that'd be D-76 1+1, but there's plenty of other options I'm sure.

BimmerJake · Aug 7, 2009

Kevin Caulfield said:
Whatever developer you decide to use to minimise grain, please do a test roll before you develop the wedding photos in it.

no doubt, i have a month to experiment

BimmerJake · Aug 7, 2009

GJA said:
did you mean HP5 or FP4?
Id use either Delta 400 or Tmax400 in either Xtol or DDX.

i hadn't thought about delta 400, that's definitely something to consider. i just finished a roll of tmax 400, i'll see how that comes out. i did mean hp5, slip on the fingers and brain i guess.

2F/2F · Aug 7, 2009

I'd use Delta or T-Max in their matched developers, or XP2 or BW400CN. Be prepared to underexpose and push if necessary. I say this not having seen the location, of course, so come prepared for all situations and use your best judgment once you get there. I'd try to beg, borrow, or rent a 1.4 lens if you don't already have one, and the same for an incident meter.

Kvistgaard · Aug 7, 2009

Hey BimmerJake,
have you considered using a monopod? gives you a couple of stops, which means that you may be able to use FP4, for instance, or rate Fomapan at 200.

that said - TriX at box speed, developed in D76, gives rather fine grain.

whatever your film choice, you won't go wrong with a monopod.

Sirius Glass · Aug 7, 2009

1) Tripod or monopod

2) Tri-X, Tmax 400, Delta 400, ... and process in XTOL to minimize the grain.

Steve

RJS · Aug 7, 2009

First off I would suggest my wife photograph with whatever film/developer combination suits her. Then I would use what suits me and my way of seeing. In my case it would be HP-5 and PMK. I get excellent film speed, amazingly fine grain, very smooth highlights etc. Mostly though. since it's a one time event, use whatever you know and are comfortable with. After all, you will have 'professional' back up which will. most likely be hokey and cliche'd, so whatever you do will be much nicer. Relax and have a good time!

Sirius Glass · Aug 7, 2009

My only problem with the scenario is that when I attend a Wedding I can either enjoy the wedding or take photographs. I can't do both and do a good job at both.

YMMV

Steve

BimmerJake · Aug 7, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
My only problem with the scenario is that when I attend a Wedding I can either enjoy the wedding or take photographs. I can't do both and do a good job at both.

YMMV

Steve

i don't particularly enjoy weddings anyway, so i might as well take pictures. :rolleyes:

BimmerJake · Aug 7, 2009

Kvistgaard said:
Hey BimmerJake,
have you considered using a monopod? gives you a couple of stops, which means that you may be able to use FP4, for instance, or rate Fomapan at 200.

that said - TriX at box speed, developed in D76, gives rather fine grain.

whatever your film choice, you won't go wrong with a monopod.

i will have a tripod, and i hope i'll have room for it. i just got a bunch of fp4 and some ddx (for other stuff) so that might be in the mix too. we'll see.

Denis K · Aug 7, 2009

BimmerJake said:
is there anything else i need to take into consideration?

You might take a look at this article in APUG:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

wogster · Aug 7, 2009

BimmerJake said:
I'm trying to decide what would be the best film to use during my sister in law's wedding (there is a professional on hire but there are a lot of restrictions on where the photographer can go, and i'll be closer to the platform, plus i'll be shooting b&w).

no flashed permitted during the ceremony but there are a lot of large windows and lighting should be good enough. i was thinking about fomapan 400 or ilford fp5. my wife is worried about grain (something that doesn't bother me at all but she doesn't care for) so i was wondering what a good developer would be. the desired outcome would be a softer smoother look.

is there anything else i need to take into consideration?

thanks guys

-after some more thought i'm leaning towards foma 400 and maybe diafine. anyone use this combo? seems like it should be an easy combo.

I would say, use a film your already familiar with, a non repeatable event is not something to experiment with films on.

BimmerJake · Aug 7, 2009

wogster said:
I would say, use a film your already familiar with, a non repeatable event is not something to experiment with films on.

well, i'm recently back on the analogue side so i'm not really intimately familiar with any film yet. i've been shooting fp4, but i'm concerned with the speed.

i'm currently leaning towards the delta 400 and ddx, i think :confused:

at least i have a month to do some quick experimenting...

kiku · Aug 7, 2009

BimmerJake said:
I'm trying to decide what would be the best film to use... ... so i was wondering what a good developer would be...

Tri X and HC110. Howard Tanger

RalphLambrecht · Aug 7, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
My only problem with the scenario is that when I attend a Wedding I can either enjoy the wedding or take photographs. I can't do both and do a good job at both.

YMMV

Steve

Nobody enjoys a wedding, nobody!

RalphLambrecht · Aug 7, 2009

BimmerJake said:
I'm trying to decide what would be the best film to use during my sister in law's wedding (there is a professional on hire but there are a lot of restrictions on where the photographer can go, and i'll be closer to the platform, plus i'll be shooting b&w).

no flashed permitted during the ceremony but there are a lot of large windows and lighting should be good enough. i was thinking about fomapan 400 or ilford fp5. my wife is worried about grain (something that doesn't bother me at all but she doesn't care for) so i was wondering what a good developer would be. the desired outcome would be a softer smoother look.

is there anything else i need to take into consideration?

thanks guys

-after some more thought i'm leaning towards foma 400 and maybe diafine. anyone use this combo? seems like it should be an easy combo.

This one is easy. No flash, windows only, church interior, bride and groom (white and black extremes). This means harsh contrasts, and mixed with a fine-grain requirement...

This one has Ilford XP2 written all over it.

fschifano · Aug 7, 2009

Forget the Foma 400. It's too slow no matter what. I do use the stuff quite a bit, and I'd never consider it good for low light, indoor photography without auxiliary lighting. TMY-2, with XTOL as the developer of choice, could be just the thing for you. It's got finer grain and better separation in the shadows than Tri-X and that's something you'll likely find useful in your scenario. If you can give up a little bit of that shadow detail, you can use it at an exposure index of 800 with normal development. Highlights will render nicely and not become too dense as they would if you were to push the film. Another good combination would be Tri-X developed in Diafine. I'd recommend an EI of anywhere from 1000 to 1600, though I find that the "sweet spot" for this film and developer combination falls closer to 1000 to 1250.

BetterSense · Aug 7, 2009

Last and only low-light wedding I shot with TriX and Diafine at about 1000-1600 as it got darker. Very easy (tolerant of slight misexposure) and gorgeous glowy results when coupled with a soft lens shot wide open. Not fine grain however.

Marcus S · Aug 8, 2009

I have shot my share of weddings and like to help with a little advice.
In the church, I use a monopod and sometimes a tripod if time or space allows. The film choice depends on the lighting of the church. I prefer a 400 iso film, such as TMY 2 or Fuji to provide that extra little speed.
I am not a fan of pushing film at a wedding, since my aim are negatives, that have full detail in the shadows and highlights. I use a soft working developer for fine grain.
If you have the opportunity, check out the church with your camera at about the same time of day as the wedding and find out how long the service is.
The more weddings I shoot the more I am simplifying my equipment. A f 1.8 or 2 prime lens will work quite well. 35 or 50 mm.
Less is more!
Sorry, but I am not familiar with the film that you mentioned. If you want to be certain, try a few shots in the church with the film of your choice, if you have the opportunity. Good luck!

Please advise on my scenario...

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