what film would you recommend

[cyberspider]

hmmmm ok ill add delta 100 to the list of testers lol

 

[jbbooks]

I agree, I think that lab processing 400CN or XP2 is the absolute best option for you, but everyone here is so busy telling you what they think the best option for themselves is, I was afraid you'd have run away screaming by now. Most of these guys would've had you doing wet plate cyanotyping or something equally ridiculous if they had their way.

What do I think of your choices?

I tried to tell you before, but I guess I did not make it plain enough.

You need to eliminate as many variables as possible. Your images are unusable and you have introduced so many uncontrollable variables that you will never be able to sort it out until you eliminate as many of those variables as possible.

As I said, before, stick with the Pentax and get a tripod and a cable release. I am not saying that the Pentax will do the job, just that it is the best of what you have. Forget the Minolta, it appears to have so many issues that it will not be usable until you have gotten to the point where you can differentiate where the problems are and that they are not with you.

Quit trying to fast forward to the best film possible and just use one that the processor will not be able to mess up and concentrate on what you see on the developed film, not the product of some poorly printed negatives or a scanner that is either incapable of doing what you need or beyond your capability to use at an acceptable level of result. Believe me, the problems you are having, provided you are not using film years out of date, do not lie with the film. Any film you can buy will produce far better results than you are getting now. Even if you did get good processing on fresh film, you still need to sort out the focusing issues and learn how to get a good exposure.

So, either use a slide film that gives as neutral a rendition as possible (not saturated colors) or, if you cannot take incident meter readings or you are unable to arrange processing for color slides (E-6 processing) then, use C-41 process B&W film, such as those that have been mentioned, like BW400CN.

Using a tripod and a cable release eliminates the variables you induce by hand holding the camera and allows you to precisely focus the image and release the shutter without inducing any movement.

Using slide film narrows the exposure range, will accurately reproduce the colors of the subject and reduces processing errors to a minimum. If you cannot arrange for processing of slide film, such as Kodak Ektachrome 100 or Fuji Provia 100 F, then use a C-41 process B&W film that can be processed by any 1 Hour Moto-Foto outlet the world over.

Just have the film developed, never mind prints.

Really, where you are now, if you can just sort out focusing and exposure, without any light leaks, you will be way ahead and able to produce images far better than the ones you have been posting. Just work on those two things and quit worrying about trying to do anything more than that.

 

[cyberspider]

ok for one i did copy and paste your last post for my reference
i have also said i have and use a tripod
i use the timer on my shots so no camera shake

i was trying to just find the best film to use for the purpose of the tests

as you and others have said if i use a not so good film then my images dont stand a chance

so please do not think i am ignoring your advice as i am not
i am also not trying to fast forward im just eager maybe a little to eager yes

an at this time im not bothering with the minolta and i am using the pentax

i just wanted to establish a list of films that will give me the best images WHEN i sort the problems if i use a rubbish film THEN no matter what i do the image will be rubbish

that is the reason for that post so i give my self a good foundation

thank you for your post

 

[mr rusty]

As a recent returnee to film from years in d*****l land here's my take on this.

I am shooting film but cannot do my own processing for various reasons, so get developing done mail order.(not going to plug the company again or the moderators will do me for advertising lol). I don't get prints, just neg scan to CD. I print using inkjet when I need prints, which satisfies me and my family, but obviously have the negs I can get pro-prints of if anytime I need something special.

For colour I use mainly Superia 200. Tried pro 160C but honestly couldn't see any difference to Superia. Have just bought a pack of 800Z so we'll see how that goes.

For B&W I only use C41, and have found a difference. I find Kodak 400CN far less contrasty than Ilford XP2. I prefer XP2, but can imagine that 400CN might be better in some situations. This may just be a symptom of my processors scanning system as Ilford doesn't have the orange film colour so must set up differently.

To me, film isn't the main issue, its getting the photo. At the moment, it isn't worth me paying a premium for "special" films. If an image isn't quite how I want it, I do tweak it in software (but *never* for anything I post here in the gallery which are all "virgin" neg scans).

Perhaps one day I will do wet processing, but at the moment I am just pleased to be using film, having some fun, and getting a certain satisfaction from using amazing old gear that you can pick up for peanuts.

Bottom line. Forget the film. A "good" photo taken on any film is going to look "good". A "great" photo is going to look "great". An "outstanding" photo might just conceivably only look "great" if shot on inappropriate film, but I am certainly not good enough to take truly outstanding photos so the difference doesn't matter. But perhaps, I need to try more film types anyway, as this opinion is only based on my experience so far.

 

[2F/2F]

If anyone is getting bad grain from Delta 100, something is amiss!

 

[Russ - SVP]

If anyone is getting bad grain from Delta 100, something is amiss!

You kidding? I always get VERY fine grain from Delta 100. Love that film. What are you souping it in? Are you scanning the negs or prints? If so, what scanner?

Kiron Kid

 

[2F/2F]

You kidding? I always get VERY fine grain from Delta 100. Love that film. What are you souping it in? Are you scanning the negs or prints? If so, what scanner?

I would reread what I wrote!

 

[Russ - SVP]

I would reread what I wrote!

Ahh, got it. Time for another iced coffee.

 

[cyberspider]

well like i say ill order delta 100 and the others i put
but at the mo i have some kodak color plus in took some shots today some landscape using sunny 16 rule

and some close ups too even did a 1 second shot on some running water its like i mini water full after the rain we had so

should look good

i shot it a f3.5 and a 1 second shutter speed on timer and tripod

also there was some nice dead leaves on this tree and the sun was hitting them looked like little lanterns so i shot them too

 

[jbbooks]

well like i say ill order delta 100 and the others i put
but at the mo i have some kodak color plus in took some shots today some landscape using sunny 16 rule

and some close ups too even did a 1 second shot on some running water its like i mini water full after the rain we had so

should look good

i shot it a f3.5 and a 1 second shutter speed on timer and tripod

Maybe, hopefully the running water was in an underground river.

 

[viridari]

If anyone is getting bad grain from Delta 100, something is amiss!

Amen. Even in Rodinal it has been super fine grain for me.

 

[cyberspider]

Maybe, hopefully the running water was in an underground river.

no its a drainage ditch run off from all the fields its very hilly here

but there are some small drop off's that look like small mini waterfalls

so was thinking a 1 second exposure would give good effect

 

[perkeleellinen]

He was teasing you because 1 second at f3.5 may result in over-exposure in sunlight. Hence, underground.

 

[cyberspider]

well its in a wood so im hoping it turns out lol but i was not in bright sun
i was shaded or i would need to use say f5 or f8 ??????????

 

[perkeleellinen]

f22?

Not sure. But yesterday I went for a walk around 5pm. On top of a hill I looked down onto some nice rolling fields and a dramatic cloudscape. Some sheep were running from left to right and I thought I'd get a photo and try and blur them so that the white contrasted with the black of the fields (I used an orange filter). I braced myself against a gatepost and chose f22 and 1/4 second. I would have preferred a longer exposure but it was too bright. Neopan 400 + orange filter.

 

[cyberspider]

well i just ordered some Kodak Ektar 100 36exp Colour Print Film as i would like to try it
and next week ill order some Ilford Delta 100 36 exposure

and see what happens

 

[Axle]

Ektar is a very nice film, I haven't tried in for landscape (I'm not really a landscape photographer), but I do like Ektar. Another good choice would be Fuji Pro 160C in the C-41 range. For b/w I would say Ilford Pan F Plus or Delta 100. Colour Slide Velvia-50 if you can get your hands on it.

 

[cyberspider]

well i have ektar 100 in the pentax p30t i shot 5 frames so far

 

[perkeleellinen]

Send it to a good lab for development and scans, Cyber.