Which film for a table table top and controled lighting?

[Ektagraphic]

Hi Guys-
I have some diffrent indoor objects to shoot where there is no available light and I don't want flash so I have some flood lights (I guess you could call them) to light the area. The films I have to choose from with me are Tri-X 400, Tri-X 320, and Plus-X. Thanks

 

[Rick A]

Since you are doing table top and using a tripod, go with the slowest speed film possible. I favor PlusX for Kodak, but truely love Ilford Pan-F+ (120). I am currantly trying out Ilford Ortho 25+ in 4x5, So far WOW! I am in love all over again.

Rick

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Depends on how strong the flood lights are. If they are 150 watts you can use a slower film.

Jeff

 

[Ektagraphic]

It's not really the speed of the film that I am concerned about. I have heard people say that certain situations do not go well with the Tri-X 320 so that's why I am asking.....

 

[rwboyer]

It's not really the speed of the film that I am concerned about. I have heard people say that certain situations do not go well with the Tri-X 320 so that's why I am asking.....

TXP has a very long toe and strait highlight curve relative to most other films. Translation is decreased shadow and mid contrast with increasing contrast towards upper mids and highlights.

Without knowing what your end result "should" look like all those words mean not much. What are you envisioning? That might help in suggesting a material.

RB

 

[Ektagraphic]

I have an assignment to take an "Old things photo" and I plan to work with a typewriter, a rotary phone and a record player

 

[rwboyer]

I have an assignment to take an "Old things photo" and I plan to work with a typewriter, a rotary phone and a record player

Yea but you can light/photograph and print those things 400 million different ways. Low key? High Key? Low key with very bright but small brilliant highlights with inky shadows just showing a tiny bit of detail. Highkey with NO shadows but very very detailed highlights.

The film will make less difference than any of the other decisions you make - once you make those decisions you can pick a material that will optimize the things that you want to get out of the scene but without making them the only advice that I can give is maybe you shouldn't use TXP unless you have used it before and know what it will do in various situations and various exposures.

RB

Ps. I like TXP a lot - just to be on the record as I am sure someone will now say - NO go ahead and use TXP it will work fine - (which it will) even if you don't know how it works.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I have never had a chance to work with TXP yet because I just bought some for the first time. I have worked with a lot of Tri-X 400 and a good amount of Plus-X....

 

[rwboyer]

I have never had a chance to work with TXP yet because I just bought some for the first time. I have worked with a lot of Tri-X 400 and a good amount of Plus-X....

TXP is a completely different film than TX400 the curve shape is almost completely opposite and TXP has smoother grain. If you can shoot it with something that you "know" better to learn how it works. At the end of the day if you want a lot of contrast in the shadows through lower mids TXP is probably not for you - If you want very very good separation in the high values TXP is fantastic at similar CI's.

RB

 

[Ektagraphic]

Thanks.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I just took my shots on Tri-X 400. Time to develop