Which film for blues fest.

Mike Kennedy · Sep 9, 2007

Our annual jazz & blues festival starts up this Thursday night with a tribute to "The prime minister of the blues,the late Dutchi Mason".No film cameras allowed,BUT,digi is o.k.Go figure eh?
I plan on taking an Olympus XA-2 to shoot the outdoor scenes and am wondering which film to choose.Push tri-x to 800,pull 3200 to 800,or use 800 color?The XA-2 will maxes out at 800 asa.

Thanks

David H. Bebbington · Sep 9, 2007

The XA-2 is far from an ideal tool for music photography, since I see that it sports a 35 mm f3.5 lens, whereas the camera of choice would be a Leica (or failing that, an SLR) with an 85 to 90 lens of the largest possible aperture (f2 or better f1.4). Also the zone focusing will be tricky to operate in the dark (take a small torch with you). About the only chance of getting pictures will be with maximum speed film (800 color, or Iflord Delta 3200, which has a true ISO of 1000). If it is a smaller festival and you can get close to the performers, you could get some good shots, anything more than 10 feet away and your chances diminish greatly! I would use negative film in any case, if you are photographing a spotlight performer against a dark ground, the camera will overexpose and there does not seem to be any means of compensating for this.

Regards,

David

Andy K · Sep 9, 2007

If it were me I would use a high ISO film for maximum grain to capture that night time bluesy atmosphere.

Mike Kennedy · Sep 9, 2007

Thanks David/Harald.

Love to take my Pentax MX and 40mm lens but it doesn't look like that's an option.Maybe if I beg the head honcho he will give me a break and allow one SLR with traditional format. Barring that it will have to be an easily concealed P&S.

Mike

Andy K · Sep 9, 2007

Do you have a rangefinder of some sort?

Mike Kennedy · Sep 9, 2007

Hi Andy (sorry for the name screw up).I have a few rangefinders but nothing that I could easily conceal.
Best options would be the XA-2 or my LC-A.

MikeSeb · Sep 9, 2007

Just curious--did the organizers give any reason why film is banned but digital is welcomed?

Why do I keep expecting people to operate logically? I'm like charlie brown trying to kick Lucy's football....

keithwms · Sep 9, 2007

I think an XA would definitely be better than an XA2 for this task.

In terms of film, hp5+ would be my own choice, if the light is there; otherwise maybe neopan 1600 or delta 3200 at 1600.

Can you smuggle in a medium format tlr?!

Sounds like a really fun opportunity, enjoy it!

Andy K · Sep 9, 2007

Mike Kennedy said:
Hi Andy (sorry for the name screw up).I have a few rangefinders but nothing that I could easily conceal.
Best options would be the XA-2 or my LC-A.

I have an LC-A too, I would take that, but not alone, I would take something else as a backup.

ehparis · Sep 9, 2007

So how are they going to tell the difference from physical appearance of a DSLR and SLR? They going to have guards standing around checking for SLRs?

I'd take a Nikon F3HP with 85mm f1.4 and Kodak Max 800 ASA, possibly bumped to 1600 depending on the lighting. If I had two good hiding places I'd also take a 35mm f1.4.

Ian Grant · Sep 9, 2007

Well as both Kodak & Fuji dropped their specialist push processable E6 film I had no option but go digital for rock/blues concerts. The only major difference is a vast increase in quality !!!

But that's not what you wanted to hear. On the other hand I doubt the boncers would appreciate there is any difference between a film slr or a digital slr, or a point & shoot film camera compared to a point & shoot digital - it's the professional cameras and just as importantly the fast lenses they don't allow in.

Ian

Mike Kennedy said:
Our annual jazz & blues festival starts up this Thursday night with a tribute to "The prime minister of the blues,the late Dutchi Mason".No film cameras allowed,BUT,digi is o.k.Go figure eh?

Thanks

Roger Hicks · Sep 9, 2007

Ian Grant said:
... it's the professional cameras and just as importantly the fast lenses they don't allow in.

And probably they'd not regard a Leica (or Voigtlander or ZI) RF as 'professional' anyway, though a Noctilux might be pushing your luck. 'Professional' is often just code for 'big SLRs'.

Though in colour I'd probably do the same as you and go for the M8 over the MP: that's what I've been doing lately at concerts, even though it's noisier. In B+W, no contest, of course.

mawz · Sep 11, 2007

Ian Grant said:
Well as both Kodak & Fuji dropped their specialist push processable E6 film I had no option but go digital for rock/blues concerts. The only major difference is a vast increase in quality !!!

Ian

Fuji's Provia 400X is now their Specialist Push-Processable E-6 film. I've seen some excellent results from it at ISO3200 (Albeit in 120 form).

spiralcity · Sep 18, 2007

WOW!!
No film cameras? Where's this event held?
The Chicago based Blues and Jazz fest is a free-for-all, and I do mean free. It's held outdoors with first come first serve seating. Cameras welcome. All types. Getting close to the stage is not a problem, people are milling around the front all night.

Which film for blues fest.

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