I am way new to photography, and have a second hand Pentax K1000, plus 200ml lens. I have just started messing about with B&W and have used Kodaks' T400CN - I am told this is processed in the same way as colour film. Will this still give me good results - and does having this type of film printed on 'real' B&W paper make any difference? I have used coloured filters, will this too show results when processed by a third party? I live in a small rural town in North Queensland with little access to processing labs. .

-- Paula Turner (gunsmioke@bigpond.com), November 23, 1999

Answers

Paula,

In my opinion, T400 CN is a beautiful film and one that I have a lot of fun playing with. If you are not in a position to do your own black and white processing or do not have the services readily available, it is an excellent alternative--It prints quite easily to traditional black and white papers too. Thr primary benefit to traditional black and white is in the control that you have over the materials. Also--and I think many folks here will agree--there is nothing like hand-crafting an image from start to finish and knowing that you had everything to do with it. I would suggest trying the T400, but would also suggest exploring the world of traditional black and white films and papers as well. There's nothing like it.

Enjoy!

Michael D. D'Avignon

-- Michael D. D'Avignon (LoungeAxe@aol.com), November 23, 1999.

Paula,

T400Cn is very good and is easily processed by any lab or at home using C41 chemicals. Give Ilford XP2 a try - it's been out longer and I personally prefer it because it has greater exposure latitude.

-- Anthony brookes (gdz00@lineone.net), November 23, 1999.

Hi Paula,

I've only used a couple of rolls of XP1 (the film prior to XP2) which is Ilfords version of a C-41 process B&W film. I had them 'processed only' at a normal lab and then printed them myself on 'traditional' B&W paper. Most discussion's about these films revolve about the printing of them by the mini-lab who seem not to know how to set the machine for them. The end result is usually prints with a green or magenta colour cast. What also usually gets mentioned is that if the lab knows what their doing, the prints can look fine, especially for beginners, those without darkroom access and as pretty good proof prints! Maybe talk to your lab and ask them if they know much about printing them (and if their willing to try to get it right!) I'd suggest trying a few rolls of C-41 B&W and if you get the bug for B&W photography, then think about doing your own with 'normal' B&W films and paper.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), November 23, 1999.

Paula,

Yes, this film is processed as color (as we spell it in the US) film. You can get prints made on color paper, but you may find that they come out with color casts (not true blacks). You can tell the lab (if it is any good at all) to bias the color in a certain direction, like a brownish for a sepia toned look.

These films are better printed on real B&W paper, but most people have the lab print on color paper as proofs. You can then see which pictures to spend the money or time to get enlarged.

BTW if you only have the ability to have the pictures printed on color paper, Kodak B&W Select + works better. That is why it came out.

WRT filters, all of these films react to filters the same as B&W film. In B&W the filters effect the tonality, and they will print properly, at any lab. They can only effect overall density and color, not tonality.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), November 23, 1999.

Paula,

Rather than processing the film in your local minilab you might want to contact Photo Continental in Brisbane. They do mail order and being a specialist store, they would have more experience with chromogenic black and white film. I personally have not used their processing services but would imagine they'd be more amenable to your needs than, say, a local chemist. And printing the film on BW paper does make a difference - you'll have proper BW prints rather than colour prints made to look like BW.

By the way, how far north are you?

Tim.

-- Tim Bolotnikoff (Timothy_Bolotnikoff@justice.qld.gov.au), November 23, 1999.

I can confirm that PhotoContinental do a good job of printing T400CN. I rate it at 250 and get prints on the lustre finish, and even mailing it in is less expensive than most minilabs.

-- Christopher Biggs (chris@stallion.oz.au), November 23, 1999.

re:Film: Kodak T400CN - Process C-41"

Paula, i am still kind of new to this, but i have used ilfords c-41 films, xp-1, xp-2, and kodaks t400cn, and the kodak select... most 1 hour labs will probably give you prints with a color cast, when using the t400cn film. however,being a "mini lab" employee, i can also tell you it is possible to get decent black and white prints from it, it does take some "tweaking" of the color channels, but its possible. it all depends on how "familiar" the lab tech. is with their printer. i find that the KODAK SELECT B&W gives better or more "true" black and white prints on color paper, and i wont use the t400cn anymore. ---also, a lot of posts here suggest trying true black and white film, which i am now doing as well. its a little more to learn about, but, you get all the control.you should give it a try. good luck.

-- Jerry Hazard (hazard01@earthlink.net), November 24, 1999.

Hi,

I am a professional Bueaty, Fashion, Landscape photographer and I just love the T400CN film. Its great. There is no other film like it. You can set it to any ISO, you can get really nice Sepia Tones with color process, which if you did with normal black and white film would have to pay even more, and printed on black and white paper you get a great normal black and white print. Also when you go to process the film you can either have it processed as a negitive or slide film. So you are getting like 4 amazing features in 1 type of film and you can do many different things with it.

I call it the ALL custom on the spot black and white film. If I arrive at a location and its too dark I can easy push the film to a higher ISO and vise versa. I descide I want to print to negitive or slides after shooting I can. If I want a sepia toned print, just print on color paper. Black and White Print, just print on black and white paper.

-- Sean Micha Siegel (MicaSoHo@aol.com), January 01, 2000.