I am new to B&W photography as I have been shooting in general specially portrait with color films. I would like to get feed back from all you folks out there where can I get bulk of good priced b&w films and which ones should I get for general portrait pictures. Also I might to some general traveling shots in b&w. So any comments and input is greatly appreciated...

thanks

Jin

-- Jin Kim (jkim693433@yahoo.com), June 29, 2000

Answers

This is the one topic that can open a can of worms in this most civil of formums... and the major point I'd like to make is, it all depends on what 'look' your after and what your're going to do with the final prints.

Having said that, I'm going to name some products! I like Agfa APX-100 for portraits but think it can only withstand enlargement to 8x10 due to grain. It gives quite a 'punchy' print. My standard film is 125asa FP4+ (I bulk load) and think it can handle any situation admirably, except where you need much more film speed. I keep some HP5 for that but hardly ever use them. Many people will advise the C-41 process films but they give a very different 'look' to 'normal' b&w film. Try desaturating a colour pic in a picture editor (eg PhotoShop) to see what you'll roughly get. The tonal range is fantastic... if that's the 'look' you're after.

How you take your pictures will also be a factor in what film may suit. If you use a tripod all the time, the slower emulsions may suit, if you handhold mostly, 400 speed films are probably a better place to start.

Finally, if you are using a tripod, want to take portraits (with additional lighting inside or good light outside) and landscapes, then Pan F (50asa) gives wonderful results.

Theres my pre GST $0.02, tomorrow it's going to cost you $0.022 :)

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), June 29, 2000.

Jim, that is super good advice from Nigel. I totally agree. His statement that, "it all depends on what 'look' your after and what you're going to do with the final prints" is most excellent advice.

So, at this point, just try some different kinds of film. It might take a while for you to decide what you are 'after.'

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), June 30, 2000.

Jin,

I would only add one small bit of advice to the sound suggestions already provided:

Once having chosen a particular B&W film and developer combination, stick with it, use it exclusively, and learn what it can do. You're likely to learn much more about B&W if you avoid switching films and/or developers.

Good luck, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), June 30, 2000.

What format? It makes a great deal of difference.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), June 30, 2000.

I recommend Kodak Plus-X. It comes both in 135 and 120-format.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), July 01, 2000.

Kodak Plus-X (125 Asa) has very fine grain and great tonal range. I use it as an allround film, and a photographer friend use it for portraits.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), July 02, 2000.

I also love Plus-X and APX 100, but I'm surprised that nobody has yet mentioned good old Kodak Tri-X 400! Its forgiving qualities - wide exposure and development latitude - and classic look make it the perfect "starter" b/w film, and the 400 speed is useful in a very wide range of conditions.

True, its grain is a bit more noticeable in 8x10 prints from 35mm negs than that of the slower films, but Jin doesn't say what kind of camera he's using, or how concerned he is with this...

(The other issue, of course, is development and printing. If he's not going to learn how himself or have a trusted lab or skilled friend do it, he may better off going the chromogenic route with Ilford XP-2 Super, Kodak Pro T400 CN, Kodak Black&White+ 400, etc.)

As to where to buy it, get it from a trusted source like B&H Photo; their prices are good and their service is excellent...

As others have said, you'll probably try several b/w films before you find the one you like most. All the modern films generally produce very good results, so it's kind of a toss-up where to start - but IMHO you won't go far wrong with Tri-X!

-- Michael Goldfarb (mgoldfar@mobius.com), July 02, 2000.

I like Tri-X too. But sometimes it can be too grainy. I feel like Tri- X is Plus-X's bigger brother! :-)

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), July 04, 2000.

True enough, Partic - Tri-X surely IS Plux-X's big brother. Of course, some of us still really miss their other siblings now departed, like Super-XX and Panatomic-X...

-- Michael Goldfarb (mgoldfar@mobius-inc.com), July 05, 2000.

For 120 format, Verichrome Pan is a "must try" for portraiture. I like Tri-X in 120, also.

For 4x5 I've used Tri-X for portraiture and been very happy with it.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), July 13, 2000.

I also love the old Kodak B&W films. What was the one that was 25asa? Very slow film, but fantastic grain, great detail and contrast. No problems as far as light goes when shooting outdoors in a hot Australian summer. Can you get the same results if you pull process TMax100?

Cheers, David.

-- David Grasby (grasbyd@raven.cqu.edu.au), August 27, 2000.