Chromogenic Films

[Frankster81]

I come to the decision that I need to shoot more black and white film (for the sake of variety) and I'll start out cheap by using the C-41 process b+w films (such as Kodak's 400 B+W film).<BR>
<BR>
My only question is this: <b><i>Do these chromogenic films have the same exposure latitude as the standard color print films?</i></b><BR>
<BR>
Thanks for whatever advice comes my way.<BR>
<BR>
Also: Anybody ever try printing these on paper originally intended for b+w photos (as opposed to the RA-4 papers)? How did they turn out?<BR>
<BR>
Have fun. /ibb/skins/default/emoticons/wink.gif

[ronk]

a friend of mine shoots nothing but xp2 in his hasselblad. medium format is a littlemharder to load yourself so the c-41 process saves time and effort, jack says. i still use reg. b&w in both small and med. for. printing on real b&w paper does away with the color casts found on the print when using ra4 paper. kodak has come out with a new paper called ektamax. it turns color negs to b&w prints. some of the mall portrait mill types are using it.

[DonC]

Go to <A HREF=http://www.blackandwhitelab.com" TARGET='_blank'>www.blackandwhitelab.com</A> and click on their "custom enlargements" link. They will give you a little info about B&W C-41 and B&W papers. They can print from processed C-41 also.

[DickO]

I shoot quite a bit of Ilford XP2, develop it myself and print it on Ilford Multigrade paper. It gives great black and white prints.<BR>
<BR>
The film has a great deal of latitude.<BR>
<BR>
I have seen some prints that one-hour places made on color paper and I think they look terrible.<BR>
<BR>
Dick

[sportsbill]

I've used Kodak Portra B&W. It has good exposure latitude. I like just a little overexposure, 1/3 to 1/2 stop. I've had most of it processed by Dale Labs and am quite pleased. Some of the film I've had some done at local one hour places with mixed results. I am planning on using this film for senior portraits and using a "pro lab".

[drh681]

One of my customers is using the Portra B&W basicly the same as the other kodak c41 bw<BR>
He is a bracket hound and I do see a color shift in the prints from the various exposures.<BR>
<BR>
I also see color shifts in changes of lighting(indoor flash to outdoor shade to sun shine)<BR>
you challenge will be to get your lab to make the prints all the same tone.(they may try to blame the film, and be half right.)<BR>
<BR>
The Kodak films can take a fair amount of over exposure, at nominal iso they make a thin negative.<BR>
<BR>
At a stop and a half over this stuff is really cool for night scenes.

[akonno]

<A HREF=http://www.blackandwhitelab.com" TARGET='_blank'>www.blackandwhitelab.com</A> said, "In our opinion, it is a film that was created for convenience not for quality. "<BR>
<BR>
Yet, this is a great and welcomed technology. <BR>
I use Kodak T400 CN and love the tonality and graininess it provides. If you go to cheap processing, it seems to give you more grainy photos than professional labs. I would be interested in printing this film on B&W papers.<BR>
<BR>
>> Do these chromogenic films have the same exposure latitude as the standard color print films?<BR>
<BR>
As far as I can tell, it has more latitude in overexposed image than under...<BR>
<BR>
Kodak's technical data says, "+4 stops/-2 stops from EI 400) and can be exposed up to EI 3200 with push processing.

[davebcamera]

Hi,<BR>
I did some testing for Kodak, and they definately do not recommend printing this film on regular B/W paper. For printing on B/W paper, I recommend Ilford's XP 2--it'designed for either B/W paper or color paper.<BR>
<BR>
QUOTE]Originally posted by Can non:<BR>
<b><A HREF=http://www.blackandwhitelab.com" TARGET='_blank'>www.blackandwhitelab.com</A> said, "In our opinion, it is a film that was created for convenience not for quality. "<BR>
<BR>
Yet, this is a great and welcomed technology. <BR>
I use Kodak T400 CN and love the tonality and graininess it provides. If you go to cheap processing, it seems to give you more grainy photos than professional labs. I would be interested in printing this film on B&W papers.<BR>
<BR>
>> Do these chromogenic films have the same exposure latitude as the standard color print films?<BR>
<BR>
As far as I can tell, it has more latitude in overexposed image than under...<BR>
<BR>
Kodak's technical data says, "+4 stops/-2 stops from EI 400) and can be exposed up to EI 3200 with push processing.</b>

[Frankster81]

Thanks for all your replys. I heard basically what I had anticipated.<BR>
When I got a sample roll from Kodak (for some reason I don't get samples anymore; I used to belong to this thing called something like "The Kodak Forum", a monthly (?) newsletter with occasional samples of new films) of T400CN I wasn't real thrilled with the results. But I machine printed that film and got the typical slight sepia tone, which I didn't want. Then Kodak came out with what I think was simply called "Black And White 400+". This produced (on color paper) a closer likiness of b+w images. I think I'll shoot some regular b+w film.<BR>
I've been itching for a b+w film that is somewhat on the contrasty side; someone who used to be a newspaper photographer suggested Plus-X film, knowing that I shoot mostly Kodak. Ilford XP-2 is pretty snazzy, too. /ibb/skins/default/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

[drh681]

can; if you are getting ''graininess'with that film, it is probably very underexposed(one stop or more)<BR>
as I said, in my gear, I get a thin(slightly underexposed) neg at the 400 iso setting. I find that about one stop over gives a nice range and smooth prints.