Film Breakdown

I am getting ready to spend 2 months traveling in New Zealand and Australia and

need to make an educated decision on film. I know I want color slide and B&W

negative, but not really sure which film to go with. I would love any advice, however

its clear that film is like horse racing, or cars, or wine or whatever highly biased

aspect of life there is. So does anyone know a good place on the web that I a

breakdown of Pros and Cons of certain film. I will be shooting exclusively 120 & 220

film.

Of course feel free to give me you favorites if you like.

Peter: I am not aware of any "comparison" of film on the Web - but I'd suggest you use whatever film you are most knowledgeable about. Most all commercial films are "good", but each have different characteristics. You need to understand the capabilities and limitation of YOUR film, and shoot accordingly.

Having said that, I use T-Max 400 for B&W negs and Fuji Velvia for slides - but a great many other people use other films with excellent results.

Have fun on your trip!

The only website I'm aware of that offers a comprehensive and succinct description of many popular films is at dr5.com. However these comments are specific to their process, which is a custom reversal processing of b&w negatives to produce positives. I have no idea whether their comments are applicable to normal use and development of those films.

Otherwise, I can only suggest that you decide which films you're interested in and do a search of photo.net's archives using Google as a search engine. For example, the search string

fp4+ site:photo.net

will call up every mention of Ilford's FP4+ on photo.net. Lots of reading.

You can narrow it a bit, and possibly miss some valuable information, by limiting the search using "120" or "220" or "medium format" as additional search terms.

Also, are you planning to develop the b&w film yourself? If not, it's very difficult and often frustrating to get good b&w processing commercially. If you can find a lab that will do good work they will charge accordingly for the service.

I'd suggest Ilford XP2 Super or Kodak Portra B&W 400, both C41 process chromogenic monochromes. I'd also consider taking a contrast enhancement filter - green, orange or even red, tho' the latter is a bit extreme - to counteract the sometimes flat results chromogenic monochrome films can deliver under overcast or shady conditions.

Peter, just a word of advice, whatever film you choose will be expensive in Australia, and 120 and 220 film will only be available from a few stores in the major cities. Not where you are coming from, but if it is the USA you may wish to buy your film there before coming.

For example (albeit for 35mm), 20 rolls of Fuji Velvia - US Price (B & H) US$84, Australian discount bulk price US$230 (about A$18 per roll).

Make sure to take it in carry on luggage and ask for a hand check.

Cheers,

Antony