Jump to content

ISO 400 or push ISO 100 (EI 400)


Recommended Posts

Here is a question for you negative souping masters. I was reading somewhere that someone only uses ISO 100 film (I think it was Delta 100). They use no other film. When they need ISO 400, they just take the ISO 100 and EI 400 with it.

 

<p>

 

Would it be better to expose ISO 400 or EI 400 (with ISO 100)? I know the trade-offs for pushing would be less shadow detail, more grain and more contrast. Which would look better in regards to finer grain and tonality?

 

<p>

 

I'm sure I could try it for myself but if someone has already done the experiement, inquiring minds would like to know! Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depends on what you want.

 

<p>

 

Here's the short version: If you want shadow detail and not too much

contrast, use true ISO 400 film. If you don't care about shadow

detail, and can live with the increased contrast pushing entails,

push.

 

<p>

 

Pushing does not increase the true speed of the film (at least not

notably, maybe by 1/3 f-stop or so), but it does increase contrast

considerably. Therefore, there will not be any detail in the shadows

if you use pushed film, and the negs will be rather contrasty. It's

not the thing to try when your subject is already contrasty.

 

<p>

 

True ISO 400 film, on the other hand, will still have detail in areas

that read about two f-stops below the midtones.

 

<p>

 

Regards,

Thomas Wollstein

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...