What film for low light street shots do you guys use?

[rod_melotte]

I'm goign to the Carribean and while you can always see pictures of

beachs and palms you rarely see street scenes.

 

For low level light (dusk/night) what is the 35MM print film of

choice. I plan on using wide angel lenses when I can and have not

really done much of this kind of photography.

 

I was planning on Fujicolor Superia 100 for my day shots but Fuji

might be a little greenish for the lowlight street shots. (or am I

wrong???)

 

Hints? Suggestions?

[eric friedemann]

Fuji Superia 800 (CZ) in low light at E.I. 500-640:

 

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=152720&is=REG

 

 

-OR-

 

 

Fuji Superia 1600 (CU) in low light at E.I. 1000-1200:

 

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=18535&is=USA

[will_legge]

I have not seen any color shift with Fuji 400 color negative film at night. Light pollution will cause the sky to turn green, but that is not the film's fault. But I can't imagine you having to worry about that where you are going.

[manuel_garcia5]

Hope you bring a tripod. My fav is Fuji NPH and a fast lens, like my 50mm. However I've never had any of them enlarged. I think I may have one in my gallery. Good luck!

[stephen_w.]

I use Fuji NPZ 800 and Tri-X.

[alvin_wong]

<p>Superia 400, Tri-X, or Provia 400f if you like slide film. Superia is particularly good at handling different types of lighting, provided that you expose for long enough.

[christian deichert]

No streetlight I've ever seen has a daylight color balance. Mercury vapor lights are bluish, flourescent tubes are green, and sodium lamps are that wicked orange color. So, for low-light situations, I normally try to avoid the situation entirely and use a high-speed black and white print film.

 

I used to use Kodak T-Max P3200, but I switched to Ilford Delta 3200; I like the response better and the grain is tigher, plus P3200 is only available in 35mm and I like shooting Delta 3200 with medium format.

[rod_melotte]

I had thought of B&W but geez - being on an island with all the colors - I suppose there are so many different types of lights filters were be useless.

 

Silly question - Digital camera's don't have this problem? It's a film thing right?

[eric friedemann]

"Digital camera's don't have (color temperature) problem? It's a film thing right?"

 

 

There can be two advantages to shooting a DSLR over shooting film in low, mixed lighting.

 

 

1. With a D100, even at ISO 1600, with the proper post-camera processing (Neat Image and PhotoKit Sharpener), I get cleaner, more "grainless" images than I can get with film of a like ISO.

 

 

2. If you shoot in RAW, you can go back and change the color temperature until it provides the best possible color match for vapor lights, tungsten, neon, etc.

 

 

When I shoot Fuji Superia 800 or 1600 in, say, a candlelight ceremony in a church, I don't have as good a latitude to compensate for color temperature in printing. Also, it may take me three runs of prints to hit an optimal overall color balance that still won't be as good as the RAW alterations I can do from a digital image.

[frank uhlig]

As you use angel lenses (you said: "I plan on using wide angel lenses..."),

what is the purpose of fretting about films? Won't the angels help you there too?

[nikos peri]

Anatomy of a mugging, if you ask me!<p>

FujiPress 800, Tri-X (rate accordingly)

[Jochen_S]

I like Delta 3200 or 2stops pushed TMY. Color film isn't my world; I got some 1600 - was it Fuji? - Bring a monopod!

[jreades]

You haven't really said how you want to capture the street scenes? If you want to 'stop' the action at dusk or at night you're going to want some very fast film (800 and up), if you want the motion blur effect then you'll want a tripod and some slow film instead. Or maybe you want a bit of both?

 

FWIW, you *should* take care without being completely paranoid. Obviously, some areas change their character a *lot* after dark and you wouldn't want to find yourself looking on the conspicuous side in the wrong one. That said, I've now used my tripod on the street in both Berlin and Miami without getting more than a few strange looks and a couple of "How can you take pictures in the dark?" However, these are both cities where you have to go looking for trouble and I'm not sure that the Caribbean (for all its good qualities) is quite the same at night.

 

Good luck.

 

jon