What film available in the UK will give the best results?

[pjmeade]

Having been impressed by the quality of the work on PN, I thought I

would shoot some BW too. I used was a Kodac 400ASA film with C41, the

results were not as good as I had hoped. I've posted some here

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=477354

Are these the best results I can expect, or can I get something

better using different film? I'll be using the film in my K1000.

[maesphoto]

I'd use a new scan from the original negative.

Apparently the scan has blown out the highlights

In general the Kodak BW CN41 compensates nicely for the highlights.

A similar film is the Ilford XP2 Super, which also is developed in C41 system.

I got nice results in exposing at 200? ISO.

[eric friedemann]

Ditto XP-2; I generally shoot it at E.I. 200.<div></div>

[ronald_moravec1]

The big problem is commercial processing. You need a custom lab or do it yourself.

 

Why not support Ilford? They make teriffic products. I recommend Delta 100 in Id11, D76, or DDX. Use hp5 or Delta 400 for a faster film.

[gaius1]

Fully agree with Ronald. No sense blaming the film when the quality of the lab makes all the difference. Anyone will tell you, developing yourself will give you better results than any lab, just because you can control all the variables to suit yourself, not using a generic bulk process like they do.

[dai_hunter]

The problem is with the lab - scanning B&W as RGB and equalising to neutral grey during printing. This shot was on Kodak BW400CN (C-41) mini-lab processed and scanned. Re-adjusted in house and reprinted (#3) also in mini-lab from a digital file.<div></div>

[dai_hunter]

#2: black and white point adjusted but left as an RGB and reprinted in mini-lab- note the colour cast<div></div>

[dai_hunter]

#3: All colour killed - reprinted in mini-lab from 8bit greyscale TIFF. The colour cast and other problems (e.g. contrast) have been mostly resolved.<div></div>

[dai_hunter]

Lastly in conventional B&W film you might give Ilford FP4 (ISO125) a go. A very fine grained general purpose B&W film when properly handled in the darkroom. Here is an example... virtually no apparent grain at x50+ enlargement<div></div>

[nagle]

I do both conventional B&W and have C41 mono done at Jessops. Ive had great results on Ilford XP2 film, less good on the Kodak equivalent. If you have a couple of different branches within reach, its worth trying them out, as the results vary from branch to branch. If its any use, Bolton's branch is a good processor.

[pjmeade]

Thanks guys. Processing at home and traveling to Bolton are both out of the question at the moment, but my examples are Jessops from Maidenhead. I didn't get prints, these were taken from the picture CD.

I'll work through the films that have been suggested and see how they come out. Cheers. P

[heller_harris]

Hi - Several people on the forum suggested Peak Imaging, a mail order house, so I gave them a shot. They are remarkably quick - put it in the mail on Monday, back in your hands on Wednesday - and do nice work, much better than the average minilab and some so-called pro labs here in Norwich.

<br><br>

I've noticed a few other mail order labs advertised in the magazines; anyone have any experiences with them? Also, where are people buying 120 roll film?

<br><br>

Heller<br>

<a href="http://www.hollywoodscriptanalysis.com">HollywoodScriptAnalysis.com</a>

[ivan_dzo]

Peak is good. I find metro labs in birmingham to be the best. Similar fast turnaround, similar for c41 but better for e6.

[simon evans.]

Peter, if you think you might print your own negs in future then use XP2 of Fuji 400CN instead of the Kodak. Both can be processed in C-41 colour machines. The Kodak film is just not designed for darkroom printing.

 

Try Peak Imaging, but look for a local Kodak Express too (try this <a href="http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=11/3143/3149&pq-locale=en_GB">store locator</a>). If they offer prints on b&w paper as my local shop does (they charge ?1 extra), then try that. The prints were noticeably better than from Jessops. All but one of the images in <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=348236">this folder</a> were scanned from minilab prints off C-41 mono films.

[christopher_hutchins1]

Gotta agree with the chap above, if you have your heart set on C41 then go with the Fuji, XP2's pretty good 2, just avoid Kodak like the plague!