Help with BW film

[xbow]

Hello to the group, hope all are well.

 

I shoot with my Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta C and Ikoflex Favorit. Both 120

users. I have been shooting mainly Kodak, both black and white, and color. It

is becoming harder and harder to get my BW processed (don't know how to do it

myself). Kodak has a line of film (BW100CN), which they say is BW film that

just uses C-41 processing.

 

The question is this. What do I loose by using this film versus actual BW

film? To extend the question more generally, is there any appreciable

difference nowadays between getting prints from true BW film, and getting

prints from color film where the color has been removed in post-processing?

 

I used to think that BW film had a wider spectral sensitivity than color film,

and because of that I could use my filters to be selective about the frequency

of light getting to the film in order to create diferent effects. Now I dont

know anymore- if I put a G1 filter on color film, shoot the picture and have

the color removed post-processing, would the effect be the same as BW using

the G1 filter?

 

Rather than launch into a film-burning, expensive (for me), and highly

subjective evaluation seeking answers to the above questions....I thought I

would ask you guys, to see if anyone has already considered the answer....

 

Thanks in advance

 

John

[walter_degroot]

IF you were shooting 35mm, It would make some sense. but c-41 B&W is just about as hard to find a processing lab as conventional b&W.

 

at least with conventional B&W 120 you can easily process it yourself, at fairly low cost. and then scan the negatives or learn to enlarge them.

both freestyle sales and photowarehouse ( ultrafineonline) sell 100speed 120 speed film and B&W chemicals at reasonable prices.

 

the main drawback is that the B&W developer does not keep forever.

and a liquid one-shot might be most economical.

doing b&w film is really no big deal, and if you are just reasonably careful, you will get excellent results. possibly better than an average lab.

if you scan 120 negs, the requirements are not as rigid as trying to get a super image from a 35mm negative.

 

the kodak (c-41)has a orange masked base, and might be a pain to work with, the chemicals are pricey and require great care.

[xbow]

Walter,

 

Perhaps I dont understand, but I am under the impression that C-41 is the "standard" processing that most labs use for color film processing. I have plenty of sources for BW 120 film, so that is not the problem. Lab processing of the BW film (non C-41 processing)is the thing that appears to be rarer and rarer.

 

My question is really whether or not the "pseudo" BW film that Kodak offers (the BW100CN for example) has the same characteristics as "real" BW film, and can I do all the filtering and with this film as I can with real BW film that is processed using appropriate chemicals (not the C-41 process).

 

Does that make any sense?

 

John

[xbow]

I have to apologize to this forum. I found a few threads on this very topic in the Film and Processing forum. I will look there for my answers....Thanks!