Easy question

[tony_butler]

Hope one of you experts can help with this. I am currently travelling and want to take a few rolls of B&W. I have a choice of buying TMAX or similar, or a C-41 developing method roll of B&W. After exposure, will these have to be developed quickly or can I wait a few months before developing them commercially at home? Also is there a noticeable difference between the two other than film price and developing cost and method?

Hope you can help.

Thanks, Tony

[charlie_strack]

This is all theory from reading, not actual use nor tests.

 

<p>

 

The books say that film is most sensitive to light if it is developed

right after exposure. Higher speed films seem more subject to this

effect.

 

<p>

 

If you're looking to do fine art or other critical work, it might

matter. For shapshot work, you probably would not notice the

difference with normal speed films.

 

<p>

 

Negatives made on standard films probably have a longer life than C-

41 types, because the resulting images on C-41 are dyes rather than

metal based.

 

<p>

 

People who frequently shoot B&W use standard films, I suspect. C-41

reportedly show grain to a lesser effect, as the dyes mask it. Prints

from a commercial lab using C-41 B&W materials are likely to come

back with a color cast, unless custom prints are made.

 

<p>

 

That said, TMax films require critical processing and fine tuning of

your approach. They aren't the best for casual use. Traditional films

like Tri-X, Plus-X, HP5+, FP4+, Agfapan, etc., are more tolerant of

minor processing variations.

[wilhelm]

Tony, I'm a big user of the C-41 B&W films, particularly Ilford

XP2+. However, the only negative that I've ever found about it is

that the images definitely deteriorate if they're not developed soon

after they are made, unless the film is refrigerated. It's easy to

get C-41 film developed on the road, and that way you won't have to

expose it to the airport x-rays on the way home. Have a good, safe

trip. W.

[ted_davis2]

While traveling in Europe I shot many rolls of T Max, C-41 Kodak

400, and C-41 Ilford 400. The results were less than satisfactory

when it came to the C-41 batch (developed by Kodak). Not awful

but just a general muddiness to the negs and a definite lack of

sharpness and latitude. The Ilford, more contrasty than the

Kodak C-41, was closer to a 'silver film' when it came to a lab

print on color paper. When I tried to print in my darkroom I found

these C41 films a bit inflexable. The TMax was great as usual. I

recommend sticking with the TMax or using the Ilford only if

necessary. Good luck!