M7, Lux, and Fuji P800 adventures

[fotografz]

Here's some user feedback. Just returned to Michigan from

photographing a beach wedding in Oceanside California. Due to

travel difficulties, I only took 2 Ms, 3 Lux lenses& 28/2 and a

Hasselblad X-Pan with all 3 lenses. Was searched every 5 feet

at the airports. The shoot went very well, but it was a challenge

because the Bride moved up the sunset wedding to 4PM.

Everything was back-lit like crazy! So I shot fill flash on everything

using Heliopan 8X NDs on the Luxs ( 35,50,75). Worked like a

charm. The XPan also peformed super-well even at f/22 ( IMHO,

I think this camera is under-rated no matter who actually makes

it. I find it a perfect compliment to the Ms in consistant method of

use when you need a bigger neg like for formals which lend

themselves to panoramics anyway. The images are super

saturated and consistant from lens to lens just like the Leicas )

Okay, back to the Leica story. The only Leica problem I

experienced was that a screw fell out of the front barrel of the

28/2 and it's now loose. The M7 .072 was just great for fast

candids, but so was the M6 .085. I've now ordered a M7 .085

and plan on motorizing both M7s for weddings, leaving the M6s

as more compact and portable choice for my other work. During

the course of the whole event I shot 25 rolls of 36 ex. using

Portra 160NC on the beach and 400NC and 400B&W later

( without the NDs ). The 400NC is giving me some fits in

scanning ( using a Polaroid Sprintscan 120 at 4000 dpi using

the scanners' preset profile for Portra 400NC ), In fact, I get

better results with other high speed neg films everytime. Portra

was suppose to be formulated for scanning, but I just don't see

it being better, in fact the 400NC seems worse???? However, I

just found my new favorite film, especially in combination with

the Noctilux! Fuji P 800. This film blows away the Portra 400 in

color, grain ( vertually none ) and no scanner noise. This may be

common knowledge, but I just discovered it. WOW! what a film.

If you haven't tried it it's a must for low light, creamy rich colors.

The grain pattern is clean and smooth, even at 11'X 14'. Anyone

else love this film? I also think I prefer the Kodak T-max 400CN

to the Portra 400B&W when scanning a C-41 B&W film. Anyone

else have experience with the 2? Man, I wish I could figure out

how to post pix here. I'm good at the computer, but seem to have

a block when it comes to following Tony's instructions. I can

e-mail direct, and have done so with forum members, but can't

seem to get it right to post pix here. So, all I can do is write with

no photos to show for it. 900 images and I can't get one of them

on the forum. What a Moron. Oh well, I'm off to another wedding

today using...you guessed it... the Leicas and Luxs, and,

HORRORS!, 2 DIx Digitals. Until next time...

[anon_terry]

<i>The only Leica problem I experienced was that a screw fell out of

the front barrel of the 28/2 and it's now loose.</i>

 

<p>This is why I bring along a <a

href="http://www.wihatools.com/microset.htm" target=_blank">Wiha

Precision Screwdriver Set</a> when I travel. A bit expensive

compared to the 99 cent store knockoffs, but I've been using

precision tools a long time and believe me, you get what you pay for.

[kristian dowling]

Gees if you didn't travel difficulties how much gear would you

normally bring?

 

<p>

 

Great post. This is much more beneficial. Talking about what is,

rather then what was supposed/wished to be.

 

<p>

 

Thanks Marc

[kristian dowling]

But where are the pics Marc?

[zoeica images]

Fuji Press 800 or the consumer version, Superia 800 is one of the

best films ever made IMO. Low grain, excellent color, sharp, and

scana very well. No wonder Fuji has made it for so long. I don't like

the NPZ800 as much as the cheaper Fuji P 800. During the Super Bowl

here in New Orleans, Sports Illustrated came into the camera store I

work at and bought $2000 worth of the Fuji P and other Fuji films.

Film ain't dead yet!

 

<p>

 

Now, I prefer Ilford XP2 over the Kodak C-41 b&W films since it is

easier for darkroom printing. Verp sharp, hardly any grain for a 400

speed film.

 

<p>

 

Marc, which flash did you use the 8x ND filter on? Just shot a

wedding in a large cathedral and even with the SF20 flash on EV -1,

400 speed film at 30th sec/f5.6, I blew out the foreground. The

background was very underexposed. Using a M6 TTL.

[dlegaspi]

there is an 8x ND filter??? wow! i've got to get one of

those...where??? how much???

 

<p>

 

--

 

<p>

 

yeah, Marc...where are the pix? i especially want to see thouse

outdoor fill-flash you did with the 8x NDs...

[neil_swanson]

I've got NDs for 39, 46, and 55mm lens from KB Camera,

www.Leicagallery.com I believe. Mine pull 2 stops but they sell

even stronger ones.

 

<p>

 

They are all Heliopan "slim" filters that fit under clip on hoods like

on my 24 elmarit.

[preston_merchant]

I agree with you on the Fuji 800. It's good enough to be a general-

purpose film.

[djphoto]

I'm glad to know I'm not the only fan of P-800. On a recent assignment

for the Public Education Foundation, I shot available-light candids of

school children with my M3/50mm Summicron and 40mm M-Rokkor, and an

EOS-A2 with 80-200 f2.8. Lighting was a mix of fluorescent,

tungsten, and some daylight. The client ordered a substantial number

of 11x14 prints for framing and display in their offices.

 

<p>

 

Frankly, I was amazed at the quality of the 11x14s from this film. In

fact, they looked better than similar-sized prints from NPH. The color

was probably not technically perfect, but was pleasingly warm and

soft, very appropriate for the subject matter. Grain was present but

not visible at normal viewing distance.

 

<p>

 

As far as I can tell, this is the same film as Superia Xtra 800. I

bought some Superia at Walmart when I ran out of P-800, and I can see

no difference in the prints. Both films are designated "CZ" by Fuji.

Whatever it's called, it's a bargain: about $2.75/roll at Walmart for

24 exposures, and less than $3/roll for 36 exposures at B&H or

Adorama.

 

<p>

 

Unless I have an assignment that requires something else, P-800 is the

film you're most likely to find in my M3.

[stephen_jones4]

Anon - I appreciate the tip - which set do you recommend?

[Alex_Es]

Marc,

 

<p>

 

As always, your stories are fun and informative and this one is no

exception. The screw falling out of the 2/28 is a cautionary tale for

us all. Totally argee on Fuji 800 film. It is all I use now.

 

<p>

 

Alex

[fotografz]

Thanks to all that confirmed my feeling about Fuji P800. It's nice

to know that it wasn't a fluke. Some answers to questions asked

on this thread. Yes , I also have some high quality micro tools,

unfortunatly I didn't have the tiny screw which had fallen out who

knows where. Yes 8X ND filters exist. As someone else

mentioned, Heliopan makes them in a slim mount that lets you

use the lens shade. One respondant asked what flash? SF-20

with a soft box attached. The flash wasn't ND filtered, the lens

was. Another asked about amount of equipment: Usually I have

a Med. Format, a digital ( Nikon D1x ) and the Leicas. Weddings

are a dead serious endevior, and require back-ups to the

back-ups. There's no going back home to pick up another

system if a main camera goes down in the middle of the affair.

Plus, I shoot a mixture of formals and candids both in B&W and

color. Multiple cameras is the only way to keep pace with the

events as they unfold at such a break-neck pace. Besides, it's a

great justification to have more toys without my spouse

committing homicide. Finally, let me humiliate myself in public.

Again. I cannot figure out how to post pictures on this forum no

matter how much I read Tony's instructions. I tried to post them

on a general site and create a link but failed. Okay, I'm a moron.

I admit it. I'd liked nothing better than to show what I'm talking

about. Sorry, I'll keep trying to figure it out with my pea brain.

[andrew n.bra hrefhttp]

I've been using Fuji P 800 for years. Much cheaper and fine-grained

than NGH II 800. The only trade-off was that P800 is slightly

contrastier - although you can put this to advantage when shooting

under fluoro.<P>

 

P800 is brilliant film. I believe it's because of its fine grain that

Fuji retired NGHII 800 and brought out the new NPZ 800.<P>

 

FWIW, my (mostly indoors) candid colour photo project

<A HREF="http://4020.net/everyday">"Everyday Life"</A>

is mainly shot on P800.<P>