Nice C-41 B&W film?

PopeBuckfastXVI

Not sure if this counts as a gear thread, will try main forum and I'm sure the mods can move it if needs be.

Can anyone recommend some nice c41 b&w films? I've just run a roll of neopan 400 through my new Nikon FE and quite liked it. My local lab will only process c41, so I'm wondering if there are any other nice film stocks to try?

magicbastarder

you used neopan 400CN?
XP2 would usually be the next one to try.

pete4130

There are no real nice ones. One has a green cast, one has a more orange cast. It's colour film with the dyes removed to put it simply. If your going to scan them or hand print them they are less grainy. Buy a developing kit, chemicals and a dark bag and do it yourself at home. Better results and it works out about €1 a roll to do yourself when taking chemicals into account.

DaireQuinlan

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Not sure if this counts as a gear thread, will try main forum and I'm sure the mods can move it if needs be.

Can anyone recommend some nice c41 b&w films? I've just run a roll of neopan 400 through my new Nikon FE and quite liked it. My local lab will only process c41, so I'm wondering if there are any other nice film stocks to try?

All the C-41 B&Ws look much the same, just pick whichever you can find and run with it. Ilford, Fuji, and Kodak all have 400 speed chromogenic B&W emulsions. I've used Ilford's XP2 before with nice results...



Ultimately though proper B&W I think looks nicer. Hard to beat a roll of tri-x. Spend a gainful half hour in gunnes, Get yourself a development tank and some chems and bobs your uncle.

PopeBuckfastXVI

Is it not difficult though, getting the temps right and all that... I'm not very handy, and my science experiments in school & college never quite got the expected results!

Here's one from the roll I shot that I quite like...

PopeBuckfastXVI

magicbastarder wrote: »

you used neopan 400CN?
XP2 would usually be the next one to try.

Yep was 400CN, I used XP2 in my medium format, I think the tone was quite similar to the 400CN.

Maybe as per Daire I'll have to get a pot and a bag!

DaireQuinlan

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Is it not difficult though, getting the temps right and all that... I'm not very handy, and my science experiments in school & college never quite got the expected results!

Nah, not really. B&W film developement is by and large pretty forgiving. You can even do something like stand dev with rodinal or use 2 part developers like Diafine where the times and temperatures are mostly irrelevent.

thefizz

Developing yourself is pretty easy, way cheaper, and not much gear is required. I also prefer real B&W films to the C41 versions.

PopeBuckfastXVI

thefizz wrote: »

Developing yourself is pretty easy, way cheaper, and not much gear is required. I also prefer real B&W films to the C41 versions.

Hmm... will have to keep an eye out for the next workshop you are doing in the west!

thefizz

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Hmm... will have to keep an eye out for the next workshop you are doing in the west!

Will be in April, date to be confirmed soon But you can easily try developing a few films without taking any courses, plenty of tutorials online.

DaireQuinlan

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Hmm... will have to keep an eye out for the next workshop you are doing in the west!

You're down the west ... We can assemble a shopping list for you so

Developing tank:
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=62&product_id=248

Thermometer:
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=62&product_id=262

Measuring jug (1L) for mixing and smaller 50ml one for more precise measurements
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=62&product_id=223

http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=62&product_id=233

Fixer:
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=81

If you don't have someplace dark to load film:
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=72&product_id=135

Probably isn't necessary if you have a room that you can make completely dark or a wardrobe, I spent about 3 years loading film onto reels in a wardrobe in my bedroom never a bother.

Developer:
http://www.thephotoshop.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=139

That's rodinal. Only developer that thephotoshop has in stock that I'm familiar with, other people might recommend different ones. XTOL in particular is reputed to be a fine developer.

I have no connection at all with thephotoshop except for ordering stuff from them, but thefizz above is (I believe) the owner as well as running those courses so is probably good for a few questions as well ...

thefizz

If I ever need a sales rep you'll be top of the list Daire

Of the developers I stock RO9, RO9 Special and Tmax would be easy to use liquid developers to start with in my opinion.

PopeBuckfastXVI

Thanks so much for the info guys, you may have just provided my christmas list this year!

DaireQuinlan

PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »

Thanks so much for the info guys, you may have just provided my christmas list this year!

Oh .. and another reel. I have that same tank, and I only realised the other day that the reels that come with it don't expand to fit formats other than 35mm. EVERY OTHER REEL that I have does this except for these ones :-)

thefizz wrote: »

If I ever need a sales rep you'll be top of the list Daire

something something something 10% off my next purchase something something something :cool:

PopeBuckfastXVI

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

Oh .. and another reel. I have that same tank, and I only realised the other day that the reels that come with it don't expand to fit formats other than 35mm. EVERY OTHER REEL that I have does this except for these ones :-)



something something something 10% off my next purchase something something something :cool:

Thanks, would be handy to start doing dev from the bronica too!

thefizz

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

Oh .. and another reel. I have that same tank, and I only realised the other day that the reels that come with it don't expand to fit formats other than 35mm. EVERY OTHER REEL that I have does this except for these ones :-)

Hi Daire, are you sure? I thought this was strange so checked my current stock and they open up for 120 as normal.

DaireQuinlan

thefizz wrote: »

Hi Daire, are you sure? I thought this was strange so checked my current stock and they open up for 120 as normal.

really ? I'll have another go at them when I get home. I was trying to open them up to get some 35mm out, but I ended up having to bow the end and wind it out that way. The instructions recommend the same thing, and there's no mention of opening them up for 120 in the instructions (that I can remember) either. This is with the two reels that came with the tank, I also got one of those new AP reels from you as well, that clicks open as expected.

thefizz

If they don't open, send them back and I'll replace them. I only sell the AP reels separately as they are cheaper and easier to use than the Paterson but that tank is a good deal considering it includes 2 reels. Let me know how you get on.

DaireQuinlan

thefizz wrote: »

If they don't open, send them back and I'll replace them. I only sell the AP reels separately as they are cheaper and easier to use than the Paterson but that tank is a good deal considering it includes 2 reels. Let me know how you get on.

Yeah I'll check them again when I get home. Probably just didn't twist it hard enough, there was film in both of them at the time.

Effects

I've a paterson tank and reels. The reels do expand but they need a fairly strong twist to do it.

DaireQuinlan

thefizz wrote: »

If they don't open, send them back and I'll replace them. I only sell the AP reels separately as they are cheaper and easier to use than the Paterson but that tank is a good deal considering it includes 2 reels. Let me know how you get on.

Yeah I stand corrected Both of them click apart. They just need a little more leverage than the ones I had hanging around.

goldiejam

+1 for developing your own.

Much greater selection of B/W films, also freedom to experiment with different developers/push/pull etc, cheaper in the long run too.

2x4

After you develop the film, do you print or scan the negs?

thefizz

2x4 wrote: »

After you develop the film, do you print or scan the negs?

Always print.

thefizz

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

Yeah I stand corrected Both of them click apart. They just need a little more leverage than the ones I had hanging around.

Glad their working for you Daire. What do you think of the AP reel?

Effects

2x4 wrote: »

After you develop the film, do you print or scan the negs?

I always scan myself. I find I don't have the time to print much.