Film suggestions please?

Leebert

Leebert

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I have recently obtained a Praktrica BX20 SLR with a 35-70 f3.5 lens and a 70 - 210mm f4 zoom lens. It came with four rolls of rather out of date colour film which I will have a go with (13 to 18 years OOD). I kinda fancy keeping it as a mono/IR film camera just because. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of film at all. Can anyone recommend some reasonably priced mono / IR film please?
Thanks :)
 
I use Ilford HP5+ as my go to B&W film. There are some cheaper alternatives such as the Kentmere and Fomapan films, but HP5+ isn't too much more and it's a professional quality film with loads of exposure latitude. Ilfords FP4+ is a slower film (125asa vs HP5+ at 400asa) but is similarly high quality and not too expensive.

I've never shot IR so can't offer a recommendation there unfortunately.

If you don't know how it's been stored, shoot the OOD colour film a stop or two over the box speed you should get decent results.
 
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:agree: with HP5

There is no true IR film available on the market any more. Commercially, you have Rollei 400IR and Ilford SFX which extend a fair way into the red spectrum but aren't true IR. Of these, I found Rollei 400IR to be the best (and also the cheapest and also the flattest if you scan yourself). If you're shooting this with an IR filter you will probably also need to account for film reciprocity failure. My tests with Rollei 400 are here (my website not TP) if you're interested.

And we need pics when you do it!!

Edit to add, I totally forgot about Washi-Z which is an IR film, but I'm not convinced it's true IR. I think it's aerial surveillance film. It is probably the best film I've found for reproducing that "IR look" without the need for an IR filter as a red filter will do a nice job on a bright sunny day. A little more expensive, but tricky to get hold of as Lomig doesn't make film in the same quantities as other manufacturers. I think he works out of his garage :)
 
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I'm still thinking of having another go with my old rangefinder camera. Ilford XP2 is a B&W film that is processed as a colour film, so can be amongst the cheapest to use to dip a toe into the water. It's available for less than £6 per roll.
 
Cluster said:
I'm still thinking of having another go with my old rangefinder camera. Ilford XP2 is a B&W film that is processed as a colour film, so can be amongst the cheapest to use to dip a toe into the water. It's available for less than £6 per roll.
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Good for you for having another go.

Yes XP2 is C41 processed so it’s easy to get done however ( and it’s just a personal opinion of course ) I tried one roll but it just didn’t have the bite of a standard b&w film like hps and fp4 which I use.

But - have a go with xp2 and see what you think.

If you want to experiment then it’s quite cheap to buy the stuff needed to develop your own b+w film - a lot from ebay.

It’s also really easy and fun.

Then, if you have the facilities, scan it in yourself. I haven’t wet processed prints since the 60’s and it’s not something I fancy doing again in a hurry only cos I would need to set up a darkroom and get hold of a decent enlarger.

You can get b+w lab developed still - it is more expensive than c41 but I think you might appreciate the difference between silver halide and dye based emulsions.

Haven’t used this forum myself for long but my sense is that you will get all the support you need to get going.
 
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You can get Fomapan 35mm for less than £4 per roll, 100, 200 or 400 speed.
 
Film choice will often depend on what you want to shoot, the conditions at the time and the look you want.
No harm in starting with one or two of the cheaper films, like foma, to get you going.
I love Kodak T-Max 400 for portraits of the grandchildren, the grain is lovely
Kodak Tri-X can give beautiful contrast, lovely in bright light.
Although I have not used any yet, Bergger Panchro gives beautiful results.
And for those lower light, fine grain shots I love Acros, not cheap but the reciprocity is brilliant, no exposure correction upto 120 seconds and then only 1/2 a stop extra upto 800 seconds.

Get hold of a selection of films and try each roll in a few different shot types, I am sure you will find some you absolutely adore.
 
Thanks for all the help :)

I have no real idea where to start but I think the XP2 / HP5+ is the way forward. Maybe first off with XP2 as it can be developed locally. I really like the idea of developing my own film and scanning it in if it's not too expensive. I am about half way through the first roll of OOD colour film so will start taking some shots at a stop over - thanks for the tip @FishyFish

I will post what I get on here. It'll be interesting how a film so far out of date performs. Not knowing instantly what I have taken kinda enthrals me. I am having a mini photographic adventure!!
 
Leebert said:
Thanks for all the help :)

I have no real idea where to start but I think the XP2 / HP5+ is the way forward. Maybe first off with XP2 as it can be developed locally. I really like the idea of developing my own film and scanning it in if it's not too expensive. I am about half way through the first roll of OOD colour film so will start taking some shots at a stop over - thanks for the tip @FishyFish

I will post what I get on here. It'll be interesting how a film so far out of date performs. Not knowing instantly what I have taken kinda enthrals me. I am having a mini photographic adventure!!
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Big community here, there is bound to be somebody local to you who will help you with developing your own film
 
Leebert said:
I really like the idea of developing my own film and scanning it in if it's not too expensive.
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Well if you decide it's something you want to have a go at, I have a spare tank + reels that's not selling on eBay, and a small bottle of developer that I can post out to you for the cost of the postage. All you'd need after that would be a changing bag (unless you have somewhere light tight), some stop bath (some people just use water for this) & fixer, measuring jugs and a thermometer.
 
Harlequin565 said:
Well if you decide it's something you want to have a go at, I have a spare tank + reels that's not selling on eBay, and a small bottle of developer that I can post out to you for the cost of the postage. All you'd need after that would be a changing bag (unless you have somewhere light tight), some stop bath (some people just use water for this) & fixer, measuring jugs and a thermometer.
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Wow! Thank you so very much Ian. That is a very kind offer. Please let me know how much to send you.

In the meantime, I have put a bid on a certain site for a changing bag and some developing kit bits too :)
 
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