Beginner Two questions

[DrGed]

I've tried my hand at using film again, for the first time in over 30 years and I feel like a total beginner again. I have two questions. Firstly, can anyone recommend I good processing lab? Secondly, I shot a roll of CineStill 400D and it appears to function poorly in lower light conditions but really well in sunshine. Is this just how the film responds or is it likely that I'm doing something wrong?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ged

 

[ChrisR]

If you're taking colour print (C41) and/or black and white and don't have your own scanning setup, I'd recommend Filmdev. They are very well priced, do good scans and use WeTransfer. If slide film (E6) is involved, I use The Darkroom UK in Cheltenham, but like many labs their scanning is quite expensive.

Cinestill 400D is, I believe, an Eastman cine film with the special remjet layer removed, and may react differently to light than most C41 colour films (probably more halation, but I'm guessing as I've never used it). The range of colour films available has reduced dramatically over the past few years, specially if you want fresh stock. One interesting option is to use XP2, an extremely flexible (rather high contrast?) black and white film based on C41 chemicals, which generally means it's easier to find labs that will process it.

EDIT: Nice to see folk trying film again. You didn't say what camera/lenses you have available to you. I hope you stick with it for a bit (takes a while to get used to it, given the lack of immediate feedback!), and it would be great to see some results.

 

[DrGed]

Thanks for your reply, Chris!

I'm using a Canon EOS100 and have a "nifty fifty", a Sigma kit lens and a Canon 70-210 zoom lens. I also have a Mamiya RB67 Pro-S but that's another story altogether!

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Thanks for your reply, Chris!

I'm using a Canon EOS100 and have a "nifty fifty", a Sigma kit lens and a Canon 70-210 zoom lens. I also have a Mamiya RB67 Pro-S but that's another story altogether!

I do like the Canon EOS cameras (I have a couple). They get the job done and can be had cheaply. However I doubt a RB67 can be bought for 20 quid!

As @ChrisR says we'll hopefully get to see some of your results.

 

[Kevin Allan]

Secondly, I shot a roll of CineStill 400D and it appears to function poorly in lower light conditions but really well in sunshine. Is this just how the film responds or is it likely that I'm doing something wrong?

It may be worth checking the light meter in your Canon EOS1000 against another meter (eg a digital camera or a phone app). By definition most film cameras are getting old and the metering may be unreliable.

 

[MarkWalker]

It may have nothing to do with it, but D stands for daylight balanced, while T is probably more suited to low-light photography.

 

[DrGed]

Regarding the Mamiya, it was a gift but one I'd rather not have recieved. A friend of mine had a stroke and he can't use such a heavy camera anymore. I'm not doing very well with this camera : the learing curve is, for me, very steep.

I will compare the light meter with that on my digtal camera but I suspect things are O.K. I dd manage to get one or two really good shots off the roll of CineStill 400D.

 

[MarkWalker]

Regarding the Mamiya, it was a gift but one I'd rather not have recieved. A friend of mine had a stroke and he can't use such a heavy camera anymore. I'm not doing very well with this camera : the learing curve is, for me, very steep.

I will compare the light meter with that on my digtal camera but I suspect things are O.K. I dd manage to get one or two really good shots off the roll of CineStill 400D.

I was going to start using a Monopod with my RZ, just a thought to help with the weight of that RB lump!

 

[DrGed]

It may have nothing to do with it, but D stands for daylight balanced, while T is probably more suited to low-light photography.

I think that could be the case : the lower the light was, the worse the result was. Does the T stand for "Tungsten"?

 

[MarkWalker]

I think it stands for Too much money... (Cinistill 800T), but technically yep, Tungsten balanced, with interesting halations.