Which film?

[Julia Q]

Having a tidy up I found in a pile of stuff a Cosina 35mm film camera with a lens on the front. It currently appears to have 2/3rds of a film exposed in it.

I think the film in the camera is a 36exp iso 400 colour film, which once I have rolled off the final 12 exposures, I will see about getting processed, largely out of curiosity.

But having found a film SLR, it seems a shame not to put some film in it. I'm thinking some black and white film would be an interesting one to use, but I have absolutely no idea what to get. So, what B&W film would people recommend for a beginner in B&W film photography?

Thanks

J

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Ilford XP2 or Kodak BW400CN is available in the likes of Boots, and can be processed in any lab that does colour film. These films are what are called chromogenic film and can be procesed in the same C41 chemistry that regular colour film is, but produce black and white prints.

If you want to try your hand at developing it yourself, then something like Ilford HP5 is a good place to start. This requires special chemicals and cannot be processed in high street labs. You'll need to do it yourself or send it away to a lab.

Hope this helps!

 

[VirtualAdept]

^^^ What he said...

 

[norters]

I would suggest anything by Ilford. I am an unapologetic Ilford fanboy

 

[Andysnap]

A cheeky roll of Kodak t-max might work. Oh and welcome to the forum especially the lovely and slightly musty film and conventional section.

Andy

 

[Threeracers]

Another Ilford fanboy here and although I develop my own at home usually I have used ilfords own service and they are very good.

Not sure where in Kent but Boots in Canterbury struggle to develop XP2 - I have had two rolls come out looking very pink.

Mark

 

[excalibur2]

I have had two rolls come out looking very pink.

Mark

I think Chris had this problem a year or so ago :shrug:

 

[ChrisR]

Surely, it doesn't matter if the negatives are pink? Scan them on grey-scale and you're done! Or am I missing something?

 

[Nguss]

A vote for HP5 by Ilford (only as I have not yet had my Tri-x developed).

 

[Threeracers]

Surely, it doesn't matter if the negatives are pink? Scan them on grey-scale and you're done! Or am I missing something?

Negs were fine, they just printed pink. They reprinted them correctly but just a pain to wait. Second time I reminded them about the first when i dropped them off too!

Mark