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Newbie questions
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okay im really REALLY new to doing Film photography. At the moment I’ve been just using cheap Fujifilm rolls that I can pick up locally for around 2 euro. The reason for that was that I felt I didnt need to spend large amounts of money while learning to use the ins and outs of my 35mm correctly.
Obviously I want to start stepping up a little, seeing as I now am better at taking decent shots (when before the word aperture confused me!! :P ).
So I’m wondering what brands of Film are good to use, and where to get them? Also, I’d like to start trying out some B/W stuff, so what film would be best for that (in general terms)?
Hopefully I’ll eventually get around to developing my own prints and so on, I’d like to do a beginners course but I’ll have to wait til I find the time and money!There are so many films on the market today and none are really bad. The big three are Ilford, Kodak and
Fuji.If you want fine grain then Ilfords Pan-f is hard to beat. If you want a faster film with more grain then any of the 400 speed films are great, Ilford’s HP5, Fuji’s Neopan or Kodak’s Tri-X which I love.
I guess it depends on what you want to photograph.
There are many other films from other manufacturers available online but you should be able to find what you need from the better known ones above.
Peter
Use something that is easy to get hold of. Ilford XP2 400 ISO is a good film for starting off with, the process for this film is the same as any colour film so you will be able to get it processed anywhere that does film. Pan-f is nice, but you will need a tripod if the light is low. I like the Delta range and as above Kodak Tri-x is very nice too.
Thanks, I appreciate all of that. By processed do you mean just get the negatives developed or could I get the photographs printed also?
Yep, you could get prints as well, won’t be anywhere near as nice as hand prints though. Do you have access to a darkroom?
Sinead.
No, sadly I don’t. I also don’t have any experience whatsoever in developing prints. I’d love to do a beginners course or something. I was planning to go to the the one TheFizz held on the 16th but I couldn’t make it!
Well, you could always scan your negs onto disc and work on them in photoshop. Don’t give up on the darkroom though, pretty cool when you get into it.
I never thought of getting them scanned onto disc but thats a really good idea (seeing as I now know how NOT to destroy your photo’s when using photoshop!) :D Thanks a million!
I always liked fuji neopan – thought it was slightly less grainy than say Ilford HP5. But shop around – some folks can really stick it you on prices for B&W film cos it’s almost “specialised” now!!!
Gunn’s is best – 3euro ish!
When you can a film processed it’s the same a any camera even a disposable thing – you get the fixed negs, a contact sheet and prints!
Where abouts do you live – I really only know Dublin or Belfast!!!!
TCD will show you darkroom technic and you just hafta know someone that goes there and is in photosoc to use that, or there’s the darkroom’s in temple bar – but they’re pricy enough!
Learning the basics isn’t that hard – it’s more of a production line – develop, stop, fix, develop, stop, fix and then the more practice you get the more you can work with your prints!
i live up in Down (that sounds weird) now and use a local camera clubs darkroom but they’ve kinda turned it into a storage room cos everyone’s digital and it’s freezing in there! Seriously – corrupts the chemicals! Not good!
Oh yeah there’s Dublin camera club on Camden St as well – think it’s about 90euro for the year but they have darkroom and studio and exhibitions as well and talks from photo folk – someone in there probably wouldn’t mind showing you the ropes!
Otherwise I can find the email for tcd photosoc actually I think it’s just dupatcd.ie – and they teach technic all year – well at least used to – I’ve only been gone 2years so hopefully its not that different – wow I’m rambling on – sorry!
Good luck!
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