[Leica] XP-2

[Dante Stella]

Does a 1/3 stop even make a difference? Or is 320 a lucky number that people remember from TXP120? Serious question.

I see references everywhere to rating 400 film of various types at 320, and it seems a bit strange because few film cameras are accurate and consistent enough to predict a blanket rule with an almost insignificant amount of overexposure. Virtually anything with a leaf shutter is already overexposing by at least that much -- meaning that "320" really means 250, and 2/3 stop is much more noticeable than 1/3. And with all mechanical shutters, each speed can have a different error in a different direction. The other thing is that C-41 processing, at least commercial processing, is not that consistent either.

And having put a densitometer to silver negatives exposed at one-third stop increments with very accurate electronic shutters, it does not tend to drag meaningful detail out of the toe. And it makes zero difference to tones on a straight-line film like TMY. Maybe things are different with XP2, but even eyeballing its curve, it seems doubtful that (an actual) 1/3 stop would do very much.

Or maybe I'm missing the magic here? I take the suggestion seriously coming from you, but it still seems slightly superstitious.

Best,
Dante

> On Nov 25, 2015, at 12:35 PM, Paul Roark <roark.paul at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Overexposure lowers grain but also lowers contrast.  I used 320 most.  You
> can use the typical negative film approach -- expose for the shadows and
> let the highlights go where they may.  It's hard to burn them out with that
> film.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
> 
>> On Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 9:27 AM, Bryk Oliver <oliverbryk at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> How should I rate XP-2 if none of the images will be printed?
>> 
>> Thanks for any advice based on experience,
>> 
>> Oliver
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information