Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/12/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW... Chromogenics
From: "Julian Koplen" <jkoplen@mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 08:59:46 -0500
References: <B84A0D33.67DD%Mail@SlideOne.com> <005001c18b68$eb5bb4c0$56631b3f@5lgcn01> <3C2566AB.5070609@attinasi.org>

Thanks for the clue, Marc.  I'll try what you suggest.  My main point, of
course, was that a very decent B/W film and its processing are readily
available for a hobbyist with B/W desires and limited resources.

Julian

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Attinasi" <marc@attinasi.org>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 12:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW... Chromogenics


I never shoot XP2 Super any faster than 250 - but then, I don't scan the
negs, I print them. At 400 the shadows are always so weak for me, at 200
they are great. I cannot image trying to get a print out of a roll shot
at 800!

 For portraits, XP2 Super at 250 is one of my favorite films - smooth
gradations and no grain! For general photography, I tend to need to
print at grade 3 or 3.5, which is OK by me :)

Interestingly, the Kodak Portra 400 B&W seems to shoot well at 320 or
400, I just don't like the tonality as much (and it costs too much!).

- - marc

Julian Koplen wrote:

>John,
>
>I take my Ilford XP2 Super to my local Wal-Mart C-41 lab.  In 20 minutes I
>have a developed roll of negatives for $1.76 plus tax.  And they cut them
>into strips at my request.  Then I use my film scanner.
>
>I do not find this film very contrasty.  And I am told that XP2 Super
>exhibits even less contrast if shot at an E.I. of 200.  It is also said to
>be very useful at an E.I. of 800, but more contrasty.  As a fairly low
>volume user, I have shot it only at 400 so far.  I believe it to be a cheap
>and easy way to get some good quality B/W negative material.
>
>The chances of a lethal scratch on your best shot are not very
>strong--unless you are the guy for whom Murphy wrote his law :)
>
>Good luck........enjoy your camera........have fun with it.  (Pardon the
>preach.)
>
>Julian
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Straus" <Mail@SlideOne.com>
>To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 11:13 AM
>Subject: Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW...
>
>
>on 12/22/01 8:07 AM, Jeffery Smith at jsmith45@bellsouth.net wrote:
>
>>and have the local camera store or Sam's do the developing.
>>
>
>I have never liked taking film into mini-labs or discount stores for the
>simple reason of care. I know that most of what I'll shoot will be heading
>for the recycle bin but if you do get a good shot I'd hate to have the neg
>missing or a looooong deep scratch along your negs from dirt in the
>processer, both have happened to me a few times. Although I know the odds
>are against it I'm still bothered by the possibility of it.
>
>>At the camera store, I just get development + an index sheet
>>($4.75). At Sam's I get prints and an index sheet ($7). I prefer the Sam's
>>method as I can get a pretty good idea of the image quality from a 3.4x5
>>print. For B&W, I do the same with Ilford XP2.
>>
>
>Hmmm...cheap processing. I don't have a Sam's card but there are Walmarts
>around here. Does anyone know what some of the cheapest places would be in
>the Chicago area for process & print?
>
>>I have little spare time, so souping my own B&W is out of the
>>question.
>>
>
>I don't know if I really have the time either BUT I may want to make the
>time. So far the B&W C-41 film is almost too contrasty for me. Plus the
talk
>of nice Neopan negs shooting 1600 speed (or anything other than 400 as C-41
>B&W) brings back memories of the darkroom days. Processing my own B&W will
>just let me be more versital if I want to try fast film which I know I do.
>
>>The PAW is a challenge, but you'll like it. Prepare for some positive
>>comments, negative comments, and no comments. But you'll improve your work
>>as a result.
>>
>
>Yes...improve...
>
>--
>John
>Chicago, IL
>http://SlideOne.com
>====================
>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>>>[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of John Straus
>>>Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 2:18 AM
>>>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>>>Subject: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW...
>>>
>>>
>>>It's almost Ho, ho, ho time and PAW 2002 is right around the
>>>corner. I hope
>>>to embark on this mission and have as much success through the year as
>>>others have, if nothing else learn from the experience.
>>>
>>>The question I have is what are some good ways of shooting a roll
>>>a week but
>>>not spending a lot of $$ doing so? My normal methods are shoot slides or
>>>print film and go to a ProLab for Dip&Dunk. That is just not going to be
>>>economical for me to do that @ $9 or $17 per roll.
>>>
>>>Sooo I was thinking of going back to some B&W neg film and do the
>>>processing
>>>myself. It would save some $$ (I think) and I could look at the film a
>>>
>lot
>
>>>faster (same eve) instead of taking it to a lab and wait 3 days. I can
>>>
>set
>
>>>something up to at least process the negs but I still need a
>>>proof sheet. I
>>>have a slide scanner but the thought of proofing a few frames at a time
>>>feeding in and out doesn't seem like the best way, or is it? I
>>>was thinking
>>>of getting a cheap $100 flatbed to do the proofing on and I could use it
>>>
>
>>>anytime I didn't want prints made for the color neg film I shoot.
>>>How do you
>>>guys do it? Any thoughts or ideas appreciated!
>>>
>>>--
>>>John
>>>Chicago, IL
>>>http://SlideOne.com
>>>====================
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>>>
>>
>>--
>>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>>
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>
>
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>

- --
***     Marc Attinasi     ***
* mailto: marc@attinasi.org *
*  http://www.attinasi.org  *




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In reply to: Message from John Straus <Mail@SlideOne.com> (Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW...)
Message from "Julian Koplen" <jkoplen@mindspring.com> (Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW...)
Message from Marc Attinasi <marc@attinasi.org> (Re: [Leica] [OT] Frugal for PAW... Chromogenics)