Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/03/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Vince, I'd agree with these comments about C-41. I've used both BW400CN for something more than five years and like it very much. There is little grain to speak of, tonality and response are very good to excellent and its dynamic range mean I'd recommend it. Apart from grain it is not too dissimilar to Tri-X although other might argue with that.It is also very good at rendering polished surfaces. About 85% of my LUG Gallery is BW400CN. Ilford XP2 Super is the only real option and its characteristics are pretty much the same. There was a Fuji film too, but that appears to have gone. AFAIK those were the only three B&W C-41s produced large scale. Since I don't print from negs I don't have a problem with bases. Neg quality is very good though (most problems are down to me or the developing process). Get to know your local dev shop and see what you can get by way of support, some local shops are more than happy to talk about unusual requests etc. Supply: All are becoming more difficult to get hold of other than for specialised orders or online. I have found that all my local photo shops will order C41 for me from Kodak or Ilford but few of them hold it except for odd ones and twos. Hope that this helps, Peter Dzwig Tim Gray wrote: > On Mar 28, 2010 at 01:13 AM -0400, Vince Passaro wrote: >> I'm contemplating C41 b and w film. I've used the Kodak and liked it >> sometimes and not others (dependong on factors I was too ignorant to >> learn >> how to control at the time, I suspect). My impression though was that >> Koday >> was the best of them but I do recollect an Ilford that some people >> liked... >> perhaps it was that 50 ASA of theirs? >> >> Anyone using C41 and feel knowledgeable and opinionated enough to declare >> differences and preferences? > > Both films are ISO 400, very fine grained (no real grain to speak of), > and also do very well if over exposed. > > The main difference between the two is that the Ilford (XP2 Super) has a > gray base, while the Kodak (BW400CN) has an orangish base, like C-41 > color film. The Ilford base makes it easier to use in the darkroom with > B&W paper because you don't have to print through the orange base, which > can also affect the contrast if you are using VC paper. If you are > scanning, I'd say buy whichever one is cheaper or more easily available. > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- =========================================================== Dr Peter Dzwig