Response to 'newbie' question--what film best for 800ISO, grain, sharpness, tonality

Nothing like doing it the hard way.....

The developers you're using _decrease_ real speed, if anything.

If you really want to use Rodinal, make it stronger at 1:50 or 1:25 and add up to 25g/L sodium sulfite to get the speed up. That'll bring back 1/3 to 2/3 stop real speed (based on shadow density) but I really doubt you're going to get above EI 400.

Try this; HP5+ in Microphen 1:1 7'/75F EI 640 or in DD-X 1:9 9'/75F EI 640. These are real speeds based on .10 DU above fb&f for Zone I, or iow, HP5+ developed in either of those developers becomes an EI 640 film for "normal" contrast. If you want EI 800-1000 just increase development time around 10%.

[ Previous | Next ]