FFilm Newbie :0) Recommendation?

[Baz94]

Well I have spent the past x number of months really getting into this hobby and would like to start making money from it down the line but thats later.

Recently, At my CnG course, I actually processed my own film and finally "learned" something!
Up to that point, we were being taught what we knew really but then film came into the equation and WOW!!
I love it!

I still love digital but with Film, I had to pay a LOT more attention to what I was doing and putting in the work myself to develop it really gave me a sense of achievement and satisfaction.
I loved it and now will work with film a lot more.

I love black and white and with film, I will do everything in b/w.

I quite like mono images with a high ISO (I find 1600 gives a lovely grain on my digital while 3200 is TOO high).

Could someone recommend a good but cheap ISO1600 film please )

[Malcolm_Stewart]

I hope that you made up your own developer and fixer etc. I've seen reports here from others on courses that they haven't been allowed to do the interesting stuff.

It's all good fun until you use the fixer instead of the developer...

Here's a film rated at 1600 ISO. You could also check out the Kodak page at the same site, where there's a film at 3200 ISO. I tried this Kodak one many years ago, and didn't like the results. Looked very like what you get by pushing the development, and it wouldn't surprise me if that's what they do.

[taxor]

Why not try Ilford Delta 3200. A superb film and also available in 120 format should you wish to get really serious and have a bash at medium format. Nice to see a new film user. Good luck with it and don't forget to ask (lots of) questions here.

[Baz94]

Thanks guys.

I was thinking about 3200 but going by my digital, it was pretty ott, the 1600 definately looked nicer for me )

At the mo, I am using my sister in laws Nikon F60 but am going to get a fully manual SLR.
Im even enjoying the idea of using film and am looking forward to processing my own stuff ) Great learning curve.

Next step will be to convince the missus we NEED a darkroom )

[Oly_Man]

At the mo, I am using my sister in laws Nikon F60 but am going to get a fully manual SLR.

If you're smitten with Nikon, you could do worse that look at the FM2 or FM3. Alternatively Pentax K1000 was almost standard equipment with students when 35mm film was in its hayday. And of course there's the wonderful Olympus OM1.

[El_Sid]

At the mo, I am using my sister in laws Nikon F60 but am going to get a fully manual SLR.

A word of advice if you are thinking of using AF lenses on manual Nikons...

G-type Nikkors - ie all those without an aperture ring - are not suitable for manual focus cameras as you have no way of adjusting the aperture.

[Nod]

1600 film? Try HP5 (Ilford) or Tri-X (Kodak) and push it as far as you want (both are ISO 400 but will stretch!). Grain will end up like golfballs though.

Try 7dayshop.com or Mailshotsuk.co.uk and see what the prices are like.

[Wheelu]

HP5 rated at 800 in DD-X is much to my taste. Grain is reasonable and the negs are just a bit more contrasty than those when the film is rated at 400, which is great for grey days. Not tried HP5 at 1600 as yet, but achieved golf ball grain with Delta 3200 rated at 1600.

See, for example, this.

[taxor]

HP5 rated at 800 in DD-X is much to my taste.

I used HP5 at 800asa and devved it in Microphen (the powder equivalent of DDX, I believe) and got surprisingly good results. I also got good results uprating HP5 to 1600 asa (if you can live without the deepest shadow detail).

[Baz94]

Hi folks

Sorry for the delay but had tonnes on.

Thanks everybody for the advice and tips

I have decided to go with the HP5. I am using it in the F60 and (i feel ill admitting this), a cannon EOS 5000 (Naff camera but will await the results before being to criticle of it (But lets face it, Nikon is best!)

I will use up the HP5 first and then use the Kodak tri - X

I'll be doing more developing again this week so will let you know how I get on.
But definately going to keep with Film ffor all my black and white stuff

Thanks again for all your replies

[duncjam]

I haven't used B&W white film in quite some time but Fuji Neopan 1600 was always may favourite. Really is worth a go if you haven't tried it.

[FujiSigmaNolta]

Neopan is brilliant, lovely film.

[snowqueen]

Neopan is brilliant, lovely film.

Thats nice
was it the 1600 you used? and can i ask what grade you developed at?

[FujiSigmaNolta]

It is the 1600, developed in DD-X, 1:4 dilution, 7 1/2 mins if I recall well, at 20C. All pretty standard, it really is just a lovely high grain B&W film to work with.