Which ASA to use with Plus-X?

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Hi! I've never used B&W film before and I wanted to try it so I purchased a roll of Kodak PX 125 B&W and I'm not sure what ASA to set my camera at. Is "125" the film speed? and is this a good choice of film for someone new to B&W? I also purchased a Yellow #8 filter, will this improve the quality of any images I capture using B&W? I haven't loaded this film in the camera as yet because I want to have some idea of what I'm doing before I get started so I'll be waiting for your help. Also, is there any books you might recommend for someone just getting started in B&W photography? Thanks! Gene

-- Gene Visneski (visneski@epix.net), March 11, 2000

Answers

Response to Which ASA

Plus-X is a fine film that has been around for a long time. If you are going to develop it yourself, start with Kodak's recommendations for processing, and work from there. More than likely, you will make some adjustments as you learn more. If you want to do some B&W photography to try it out, without developing the film yourself, you might be better off using Tmax400CN or Ilford XP2+. These can be processed by a color lab.

A yellow filter is used a lot outdoors. It will slightly darken the blue sky and make it look more "normal." Without filtration, blue sky tends to wash out.

Books: O'Brien and Sibley: The Photographic Eye.

London and Upton: Photography

Horenstein: Black and White Photography

Many community colleges offer a basic photography course. The quality will vary somewhat, but with any luck, many of your questions will be answered effectively through demonstration, assigned practice, and critiques. Read some, and then get out and take a lot of pictures!

Some more information on what experience you have had already with photography would be useful for futher advice from others.

If you just can't wait, set you camera to f/11, 1/125 of a second, go out on a sunny day,and take pictures! That setting is with the filter. With no filter, start with f/16, 1/125.

Using a light meter, set the "ASA" at 125, although you may end up setting it at 80 or so as you gain more experience with Plus-X.

Have fun!

-- Paul Harris (pharris@neosoft.com), March 11, 2000.


Response to Which ASA

PX or Plus X is a very good film to start with. Yes, it is an ISO 125 film, so to start with, shoot it at 125. Using your meter in the camera, you do not have to make any corrections for the filter.

Yes, a yellow filter tends to help, but to learn, shoot the same shot with and without the filter to learn what it does.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), March 12, 2000.


Response to Which ASA

Why put a $10.00 piece of glass in front of a $100.00 lens? Forget about filters till you are positive you want to use them.

I prefer higher speed b&w films. Like Fuji Neopan 1600 or Kodak T- Max 3200. You can shoot at higher speeds, smaller f-stops. Unless you hate grain, but to me that's part of 35mm b&w photography

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), March 17, 2000.


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