Although this must have been asked many times before,which b/w and which colour film give the sharpest and "best" results on an M6? For example ,is technical pan for b/w still the one to beat?

-- steve (s.s2@uk.dreamcast.uk), March 21, 2002

Answers

Whatcha takin' pitchers of? If you want max sharpness and tonality for rocks, trees, flowers, fields and other things that don't move too much, maybe you should consider trading your M6 for a Hasselblad. A larger format will outperform anything in 35mm with more ease and convenience than messing with specialty film. If you're doing candid, casual, available light, on-the-fly photography, then Tech Pan is way too slow. Tri-X is good.

-- George T. (davecasman@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002.

there is something to be said for trying to extract the maximum technical quality from 35mm -- even though the miniature format size makes this a real challenge. tech pan, while yielding enormously high resolution has low microcontrast, and so often looks less sharp than some coarse grained films like tri-x. indeed, large irregular grain often yields high subjective sharpness since films with these characteristics tend to produce high edge acutance. (tech pan is also nigh impossible to zone!!) however, having said all that, if you want a film with grain size to rival tech pan, with much better exposure latitude, and MUCH higher sensitivity, then try kodak t400cn. it is a chromogenic film, processed c41 at your local one hour lab. the tonality is decent, it is a true 400 speed film, and has grain comparable to tech pan. i think you like!!!

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), March 21, 2002.

I use Ilford XP2, Delta 100 and 400 and Agfa 100 and 400 for black and white in my M's. Sometimes Delta 3200 is needed also. I love the sharpness and grainless of XP2, but the film is very thin and prone to scratches. Many Leica photographers I have spoken to use the Agfa B&W films. Tech Pan is very, very sharp, but can be a pain to develop sometimes.(Tech Pan develop suggestions?)

For color, I use Fuji NPH400, Agfa Optima 100, and Fuji NPZ800. NPH and NPZ for weddings, conventions, events, and Optima 100 for travel, or everyday shooting.

For chrome, Kodachrome or Provia is my choice. Still can't beat the Kodachromes though. Only down side is Kodachrome cannot be used for film scannning with Digital Ice.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), March 21, 2002.

Steve:

XP2.

If you expose it at about 200-250, it will give you grainless, very sharp 16 x 20 prints. It is capable of excellent tonal rendition printed correctly- you must test that with your own stuff.

Cheers

-- richard ilomaki (richard.ilomaki@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

Steve: Just a note on TechPan.....the film and chemistry are expensive if you do a lot of shooting. Also, the agitation technique is different during developing. TechPan is a HIGH contrast film and can be used with a number of developers, D-19 and Dektol, yes, Dektol for very HIGH contrast negs. For normal contrast, you need to use Technidol Liquid. Any number of developers between Dektol and Technidol will give you varying degrees of contrast. I'd follow the advice above from the standpoint of ease of processing and cost. Save your money for an M7.

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), March 21, 2002.

I recently had a little lesson on this topic when I got some color enlargements back from Modernage in NYC. Modernage uses a Fuji digital output to Crystal Archive paper--for prints from negatives. I also had the same shots done by another lab whose C-41 work is very good and which I use regularly. The exercise here was to show some newlyweds the quality and cost for their options for prints of their wedding.

The digital prints from Modernage were stunning--rich, vibrant colors (black, white & red, skin tones), exceptional detail (more than usual, it seemed). There was a three-dimensional quality, a certain liveliness. All of this is hard to quantify, and a scan won't do it justice. Suffice it to say that any observer would be impressed by the "pop."

The traditional enlargement from the other lab was fine; it was just clearly of a different order and not nearly as vibrant or clear. It cost $4 for a 5x7; the Modernage one was $16 for a 5x7.

The camera, by the way, was a Canon Elan 7 with 50/1.4 USM lens and speedlight. Film was Superia 400 (cheap).

All of this is to say that the final process has as much to do with quality as the original film--and if your lab is going to output digital anyway, colors will be corrected, contrast will be adjusted, etc. Lots of technology stands between the click of your shutter and your picking up the final print.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), March 21, 2002.

For B+W XP2 Super, for colour NPH400. Both beautifully, sharp, grain free and the perfect all round speed.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), March 21, 2002.

I think the Leica's favourite food is Tri-X, I'm sure mine purrs when it has some!

-- Philip Woodcock (phil@pushbar.demon.co.uk), March 21, 2002.

Film should be specific to the look you want. TechPan has a fairly unique look. I've never understood film recommendation questions unless you have something specific you want to achieve in your negatives and prints.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), March 21, 2002.

Shooting with EI 50 film, instead of EI 400, isn't so restricting as one might think before trying it. On a sunny day 1/125th at f5.6 is typical! The gain in quality which the slow film gives, especially in 35mm, is very noticeable. I like Pan F+ developed in Rodinal as a favorite for my M6TTL photography. For color slides Kodachrome 64 is my favorite. It has incredible sharpness and natural color. With slide film you can really see what your wonderful Leica lens is producing. - Not so if you send color print film to be printed by typical minilabs.

-- Ollie Steiner (violindevil@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002.

Is there a best film? I doubt it since the representation of i.e. colors are subject to personal preference. Some like intense colors, others don't. Try a couple and make your choice.

-- Bernd Kunze (bkunze@gmx.net), March 21, 2002.

"Don't confuse "Sharp" and "Good", or you'll find yourself shaving with an ice cream cone, and licking razor blades." - Bill Pierce.

I mention that only because "best" is not necessarily the same thing as "sharp".

Actually some folks (Erwin Puts, e.g.) now rate TMax 100 over Tech Pan. For raw sharpness, forget the 400 films - period - which doesn't mean they aren't 'better' for other uses. The chromogenic 400 films have good grain and tonality, but are not necessarily SHARPER than silver films fo the same speed - dye clouds just aren't as crisp-edged as silver crystals.

I shoot Pan F - probably not as sharp as Tech Pan/Tmax100/Delta 100/ Gigabit, but with a lovely TONAL RANGE that rivlas larger formats.

For color - now that Kodachrome 25 is dead - K64 and Velvia lead the slide pack. I don't shoot enough color neg to have an opinion, but 100- speed neg films are getting close to K64/Velvia in overall resolution - they just don't have the edge accutance 'pop' of the slow, contrasty slides - yet.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), March 21, 2002.

Steve,

Gene Crumpler over on the BW group raves about Tech Pan in Diafine. I got the times and temp from www.digitaltruth.com

Cheers,

Tech Pan (ISO) 80 Bath A=3min Bath B=45 sec 20°C

(ISO) 100 Bath A=3min Bath B=1 20°C

-- Mark (acerview76eus@yahoo.com), March 21, 2002.

B+W: try Agfapan 100 in Rodinal (25 no longer available) or Ilford Pan F in Perceptol at ISO 32 (ultra fine grain, brilliant!)

Colour prints: Fuji Reala and Kodak portra get lots of plaudits, though I've yet to try the Portra; otherwise it's the processing that counts.

Slides: E100S or Elite Chrome is good and seems to be consistently under-rated. The Yanks make damn good films, but many seem to favour the big green giant. And don't iscount Agfa's excellent RSX 50 and 100.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), March 22, 2002.

It has been said that XP5 is better B+W film. What is the difference between XP5 and XP2?

Wanye

-- WANYE (w.song@qut.edu.au), March 25, 2002.

There is no such thing as XP5. XP-2 SUPER is the updated film to XP- 2 and it is a definite improvement.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), March 26, 2002.