B&W experience

[TrevorAB]

I'm about to take my first steps into the ocean of super8 filmmaking. I have been out of fiming and photography for some time, so I am a bit rusty. My understanding of photography covers the basics but not too much in the way of experimentation.
My first "project" is to shoot a few rolls of plusX and triX because black and white is what I have the most experience with. However, I am used to using tmax which is an extremely forgiving film that yields nice contrast if you are anywhere near the "proper exposure." My concearn is contrast. I like strong, almost stark, contrast in black and white images.

My questions are:

1. Can plusX and triX show strong contrast and if so what is the downside if any?

2. Will filtering help to improve contrast without drastically reducing image quality? If so, what types of filters (red, blue...) are best for any given scene?

3. CineLab in Massachusettes offers daily super 8 b&w processing. Has anyone every utilized their services? Is there a better place to send b&w for processing?

Lastly, I apologize for being so long winded, I would like to open up a general discussion about shooting black and white super 8. I would like to hear about your preferences, projects, anyhting that falls into the broad heading of filming in black and white.


One more thing that might be of interest, it seems tmax doesn't perform any better as motion picture film than plusx or trix, according to Kodak....Didn't Ilford make a black and white super 8 film once upon a time?

[mattias]

what do you mean by "show strong contrast". they can't reproduce much contrast at all, but the final result will often be very contrasty.

i often use yellow or orange filters to reduce haze, which of will increase contrast and sharpness, but i also get flat faces. a blue filter will give you more skin contrast, but flatten everything lit by the sun. a mix might work, but won't let you see much through your viewfinder. :-)

just experiment. use inexpensive gels to test colors before you buy the filters.

[pcg]

As another comment, CineLab in Boston is fine. I've had many B&W rolls processed there, almost all Tri-X. They've also developed some Plus for me; never had problems. They're quick & inexpensive. And I know they do a fairly large business in S8, so the chemistry is clean.

My experience is also that Tri-X w/ OR to R filters will increase contrast, sometimes rather dramatically. Always experiment on your own system before shooting anything you consider important!

Any texts you might own for 35mm work will apply in terms of B&W film / filter work equally w/ S8. The film itself is identical & any of the basic Ansel Adams how-to's work as a great beginning text for these issues...

Good luck!
/Pat

[Nigel]

I like Plus-X for anything that is going to be Xfered to video. I like Tri-X for things that I will project directly. I use a haze and a yellow filter on my B&W. I will sometimes use others but not often.