First B&W in my M6

[mikebidwell]

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This marble bust of a child stands on the stairs at Coughton Court a National Trust property in Warwickshire UK. The image was taken using my Leica M6 + 50mm f/2 Summicron lens. I'd loaded it with Ilford Super XP2 - 400 B/W film. ISO was set at 400 for this particular shot and taken using available light. I've not used B/W film for years and certainly not this one so wasn't sure what the results would be like. The first image is as processed and the second is after I've played around with it. I was disappointed really with the film because it came out more sepia toned than a true Black and White. I would really appreciate comments please.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike Bidwell

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[andybarton]

Are these scanned from negative or print, Mike? If from a print, you can ask for the prints to be made on b&w paper, as opposed to the colour paper that most C41 prints get made on.

 

The second one has been well over-sharpened by the looks of it.

[mikebidwell]

Are these scanned from negative or print, Mike? If from a print, you can ask for the prints to be made on b&w paper, as opposed to the colour paper that most C41 prints get made on.

 

The second one has been well over-sharpened by the looks of it.

 

Hi Andy

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

When I had the film developed I asked for the images to be put onto a CD I then opened them up and worked on them using PS Elements. I agree I've over-sharpened the second image, something I must stop doing. It's been an awful long time since I used B&W film. However I am really pleased with my M6.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike

[christer]

The film you used is not a true b+w film like they used to be when we were young; films with silver grains.

 

You have used a negative colour film without colour. Also know as a film for sissies.

 

Depending on what you want they are either very good or very bad. Or in between.

 

If you want to buy British and silver grain film, then get Delta films or FP4 or HP5, all from Ilford. Film for men. Hopefully you will find somebody who can develop and print them. Otherwise DIY.

[ndjambrose]

Mike, I note that the second version is very clipped. There are no mid-tones -- all the gentle shadow behind the bust has turned to jet black. If you want to lose the colour tint just turn the image to grey scale - it will become a proper monochrome but stay true to the tonal range.

 

There are many better ways to make b+w than grey scale conversion but if you're using Elements and this is your first roll of film then it's a good place to start.

[Nikkor AIS]

Congratulation on the M6 Mike. I found when when having this film scanned at th, e local superstore that very little post processing is required. The same is true when I get around to scanning on my Nikon 500 scanner. For the most part, I just drop down my lights and that it. And yes, conversion from sepia is sometimes required . It's true the XP2 is not a true B+W, but I hardly see how that makes it a film for sissies:rolleyes:.

It's rude comment by internet tough guy/bully . Im at loss why there are some on this forum that feel they are so superior to other's that they make comments like that. Disregard him and keep shooting with what ever film you like. I personally love XP2/XP1 and have made many thousands of excellent images with it over the years. Good luck with your new camera and I look forward to seeing more images from you in the future.

 

Gregory

 

 

 

 

 

all images made with Leica camera's and XP2 film.

[Stealth3kpl]

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I need to spend more time hanging out in your local shop!

Pete

[Nikkor AIS]

Ya I know:D. I was doing trade with one of the staff and they wanted to see my Nikkor 300 2.0 IF ED AIS. Ill tell you, I dont look that good behind the lens.

 

 

Another one with XP2 taken with a 35 1.4 Summilux and M6

Gregory

[Stealth3kpl]

This marble bust of a child stands on the stairs at Coughton Court a National Trust property in Warwickshire UK. The image was taken using my Leica M6 + 50mm f/2 Summicron lens. I'd loaded it with Ilford Super XP2 - 400 B/W film. ISO was set at 400 for this particular shot and taken using available light. I've not used B/W film for years and certainly not this one so wasn't sure what the results would be like. The first image is as processed and the second is after I've played around with it. I was disappointed really with the film because it came out more sepia toned than a true Black and White. I would really appreciate comments please.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike Bidwell

I hope you don't mind but I had a go with NX2.

Pete

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[mikebidwell]

Hi everybody

 

Many thanks for the interest you've shown, taking onboard the original comment from Andy Barton I went back to the original image and had another go but didn't sharpen it at all. Here is my result, I think its much improved on my first feeble attempt.

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[mikebidwell]

The film you used is not a true b+w film like they used to be when we were young; films with silver grains.

 

You have used a negative colour film without colour. Also know as a film for sissies.

 

Depending on what you want they are either very good or very bad. Or in between.

 

If you want to buy British and silver grain film, then get Delta films or FP4 or HP5, all from Ilford. Film for men. Hopefully you will find somebody who can develop and print them. Otherwise DIY.

Hi there

 

Thank you for takng the time to comment, however I must admit I was a little amused with your very quaint description of XP2 as " Also know as a film for sissies."

 

I'm not really sure in which context you are using the word or even what you meant by the remark, but I will just put it down to something which obviously got mixed up in the translation. I can assure you though I'm by no means a sissie .

 

I quite understand the film is not a true B+W film as they were when we were young, not sure how old you are but I'm 66 and nothing is like it was when we were young, more is the pity, but thats the price we pay for progress isn't it ???

 

Moving on to the film itself, I was given it to try out to see what I thought of it and quite honestly wasn't too impressed but as neither it nor the processing cost me anything it makes no difference. I was warned about it before I used it, obviously it has its uses otherwise they woudln't market it. At present cannot find a B+W processor in my area so we will have to rethink.

 

Thank you once again for your comments.

 

Kind regards

 

Mike B

[christer]

Dear Mike B!

 

Thank you for your message young man.

 

Kind regards,

Chris

[tgray]

Don't be disappointed by the sepia or green color casts you'll get with this film. It's just the scan. Take it and desaturated it if it bothers you. It's not on the film, it's because the scanner operators don't correct it to be B&W.

 

XP2 is a nice film. Very grainless.

[Xmas]

. Also know as a film for sissies.

 

It is a very usable material and if you can tolerate mini lab processing very convenient, you can home process it as well, as the C41 process is not that difficult.

 

It has a very wide exposure range, with very little degradation in quality, but you may need to digitally process it to get a sparking print or use multigrade paper and burn and dodge for wet printing.

 

Delta 400 and Delta 100 are both also really good, especially when the exposure is perfect.

 

Monochrome is just fun.

 

Noel

[andybarton]

DIY is the way to go. It will cost you about £100 all in for the kit to do it, and a film takes about half an hour to process. Developer, stop and fixer are cheap - much cheaper than having a mini-lab process C41.

 

You WILL need a scanner though, if you don't wet print.

[Xmas]

If you go to the local camera club, and confess to being a new wannabe film home processor you may get much of the equipment for free.

 

When some one goes digital they need a good home for all the darkroom kit, most people are reluctant to trash can it.

 

I've got most of mine that way, Including 2nd enlarger, enlarging exposure meter, daylight loader, spiral tanks, trays, even some unopened silver gelatin paper, and B&W chemicals, etc...

 

Although you may need to buy some things, e.g. 40C thermometer for C41, not many people will do C41 at home.

 

You need to lash up a dark room, or use a changing bag for film processing.

 

It is good fun & the quality is better, than mini labs or with practice pro labs. Fine art printing will take lots of learning.

 

Noel

[tobey bilek]

In order to get neutral black and white in photoshop, I have a calibrated monitor, I then convert the file to the monitor profile, and lastly go to image -adjust- convert to black and white.

 

Presto chango, the image goes from the greenish balance. to pure black and white.

I have no idea if you can do this with Elements. It is also true of regular black and white film like tri x which comes from my scanner with olive green tint like yours, or a digital file I convert to monochrome in raw converter.