If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Fortepan -- disappointing results
I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H,
just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. I was not expecting much, but even so I was disappointed. The film seems to have extraordinarily limited range -- single photos had both blown white highlights and pitch black shadows, not much gray tones. Besides the extreme contrast, some images seemed blurred and indistinct. The shots were in a wide variety of situations, indoor and outdoor, low light and full sunlight, etc. I don't think it was the camera, since all the other rolls I've shot with the Pentax *ist have come out remarkably well; the camera seems to have quite accurate and sophisticated metering and focusing systems. There is a slight chance it was the lab, but I know very little about the mechanics and chemistry of photo processing. Are the poor results likely the result of using poor film, as I suspect, or was it partially the cheap processing? Or was it operator error, a lazy amateur accustomed to today's high quality color films? Larf! I still have a roll of Fortepan 400 but I wonder whether it's even worth the trouble to use. What sort of results have others had with this film? Do I need to stick to reputable brand films? Thanks for suggestions and comments. *UncaMikey |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
UncaMikey wrote:
I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf -- Ralf R. Radermacher - DL9KCG - Köln/Cologne, Germany private homepage: http://www.fotoralf.de manual cameras and photo galleries - updated April 29, 2004 Contarex - Kiev 60 - Horizon 202 - P6 mount lenses |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
UncaMikey wrote:
I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf -- Ralf R. Radermacher - DL9KCG - Köln/Cologne, Germany private homepage: http://www.fotoralf.de manual cameras and photo galleries - updated April 29, 2004 Contarex - Kiev 60 - Horizon 202 - P6 mount lenses |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
(Ralf R. Radermacher) wrote: UncaMikey wrote: I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf Well stated,... although decidedly better results would have been achieved "IF" he would have processed the film himself,....at least if he would have processed it like you or me ;-) -- LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
(Ralf R. Radermacher) wrote: UncaMikey wrote: I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf Well stated,... although decidedly better results would have been achieved "IF" he would have processed the film himself,....at least if he would have processed it like you or me ;-) -- LF Website @ http://members.verizon.net/~gregoryblank "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt, May 7, 1918 |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Ralf R. Radermacher wrote:
UncaMikey wrote: I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf I'd put more emphasis on the cheap lab. B&W MUST be processed by one's self (or else use an EXCELLENT lab) for decent results: Developing is easy to learn and doesn't require much eqipment. Ask if you want to know more... |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Ralf R. Radermacher wrote:
UncaMikey wrote: I haven't shot B&W in decades, so I bought some Fortepan from B&H, just to play around. I shot a roll of 100 using my Pentax *ist and various lenses. I had the film processed at Sam's Club, the off-site service that takes 2 weeks, since it was so cheap and I was simply curious as to what I would get. You've had cheap film processed by a cheap lab. Ralf I'd put more emphasis on the cheap lab. B&W MUST be processed by one's self (or else use an EXCELLENT lab) for decent results: Developing is easy to learn and doesn't require much eqipment. Ask if you want to know more... |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Fortepan -- disappointing results | UncaMikey | 35mm Photo Equipment | 37 | December 13th 04 02:50 PM |
Push FortePan 400 | [email protected] | 35mm Photo Equipment | 5 | October 18th 04 04:31 PM |
Best Printing results: Kodak/Fuji Labs and Paper | Pingoleon | Film & Labs | 2 | August 15th 04 06:52 AM |
Fortepan 400 in D76 1+1 | Frank Pittel | In The Darkroom | 1 | June 28th 04 02:00 AM |
OFFICIAL RESULTS: rec.photo.digital.moderated poll | Lionel | 35mm Photo Equipment | 17 | June 25th 04 08:47 PM |