Processing Kodak's 400ASA C-41 Black & White Film

Hi Everyone!

I have used about 3 or 4 rolls of the above film, and actually like the results. ('Course, I'm still amazed when anything developes from what I shoot.)

I reason I buy this film is that the camera store developing of REAL B&W film is terribly expensive and lengthy. (Just like colour was 50 years ago).

Now, I've also found that it also depends on exactly where one takes this C-41 film to be processed here in Montreal. Some places treat it just like C-41 colour and others give me a huge song and dance about "Yeah, we know it says regular C-41, but our developing guy has to treat it like B&W and it'll take 10 days and will cost about $26.00, and please leave your first born as security.)

Now, I know they're hosing me, but I thought I'd ask the experts - is this film simply run through the developing computers just like colour and printed on the same paper, or are there a zillion adjustments that have to be made? ie: is there any ligitimate reason to charge more?

Thank's as usual and

Cheers

Mac,
I've only used this film a few times, and this is what I've found:
* The developing is no problem
* The printing can be a real pain

It depends largely on whether they actually know how to use their equipment The last one came back with a sepia first shot, and the rest were just "bleurgh". The guy had set the colour profile only for the shot, not the roll Thankfully they took it back and reprinted for free. In regular "no-brainer" auto mode the colour printing equipment doesn't handle it very well at all.

So, to summarise - developing is the same as colour, printing requires a manual setting for the printer (the profile handles it all once the profile is selected). So, it shouldn't cost any more than regular colour

If I were you I'd shop around
Matt

Matt,

That explains the results my brother-in-law got the one and only time he tried it - a lot of dark green instead of jet black. We thought it may have been the chemicals, but now, more likely the printing. (He is a major pack rat, and probably still has his negatives), we'll try getting them printed at some place where they know their stuff.

Thanks for the ammo - they ain't gonna hose ol' Mac again!

All the Best!

Hey Mac

Think of it this way- if they can't get the black (K) right, what the heck are they doing to the C and the M and Y? Run don't walk to another photofinisher!!!

Really, some places don't change thier chemistry often enough, check thier water de-ionizers, or buy the calibration negs from the manufacturer on a regular basis and CANNOT COLOUR CALIBRATE thier machines even if they KNEW HOW!
Then there is the skill and care of the machine operator!

Studing your negs on a regular basis- start with the good ones, rember the colors are reversed ( to thier opposites on a color wheel) plus there is an orange mask and you'll eventually learn to see the details and density of a good neg from a bad neg and you'll probably realize that the reason you're "amazed when anything devlopes from what I shoot." is lousy printing on thier part.

Hi Don,

Happy New Year.

I'm stuck so far, between the pharmacies who send their business to a big anonymous lab (so far, not bad if one stays with "normal" film), or the little guy who's got a developer set up at the local mall and is trying to undercut the pharmacies in price (spotty results for all the reasons you mentioned), and the high-end, downtown photo shops (who probably send their stuff out to the same place as the prarmacies anyway) and charge a fortune.

I'll keep looking, and if I find someone reliable I sure hope she's female, 'cause I'm gonna propose!

Got any good Canadian leads ??(or, hey Buddy, can ya hook me up?)

All the Best for 2006

Got a costco in your area?

Don,

Yes, in fact my wife just returned from there this evening. For those who aren't aware, COSTCO is a huge chain of bulk food (and everything else) stores here in Kanukland. At least that's its name this year - used to be Club Price, before that Price Club, well, you get the picture.

So, my friend? Good processing, eh?

Will certainly check em out!

Gosh, I hope she's cute..........

Cheers

Mac: pity you are so far away: I would process a film for you FREE in my C41 chemicals if you could get it to my house here in darkest Essex. I have done many C41 B/W films, starting with the ILFORD XP1 (won some good prizes on a shot taken at the Calgary Stampede using a Pentax Electro-Spotmatic and XP1, on a Pentax Club trip!). then I had to use the XP2 when it came out; found it was not so contrasty as the XP1,which I preferred, then I won some Kodak film including the C41 type and tried that. The film with the denser yellow mask takes ages to print on ordinary B/W paper, as the yellow cuts out the actinic light from the emulsion.

Yes, I was looking at some of your contributions to the Pentax Club Magazine. No matter how much time goes by, no-one is safe!

Peter,

Thank's so much for your generous offer.

I've run through a few dozen rolls and plan to vist my old Auntie in Essex next week. All I need is your address and the wife, my three toddlers (hope you don't have a lot of breakables) and I will be there for breakfast - jet lag and all. This should give you a whole day to run them through - doubles please.

Now we don't get along at all well with Auntie, so how 'bout putting us up for a few days, eh? It'll give you time to do enlargements of our favorites.

Gosh you English are SO nice!

Just KIDDING! Peter? Peter??? Get the smelling salts!

Actually, I tried the COSTCO route - dissapointed in the machine operator - great hairy brute - but the prints are really nice.

I really like B&W, and this film is nicely middle-of-the road regarding contrast, grain etc. Snow and ice and open water winter shots with a polarizer create great depth and I actually look like I know what I'm doing.

And that's a GOOD thing.

Thank's again and

Cheers

Mac: Well, you would have to share with my brood: I started another family late in life,no chance of any additions now I've had the prostate operation! My kids age 6 and 8 love to get in the darkroom and do 'hand prints' on old outdated paper, and the boy is a dab hand at using the Pentax Zoom 90 I got for £5. (you can tell the ones he takes- they are all from an angle about 3 feet off the ground!)

Peter,

No wonder my threat of a visit didn't phase you! With a second go round of little kiddies it'd take a cataclismic event to ruffle YOUR feathers. (And you've successfully scared me off!)

Why don't you post a picture or two from the budding photog's unique perspective?

You know, back in the day when we used Twin Lens Reflex cameras with waist level viewers, we got many a shot from 3 feet off the ground - I kinda miss that.

Enjoy your "helpers", if they get to be too much at times, let me know and I'll send you "Auntie's" address. You could send 'em over for a visit. Believe me, when they come back home they'll be good as gold.

All the Best

I tried the C41 B&W films a few times and while the results could be pretty good it was necessary to use a pro-lab in which case it was not cheaper than using normal B&W film.

I tried a few mini-labs but the results were terrible.

Yeah, it's a real dance.

Sometimes I feel like Jason in search of the golden fleece.

I think for us in Canada, COSTCO and Maxi may be an answer, but it'll depend on how well they maintain their processing units and how well they treat their technicians.

Seems every time I fall in love with a restaurant, they change the chef.

Grumble mutter....

I don't find that the dye based images from C-41 monochrome films is a patch on the brilliance of the high silver content conventional films. That is, Plus-X, Tri-X, FP4, HP5 and so on. Even the T-grain films don't have that same pictorial quality, although they do have fine characteristics of their own.

Give me Tri-X developed in Paterson FX-39 every time.