This is not a Digital Question !!!

[snapmando]

I'm curious...

Like I said in a previous post, I will be photographing a wedding this weekend. The Digital is all ready but I'm shooting with a 35mm too. Does anyone have any advice, on what speed film I should buy. My Photography classes years ago (prior to digital), advise 100 ISO or less. However, with the advancements on higher speed films now-a-days the grain is alot better. The couple is wanting to print the odd 8X10's. I was pondering over a 200 ISO or an all purpose 800, I hear the 800 ISO is quite nice for low grain. I will not be using any studio flashes, just a mid level flash.

Anybody have some advice or experience, on the new era of film?

Thanks
Snapmando

[PhotosGuy]

This thread should help:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=190881#190881

[G3]

I'm curious...

Like I said in a previous post, I will be photographing a wedding this weekend. The Digital is all ready but I'm shooting with a 35mm too. Does anyone have any advice, on what speed film I should buy. My Photography classes years ago (prior to digital), advise 100 ISO or less. However, with the advancements on higher speed films now-a-days the grain is alot better. The couple is wanting to print the odd 8X10's. I was pondering over a 200 ISO or an all purpose 800, I hear the 800 ISO is quite nice for low grain. I will not be using any studio flashes, just a mid level flash.

Anybody have some advice or experience, on the new era of film?

Thanks
Snapmando

I'll be using some Fuji NPH 400 in a wedding coming up on the 15th of next month. I ordered it from B&H and it's due for delivery tomorrow. I'm a little apprehensive about it, because the fastest I've used before was Portra 160. I'm going to load one of my 120 backs with the fast Fuji and try it on some non-essential shots, and one 36-exp roll in my backup 35mm for some miscellaneous reception shots. I'll see how it goes. The only reason I'm considering it is because it comes highly recommended by some members of this forum whose opinions I respect. I'm one of those guys that finds something that works, like slow Pro print film and fast lenses, and I'm really reluctant (scared?) to try anything new. In the old days, 400 was just too grainy to get acceptable enlargements. But, I sure could use the extra stops sometimes....If it works out, I'll order as much as I can get my hands on (and afford to buy) of the same lot.

[scotgasch]

Back in my film days I used Portra 400vc....always excellent results.

[Ken Fong]

I second the Fuji NPH 400 which should give you good flexibility. I heard there is less grain on this film vs. a consumer grade 100 print film. Also, be sure you have a good flash setup (off the camera on a bracket, with diffuser)...I have no experience with this yet, but folks on this forum have steered me in that direction.
For the digital, avoid shooting at 800 unless you have no choice...but then again, Noise Ninja or Neatimage will bail you out if needed.

[tivoli2]

You are going to shoot a wedding with 35mm? With ISO 200 or an "all-purpose" 800 film? Knowing that you are going to print 8x10s? You are going by the fact that you had "heard" that the film has low grain? And you will be using "just a mid-level flash"?

My advice is that you buy two things: a good pair of running shoes and a motorcycle helmet. The shoes are so you can run like hell after the bride sees the pictures. The helmet is for protection in case she catches you.

Use a medium-format camera, film speed no greater than 160, a top-level flash, and NEVER use ANY kind of film on a wedding -- no matter HOW good it is -- unless you've first experimented with it on a non-critical shoot.

[G3]

You are going to shoot a wedding with 35mm? With ISO 200 or an "all-purpose" 800 film? Knowing that you are going to print 8x10s? You are going by the fact that you had "heard" that the film has low grain? And you will be using "just a mid-level flash"?

My advice is that you buy two things: a good pair of running shoes and a motorcycle helmet. The shoes are so you can run like hell after the bride sees the pictures. The helmet is for protection in case she catches you.

Use a medium-format camera, film speed no greater than 160, a top-level flash, and NEVER use ANY kind of film on a wedding -- no matter HOW good it is -- unless you've first experimented with it on a non-critical shoot.

I use 35mm a lot, digital some and Medium Format a lot. I use Medium Format for all of the portraits, the altar shots, rings shots and that sort of thing. I use 35mm and sometimes digital for candids, reception shots and that sort of thing.

I was of the same impression as you...never used anything faster than Portra 160. This Fuji NPH400 has come highly recommended, and everyone is saying that the skin tones, saturation and grain compare quite favorably with my old, trusted Portra 160. I'm going to try some on some non-critical shots at this next wedding I have coming up to see how it does, BUT..I'm also actually going to be taking the same shots with my Portra while my assistant shoots the same shots with the Fuji. I'm only loading one back with a 120 roll of Fuji and my backup 35mm body with one roll. If it works out, I'll use it....as I said, sometimes I could sure use an extra stop or so, especially where flash is not allowed.

I also agree about the consumer film. I wouldn't even consider that for a wedding, no matter what.

[Ballen Photo]

I'm curious...

Anybody have some advice or experience, on the new era of film?

Thanks
Snapmando
I did the research on this same subject five or six years ago, and here are my findings;
All you need to know is; FUJI NPH 400 ISO, and relax about film quality. NPH rivals 100 ISO films in the fine grain department, as well as great skin tones and color rendition. I used this film in both 35mm and 6x6 for Weddings, with very good results.
........Bruce

[robertwgross]

When we shoot a wedding, we use the following:

(1) one medium format camera with PortraNC or PortraVC film, generally 400
(2) at least one 35mm Nikon with the same film type
(3) one Canon digital

---Bob Gross---

[ron chappel]

Ditto the recommendations on pro portrait films (400 or 160) they are excellent!
If you really need to economise- Kodak gold 100 (the best portrait film of the cheapies) or something like fuji 400 superia.Definitely avoid konica consumer film (such as the VX series)-way too saturated :shock:

Don't forget to have them printed on good paper!

[kraterz]

I'd recommend Fuji NPH or even NPS (160). These are some of the best films I use for portraits. Very fine grain too. It is important to get metering right, otherwise the grain structure looks ugly. I shoot NPH at 320 and NPS at its box speed of 160. Works fine for me.

[snapmando]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the info..

I already informed the couple sometime ago that I do not have a medium format. The Ideal camera for weddings, that I know. I also told them that but they are really crunching in the money department, so they couldn't afford a professional to shoot their wedding. They told me what I could get would be fine with them. I have used portrait films in the past. I was unsure how the new films of today were, I did hear they made leaps and bounds on the gain aspect on higher speed films. I guess I'll be getting some portrait film once again and shoot the best I can, with what I got.

Thanks again,
Snapmando