Digital BW, The Print

The real problem with what you are doing is not the film (although, using too many film types with the proper testing is confusing), but the lab. It's the same problem you have trying to get them to do a good b&w print.  Unless you are using a tru custom lab, chances are they are using a single type of developer (probably TMAX-RS, these days).  That developer may or may not have the capability to provide the results you want with a particular film.  So, you may have to abandon certain films.  The other is doing + and - development.  I use a 'semi-cutom' lab.  He will adjust the development times to my requirements, but he only uses one developer.  So, you need to find a lab you think you'll like, and then run test rolls of film until you get what you are looking for.
 
One other posibility is the b&w films that are processed in C-41.  They're not everyone's prime selection, and probably are not best suited for every subject/condition, but the processing is fixed, which means you get the same results regardless of the lab.
 
The bottom line is that b&w photography is not now, and never has been a 'drugstore' kind of photography.  If you want top tier results from your b&w you've got to control the process from end to end.  That means the film and the print.
 
Tom Baker

Steve Kale <stevekale@...> wrote:
Hi all

I have read with interest the recent posts about Tri-X 400 and would like to ask for 
guidance on a few things.  I have next to no wet darkroom experience (no space for 
the equipment) and have simply taken my film to a lab for development without ever 
asking them how they develop it.  Perhaps partially as a result of this, I have always 
been very unimpressed with my contact sheets from the lab and until moving to the 
_digital darkroom_ have not even bothered to pursue many of the captures further, 
instead focusing on my colour slide film captures and, more recently, converting them 
to B&W with PS and some of the various techniques discussed here.

And so I would like to ask for guidance so that I can explore once again shooting with 
B&W negative film.  In the past I have used T-Max 100 and 400, Tri-X 400 Pro. 
Neopan Acros 100 and, recently as a result of this forum, Technical Pan ISO 25.  I use 
both 35mm and medium format.

My questions:

Is this a good selection to start with or should I, say, abandon T-Max 400 and just use  
the Tri-X?  Are there others that should be _top of list_ ?  (I would like to keep the 
number small at least at first.)

How should each ideally be exposed?  (I think I have read enough on Tri-X 400  -  rate 
it at 320 - but what of the others?)

What direction should I give to a lab for processing?  (Is this even possible/practible?)

I hope this doesn't start a spurious debate on any issue - I am just looking for a few 
pointers to get restarted here.  FYI, I intend to scan the film with my Epson 2450 
initially  but would then rescan my favs on an Imacon which I can rent hourly at a local 
lab (later I hope to purchase the new Nikon MF scanner).

Thanks in advance

Steve


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