Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 10:50:51 -0500
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From: John Brubaker <jb50@I...>
Subject: 400 Speed Film
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Since film speed is being discussed, I have to put in my 2 cents worth
in defense of fast films. It's true that the Minox, using a 3.5 lens
opening all the time, has less of a need for fast films, but the assumption
is that it will be used outdoors, during daylight hours, on fairly bright
days. However, there are many photo opportunities indoors, and on dull
overcast days. I live in Michigan, and the typical winter day is heavy
overcast. The one day I dared to load Tech Pan in my Minox, it started out
sunny, then quickly turned cloudy, then quickly started to get dark because
it was late in the day. My negatives were all soft because of camera
movement at slow shutter speeds. I was using a Minox C, which doesn't tell
you what shutter speed is going to be used. I also want to be able to
shoot with available light, indoors. Attaching a flash unit larger than
the camera itself doesn't appeal to me. When ag-1 bulbs were common, I
guess the flash unit made sense, but I won't go back to flash bulbs now.
The issue of film availability is also valid. When I tried to
purchase 100 speed film from MPL back in November, they only had 400 ASA
available. I've since built a slitter and can load my own now.
I guess the ideal would be to carry 2 Minox cameras, one with slow
film for optimal conditions, and one with faster film to use when
necessary. The two together would still hardly be a pocketfull.
Thanks --- John.
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 10:19:12 -0800
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From: Joel Moskowitz <mathison@I...>
Subject: Re: 400 Speed Film
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I've taken some great pictures with 400 B+W. 100 seems to be a good all
around speed. I shoot mostly 25 now but frankly I find it too slow and I
need to brace most pictures most of the time. Delta pro 100 in Minox
would be great!!!!

Joel
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 18:09:24 -0500
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From: peter zimmerman <peterz@E...>
Subject: Re: 400 Speed Film
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At 10:19 97/01/08 -0800, you wrote:
>I've taken some great pictures with 400 B+W. 100 seems to be a good all
>around speed. I shoot mostly 25 now but frankly I find it too slow and I
>need to brace most pictures most of the time. Delta pro 100 in Minox
>would be great!!!!
>
>Joel
>
>
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ This is reaching a great point! We're talking about the
whys of submini cameras and our different philosophies in using them. I
want fine grain and modest speed for (mostly) outdoor shots or indoors with
the little Minox strobe. I like 100 speed for general work (now that I've
'discovered Delta100; I wasn't a fan of the Agfa 100 or the TMax), and
TechPan on sunny days to reach the 'ultimate' in what I (and maybe not you)
think of Minox quality. That's the really great thing about this business:
there is so much to learn and experiment with. Who knows, I may slit some
Delta 400 and see how that works out. I bet it's no worse than the Agfa 100
for grain!

And sometimes getting the picture is more important than getting an
ultrafine grain pic. And sometimes grain is good. I think it's Joe who has
a shot on the subclub gallery which exploits grain and film speed really well.

But every user has to decide with each roll of film what he (why aren't
there any women in this group?!?) wants to achieve. The roll of Techpan I
shot in Chicago was an attempt to see the limits of the Minox; the roll of
Delta 100 was an experiment spurred by Martin Tai. The roll in my camera
now is to take general pix with. If I go out on a sunny day in the woods,
well, who knows. Probably 2 cameras one with color and one with Techpan.

But we can all help by pooling experience on how to extract the best
performance from each type of film!

pz
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:56:27 -0500
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From: Joe McGloin <XKAES@A...>
Subject: Re: 400 Speed Film

I like to carry 2 or 3 cameras, so that I can "have my cake and eat it too".
If we could all carry 2 or 3 films we would be able to get all our shots the
way we want. But carrying 2 or 3 subminis kind of defeats the purpose, don't
you think?

When I can only carry one film, and I don't know where I'll be (which is most
of the time), I carry AGFA 400 (16mm) or KODAK 2475 (16mm slit from 35mm).
Either way I rate it at 400. Outside, I slip on a yellow AND NDx4 filter
onto my Minolta 16 II or Minolta MGS. I can shoot at f5.6 at 1/500 in sunny
situations (the "best" aperture). When it gets dark or I move inside, I can
shoot without flash at f2.8 at 1/30. That's pretty dim light! And since I
use 16mm film, the negative size is large enough not to be overcome by the
grain, even with 2475 (check out the GALLERY section of the Subclub). Maybe
this won't work with those itsy-bitsy Minox negs, but the Minolta 16 II is
10x14mm and the Minolta MGS is 12x17mm, and that's good enough to work with.

If I know I won't be in dim light situations, I can load a 100 speed film,
but isn't it better to get the shot (even if a bit grainy) than to miss it
all together? If anyone is worried that much about quality, maybe it's time
to move up to a half-frame -- or maybe a 16mm!
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