Is Ilford FP4+ good for street photography
Ilford
FP 4+ black &
white film
Any good for street photography
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| Life at Urban Lights |
This is a review of Ilford FP4+ film shoot on 35 mm Zeiss super BC Contaflex 2.8 50 mm Tessar lens. I am an active photographer, don't consider myself an expert.
Here's what Ilford says : 35mm, ISO 125, all-purpose black & white film with fine grain, medium contrast and outstanding sharpness. Ideal for most shooting scenarios in good light conditions ILFORD FP4 PLUS is a medium speed, all-purpose black & white film with very fine grain and outstanding sharpness.
It has superb exposure latitude above and below its ISO 125, (meaning it can be both push or pull-processed). This makes FP4 PLUS a highly capable film for most photographic subjects, scenarios and lighting conditions.
It particularly excels at highly detailed subjects in good indoor and outdoor lighting conditions and is therefore an ideal film for portraits, fashion, street, product photography, landscapes and architecture
Shoot and tell:
On Sunday morning the 21st of July 2019, I went downtown LA and shot a combo of things. The fastest shutter speed on this camera is 1/500 a second. But its a Zeiss and sharp for golden oldie. Using the sunny 16 rule, at 1/500 a second in direct sunlight means f8. At 1/250 a second is f11. Shot at box speed of ISO 125, ain't going to win any speed contest. FP 4+ does have some limitations, don't we all? I am using photos taken about 8:45 50 11 AM 21 July 2019.
I go green in style
Ilford states its sharp and I totally agree. Additionally, this is a fine grain film. Has a wide latitude. Highlights, mid-tones and shadows hold true to life (more on shadows latter). On the streets in daylight, this is one film I can count on. Its classic black and white photography. Easy to use and I know I will grab the moments I go for and this film capture them and has a simplistic elegance to it.
abstract beauty
Additionally, its advertised as being good for architecture, this is an abstract of such. Westin Bonaventure in DTLA. (downtown Los Angeles). I did minimal processing. The glass towers are black in this hotel and suites, the refection is of a nearby building and this is what caught me eye. The blacks are black and the highlights (off white) reflections are true.. Again the the photo is sharp and fine grain. This was shoot at an angle pointing up, remember I am using a 35 mm camera, so there is slight distortion in shape, building getting thinner the higher it goes.. Whether you like this photo or not, it does show what can easily captured and how FP 4+ stands out!
Limitations
It has been said that if you do not shot for the shadows, you may not recover all the detail. And hat is true. On the streets, I often guesstimate the the shadows or less bright areas. Employing light & shadows can really make a photo pop and something I look for.
lost in the shadows
My guesstimate was off and I swear that when shoot this the couple had patches of light in their face. I probably needed another half to a fully stop of more light. Not to worry I am not losing sleep of this, but is some thing to keep in mind when using FP 4+ and wanting to hold to shadow detail.
LA-old & new
And some times the pictures are flat (close to 10 AM and harsh summer light). This is the oldest freeway in the country,. Built 1911 I think the 101 freeway. The taller building in the back (tall and thin) it is NEW and UGLY as all get up, so I am happy about that. The sun was behind me and perhaps this should have been shot at f16, then the cars would have been blurry. This is using the 35 mm 3.2 lense and it ain't the lens. I am testing the film and this others too) did not work. Am I upset, NO. In the future I would likely using Ilford Delta or such. Its flat and so are some others. Ever here of operator error, I have, LOL.
Beautiful Skin Tones!
lasy stroll
The man said, give me some skin. not that, homey doesn't go down that photo road. All kidding aside, FP4+ is know for render skin tones, specially Caucasian skin true to life or very pleasing to the eye.. While this may not be award winner, here's a shot from the hip (as the saying goes) simply hold the camera level, aim and point and shoot (without using the viewfinder). Using and in this case I employ zone focusing, where I judge the distance and use the distance scale on my camera. This puppy isn't auto anything. The good news is, the photo is sharp, the skin tones look great, the rest of the photo does too. I did cut off their legs and this was a result of shooting from the hip, (typically I use the viewfinder) . But this was lets test the film and over all I did OK, at least in my book.
this 1 worked
Me Thoughts
I am not brand new to Ilford FP4+, haven't shoot hundreds of rlls, yet Not yet anyway. For street photography this is one dynamite black & white film. Its sharp, good contrast, reliable and affordable. (It should be stated that FP4+ pushes and that can add more contrast, this day I do NOT pus). Additionally, I count on this for classic portraiture look, architecture and landscape uses. FP4+ is a great versatile film!
all in the family
As stated these photos were taken with Ziess Ikon super BC Contaflex, manual focus, has light meter (non-operational) manual film winding. But stock lense is Zeiss 50 mm 2.8 and I used a Pro Tessar 35 mm 3.2 lenses (Ziess) and these are sharp and caricature the moment, IMHO.
Black & white film I develop myself.in Arista Premium freestyle photo and this has never failed me. I have a Canoscan 9000F for scanning purposes. I shot 35 mm and 120 (medium format) cameras. My collections of cameras is over 12.
Michael J Daily
Shoot and tell:
On Sunday morning the 21st of July 2019, I went downtown LA and shot a combo of things. The fastest shutter speed on this camera is 1/500 a second. But its a Zeiss and sharp for golden oldie. Using the sunny 16 rule, at 1/500 a second in direct sunlight means f8. At 1/250 a second is f11. Shot at box speed of ISO 125, ain't going to win any speed contest. FP 4+ does have some limitations, don't we all? I am using photos taken about 8:45 50 11 AM 21 July 2019.
My guesstimate was off and I swear that when shoot this the couple had patches of light in their face. I probably needed another half to a fully stop of more light. Not to worry I am not losing sleep of this, but is some thing to keep in mind when using FP 4+ and wanting to hold to shadow detail.
Beautiful Skin Tones!
The man said, give me some skin. not that, homey doesn't go down that photo road. All kidding aside, FP4+ is know for render skin tones, specially Caucasian skin true to life or very pleasing to the eye.. While this may not be award winner, here's a shot from the hip (as the saying goes) simply hold the camera level, aim and point and shoot (without using the viewfinder). Using and in this case I employ zone focusing, where I judge the distance and use the distance scale on my camera. This puppy isn't auto anything. The good news is, the photo is sharp, the skin tones look great, the rest of the photo does too. I did cut off their legs and this was a result of shooting from the hip, (typically I use the viewfinder) . But this was lets test the film and over all I did OK, at least in my book.
Me Thoughts
I am not brand new to Ilford FP4+, haven't shoot hundreds of rlls, yet Not yet anyway. For street photography this is one dynamite black & white film. Its sharp, good contrast, reliable and affordable. (It should be stated that FP4+ pushes and that can add more contrast, this day I do NOT pus). Additionally, I count on this for classic portraiture look, architecture and landscape uses. FP4+ is a great versatile film!
Michael J Daily
 |
| I go green in style |
Ilford states its sharp and I totally agree. Additionally, this is a fine grain film. Has a wide latitude. Highlights, mid-tones and shadows hold true to life (more on shadows latter). On the streets in daylight, this is one film I can count on. Its classic black and white photography. Easy to use and I know I will grab the moments I go for and this film capture them and has a simplistic elegance to it.
 |
| abstract beauty |
Additionally, its advertised as being good for architecture, this is an abstract of such. Westin Bonaventure in DTLA. (downtown Los Angeles). I did minimal processing. The glass towers are black in this hotel and suites, the refection is of a nearby building and this is what caught me eye. The blacks are black and the highlights (off white) reflections are true.. Again the the photo is sharp and fine grain. This was shoot at an angle pointing up, remember I am using a 35 mm camera, so there is slight distortion in shape, building getting thinner the higher it goes.. Whether you like this photo or not, it does show what can easily captured and how FP 4+ stands out!
Limitations
It has been said that if you do not shot for the shadows, you may not recover all the detail. And hat is true. On the streets, I often guesstimate the the shadows or less bright areas. Employing light & shadows can really make a photo pop and something I look for. |
| lost in the shadows |
 |
| LA-old & new |
And some times the pictures are flat (close to 10 AM and harsh summer light). This is the oldest freeway in the country,. Built 1911 I think the 101 freeway. The taller building in the back (tall and thin) it is NEW and UGLY as all get up, so I am happy about that. The sun was behind me and perhaps this should have been shot at f16, then the cars would have been blurry. This is using the 35 mm 3.2 lense and it ain't the lens. I am testing the film and this others too) did not work. Am I upset, NO. In the future I would likely using Ilford Delta or such. Its flat and so are some others. Ever here of operator error, I have, LOL.
 |
| lasy stroll |
The man said, give me some skin. not that, homey doesn't go down that photo road. All kidding aside, FP4+ is know for render skin tones, specially Caucasian skin true to life or very pleasing to the eye.. While this may not be award winner, here's a shot from the hip (as the saying goes) simply hold the camera level, aim and point and shoot (without using the viewfinder). Using and in this case I employ zone focusing, where I judge the distance and use the distance scale on my camera. This puppy isn't auto anything. The good news is, the photo is sharp, the skin tones look great, the rest of the photo does too. I did cut off their legs and this was a result of shooting from the hip, (typically I use the viewfinder) . But this was lets test the film and over all I did OK, at least in my book.
 |
| this 1 worked |
I am not brand new to Ilford FP4+, haven't shoot hundreds of rlls, yet Not yet anyway. For street photography this is one dynamite black & white film. Its sharp, good contrast, reliable and affordable. (It should be stated that FP4+ pushes and that can add more contrast, this day I do NOT pus). Additionally, I count on this for classic portraiture look, architecture and landscape uses. FP4+ is a great versatile film!
 |
| all in the family |
As stated these photos were taken with Ziess Ikon super BC Contaflex, manual focus, has light meter (non-operational) manual film winding. But stock lense is Zeiss 50 mm 2.8 and I used a Pro Tessar 35 mm 3.2 lenses (Ziess) and these are sharp and caricature the moment, IMHO.
Black & white film I develop myself.in Arista Premium freestyle photo and this has never failed me. I have a Canoscan 9000F for scanning purposes. I shot 35 mm and 120 (medium format) cameras. My collections of cameras is over 12.
Michael J Daily
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