Extreme pushing C41 color - your film choice?

[nelsonfoto]

Ok, guys. Fall is near, and that means football, bike rallies, musicfests, lots of  street to shoot. I got plenty of TriX in the freezer, chemicals to soak it in, but I am FUBAR for a color solution to low light.

What say Ye!

[Peter Evans]

The conventional answer is: some brand of fast C41, with no particular need to push. 400 seems the commonest and I believe they're all pretty good, I've read good things about 800 but in my minimal experience wasn't impressed (or disappointed). D'you need to go faster?

[nelsonfoto]

Probably, maybe, perhaps, yes. I will be shooting night work along bar fronts on dimly lit sidewalks, foot-traffic moving along fairly well. I think I can make it with 800, maybe. I hear Provia 400 can push to 1250 easily, but my biggest concern is that there may not be anyone in the area who can push the C41 if I forego the Provia, almost all labs being automated for color C41 work, and none of them seem to be able or willing to push.

Here are some samples from last year's bike festival:

I'll leave these clickable to speed pageloads

http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6465.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6466.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6468.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6469.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6497.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6503.jpg
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6793.JPG
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6800.JPG
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6858.JPG
http://nelsonfoto.com/mein/s5000/bbb/DSCF6875.JPG

[nelsonfoto]

These were all off the digicam, digitally pushed as best I could. Will not be relying on the slow shutter of a digital P&S this time.

[ImageMaker]

If you're up to doing your own C-41, look for "intensification" of C-41 films.  It's a process that involves preprocessing in a B&W developer, then applying the full normal C-41 process and is said to be good for 2-3 stops over the rated box speed.  I don't find it on a Google, but I've read about the process on the web somewhere; I might be using the wrong name.

Nope, haven't done it, and nope, I wouldn't expect it to go at all well via the local mini-lab.

Beyond that, Fuji makes an ISO 1600 color film, I think, probably 35 mm only.

[nelsonfoto]

I'm hooked on Minolta 35mm for now. The XE-7 is a beautiful beast, the 24mm and 28-90mm feel very good for street work.

Not doing C41 here, so I will have to run down some screaming 35mm, will check B&H/Adorama et al this morning.

[Andre Reinders]

I have tried the 35mm Fuji Superia 1600 pushed to 3200. I have only tried this film once and I was impressed at the results. I was asked to take photos of a live band in a night club. I used this solution for 1 roll, and a roll of Ilford Delta 3200. A local small chain push processed for no extra charge (in sharp contrast to another lab who wanted to charge me like $10 and said it would take 2 weeks).

Here is the link to my photos (first set) - scanned on a flatbed scanner - with no computer post processing.

http://www.anycities.com/reinders/galleries/event/blissin/blissin.html

As far as technique (so you have an idea of the exposure) I used the 10% spot-ish meter on my Canon, pointed at the face, overexposed by one stop, and locked the exposure in and recomposed.
I have an Elan7N, and for these shots used a 50mm 1.8 and a 28-105mm f3.5-f4.5 lens. I tried to keep the shutter speed at 1/60 or 1/125 (except for the intentionally blurry ones).

I was actually looking for this film over the last couple of days, but haven't found it again - I want to take some photos at an 'indoor' street festival -  I may end up using Fuji Superia 800 and pushing it 1 or 2 stops.

FWIW - Hope this helps.

Edit: 2 more cents - I have recently shot some Fuji NPZ 800 in 120 format if you are looking for a MF solution - never pushed it though.
Link to the other place where some examples are:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CxdI

Craig, looks like you chimed in on this old post to comment on someone's unconsicious reasons for their spelling mistake.

[nelsonfoto]

Craig, looks like you chimed in on this old post to comment on someone's unconsicious reasons for their spelling mistake.

Yes, I recall that thread....

I think B&H had some of the 1600 if yer interested. I may order some soon. I need to see if maybe one of the local pros in the area is pushing, see if they'll be willing to do it for me. Otherwise, I will need to consider mailing off.