Curious case of Kodak Ektar as a Black & White film
Large format is expensive. Large format is slow. Large format is unforgiving. However I've always loved the slow and meditative process. However when it works, it is pure magic. I've been a long time film user and recently started using film again. My last attempt (circa 2005) to do large format work was a mixed bag and ended on a sour note (no pun) as I tumbled down a cascade. And so did my camera and lens on a tripod which I tried to hold on to in panic. It took about 12 years to recover and start large format photography again. This is an attempt to write about the thought process, technical aspects and lessons re-learned during my second attempt.
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As is often a case I keep adding to my check list every now and then while shooting large format, 4x5 in my case. If you are tired at the end of the day, particularly last day of the hiking trip go with the tried and tested film. While unloading the film after a project was finished I thought may be I should shoot some color negative film. Before I knew I had two sheets of Kodak Ektar loaded into my film holders I typically use for Ilford FP4+. Next morning I completely forgot about it. In field when I found these couple of scenes I wanted to compare FP4+ and Neopan Acros. Drove back home. Developed the film. One set for FP4+ and the other for Acros. During one of the development cycle and used developer came out dark red and I knew something isn’t right. So here it goes into the updated checklist. Make sure what film is loaded.
I have now started to use my digital camera (Sony A7ii) and a Canon FD macro lens to digitise all my film. I find this results in a faster, easier and a better digital asset management process than using a scanner. The fact that I can do basic and global manipulation within Adobe Lightroom is just fantastic. You can see below how the Kodak Ektar Scan has come out. I then use the film border for white balance using the dropper. Then only use the basic panel to get close enough to how I want the final result. It is typically flatter or lower contrast. Please click on the images to view larger.
Here are two images I made that day using Fuji Neopan Acros 100-rated at ASA100-underdeveloped by circa 20% and Kodak Ektar 100-under developed as Ilford Fp4+ by circa 20%. Basic and global adjustments in Adobe Lightroom and local manipulations (mostly dodging and burning) in Adobe Photoshop 2019.
My observations and conclusion based on the hybrid method (it will be impossible to print the Ektar using the same process in the darkroom) are : Ektar has whites which are whiter. However still retain details. Not to forget the exposures were not exactly the same as with FP4+ reciprocity kicks in compared to Fuji Neopan Acros. Darks are little less darker. I find Ektar raw digitsed files were sharper. These were done using the same process. This is consistent (more or less) with Kodak Ektar as a Color Negative film.