Topic: Polaroids with negatives...help

[astrobeck]

Need some help from the shooters that use Polaroid with negatives.

I have read somehwere, (maybe here) that when shooting Polaroids with usable negatives you need to expose a certain way for the negative and not the print part of the Polaroid?

i hope I'm asking this correctly, but can't remember the "rule" or where I read it.

thanks!
 

[Susan B.]

Need some help from the shooters that use Polaroid with negatives.

I have read somehwere, (maybe here) that when shooting Polaroids with usable negatives you need to expose a certain way for the negative and not the print part of the Polaroid?

i hope I'm asking this correctly, but can't remember the "rule" or where I read it.

thanks!
 

True.
With Negs--Rule of thumb is to cut the ASA in half from my experience
For prints--keep the ASA as indicated.
For example when using polapan for 665, the ASA is 100.
I think they tell you to assume it's 80 ASA for negs---?
but I found 50 was accurate for my rather inaccurate polocams

[cpierce]

If you are using 4x5 Polaroid 55 p/n film I suggest ISO 40-25 for the negitive exposure.  I would start at the lower end and work my way from there.  Keep in mind time a temp during processing can impact results too.

cp

[Skorj]

but can't remember the "rule" or where I read it.

As Susan covered, the convention is the neg has at least half the ISO rating of the pos. Shooting to expose the positive correctly, makes a negative too dark to use. Shooting to make a negative usuable gives a positive so overexposed it is a throwaway...

It depends too of course on the results you are looking for, so experiment, experiment, experiment - just the thing you want to hear when its USD2+ a shot eh?

Regardless, when I shoot Type-665 (rated at ISO80), I shoot for the negative at ISO50. Pity Type-665 is on the way out, at least we'll have Type-55 (which I've not used, but the rule for ISO50 would be to shoot at ISO25-40 for the neg as CP suggested).

Other info: the fixing stick should be used if you want to keep the pos from yellowing, but with low contrast results on the pos side, and generally overexposed, I hardly use the fixing sticks at all. They do however get used for fixing expired film color prints (which never seem to dry) as they leave a nice streaky finish, and pop the colors a little.

Also, the negs solarize rather well. So if you're shooting outside, you can wait for half development time (or similar depending on the effect wanted), and peel-apart letting the sun burn the negative. Different washing options for the neg too add to the fun.

(These are all Type-665 shot at ISO50: http://www.filmwasters.com/grabs/v/15_Feb/Skorj/ )

[astrobeck]

Thanks all!!
 I'll practice, practice, practice, and hopefully have something to show for it as soon as that Brown truck shows up. 
I'm anxious to try some of the solarization too.  I've seen some outstanding results done that way and have always wanted to give it a whirl.

And Skorj, I'm totally enamored with the "Shoji" photo.
That's awesome.
astro