Help - Pushing and pulling film??

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Mitchell Rodda - 25 Oct 2003 18:06 GMT

Hi,

I find myself occasionally in situations where it'd be useful to pull or
push film when taking photos, but I've never been sure quite how to!

I've heard about pushing or pulling, ie. deliberately under- or
over-exposing film, then compensating for this when the film gets developed.
Does this generally work better for colour print, transparency or b&w film,
and by how much can you reasonably push or pull (1 stop? 2 stops?).

Which labs/processors can handle pushing/pulling in the UK? Would Jessops do
it or do you have to go to someone like Peak or specialist/custom printers?
(I guess it might be tricky to process a film if you only have say 6-10
shots 'pushed' or 'pulled', on a 36 exp roll, where all the others are
normally exposed).

Any advice appreciated.

Mitch.

Reply to this Message

A.Lee - 25 Oct 2003 19:24 GMT

> I've heard about pushing or pulling, ie. deliberately under- or
> over-exposing film, then compensating for this when the film gets developed.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> shots 'pushed' or 'pulled', on a 36 exp roll, where all the others are
> normally exposed).

If you push/pull the film, you have no choice, you have to have it all
done at once! (unless obviously you are diy and cut the film up into the
relevant sections)

Colour print film is pretty tolerant of poor exposure,so if it has been
under/overexposed by up to 2 stops, then it'll probably be ok to process
normally.
E6 film is less tolerant of poor exposure, and can be pushed/pulled, but
you'll have to take it to a lab who know what they are doing.High St.
labs are not really the best for this sort of thing, so take it to a lab
who know what they are doing, and let them know exactly how it has been
exposed.Even with the extra effort involved in processing it, it doesnt
add much extra cost.
B+W is a bit different.Depending on which B+W film you have used,like
colour print film it has quite a tolerance of poor exposure.Though not
as much as colour print.
I used to use Ilford HP5 (400asa) and exposed it at 1600asa, it gave
decent usable shots after development correction, but the negs would be
a lot more grainy than if exposed at 400asa.
Much better is to use the correct ASA film,and get consistent results
with it.
Alan

Signature

Change the 'minus' to 'plus' to reply by mail.
http://www.dvatc.co.uk off-road cycling in the North Midlands.

Reply to this Message

Peter Ashby - 28 Oct 2003 13:48 GMT

> Which labs/processors can handle pushing/pulling in the UK? Would Jessops do
> it or do you have to go to someone like Peak or specialist/custom printers?
> (I guess it might be tricky to process a film if you only have say 6-10
> shots 'pushed' or 'pulled', on a 36 exp roll, where all the others are
> normally exposed).

Lab35 will push and pull, www.lab35.com adds one pound per film for E6.
I did this once when I ran a Sensia 100 film through on 200ASA setting.
No problems in the processing though, just label the film and indicate
you want it pushed/pulled.

Peter

Signature

Peter Ashby
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded.
Reverse the Spam and remove to email me.

Reply to this Message