A little wooden box on the floor next to my desk contains all of the film I intend to shoot in the next month or two. As I shoot it, film moves from the freezer into the box. This way, film is more than thawed if I want to shoot a roll on short notice.
Sometimes film ends up sitting in that box for longer than a couple months. I have two rolls of ultra-low-ISO film that Mike Eckman generously shared with me that has well surpassed that time limit. But not long ago I discovered that I’d a roll of Tura P150 had languished there for too long. Reader tbm3fan sent me this wonderful film some time ago. It had been a while since I shot my Nikon F2A, so I mounted my 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor lens to it and went walking.
Every bit of this kit was gifted to me. A reader who publishes the Fogdog Blog sent me this camera and lens in 2014. It was an incredibly generous gift, and was just one of several terrific cameras he sent me.
I’ve been truly blessed by several readers who have shared their gear and films with me. I thank you all.
Tura P150 is an ISO 100 film that is loaded with silver. I’ve never seen such silvery tones from a film before.
But I didn’t find much chrome and silver as I walked with this camera. Mostly, I found my usual architectural subjects. But this film renders places where the light hits strong with great reflection and detail.
Even in diffused light, this film delivers good tonality and even contrast.
Just check out the detail in the brick pavement. You can count the bricks. (But I don’t recommend actually doing it.)
It is said that this film is rebranded Agfa APX 125, the original emulsion. I would not be surprised to learn that this is true, based on the couple of rolls of that film that I’ve shot.
I just love how this film renders highlights while managing contrast across the scene.
It’s easy to get shallow depth of field with ISO 100 film, even on a gray day.
Blacks are good and rich and deep.
I’ve shot similar scenes on the tennis court in my neighborhood several times this year. I usually prefer the blue and green of this composition in color, but this time the black-and-white rendering really hits.
Of course, the Micro-Nikkor lens lets me move in close.
But the brilliance of this lens is leaving it focused to infinity. Then all you have to worry about is exposure, because pretty much everything will be in focus.
tbm3fan sent me a few more rolls of Tura P150 not long ago, as part of a huge stash of other expired and no-longer-produced films. His generous gift will keep me busy for a long time!
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