Best film for astrophotography?

[Milliways]

I dug out my old Pentax K1000 camera that my sister gave me. Realizing i can use it for astrophotography i thought i would give it ago

Just a bit stumped now on what film to buy?? only ever had digital cameras lol.

My sister was a photographer in her younger days and told me about the exposure and other bits and bobs about the cam... aparently it has an unlimited exposure time! which is fantastic for dso's and with my ETX's tracking i think i'll be on a winner

Any help will be greatly apreciated :mrgreen:

Dave.

[thing]

I honestly don't know anyone who uses a film camera anymore. Which isn't much help I know!

[Ben Ritchie]

Back in the day I used ISO1600 Fuji B&W - but I can't remember exactly what, sorry (this was mid-90s or thereabouts, I was shooting Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp with a 80mm-ish f/1.4). The serious imagers back then used Kodak Tech Pan but I think that's almost unobtainable now.

[Capricorn]

Problem will be finding anything.

I looked for a film a couple of months back and all I could get was ISO200.

If you can locate any B+W ISO 1600 then I would say get it.

The problem is that then you have the problem of getting it processed. May have to get a bit of a specialist developer for B+W. Do it yourself??

Owing to what I have said I would say try and locate an ISO400 colour film as these will be fairly fast, you can push it to ISO1600 but it would need developing for 1600 and that may be the problem. In standard 400 state they are easy to have developed at a supermarket. Locating and purchasing may be a bit of a problem but should be possible.

[barkis]

I would start off with a roll of HP5 Mono film Dave. It will be the cheapest way at first. You can use it to practice and improve your techniques before you go on to the more expensive colour film or slide film.

I would not get it printed either.

Just get the film developed, and after studying the resultant negatives, only get printed what you deem to be worth it.

Once you reach a level of skill that satisfies you, go on to the colour films. Any colour 400 ISO will suffice really.

Ron.

[jcm]

I used to use Fuji Slide Film - 400/800 ISO. I used to get them developed in strips ( not cut or mounted). I would then go through them , pick out the best , convert them using an enlarger into colour photos.

For black and white I think it was Kodak Tech Pan 1000 ISO or Ilford XP1 ??? ( I don't think these are available now)

Your best bet is to get the highest rated B/W film you can get. Mess around with this until you get some result. Then decide if you want o try colour.

John

PS - just noticed Ron said something similar

[Jamie]

The best film i used was Elite chrome slide film Kodak i think.... 400 or 800 ISO was the film of choice.

[Milliways]

Thanks for the advice guys just gotta find some now hehe

[jcm]

The image below was taken in 1990 ?? with Fugi 400 ASA (ISO) colour film.

I think it was taken with an 8" reflector with an exp of 8mins using a driven mount and manual guiding.

John

[Eddie]

Hypersensitised Kodak TechPan25 was the best, had great Ha response. I would agree with Ben on the Fuji film choice. Personally I would not use HP5 as it is very grainy film, Why not try Ilford SFX - which is a neo I/R film - it has extended red sensitivity would be of some help on the nebulae. Bear in mind that should you use this film you need to develope it as soon as you can after exposing.

Eddie

[ChrisEdu]

I've still got all my darkroom equipment from when I used to develop and print. Many's the hour I spent shut in the dark - I seem to like darkness!

[Eddie]

I've still got all my darkroom equipment from when I used to develop and print. Many's the hour I spent shut in the dark - I seem to like darkness!

Yup same here Still use it actually!

Eddie

[ChrisEdu]

I haven't done any processing or printing for a while - I miss it. I wish I had got round to learning to do colour, as I bought all the equipment needed! Never got round to using it though! D'oh!

[Eddie]

if you do get back into it stick with B&W work. Colour printing is a pain in the backside to say the least!!

Eddie

[Milliways]

thank you so much for all your advice

Anyone have a spare release locking cable knocking around lol.

Dave.

[ChrisEdu]

I know! I used to do some at a pro lab. B+W chemistry is nothing in comparison to the colour stuff.

[barkis]

thank you so much for all your advice

Anyone have a spare release locking cable knocking around lol.

Dave.

I have one you can have Dave.

PM me your address and I'll post it to you.

Ron.

[Merlin66]

Ahhhhhh those were the days....... OM1, Zuiko lenses, Hypered film........

Nowadays, remember you can scan the negative and then apply all the usual digital enhancements etc etc.

Probably (??) the local Kodak processor could give you the images on a CD?????