[hahifuheho]

Hi!

Being a P&S shooter for some time, I decided to get a DSLR since I would travel to Japan last year. The trip had to be postponed because of the global crisis that came, but I might me able to go this year. I got a K200D before the financial smash and I've been very pleased with the results I get from it.

However, a few months ago I grabbed two film bodies: first a ZX-M and then a ZX-7: I have rarely used the K200D again since I'm truly amazed of what I've got from film, specially with night shots, even from $1.60 Fujicolor rolls I buy at Wal-mart and get developed at Sam's Club minilab. Right now I'm trying for the first time slide film on the ZX-7 (Fujichrome Sensia) and B&W (Tri-X and Neopan) on the ZX-M. I've shoot film with an A 50 1:1.7, FA 50 1:1.7, Super Takumar 50 1:1.4 and even the DA 40, all of them really shine on film better than on digital (and I've finally experienced the "legend" of the 50mm lenses as they were meant to be).

I will definitively bring the K200D along with me, digital cameras have lots of advantages. But, I will also travel with one of the film bodies (perhaps the ZX-7 since it is AF) because its IQ seems to be superior than the K200D's.

So far I've liked more the results I get from Fuji films than from Kodak's, and from what I've read it looks I would have a lot of film choices once I arrive to Japan.

Does any one has any special recommendation on film? I expect to do a lot of night shooting. As of today, I've shot Superia 800 with very good results. Today I bought a roll of Superia 1600 and will try it when I finish the Sensia roll.

I'll try to make the question a bit simpler: which film would you suggest for hand-held shooting Japan in the night?

Thank you in advance.

[Zav]

I guess that Fuji Neopan 1600 and Natura/Superia 1600 will show up in this thread one moment or another...so, here it comes! Neopan 1600 and Natura/Superia 1600!

[k100d]

800Z or 400X pushed

[figmental1978]

I second the neopan 1600. Also, where are you shooting in Japan...some places in Tokyo can be lit up like it was daytime.

[hahifuheho]

I second the neopan 1600. Also, where are you shooting in Japan...some places in Tokyo can be lit up like it was daytime.

I've tought about that too, but since I haven't been there before, and there isn't any seemingly equally lit place nearby, I don't know what I will find there.

Mostly, Tokyo and Osaka (The Aquarium, I REALLY want to go there and photograph the fish in their tanks) and major places along the Tokaido route, maybe even all the way south until Fukuoka, Nikko and everywhere else I may have a chance to go with the JR Pass, inside subways, etc. Just telling you makes me dream about it.

[figmental1978]

You have the K200D for tricky/inconsistent lighting situations and use the film camera for a specific type of scene, 100 daylight, 400 evening, 800 dusk and 1600 night. That's what I usually when I travel around Japan.

[ChrisPlatt]

Mr. Okabe, my Japanese trainer at Olympus told me that in Japan "cool" photographers shoot Kodak film...

Chris

[hahifuheho]

Thank you all for your replies. As figmental1978 said, the film shoots will be for when I have the time to take a good one. It would break my wallet (and my heart if I miss something while changing rolls) to shoot all on film since I want to take pictures of everything I can. If only the K200D were as light as the ZXs, specially with the DA 40...