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03-07-2019, 10:49 AM   #1
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Film Speed in Russia?

So I live in New Mexico--the land of the eternally blazing sun--and with a camera limited to 1/500 shutter*, I shoot 99% ISO 100 or slower.

However it occurred to me that I'm going to be visiting Russia (well, Moscow and St. Petersburg) in late May, and I have almost no ISO400 film in my freezer. Should I plan to shoot mostly ISO400 or will I be able to get by with ISO100? I expect most photography will be outside (are you even allowed to photograph inside the Hermitage?)

My worry of course is if I'm shooting outdoors on a sunny day with ISO400, my only exposure options are [ƒ16, 1/500] or [ƒ22, 1/250], but if its a cloudy day (and I don't know how dark the clouds in these cities get) and I'm in a shady spot, am I going to be trying to handhold at [ƒ2.8, 1/30]? I know that 9 stops different from Sunny 16, but I just don't know quite what to expect, and what will give me the most flexibility without making too many shots impossible?

No matter what I chose, I'll certainly take some other speeds, but if ISO100 is mostly going to be too slow, I don't want 80% of my rolls to be film I can't use.

• I haven't decided what camera to take, but there is a pretty good chance I'll be taking my Bronica ETRSi which has a maximum shutter of 1/500, and for more portability I'll probably add my Kodak Retina IIIC which also has a max shutter speed of 1/500. Alternatively if I take something like my MZ-S, I'll have a lot more flexibility to shoot ISO400, but I'll lose the flexibility of multiple backs.

03-07-2019, 11:10 AM   #2
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May in Moscow is pretty nice - warm, but not hot, long day (15-16 hours) and it has the highest number of days with clear skies out of the year. You get on average 11 days of clear skies, and the rest are cloudy/overcast. I always thought that St. Petersburg was cloudy, but just checked the data and it has as many sunny days in May as Moscow. I almost only shoot 100 film, so I know what you mean... I'd pack some 400 film for sure, as I am not sure how easy it would be to find film in Russia these days... Be sure to pack some warm clothes. I've always been cold in St. Petersburg - it has this damp weather so you are cold no matter what...
03-07-2019, 11:33 AM   #3
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Thanks for the info. I expect to pack in all my film--these days, finding film locally is pretty hit or miss. I expect my photos will be a mix of architecture, street photography, and misc closeups of interesting things. I already have a lot of Ektar, Velvia (ISO50 might be pretty optimistic), and a bunch of medium speed black and white like TMAX100, FP4+, and Fomapan 100. I suppose I should order some Svema film to give it a local taste (though I guess technically Svema is Ukrainian.)
03-07-2019, 03:57 PM   #4
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If your fastest lens is f2.8 I would take some 400. Personally, I would prefer to be shooting f16 @ 1/500 in the sun, than be limited to f2.8 @1/15 (or slower) in the shade....

I often shoot Tmax100 while travelling, but only when I'm carrying an f1.4 lens...

03-07-2019, 04:33 PM - 1 Like   #5
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Why not pack a neutral density filter. If your bumping up against the top end of the exposure on the camera cut down the light.
03-07-2019, 05:39 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
Why not pack a neutral density filter. If your bumping up against the top end of the exposure on the camera cut down the light.
probably a very good idea. I have a couple cheap ND filters, I should probably look into buying a couple better ones. Fortunately, my Bronica is standardized on 62mm for most of its lenses. (and, yeah, being medium format the lenses aren't as fast and the 50, 60, and 75 are ƒ2.8, the 150 and 30 are ƒ3.5, and the 40 and 135 are ƒ4. The travel kit will probably 60, 75, and 150, or maybe the 50 instead of the 60.
03-07-2019, 08:21 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by abruzzi Quote
probably a very good idea. I have a couple cheap ND filters, I should probably look into buying a couple better ones. Fortunately, my Bronica is standardized on 62mm for most of its lenses. (and, yeah, being medium format the lenses aren't as fast and the 50, 60, and 75 are ƒ2.8, the 150 and 30 are ƒ3.5, and the 40 and 135 are ƒ4. The travel kit will probably 60, 75, and 150, or maybe the 50 instead of the 60.
Awesome news. Then you can safely travel with 400 and not worry too much if the sun is uncharacteristically beaming down without clouds.

03-07-2019, 08:30 PM   #8
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Just asked my cousin who works as a photographer in Moscow. He said you should be fine with 100 ISO.

Day is long - sunrise is at 4 am and sunset is at 9.
03-08-2019, 10:56 AM   #9
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Take both 100 and 400 film!

If you shoot BW and it's sunny outside, most likely you'll want a colored filter! Now your effective EI can be 200, 100 or 50 for yellow, orange and red with 400 film. And if you're shooting color film, put a polarizer on if 400 film is too fast.

The thing about the Sunny 16 is that is only for the brightest part of the day in summer. In the morning and late afternoon you need to add more exposure. Also Moscow's latitude is at N55°. I live at N48° latitude and I add up to 3 stops of exposure in the winter to the Sunny 16 and one stop in the spring.
03-08-2019, 04:58 PM   #10
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Yeah, I'm using sunny 16 as a guide to estimate. It feels like our brightness lasts for a longer part of the day down here (N32º) but that shouldn't be the case as far as I can figure, unless the lack of humidity means less light blocked at lower angles of the sun.

I recently visited my mother in Florida--also a sunny place--I took mostly medium speed film; E100, Ektar, Portra 160, Foma 100--but I found it much more problematic because of canopy treecover which I didn't expect. I also rarely visit cities so I don't have a feel for how much city buildings block light. I'm used to everything being one story with building with 20ft setbacks. Which is to say, here I can shoot ISO100 all day, every day, but I don't know the environment up there enough to predict very well. I think the ND/polarizing filter suggestion is key to feeling confident with the faster film, especially if I stick with the Bronica.

My initial plan was the ETRSi with three lenses and a couple backs, then just for quicker photos, my Retina IIIC. that requires 120 and 135 film, but I wouldn't go through that many rolls of 135. It has the benefit of switchable backs on the Bronica, which is surprisingly useful during travel.

I'm also contemplating a different plan which would be all 135. Either this MZ-S I just got or maybe one of my Nikons--a FM2n or FA. Both have a pretty fast top speed which would also help with faster film (the nikons go to 1/4000 and the MZ-S goes to 1/6000 I think.) They'd be lighter than the Bronica, and I'd gain a fair amount of convenience but lose the swappable back. If I did that I'd probably still bring the Retina and just load it with B&W, and keep the other camera for color.
03-08-2019, 05:29 PM   #11
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There should be plenty of light in St. Pete in May, so I think you’re fine with 100 outside.

When I was there in 2012, they let you shoot in the Hermitage without flash in most rooms. A couple were completely forbidden, but they were well marked.

I’d suggest a canal tour... I did one that was awesome.

The summer palace in Pushkin was beautiful, but I preferred the generally bizarre mix of 19th century, hard-core Soviet, and completely modern that characterizes the city.

There was a decent film camera shop in the middle of town. I bought my Fed there (and a roll of BW 400). It was in a 19th century building that had been turned into a mall. No English, but they were very helpful.

-Eric

---------- Post added 03-08-19 at 05:34 PM ----------

Oh, and I’d just take 35mm unless you’ve got time to kill. I was there for work and when I had free time I was too busy just looking around to do much ‘serious’ photography... it’s a city that is packed full of neat stuff...

-Eric
04-02-2019, 08:16 PM   #12
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I’ve settled on taking my MZ-S. As I said above, I’m stocked for slow film—velvia, provia, and Ektar. I also have some rolls of Superia 1600 for some evening shots. I have to order some mid speed film. Probably some Fuji 400H (I’ve generally preferred it’s cooler tones to Portra 400.)

Now I need to figure out what lenses to bring. I’ve got primes from 24 up to 100, (Sigma 24/2.8, F28/2.8, FA35/2, F50/1.7, FA100/3.5 and maybe my DA40 and DA70, though on the MZ-S I would have to use them in shutter priority or program) and my four zooms (F24-50, F35-70, FA24-90, and Tamron 28-200).

I’m thinking the 24-90 plus a few primes (35,50 and 100), but the back of my head keeps wondering if I’m going to miss having something longer than 90/100? So what lenses would you bring on a trip like this?
04-02-2019, 10:35 PM   #13
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I would recommend some good quality ND filters to give you more flexibility in exposure. I find for this purpose a three stop ND is right - enough to add some flexibility but still easy enough to focus through if using an SLR.
04-03-2019, 07:19 AM   #14
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I’m limited in time/money for too many filters, but I’m planning on picking up some B+W polarizers which will also drop exposure by about 2 stops. That plus the higher shutter speed on the MZ-S should give me a wide range of exposure options with faster film.
04-03-2019, 07:50 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by abruzzi Quote
some rolls of Superia 1600 for some evening shots
don't forget that evening starts pretty late there in the summer. For example, sun sets at 9:41 on May 20... Might not have too much time for evening shots if you want to get some sleep Also, sun rises early (sun rises at 4:11 on May 20).
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