Christopher
Stoll

Film Reference

When I am out shooting, I often want to know how to handle reciprocity failure for the film I am working with. I used to search for the film’s data sheet and then scroll around the document looking for the answer. I got tired of fumbling through that, so I wrote the answers in a small notebook. That notebook always ended up in another camera bag. So, to make sure the answers that I needed were handy, I wrote them down here. And, I linked to the data sheet, for those rare times when I need something a bit more obscure.

Exposure Adjustment Quick Reference

A couple of reference tables which show adjusted exposure times after factoring in the film’s reciprocity characteristics. Below is a more comprehensive listing of films which shows manufacturers specific recommendations.

Under 1 Minute

  5s 10s 15s 20s 30s 40s 50s
Delta 100 8s 18s 30s 44s 1m 13s 1m 44s 2m 18s
Delta 400 10s 26s 46s 1m 8s 2m 1s 3m 2s 4m 9s
Delta 3200 9s 21s 37s 54s 1m 32s 2m 15s 3m 2s
FP4 Plus 8s 18s 30s 44s 1m 13s 1m 44s 2m 18s
HP5 Plus 8s 20s 35s 51s 1m 26s 2m 6s 2m 48s
PanF Plus 9s 21s 37s 54s 1m 32s 2m 15s 3m 2s
Tri-X 10s 40s 1m 1m 20s 2m 2m 40s 3m 20s
T-Max 100 7s 13s 20s 27s 40s 53s 1m 7s
T-Max 400 7s 13s 20s 27s 40s 53s 1m 7s

Over 1 Minute

  1m 1m 15s 1m 30s 1m 40s 2m
Delta 100 2m 54s 3m 50s 4m 50s 5m 31s 6m 57s
Delta 400 5m 22s 7m 20s 9m 29s 11m 1s 14m 14s
Delta 3200 3m 52s 5m 12s 6m 37s 7m 37s 9m 43s
FP4 Plus 2m 54s 3m 50s 4m 50s 5m 31s 6m 57s
HP5 Plus 3m 33s 4m 46s 6m 3s 6m 57s 8m 49s
PanF Plus 3m 52s 5m 12s 6m 37s 7m 37s 9m 43s
Tri-X 4m 5m 6m 13m 20s 16m
T-Max 100 1m 20s 1m 40s 2m 3m 20s 4m
T-Max 400 1m 20s 1m 40s 2m 3m 20s 4m

 

Black and White Films

Fomapan

  • Fomapan 100
    • Effective ISO: 125
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >1 second, +1 stop / 2x exposure time
      • >10 seconds, +2 stops / 8x exposure time
      • >100 seconds, +4 stops / 16x exposure time
    • Development: 5-6 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm grey cellulose triacetate
      • 120 – 0.1mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.175mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation
  • Fomapan 200
    • Effective ISO: 160
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >1 second, +1.5 stops / 3x exposure time
      • >10 seconds, +3 stops / 9x exposure time
      • >100 seconds, +4 stops / 18x exposure time
    • Development: 6-7 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm grey cellulose triacetate
      • 120 – 0.1mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.175mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation
  • Fomapan 400
    • Effective ISO: <250
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >1 second, +1 stops / 1.5x exposure time
      • >10 seconds, +2.5 stops / 6x exposure time
      • >100 seconds, +3 stops / 8x exposure time
    • Development: 7 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm grey cellulose triacetate
      • 120 – 0.1mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.175mm clear polyester w/ anti-halation

Ilford

  • Delta 100 Professional
    • Effective ISO: 100
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.26
    • Development: 7.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.180mm/7-mil polyester w/ anti-halation
  • Delta 400 Professional
    • Effective ISO: 400
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >0.5 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.41
    • Development: 7.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate w/ anti-halation
  • Delta 3200
    • Effective ISO: 1000
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >0.5 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.33
    • Development: 7.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.125mm/5-mil clear acetate
  • FP4 Plus
    • Effective ISO: 125
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >0.5 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.26
    • Development: 8.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.180mm/7-mil polyester w/ anti-halation
  • HP5 Plus
    • Effective ISO: 400
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >0.5 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.31
    • Development: 8 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate w/ anti-halation
      • Sheets – 0.180mm/7-mil polyester w/ anti-halation
  • Ortho Plus
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight: 80
      • Tungsten: 40
    • Dynamic Range: 6 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.25
    • Development: not specified
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • Sheets – 0.180mm/7-mil polyester w/ anti-halation
  • PanF Plus
    • Effective ISO: 50
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >0.5 second, adjusted time = measured time ^ 1.33
    • Development: 6.75 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.125mm/5-mil acetate
      • 120 – 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate w/ anti-halation
    • Notes:
      • Once exposed, process PAN F Plus as soon as practical – Ilford recommends within 3 months

Kodak

  • Double-X
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 250
      • Tungsten (32k): 200
    • Dynamic Range: 6 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base: grey acetate
  • Tri-X
    • Effective ISO: 400
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >1 second, +1 stop AND -10% development
      • >10 seconds, +2 stops AND -20% development
      • >100 seconds, +3 stops AND -30% development
    • Development: 7 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
  • T-Max 100
    • Effective ISO: 100
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >1 second, +1/2 stop
      • >10 seconds, +1/3 stop
      • >100 seconds, +1 stop
    • Development: 7.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)
  • T-Max 400
    • Effective ISO: 400
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >10 seconds, +1/3 stop
      • >100 seconds, +1 1/2 stops
    • Development: 6.5 minutes (time in XTOL @ 20℃ / 68℉)

 

Color Films

Kodak

  • Aerocolor IV, 2460
    • Effective ISO: 100
    • Dynamic Range: 8 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1/10 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base: 0.10mm (3.9-mil) ESTAR / total thickness: 0.132mm (5.2 mils)
    • Notes:
      • Film incorporates an integral ultraviolet-absorbing filter
      • DO NOT FREEZE
      • To achieve results like Process AN-6 with C-41: development time of 5’15” at 100℉ (38℃)
  • Ektachrome
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 100
      • Photolamp (34k): 32 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 25 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 5 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure:
      • >10 seconds, make tests under your conditions
      • >120 seconds, add CC10R filtration
    • Color Compensation (for fluorescent lights):
      • Daylight – 50R and +1 stop
      • White – 40M and +2/3 stop
      • Warm White – 20C + 40M and +1 stop
      • Warm White Deluxe – 30B + 30C and +1 1/3 stops
      • Cool White – 40M + 10Y and +1 stop
      • Cool White Deluxe – 20C + 10M and +2/3 stop
      • Unknown Fluorescent – 30M and +2/3 stop
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.13mm (0.005 inch) acetate
      • 120 – 0.10mm (0.004 inch) acetate
      • Sheets – 0.19mm (0.007 inch) KODAK ESTAR
  • Ektar
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 100
      • Photolamp (34k): 32 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 25 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 9 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.13mm (0.005 inch) acetate
      • 120 – 0.10mm (0.004 inch) acetate
      • Sheets – 0.19mm (0.007 inch) KODAK ESTAR
  • Gold 200
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 200
      • Photolamp (34k): 64 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 50 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 7 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
  • Portra 160
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 100
      • Photolamp (34k): 50 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 40 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.13mm (0.005 inch) acetate
      • 120 – 0.11mm (0.004 inch) acetate
      • Sheets – 0.19mm (0.007 inch) KODAK ESTAR
  • Portra 400
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 400
      • Photolamp (34k): 125 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 100 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.13mm (0.005 inch) acetate
      • 120 – 0.11mm (0.004 inch) acetate
      • Sheets – 0.19mm (0.007 inch) KODAK ESTAR
  • Portra 800
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 400
      • Photolamp (34k): 125 (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): 100 (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >1 second, make tests under your conditions
    • Base:
      • 35 – 0.13mm (0.005 inch) acetate
      • 120 – 0.11mm (0.004 inch) acetate
  • ProImage 100
    • Effective ISO:
      • Daylight/Flash: 100
      • Photolamp (34k): +1 2/3 stops (with 80B filter)
      • Tungsten (32k): +2 stops (with 80A filter)
    • Dynamic Range: 10 stops
    • Reciprocity Failure: >10 seconds, make tests under your conditions

See Also