Kodak's Black & White + is what is known as a chromogenic black and white film. What this means, when compared to traditional (panchromatic) B&W films is that it can be developed in C-41 (color processing). Given that traditional black and white processing has grown quite expensive and that many photo labs no longer possess the capability to process regular B&W, this film provides exceptional convenience.I think the other reviewers of this film here have probably lacked experience with this film and its competitors from ILFORD of the UK and Konica of Japan. Yes, there are color shift issues with this film. Much of that depends on the quality of the C-41 processing and the willingness of the technician to spend time with some exposure compensation.
Most color shifts with this film result from the use of color paper. If photos taken with this film are developed using regular B&W paper, then the user will receive true black and white prints. Using color paper often times will result in a slight color shift toward sepia or blue/gray. However, I find the shift toward sepia pleasing to the eye because it lends the picture the air of an old time B&W print that has faded with age. Sepia provides a classical look to monochromatic prints.
Because this film and its competitors use dyes rather than silver halide crystals, it is capable of being developed by normal 1-hour labs using C-41 processing. This is incredibly convenient and much less expensive than using traditional black and white film and then having to wait for its return if your lab lacks the facilities to do traditional black and white printing.
This is a very fine grained film for its speed. It is also a medium to medium-high contrast film. It delivers very sharp imagery and has served as a very nice platform to re-introduce casual photographers to the elegance and drama of black and white photography.
Yes, traditional black and white is still alive and well. But for less cost and a lot more timeliness, this film offers very sharp imagery to folks who would not normally consider black and white film.
Kodak markets Black and White+ as a consumer grade film. The Professional emulsion of this film is called T400CN and offers the same convenience and cost benefits. Kodak also offers a chromogenic B&W in professional grade among its PORTRA family of films. That film is known as PORTRA 400 and is often used for wedding and portrait work when people choose black and white prints.
Don't underestimate this film. It offers a lot of advantages and the flexibility to shift tonal variations based on the use of color OR black and white paper.
For those considering this film, be aware that all chromogenic films, such as the ones discussed here, as well as the ILFORD and KONICA offerings are ONLY SOLD AS ISO 400 speed films. Despite that medium/fast speed, all are very fine grained films and will provide incredibly sharp images.
I recommend this film and its professional family members.
I recently bought a three pack of this stuff (just for grins) and was pretty impressed by the results (despite my bungling - read on).I had a roll of the stuff loaded and rewound mid-roll as I wanted to shoot some color film (rated at ISO 100). When I loaded the Kodak B&W back in later, I forgot to reset the ISO back to 400. It wasn't until after I finished the roll that I realized my goof (and a good one at that as I had to deliberately override the DX coding in order to do it). Thinking that I everything was hosed - I just had the lab give me negatives (no proof sheet).
I scanned a couple of the images in via a 35mm film scanner and the results were quite usable. This stuff has exposure latitude up the wazoo. I would recommend this stuff to the casual photographer who wants B&W snapshot - but the latitude makes it useless for the serious amateur thinking this to be an alternative to real B&W.
