Using my Contax 645 Black and White Film is something I do usually at night and at weddings. Weddings are really the usual time I am shooting at night. Its very hard for me to shoot black and white film during the day when my day in Hawaii is so colorful all the time.
But I love using my Contax 645 with Black and White film at night when there are lights at the reception for some beautiful and timeless photographs. Its the perfect set up for reception events liked the first dance, the cake cut and toasts. And its relatively easy to do.
I usually use either Kodak Tri-x 400 Film or Delta Ilford 3200 film in my Contax 645 Black and White. The 3200 is nice on Maui where there usually isn’t much light at outdoor wedding receptions. The tri-x provides more contrast which is always pretty with black and white film. With either film, I usually have to push the film in development because there is so little light. I meter using my handheld meter and I rate the 3200 film at 1000.
I usually use a video light (or two) as well to provide a soft light on my subject. I put a small video light on top of my camera and have another light set up at a 10 or 2 position on the subject. Its an easy steady way to put light on a subject at night. It works well for toasts, dances, and cake cuts.
The Contax is a great camera and is fun to shoot at night. The key to it is making sure you have enough light (and providing yourself light if you don’t) and choosing the right film stock. I love making double exposures with the string lighting at wedding receptions to add that extra touch to the photos.
AWESOME! Don't give up on the Contax!
im bidding on another one on ebay as we speak. Do you have one?