[Leica] T400CN

[barney@sgi50.wwb.noaa.gov (Barney Quinn)]

With the usual disclaimer that one LUGger's nourishment is almost
certain to be another's toxin, here goes.........I have been shooting
a lot of T400CN lately, and I like the results I get with it. It has
very fine grain, and it has the ability to record an amazing abount of
detail. I usually make 11x14's, and they turn out very well. 

I think that it handles highlight and shadow detail better that XP2
does, but it still is clearly a chromogenic emulsion. It's clearly a
close relative of XP2. You can shoot it at ISO 800. The results are
fine. If you shoot is at ISO 320 or 200 the negative has a chance to
build up a bit more density. This, IMHO, causes the apparent grain to
decrease a little, and it seems to help the highlight and shadow
detail.

You can have it developed and printed at a 1hr lab. The blacks are
really more of a deep blue-red-brownish-purple on the 1hr lab prints
which I have seen. The contrast range T400CN can record exceeds what
color paper seems to be able to reporduce. When printed on B&W paper
T400CN yeilds prints which look quite good.

It's not the "zone system n+1" high contrast look, but it's
nice. Worth a try. IMHO.

Barney