BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Other Image Problems

Photography Question 

Tonya Autry
 

What's Causing My Grainy Images?


This may be a silly question. In using 100 ISO film, what could be causing grainy photos? Is it an exposure problem? If so, do you think I was under or over?


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July 16, 2004

 

Vince Broesch
  My guess would be that you are underexposed. If you have some negatives around from which you got good prints, compare those negs to the ones in question - underexposed film would look lighter.

Vince www.PhotoAgo.com


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July 16, 2004

 

Steven Chaitoff
  Tonya, you may have been unknowingly "pushing" the film. Pushing tends to make film more susceptible to grain appearing, but particularly in high-speed films. The only thing that makes me discount myself is that you have to develop pushed film differently, and I doubt this was your case. Anyway, just always make sure you set your camera to the appropriate film speed.
Hope that helps...
Steven - http://www.vinrock.i8.com/photos/


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July 16, 2004

 

Michael McCullough
  All 100 speed films are not created equal,eg. Kodak Gold 100 very grainy,Agfa Ultra 100 not that fine either,Fuji Reala nice fine grain.


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July 20, 2004

 

Ken Henry
  As Michael says, Fuji Reala is the smoothest of all films. I add at least 1/2 exposure to negative film.


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July 25, 2004

 

Ken Henry
  Tanya, Tanya, Tanya...I saw your fine portrait. Alright, I do see the grain. As the saying goes 'test the waters before you jump in'.
Here is how I tested film. I would buy all the 100's and 160's.
...Set the exposure at one stop over
...take only one exposure from each roll
...make only 8x12's at your local 1 hour photo processor
...Process normal, no color corrections.
...then compare under bright light.


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July 25, 2004

 
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