Kodak T-MAX P3200 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

Graham Sergeant
( Professional)

Review Date
February 4, 2006

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 1 of 13

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

I have used Kodak products of all kinds over many years and have always found them to be of the highest quality and have never been let down by them. However for a recent photo-essay project I have been using TMax 3200 with Xtol developer. My concern is that while TMax 3200 is clearly advertised as a high-speed film and Xtol is a recommended Kodak developer - I found that when used precisely as recommended the results were between 2 to 3 stops under-exposed. So the advice is very clearly to do a series of tests before using the film. Am I being cynical in suggesting that by promoting the film as a high speed product, the TMax 3200 label on the box is really a bit of over-enthusiam on the part of Kodak's marketing department. In reality I found that the film works best at ISO 800.

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Rating
Reviewed by:

drfardook
( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 12, 2005

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
2 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 13

Price Paid: $7.00 from B&H Photo

Summary:

Unlike the other reviewers I was distinctly dissapointed in this film. I have shot about 6 rolls of this film but discontinued using it in favor of Fuji Neopan 1600 as I found that pushing the Neopan one stop got better results than using the Kodak at its advertised 3200. I expected large grain and was not troubled by this, but found that my photos came out flat when shooting in club situations when other film and digital came gave me a better dynamic range.

Strengths:

High speed. If you love grain, this is your baby.

Weaknesses:

Limited range. Extremely high price for film. Actual film speed is 800, not 3200.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji Neopan 1600, Ilford Delta 3200

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Rating
Reviewed by: Thomas Bailey
(Expert)

Review Date
April 6, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 13

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

This is an excellent low-light film. I have gotten good results at EI 50000. You rarely need anything faster. Because of its extreme speed, handholding a 1000 mm lens is possible in fair light, 500 mm lens in dim light. At EI 6400, it prints beautifully on Polycontrast III RC

Strengths:

Very high speed, suitable for Neighborhood Watch to photograph crimes in progress.

Weaknesses:

rather grainy

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Rating
Reviewed by: clocktyre
(Expert)

Review Date
January 25, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 13

Price Paid: $0.00 from 7dayshop.co.uk

Summary:

This is my favourite B+W film bar none. I don't like flash photography indoors despite owning 2 high-end flashguns, and P3200 gives me the flexibility to do without the flash. Using a fast prime lens you can shoot in very dim conditions to capture images of people without the spoiling unnatural effect of a flash. One point worth considering though: watch your metering! If taking a shot at a high shutter speed, meter for a shadow area (or Spot-meter it) to avoid underexposure. This goes doubly for landscape shots using ND filters to bring the shutter speed down to a reasonable level. Like all TMAX films, this one's high-contrast and perhaps not ideal for portraiture.

Strengths:

Superb grain for the speed. Very atmospheric. Immensely flexible, just use an ND4 or 2 for outdoor shots. No need for a flash indoors usually.

Weaknesses:

Tricky to develop manually - shoot a couple of test rolls at least if you want to develop this yourself. Otherwise take it to a good prolab. Metering is critical, especially outdoors.

Similar Products Used:

Ilford FP4, Tmax 100 & 400, Acros 100, Neopan 400.

Customer Service:

N/A

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Rating
Reviewed by: Jimmy Chan
(Casual)

Review Date
May 7, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
2 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
5 votes

Review 5 of 13

Summary:

When use with red filter under very strong light shooting tree trunks far behind, the almost carbon like image is stunning! It's artistic, it's abstract, it's surreal! I find it best rated at 3200 rather than at 800. My local lab is charging extra 50% for pushing, not fair. Does the p next to 3200 means 'pushing'? Why doesn't it says on the box that it is actually a 800 film but not 3200? I feel like being cheated everytime I have it developed.

Strengths:

You are entering a different world.

Weaknesses:

Expensive. Hard to develop.

Similar Products Used:

Delta 100, 400, HP5, FP4, T-max 100, 400, Tri-X 400

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