# Source for 16 mm B&W film **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541 "2013-01-17T19:53:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/1 "2013-01-17T19:53:22Z")
We were talking about a new film project today, and we want to shoot it in black & white on 16 mm film. Now that Kodak is bankrupt, where can we get something similar to Plus-X, Pan-X, or Tri-X. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/2 "2013-01-17T21:25:07Z")
Not too surprisingly, B&H has 16mm Tri-X in stock. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/3 "2013-01-17T21:31:28Z")
:smack: I should have checked there. Since we’re looking for a 1930s documentary look, a fast film like Tri-X may just be the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/4 "2013-01-17T21:35:06Z")
I tend to respect older technologies, but you could shoot it digitally for a fraction of the cost and hassle, and process it to look like 16mm B+W. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/5 "2013-01-17T21:37:27Z")
But I have all of these cameras, y’see! 😃 Anyway film, processing and digital transfer should only come to under two kilobucks for the ten minutes we need. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/6 "2013-01-17T22:19:29Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > But I have all of these cameras, y’see! 😃 \ > [@](#): > > Anyway film, processing and digital transfer should only come to under two kilobucks for the ten minutes we need. For something that short, perhaps. The digital cost would come to (if needed) camera rental of a couple hundred. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/7 "2013-01-17T22:26:59Z")
I have a Panasonic AG DVX-100A. Not HD, [but I like the footage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM_LmqNOMMI). I still want to shoot a project with my super-16 Aaton LTR-54. For this one we’ll probably just use one or two of the Bolexes. (Two of them have crystal motors. Not needed, since it will be MOS; but no winding.) ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-16-mm-b-w-film/647541/8 "2013-01-18T03:19:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now that Kodak is bankrupt, where can we get something similar to Plus-X, Pan-X, or Tri-X. Bankrupt doesn’t mean out of business, and Kodak is still the leading maker of motion picture film. [See their website](http://motion.kodak.com/motion/products/production/index.htm).