Lucky SHD 100: Cheap, Forgiving, and My Favorite Film Ever

Lucky SHD 100 is a very cheap 35mm black and white film from China. It gives amazing results when used and developed correctly, which is why it is the only film I ever use now. It turns your eyes black and white.

I got into photography when I was 14 (2009). A year later, I picked up my first film camera. It was a Halina Paulette and it was, and still is, the worst camera I have ever used. I then decided to buy loads of different cameras to find the one that suited me. Back then, I shot only in color and I was really impressed by my results, so basically gave up digital photography and my DSLR was left where it still is now.

I then decided to try out a roll of Ilford black and white. When I got my results back from Ilford, I was really disappointed with the results as they looked boring and bland. It was then that I discovered it was actually the colors in my previous images that made it a good image rather than the subject of the image itself. Ever since then, I have shot black and white simply because it makes you a better photographer and think more about: composition, light, tones, and subject rather than just color.

I also decided I would develop all my own film, to save costs and give me more control. Initially, I shot with Fuji Neopan 400, a very good film just a little pricey.

I hit eBay looking for a bargain. Lucky SHD 100 £17.99 for 10 rolls from South Korea. “What’s the worst that can happen” I thought, and I hit buy it now. About 10 days later my parcel arrived, I ripped it open, put the 10 rolls of film on myself.

I was not expecting much from this film due to its price. But enough of my rambling and more photos taken with this marvelous film. Here are some shots on my Minolta X-700 developed in cafenol:

The results have very nice tones and are ones that I’m very pleased with as I feel the images are interesting and good photographs, also the film manages to keep sharpness and detail, things that are sometimes lost when other films are developed in cafenol.

The main developer I use is Rodinal. It’s simply unbeatable, and this film certainly gives the best results developed in it. Here are some results shot in a Lomography Fisheye No. 2 when developing in Rodinal 1+100 for 20 minutes.

As you can see the results have lovely tones, details, and sharpness. I have also created my own way of shooting the film. I shoot it at iso 200 and then develop it in Rodinal 1+50 for 14 minutes. Here are some results:

Again great details, sharpness and tones, and also I’ve found that shooting and developing it this way gives more contrast than usual.

The best way that I have found for the use this amazing film is to shoot it normally at iso 100 and then semi-stand develop it in Rodinal 1+150 for 60 minutes, 30-second initial agitation and then 2 agitations at 30 seconds. Here are some results:

Again it’s fantastically sharp and crisp, has great details and amazing tones.

This is now literally the only film I shoot. Occasionally, I will shoot something else if I find it cheap, but for me this is the best, also I think when you use one film all the time as I do you begin to know how to use it to its fullest. And now when I’m out with my camera I actually see things in black and white, and using black and white rather than color has improved me massively as a photographer. I highly recommend you do the same. There’s a wide selection of black and white film also available in the Lomography Shop, but for me, this is the only 35mm black and white film I need.

Lucky SHD 100 is my favorite film, what’s yours?

This article was written by Community member brandkow93. Make sure to upload your photographs to your LomoHome and share the analogue love!

written by brandkow93 on 2012-04-17 #gear #black-and-white #review #film-review #photography #lucky-shd-100 #favourite-film