Can I shoot slide film...?

[Brennotdan]

...with a canon AE-1. Or do I need a more sophisticated meter for this? I would really love to try shooting some slides, but don't want to waste the energy if my camera requires film with more latitude. your thoughts appreciated!

 

[colyn]

As long as your meter is reasonably accurate there's no reason why you can't.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Yes, absolutely! It was fairly common to shoot slides in the days of the AE-1.

 

[george1956]

You can shoot great slides anywhere depending on your lens. Outdoors, with slow slide film ASA 50 or 100 with camera on tripod, you can get results that can result in very large fine detailed prints. Indoors, with a speed lens like a 50mm f1.8, you can get creative results, or using a flash with just about any lens. Slide film comes in some high speed variations up to 400 ASA and beyond.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

The answer: why not? However, to be more sensible and practical, try first with unimportant subjects and then you'll see if your camera meter is good and on target all the time.

Most are, anyway... 🙂 But you must find out on your own.

 

[Brennotdan]

I'll try it out then. The meter has worked fine for color negative film so far. Is there anything particular that I should look out for when shooting? I've heard to bracket a lot and to use a 1/2 step up from a grey card reading for most situations.
I am also concerned with my shutter being inconsistent. That is probably just paranoia.

 

[mhv]

Of course you can. Just make sure that you do not overexpose the highlights.

I've managed to shoot slide film in a Kiev 4a using only the sunny f/11 rule (it's bleak in here...), and the results are no more than 1/3 to 1/2 stop off. Plenty of details for scanning, and nice projection as well.

 

[nikon_sam]

I've shot a ton of Velvia through my Nikon FE (set to -1/2 stop) and was always blown away with the results...
Tripod, self-timer or cable release and stopped down a bit...
Never really needed to bracket with this camera...

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Modern slide films DO have some exposure latitude (btw, Kodachrome is not modern; by modern I mean Velvia, Provia, Astia, Sensia, Kodak E-100/200). In general 1/2 stop overexposure will not completely blow out the highlights. So, as long as the camera meter is calibrated within 1/3 stops and you remember the general limitation of center-weighted metering, there should be no general problems.

However, with center-weighted metering and slide film you will always have consider the exposure carefully, unless the lighting is very even, and apply exposure compensation accordingly. If you don't have time to do that then bracketing is a good way to get at least one properly exposed shot.

 

[Niall Bell]

I've shot many, many slide films with an AE-1. Some of my best pictures. A very versatile camera.

 

[Holmz]

Depends what shooting your doing...
For landscapes Provia is good.
Shoot the same scene -0.5 , 0, 0.5
(12 shots for a 36 roll)
Then you should have a good handle on it and be able to trust the meter.

Velvia is also good for landscapes.

Slides are better for prints (cibachrome) and make a great way to show the pictures if you use a projector.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Slide film needs precise exposure so that's why we bracket and test.

But you have a class camera there and there's no reason to think it won't be up to the job.

Use one film on a few subjects to test and bracket the exposures and reassure yourself for when you put the second film in.

 

[shadowfox]

...with a canon AE-1. Or do I need a more sophisticated meter for this? I would really love to try shooting some slides, but don't want to waste the energy if my camera requires film with more latitude. your thoughts appreciated!

The simple answer is yes, of course, as many already answered.

However, please allow me to suggest something. Don't depend too much on meters, any meters. It would be to your advantage and enjoyment to learn the relationship between the light and the exposure, and learn to take pictures based on this understanding.

Read about the Sunny-16 rule and learn to use it to your advantage. Not only you will be able to rely less on meters, but you'll also be able to use meters more effectively because you will know if the meter is fooled, as it is often the case in tricky lighting situations.

 

[Brennotdan]

Lots of great answers, thank you. I bought a couple different slide films ( fuji 100/1000, and some kodak elite) from someone here on the forum. I'll post scans once I shoot a couple of rolls. After the light meter, I am also concerned with the speeds being off. I guess I can shoot a roll and then decide for myself. Where is a good place to have this film processed?

 

[aad]

My mom shot slides exclusiely, with a camera with 3 settings-sun, cloud and flash. They all look great 50 years later.

 

[TheHub]

I put slide film through an Olympus Trip 35. They came out great.

 

[pinafore2]

I started my career as a photoentusiast by going to Norway with my dad's Retina 1a, loaded with Agfacolor CT 18, and an old Gossen "Sixtomat" meter.
I brought home 36 flawless slides from that equipment, being 14 Yrs. old, about 35 Yrs. ago !
Your Camera is top-gear compared to mine, just go shoot !

 

[Rhoyle]

The only thing you need to watch out for is when including the sky in your composition. The sky will fool you're camera's meter, telling it that the light is very bright. If you meter off the ground in the same light as your subject, 99% of the time your exposure will be right on the money.

 

[MichaelM7]

Real men shoot slides without any meter and with a simple box camera!

I regularly shoot slides with my 6x9 Agfa Clack which has no meter at all, just two apertures ("sun" and "clouded") and just one shutter time! Results are great. See for example here (not mine though):
http://www.klein-aber-fein.de/zeitraum/english/geclacktes-01.htm

Is this enough to convince you that shooting slides is easy?

 

[rogerchristian]

You'll never know until you try - at least one roll.

Due to the tighter tolerances on exposure of the slide film, it is a good check on your meter accuracy, too.