Mackinaw
Think Different
Prior to the introduction of Velvia and other modern E-6 transparency films, Kodachrome II was, hands down, the sharpest transparency film available. I remember reading Modern Photography's film tests back in the day and nothing even came close to KII for fine grain and sharpness.
Jim B.
Jim B.
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Swift1
Veteran
Me, at Crater Lake in June 2010. Kodachrome PKR 64, Pentax MX. Taken by my wife.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Prior to the introduction of Velvia and other modern E-6 transparency films, Kodachrome II was, hands down, the sharpest transparency film available. I remember reading Modern Photography's film tests back in the day and nothing even came close to KII for fine grain and sharpness.
Jim B.
It used to be the sharpest of the transparency films, not as sharp as Ektachrome. And nowhere near as sharp as Acros Neoplan 100, TMY-2, or quit a few other B&W film, the sharpest color film I've used is Ektar 100.
Also, we now forget that Kodachrome when I first used it was ASA 10. So wide open and slow shutter even in full sun. Then we were over the moon when ASA 25 came out, and could hardly contain ourselves with ASA 64. Wow, finally f 8.0 @ 1/250 in full sun at noon (f 5.6 @ 1/60 in open shade).
LKSC
Established
K64, Leica 50 Summilux ASPH

Mackinaw
Think Different
It used to be the sharpest of the transparency films, not as sharp as Ektachrome. And nowhere near as sharp as Acros Neoplan 100, TMY-2, or quit a few other B&W film, the sharpest color film I've used is Ektar 100......
But we're talking about transparency films, not C-41 or B&W.
Nothing beat Kodachrome for sharpness until the later E-6 films came along. Velvia really shook things up, when it appeared. Even the later E-6 Ektachromes really challenged Kodachrome.
Jim B.
Mackinaw
Think Different
K64, Canon III-A with 50/1.9 lens. 1985. SW Colorado.
Jim B.

Jim B.
charjohncarter
Veteran
But we're talking about transparency films, not C-41 or B&W.
Nothing beat Kodachrome for sharpness until the later E-6 films came along. Velvia really shook things up, when it appeared. Even the later E-6 Ektachromes really challenged Kodachrome.
Jim B.
A lot goes into sharpness, today the big thing (problem) is scanning. Kodak's Elitechrome 100 I found to be very poor at scanning and even projected with my carousel, not too sharp. My Ektachromes (over fifter years of them) both projected and scanned are always sharper than my Kodachromes. But how do you beat Kodachrome (any version).
But when it comes down to it; it is the result. Ektachrome in 1963 using an Instamatic 104:

news shooter
Established
Midwestern family
Midwestern family
What a great thread! Thanks to Dave and all the participants.
Here is a contribution from 1956. I'm being held by my mom with older sisters in the background. This scan has only been adjusted in the shadows and highlights.
Camera is believed to be my dads, Kodak Pony 135. Not sure of the type of Kodachrome film.
Thanks,
News Shooter
Midwestern family

What a great thread! Thanks to Dave and all the participants.
Here is a contribution from 1956. I'm being held by my mom with older sisters in the background. This scan has only been adjusted in the shadows and highlights.
Camera is believed to be my dads, Kodak Pony 135. Not sure of the type of Kodachrome film.
Thanks,
News Shooter
charjohncarter
Veteran
news shooter, that is a great image. It has it all: love, recently built houses, three females in dresses, and a Nash.
news shooter
Established
news shooter, that is a great image. It has it all: love, recently built houses, three females in dresses, and a Nash.
John,
Thanks. Appreciate the comment!
news
dave lackey
Veteran
News Shooter,
That is a great image! I know it is special for you and I wish I had something as nice, but, our family only shot dismal black and white film. But we had a Nash!
It truly is a beautiful photograph in many ways. It is quite accurate in depicting life in the 50s for so many of us. It looks like such happy times.
That is a great image! I know it is special for you and I wish I had something as nice, but, our family only shot dismal black and white film. But we had a Nash!
It truly is a beautiful photograph in many ways. It is quite accurate in depicting life in the 50s for so many of us. It looks like such happy times.
Mackinaw
Think Different
It's Memorial Day in the U.S., so this picture seems appropriate. Original Kodachrome, probably 1957. The grave site of my dad's brother, at Arlington.
Jim B.

Jim B.
charjohncarter
Veteran
It's Memorial Day in the U.S., so this picture seems appropriate. Original Kodachrome, probably 1957. The grave site of my dad's brother, at Arlington.
Jim B.
Thanks for that image, we all went to my mother's brother's grave (WWII) when I was that age.
Edit: All these old photos, did women look better back then?
Axel
singleshooter
Better - don´t know but they often have a look I would wish to see again in this days. I miss that....
Edit: All these old photos, did women look better back then?
Mackinaw
Think Different
.....Edit: All these old photos, did women look better back then?
My mom always wore dresses back in the 1950's and 1960's. I don't ever recall her wearing blue jeans.
Jim B.
news shooter
Established
"Lawnboy"
"Lawnboy"
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/878/42414060841_ae7c837375_z.jpg
Pushing a Lawnboy (brand) lawnmower in West Fargo, North Dakota, circa 1958-1959. Was said that driving that thing all over was a favorite thing. It was a rope around the flywheel on top to start, using the choke and then a wire button throttle to start. Kodachrome taken by my father most probrobably with Kodak Pony 135mm as mentioned above.
Thanks to all for your comments. All the images posted in this thread are a truly enjoyable history from members' lives.
"Lawnboy"

Pushing a Lawnboy (brand) lawnmower in West Fargo, North Dakota, circa 1958-1959. Was said that driving that thing all over was a favorite thing. It was a rope around the flywheel on top to start, using the choke and then a wire button throttle to start. Kodachrome taken by my father most probrobably with Kodak Pony 135mm as mentioned above.
Thanks to all for your comments. All the images posted in this thread are a truly enjoyable history from members' lives.
news shooter
Established
USS Texas ca. 1962
USS Texas ca. 1962
On an unknown type of deck gun aboard the USS Texas battleship circa 1962. I would have been about six at the time. A family vacation led us there. Sweatshirts in Texas? Near Houston.
Kodachrome unknown
Camera: Kodak pony
USS Texas ca. 1962

On an unknown type of deck gun aboard the USS Texas battleship circa 1962. I would have been about six at the time. A family vacation led us there. Sweatshirts in Texas? Near Houston.
Kodachrome unknown
Camera: Kodak pony
bjolester
Well-known
From my father's Kodachrome collection from Tanzania in the late 1960s.

Malibu Stork 1969 by bjolester, on Flickr

Topi Antelope 1969 by bjolester, on Flickr

Malibu Stork 1969 by bjolester, on Flickr

Topi Antelope 1969 by bjolester, on Flickr
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
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