Looking for a colour films for landscape + scanning

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Two years ago I completely converted to digital and sold my scanner. But every time I open my photo equipment cupboard my M6 stares at me and whispers "take me, take me". Additionally I still don't have a wide angle lens for my M8. So I want to give the M6 + CV25 combination a second chance.

Some constraints:
- Yes, I want colour
- It's mainly for landscape
- I have access to an Epson V700 scanner
- Film is only the storage medium and input for the scanner. No printing from the developed film.
- ASA: approx. 100

My experience with the scanner I owned was, that scanning slides was a pita. So I think colour negative film would be better.

I didn't observed the film market the last years, so do you have any recommendations for a good film.
Thank you.
 
Go for the new Kodak Ektar 100. There is a thread about it on RFF. It is a great film with very nice colors and scans like a dream...
 
I am in love with the Portra 160 films for scanning landscapes. NC has a nice retro feel, and VC is just beautiful.

Their contrast latitude is much greater than slide films too - which is a bonus. FWIW - neither film particularly likes being underexposed.
 
Fuji Reala at an EI of 80 or 64. Lots of saturation. Resolution you won't believe. Reala and my 1961 DR Summicron produce sharpness and resolution you won't believe. Grain? What grain?
 
If your landscape is already colorful, almost any color film will be nice. You sound like you already know enough to make the decision. That being said, I like the look of Astia the best for slides, and reala or portra for neg. They all scan equally well for me.
 
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I think slide film scans better than negative film, because it has less grain and no color mask to balance out...I use a Coolscan V. Not everyone likes Velvia, but I do. 100F is good, but a little cool. 50 is more neutral. Both are very saturated, high contrast, and high resolution. Astia is a good moderate saturation choice with very accurate colors, slightly lower contrast, which means a little more dynamic range, and there is nothing better in terms of resolution. Astia is also fantastic for portraits. I would take two...Astia for harsher light and Velvia 50 for softer light...plus a tripod and cable release.

edit: Sorry...didn't see that you wanted a negative film. I still think you should try slides (unmounted) again, but for negative film, I've had good luck with Kodak UC100, which I think is being replaced by Ektar100. So, try Ektar 100. Fuji Reala is also a very good film, but I have not tried scanning that one.

Paul
 
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photophorous said:
I think slide film scans better than negative film, because it has less grain and no color mask to balance out...I use a Coolscan V. Not everyone likes Velvia, but I do. 100F is good, but a little cool. 50 is more neutral. Both are very saturated, high contrast, and high resolution. Astia is a good moderate saturation choice with very accurate colors, slightly lower contrast, which means a little more dynamic range, and there is nothing better in terms of resolution. Astia is also fantastic for portraits. I would take two...Astia for harsher light and Velvia 50 for softer light...plus a tripod and cable release.

edit: Sorry...didn't see that you wanted a negative film. I still think you should try slides (unmounted) again, but for negative film, I've had good luck with Kodak UC100, which I think is being replaced by Ektar100. So, try Ektar 100. Fuji Reala is also a very good film, but I have not tried scanning that one.

Paul
Click to expand...

No. I'am not comletely fixed on colour negative film. But my experiences with mounted slides were really bad. Never thought about scanning slide film unmounted. Interesting.
 
We had more than once:
Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Porta 160 (thought this is mainly for portraits?)
Fuji Rela

I think I will try the new Ektar 100 first. Sounds promising. I will order it soon and then we will see.

Thank you for your feedback.
 
tom.w.bn said:
No. I'am not comletely fixed on colour negative film. But my experiences with mounted slides were really bad. Never thought about scanning slide film unmounted. Interesting.
Click to expand...

Unless you like to use a slide projector, there's really no reason to have your slides mounted. I don't even get mine cut. Costs about $4 / roll at my local lab. They come in a long roll and I cut strips of 6 to scan and then put them in Printfile sleeves, where they can easily be viewed with a loupe on a light table. You can view the actual slide to get the color balance right on your computer, which is not really possible with negatives. Scanning longer strips, instead of mounted slides, makes the process more convenient, but it also means less of the edges of the image (depending on your scanner) is cut off.

But really, the main reason I like slides, is because you have to put your noise against a 12 x 18 print to see the slightest bit of grain. And that's with out any kind of software grain or noise reduction.

Paul
 
If you only can use a flatbed scanner, then when your M6 speaks to you, it is probably saying: sell me, and get the Fuji GSW... A 6x9 neg from Reala or Portra will stand its own against digital even if scanned on a flatbed, otherwise you are wasting your time.
 
tom.w.bn said:
No. I'am not comletely fixed on colour negative film. But my experiences with mounted slides were really bad. Never thought about scanning slide film unmounted. Interesting.
Click to expand...

I never have my slides mounted anymore. Between the crud that's left on the film from the cardboard mounting and the rounded edges that kill about 15% of the frame, there's no point to it unless all you really want to do is project them. And you can always mount them yourself later is there are a few you really do want to project.

/T
 
I agree with 'designer; the Kodak Portra 160 ISO films are pretty amazing. I've been a Fuji user for a long time and I wouldn't give them up but the Portra is excellent. NC for people, UC for landscapes, VC for sunsets or cheery colours like fields of flowers.

Choose your flavour.
 
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