M3 + Summarit 50mm + Kodachrome

[dave lackey]

Okay, having just now gotten comfortable with the Summarit, I am about to use my 4 rolls of Kodachrome.

I guess I really have a couple of questions for those experienced in shooting slide film with the M3:

1. Exposure - I will be shooting mostly outdoors with Sunny 16. Some night scenes and maybe some indoor. Using my Soligor for color film, I have been getting good exposures. Any suggestions for change?

2. Slide Mounts and Image - Since I am using a 50mm lens and the slides will be mounted, what should I keep in mind about framing so I don't lose part of the composition once the slides are mounted?

I hate to experiment with a roll when I only have a few to use anyway so that is why I am posting this thread.:angel:

Thanks in advance...

 

[dave lackey]

Hmmm...anyone?

 

[Tuolumne]

Just a couple of thoughts...

Kodachrome has a very small exposure latitude. Can you really shoot it with sunny 16 or will you need to meter?

I always rated Kodachrome 64 (which is what I assume you have) at ISO 80. Very intense color when slightly underexposed, but again, accurate metering is important or else the shadows go black or the highlights blow out.

You never want to over expose slide film, especially not Kodachrome.

Are you going to project the slides or just scan them? If all you are doing is scanning I recommend not mounting them. The mounts just cut off usable real estate. Dwyanes is using really crummy cardboard mounts that leave chaff all over your slides. I never have my chromes mounted any longer, but then I never project them, either.


My 2 cents.

/T

 

[capitalK]

Agreed, I have asked for my last two rolls unmounted. Makes them much easier to scan.

 

[dave lackey]

Just a couple of thoughts...

Kodachrome has a very small exposure latitude. Can you really shoot it with sunny 16 or will you need to meter?

I always rated Kodachrome 64 (which is what I assume you have) at ISO 80. Very intense color when slightly underexposed, but again, accurate metering is important or else the shadows go black or the highlights blow out.

You never want to over expose slide film, especially not Kodachrome.

Are you going to project the slides or just scan them? If all you are doing is scanning I recommend not mounting them. The mounts just cut off usable real estate. Dwyanes is using really crummy cardboard mounts that leave chaff all over your slides. I never have my chromes mounted any longer, but then I never project them, either.


My 2 cents.

/T

Hmmm...had not thought of skipping the mounting. Good idea!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hmmm...had not thought of skipping the mounting. Good idea!

I've been doing that for the past few years; so much easier to scan and archive.

And, yeah...shooting properly-exposed K64 on an M3 is not impossible, but you really have to know what you're doing. While I'm sure there will be people who'd say "who cares!", I'd say since you're asking and are curious, you care a lot. So I'd say take a good incident light meter with you, if your subjects are going to be close or the outdoors lighting is going to be pretty even.

 

[januaryman]

I had 2 rolls done by Penn, asking them not to mount. Guess how they came back? Yup, they mounted them anyway. Can't hurt to repeat your request VERY clearly until they ask you to please shut up. 😉

 

[chris00nj]

Just a couple of thoughts...

Kodachrome has a very small exposure latitude. Can you really shoot it with sunny 16 or will you need to meter?

I always rated Kodachrome 64 (which is what I assume you have) at ISO 80. Very intense color when slightly underexposed, but again, accurate metering is important or else the shadows go black or the highlights blow out.
...../T

I shot KR in Rome with a Bessa R, mostly using a VCII meter. Sunny 16 works if it is sunny. In previous rolls I had shot it at 80, but I switch to 64 and prefer the results. When in doubt or if there was a small range of acceptablilty from the meter, I'd err on the side of underexposed.

 

[KM-25]

Earlier this week, I took an M6TTL and my black M3 to D.C. for the inauguration. I also brought 45 rolls of Kodachrome 64, a Gossen Digisix meter, 15 VC, 28 Summicron, 35 and 50 Lux for lenses.

For the most part, Kodachrome is like any other slide film. Don't over expose it, try to be within a 1/3rd stop and all will be fine.

And I don't buy the whole shoot to scan thing either. Shoot it to where it looks good on the light table, you can work out scanning it later. Kodachrome has a max radiance threshold of about 1/4 stop. That means if you nail the exposure in the right light, it speaks to you unlike any other film. But you have to nail it, no negotiating it later. And only rarely do I bracket, I just shoot Kodachrome on a daily basis now, so I am pretty well dialed in what I am looking for:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23585735@N06/sets/72157612226326832/

This technique is not unique to Leica either, it's just the way to do business with Kodachrome.