Slide film suggestions

[kenspix]

Any suggestions for someone changing from print film to slide,good films to start with ect.Daughter shows interest in slides...

 

[Athena]

Ken,

I'm a former Kodachrome kid who has moved on at last. All in all, at any ISO, I now prefer the Fujichromes.

Where do you live? By that, I mean, how much outdoor light do you have in December?

I suspect you're in the Northern Hemisphere and would start her out with a 400 ISO (not nearly as grainy as the old Ektachromes of the 1970's were).

If you have some good light - go to the Velvia 100.

But the best of the best is coming back soon. Fuji Velvia 50 was discontinued about a year or so ago. Much to the consternation of the "chrome crowd".

Recently, Fuji announced that the problem was a lack of availability of the chemicals used in the old formula but that they heard the crowd.

A new Fuji Velvia 50, ver. II is announced to be introduced in Spring 2007. If it is anything like its predecessor - it will be "bodacious".

We are talking very rich blues and greens and yet damned good reds and yellows too.

Here's are a couple of shots I took with the original version this past Summer up in Cooperstown, New York with Velvia 50.

And to your daughter - welcome to chrome!

 

[Trius]

I sort of agree with Athena regarding the light you may have available now. And I'd say say starting with some Fujichromes is a good strategy ... to tide you over until there's good light for

THE GLORIES OF KODACHROME!!!

You didn't say exactly why your daughter is interested in chromes, but once she sees a good Kodachrome on the light table (or better yet, projected), Fujichrome will be a faded memory. 😛

 

[smileyguy]

I'm partial to Fuji. I've had good results using expired AND fresh Velvia 50. No difference to my eye. I shoot a lot of landscapes and it can't be beat. I don't do portrait work (professionally, that is) but when I do shoot people I don't use chromes. Tried the velvia once and it's no good for skin.

I would just go for the best you can afford. If you're making the switch you want it to be positive and convince her that it's worth it to make that switch.

 

[dmr]

I might suggest trying a few rolls of Kodachrome before it disappears, just to get the feel of it. It probably has the most faithful color rendition of any currently sold slide film.

Then, try the various Fuji films. I've been using Velvia 100 off and on, and it's probably the most brilliant of the films I use.

One thing to remember, set your exposure carefully. Slide film can't take a joke. One stop off and you get mud in the shadows or blown-out highlights.

 

[kenspix]

She thinks "chromes are cool" ...now i am cool too.... great when your kids still think you are fun. I have to try that kodachrome colors must be that good from what everyone says.

 

[aad]

I've been looking at some 35 yearold Kodachromes, and damn, they look nice.

My current favorite is Provia 100f-I find Velvia 50 is a bit over the top sometimes, and is actually harder to scan.

 

[Athena]

Well Ken,

I think you have the full gamut in these few posts.

For tried and true Chromistas - there will never be anything like Kodachrome. And, please don't get me wrong, I agree - I have carousels full of K-chrome slides and only a couple months ago finally "burned off" what I swear is my last roll.

The "problem" with K-chrome is it's unique structure and now almost impossible to find development.

Dwyane's in Kansas City is the last processor able to develop the film in the world - yes, the world. Even Kodak sends the rolls to Dwayne's for processing.

Now if this new chrome interest was for you, or some other "geezer", I'd agree that Kodachrome would be fun to play with - after all, we ALL remember Paul Simon's song, don't we?

But I'm guessing that your daughter is younger than you?

That's why I recommend getting her going on the Fujis.

Kodachrome is a great film that "was". But it is going away. Not the least because it is an environmental nightmare to process.

In the brave new world of chromes, I suggest that the Fuji offerings are far and away superior (Superia? 😉 ) to the Kodak ExtraColor chromes.

But whatever, have fun with your daughter shooting tons of rolls of whatever. I envy you having such an opportunity.

Oh, and yes, I agree, there is still nothing so cool as to see a projected Kodachrome slide!

"Give me those nice bright colors...." 😎

 

[egpj]

Try having some fun with Provia 400F. You can push it to 3200 with very good results and the box says you can go to 4800. Better make sure that your lab is good with it before trying though.

 

[clintock]

Costco will process Kodachrome, as well as the other E-6, I assume they send to Dwaynes, around 4 dollars, also clarkcolor.com for about the same money via mail order, so you have postage.. winds up five dollars a roll.
So far I've had about a dozen rolls of various chromes done at both places with no damage. Sometimes cardboard, sometimes plastic frames.. not sure why- I know the last Kodachrome done at Costco was cardboard in kodak livery, while the clarkcolor was in plastic, but no kodak wording.. both framed right and not scratched.

I think there might be more than just Dwaynes that processes K-14, A place in switzerland that may or may not be closed, and one in japan- according to the kodak web site anyway.

 

[Nachkebia]

I loved slides all the way, but for last couple of months I kind of don`t like them any more 🙂 I feel they are bit think, if you know what I mean 😀 I shot couple of portras and I think next time I will do exstensive portra tests 🙂 but I love cold tones of fuji slides, provia and velvia mainly 🙂

 

[telenous]

A place in switzerland that may or may not be closed.

An aside for those of us who use Kodachrome in Europe. The Lausanne lab does not process any more. I rung them last September, just one week before they were to close, and they said it was final. You can still send Kodachrome rolls that come with the prepaid envelope to them, and then they send it to the US (I guess to Dwayne's). Turn-around time is about a month. I had one roll returned this way and just yesterday I sent out another one.

I like very much Kodachrome and I will use it for as long as I can find it in Europe. From the Fuji line I like very much Provia - both 100 and 400.

 

[Nachkebia]

I don`t like provia 400, I have yet to try new 400X, but old one had very little contrast, very little sharpness and alot of noise 🙂

 

[kaiyen]

Noise? You probably mean grain, right? Slides have grain, C41, with its dye clouds, have noise. I don't think you can get what one would call noise with slides...certainly not the blacks 🙂.

I am actually surprised that everyone is suggesting relatively saturated films. Even Provia is slightly more than lifelike in that regard. I'd recommend a nice, neutral film with wide(r) latitude, like Astia. If the idea is slides, then I presume they'll be projected. Projected Astia still looks brilliant, it scans better, and it is more forgiving during exposure.

allan

 

[Nachkebia]

kaiyen : In that case if you want lifelike look, you can shoot digital 😀

 

[nightfly]

Anyone know any slide films that do get grainy and contrasty for an Ellen Von Unwerth sorta look?

I was reading somewhere that she used to like Kodak Ektachrome P800/1600 but that it's gone. Does anyone make that type of pushable slide film anywhere that gets almost a pushed black and white look (more contrasty and grainy) rather than just dull?

 

[kaiyen]

I am noting the emoticon, but it's kinda hard to shoot digital if the end-user wants slides.

There are times when saturated colors are good. There are times when neutral response is good. It's never a good idea to discount one or the other out of hand at all times. I ran into this problem in my slide class where everyone kept talking about how "lame" my slides looked because I chose to use Astia. Yet my portfolio was judged to be the strongest in the end because the neutral response added to the special effect I was trying to achieve. Right tool for the right job.

allan

 

[nightfly]

As a follow up on my last post about slide films for pushing it looks like you can still get Kodak Ektachrome P1600 but it's like $14/roll. Yikes.

Would love to try pushing some cheaper more common slide film to similiar effect if anyone has played with this and has some suggestions. I'm looking more for this pushed look than the actual speed improvement.

 

[Trius]

Any slide film can be pushed, it's just a matter of how it will respond/look, of course. You might want to try any of the "high" speed (400-800) chromes and try a 2-stop push. I think the high price of the P1600 is because it's designated a pro film. You might want to search for some short-dated or just expired stock.

 

[kully]

Anyone know any slide films that do get grainy and contrasty for an Ellen Von Unwerth sorta look?

I was reading somewhere that she used to like Kodak Ektachrome P800/1600 but that it's gone. Does anyone make that type of pushable slide film anywhere that gets almost a pushed black and white look (more contrasty and grainy) rather than just dull?

Nightfly, try Provia 400F pushed to 800 or 1600 - grain and contrast a plenty.