slide or print?

[nobbylon]

Hi all,
I'm now on countdown to my trip to Nepal and Everest basecamp. What are everyones thoughts on type of film to take? print or slide? speed? I don't really get a lot of my pictures printed but for this trip I will so i'm looking for best possible color and quality. I haven't used slide film very much and haven't had any prints done from it so any experience from others would be appreciated. I'm taking my D70 for backup and happy snapping but will be using an M6 or if I like it an OM2 for the main photos.

 

[Finder]

I would go with print film. The light is going to be very different up there and if you don't have a lot of experience with slide exposures, and slides exposures in Nepal, print film will be much better.

I also perfer prints from print film rather than slide film. Naturally, the quality of the print is up to the printer. I run my own color darkroom, so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Madrigal]

I would bring mostly Reala, but perhaps a roll or two of Velvia 50 or 100 would be cool, just in case. Will you be bringing a tripod?

Sounds like the trip of a lifetime- enjoy!

 

[nobbylon]

thx for the replies, no I wont be taking a tripod, too much to carry. Interesting that both of you have said print film as I thought for best quality most people use slide film. Is that because printing from slides is not as good as from negative film. I seem to remember that most climbers and mountaineers used slide film. please keep the replies coming as I need all the advice I can get! As far as exposure goes would I be much better off taking a handheld meter? All these questions may sound simple and I have been taking pictures for a long time but I really want to get it right.

 

[Finder]

I would recommend a hadheld meter - at least I perfer that and get better results that way.

Slide film was at one point in photographic history a step above print film in quality. It was also a clear record of scene color - print film is harder to judge. Editing positive for editor and such was easier when stuff was done on a light table.

I perfer print film, because the quality is there. Since I print my own work, color is not an isssue. You also have greater exposure latitude and so burning and dodging is possible. Sine the light in Nepal can be very contrasty, the latitude can only be an asset.

Your biggest problem may be snow and the large UV componant in the light at that altitude. I would take a Gossen SBC with the spot attachment for the most flexible metering. Or I would take a incident/reflection meter and a spot meter. Mountian photography is going to be a challenge.

While polarizers make the really dark Tibetan sky even darker, I would not use one. I have found light very special at that altitude and the polarizers really mess things up - in lower areas, they may help if it is hazy. I would have a UV filter on everything.

 

[ncd_photo]

If you want to take slide film, I'd recommend provia 100, its exposure lattitude is excellent and it renders blue skies superbly with virtually no grain.
However I'd go for print film as I'ts pretty hard to get the exposure wrong. Reala 100 is excellent but my fav is NPS160 which is now pro 160S. Its sharp and lower contrast so holds onto highlight detail exceptionally well. The colours are neutral and accurate but if you want higher contrast and saturation this can be dialled in at the printing stage by a decent pro lab. This would be my choice if prints are the final output.

Have a good trip - I'm quite envious!!