Substitute for Kodachrome?

[pmu]

I was just wondering if there is any film with same kind of look that Kodachrome has...I mean what would be the closest? And yes, I am talking about films that are still manufactured.

Since I scan my films and do prints from scans maybe there would be some combinations of some particular film and some photoshop adjustments that would get close to that Kodachrome look...?

Any tips greatly appreciated.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Nothing looks quite like Kodachrome and of course its archival properties are a reason to use it alone, but that said, I stopped thinking that K25 was the only color film I really liked when I started shooting Fuji Astia in medium and large format. It's a fine grained, sharp film, and not oversaturated like most of the popular slide films these days. It's a little on the cool side in general, but is easily warmed up to neutral with an 81A or KR1.5 filter (this may vary from batch to batch).

 

[dmr]

Nothing looks quite like Kodachrome and of course its archival properties are a reason to use it alone, but that said, I stopped thinking that K25 was the only color film I really liked when I started shooting Fuji Astia in medium and large format. It's a fine grained, sharp film, and not oversaturated like most of the popular slide films these days. It's a little on the cool side in general, but is easily warmed up to neutral with an 81A or KR1.5 filter (this may vary from batch to batch).

I asked a similar question here a while back and got more or less your answer. I had been told that Astia is the closest, in that it's more subdued. It's on my must-try list, but just hasn't happened yet. I still have a few rolls of K64 left. 🙂

I agree that nothing will really replace Kodachrome!

OBTW, good to see you on this side, David, I didn't realize you were here. 🙂

 

[MadMan2k]

Kodachrome is still manufactured, isn't it? A little expensive and hard to get processed maybe... I have 8 rolls left out of the 10 I bought for 5 bucks each when they were on sale at Adorama.

 

[Bryce]

I never tried Kodachrome, but I'll vote for Astia 100F too. Before I gave up on transparencies, it was my film of choice. Colors are believable, gorgeous, and best of all the film is capable of rendering a true white. I agree about the 81 series filter too, the film tends to be slightly cool.
Another film you may try is Sensia 100. As I last knew, it was pre- "F" astia in disguise and was slightly warmer and slightly grainier. So no filter required, and the grain is still pretty nice.
The 400 version of Sensia is like (and may actually be) Provia 400, so a little more saturation and poor whites, plus lots of grain. I never tried the 200 speed stuff.

 

[clintock]

Kodachrome is still manufactured, isn't it? A little expensive and hard to get processed maybe... I have 8 rolls left out of the 10 I bought for 5 bucks each when they were on sale at Adorama.

I get my Kodachrome processed here for 5 dollars a roll shipped- as a front end to Dwaynes I guess, it comes back in official kodak labled boxes and holders.
http://www.clarkcolor.com/helppricing

 

[sepiareverb]

Some software company has just come out with or is about to come out with a set of filters for Photoshop that will create the 'look' of 'any film'. The guy that told me about it is out of town for the week, and I don't recall who it (the company not the guy) was. He heard about it at MacWorld. I'm not sure this is what he was talking about but seems like it

http://www.grafnet.com.pl/photoshop-filters-gallery.php?kolekcja=filtry/Exposure

Not the same thing, but could approximate the color I suppose.

 

[rool]

Why not shoot Kodachrome, it's there no?!
If people shoot it, there are more chances that it will stay available, like any other film.

 

[40oz]

^ I agree
...

 

[sepiareverb]

I just got 10 rolls for my 'spring & summer of snaps' Making pictues my great-grandkids will be able to see in all their glorious Kodachromeness!

Use it or lose it. (or use it till we lose it)

 

[amateriat]

Ah, this is a gnarly question. The short answer is: Kodachrome is Kodachrome, period. Yes, you can still get it (and if you want it, get it now...it won't be around forever, but it might stick around a while longer if a few more folks buy it), but it'll take more time to get it processed (only one place in the States handles processing for it now, probably the last place on the planet).

What comes close? Yikes, that's a hornet's nest I shouldn't touch, but here goes:

- While it certainly can't match K64 for fineness of grain, I find Kodak's E200 to have something of a K'chrome vibe in subtle ways I haven't seen in other contemporary Ektachromes (not to badmouth the other Ektachromes – generally, they're great – but since we're talking Kodachrome-replacements, this is where I'm coming from).

- Fuji Astia: Yes, I see some strains of similarity with this emulsion as well, but not quite as much as with E200.

But, really, get yourself some K64, then get out there and use it. When people say "there's nothing else like it", it ain't just hype.


- Barrett