What Film for Scanning?

[ktmrider]

OK, I have never scanned film and all I know about it is what I have read so I am looking for some advice.

My Canon G9 has just been sent back for repair for the second time in less a year. I am planning a trip to Central America for a month with my daughter in June and perhaps a motorcycle trip to Tierra del Fuego in November. Originally I was going to take a compact digital as photography is not the main purpose of the trip. Well, now I am thinking either my M or Nikon F.

I have shot a lot of slow speed slide film in the past and love Velvia and Kodachrome 64. However, I would like to scan the film upon return and have read that color print film is much easier (and lots more latitude) so my question is what film would you recommend for these trips. Am trying to keep things simple and would only like to take one type but will probably end up with a slow and fast or just standardize on an ISO 400. And yes I am talking color print film. Thanks.

 

[back alley]

colour?


.

 

[amateriat]

...or black-and-white?

If the former, and you can deal with color neg, one of my top choices aoulf be the Kodak Portra family, either the NC (Natural Color) or VC (Vivid Color) films. For the sake of versatility, the ISO 400 versions of ether should serve you well under a host of conditions. All the Portra films are quite scanner-friendly.

If you want b/w, and want to leave the processing to the lab, either Kodak's BW400CN or Ilford XP-2 Super chromogenic films are good choices, and both are quite easy to scan.

I emphasize negative film here on account of its general wide latitude versus transparency film, especially most ISO 400 film.

Of course, the particular scanner you're using will have an influence on things. What are you using for scanning?


- Barrett

 

[aad]

For scenery and people with darker skin, Reala is great. For lighter skinned folks, and maybe better all around as well as being faster, 400h.

Yes, negatives scan easier than slides, but Provia scans very, very well in my scanners.

 

[ktmrider]

No Scanner Yet

No Scanner Yet

I have yet to purchase a scanner. I figure I will do that after returning from Guatemala in July. Also open to input on that choice as well.

I really am a dinosaur when it comes to digital and scanning but I still know my way around a chemical darkroom.

 

[jalLee2001]

I dont have any issues with slides. Just stick them into the Nikon 5000 and go. I had issues with scannin provia 400. But I think that I am in the minority. I have had better luck scanning E200 scans very very well. I would recommend the V700 or 750. Yu also can't go wrong with the Nikon 5000.

 

[sojournerphoto]

More latitude on neg - Portra 160 and 400 are nice. NC or VC (vivd colour)

 

[Prosaic]

Another vote for Portra. I prefer VC.

 

[urban_alchemist]

Another vote for the Fuji films - 400h is, IMO, the best colour negative available today. Scans quite well too (as a bonus)...

 

[Keith]

Another vote for the Fuji films - 400h is, IMO, the best colour negative available today. Scans quite well too (as a bonus)...

Any Fuji film I have ever used has always scanned exceptionally well. I've often wondered why this is?

 

[hans voralberg]

Superia 400, nice and cheap. Or Portra 400VC, I personally will use Portra for its sometime-can-be-very-weird colours.