Why do you shoot slides?

[msbarnes]

Just wondering.

I never dabbled into color photography but I've shot c41 on occasion. I really feel like shooting color this weekend so I'm going to load up my camera with some Kodak Portra, but then I was thinking, why not try E6 while I still have the chance (I think...I have to make sure that labs are still developing this stuff).

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Because projected negatives really suck...
well, no that is not the main reason I like transparency film, but it is one of the reasons, and it is a very good reason.
Regards
Brett

 

[Roscoe]

When you sit and view your slides through the loupe for the first time, you will understand.

 

[RFluhver]

I shoot slides, about 98% Provia 400X. Anyway, whether this particular type or others, slides are very beautiful to look at. As Roscoe mentioned, you will understand once you sit and view through a loupe.

 

[oftheherd]

When you sit and view your slides through the loupe for the first time, you will understand.

And even more so when viewed projected. I don't shoot slides very much these days. I used to shoot a lot of Kodachrome as well as E4/E6. I used to really enjoy projecting slides. Mostly these days, the very little I shoot is just trying out newly acquired cameras if I feel the need.

If you never tried it you might want to a couple of times. It's biggest advantage imho is for projection. Some like it for other reasons I guess.

Precision Camera, a sponsor of RFF still does slide film, and some local shops to you may also do so.

 

[n5jrn]

Slides cut out the color printing process (unless you want prints made from a slide, in which case the slide serves as a guide for how the print should look). Color prints are typically made automatically, and the print-making machine will try to "help" you by "fixing" your "errors" -- even if they are not actually errors and were intentional artistic decisions on your part. With slides, what you shoot is what you get.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

I shoot e6 for future -proofing .
Anyone got a laser disc player? Or a 3.5" floppy drive?
As long as there's light, you'll be able to see the slides

 

[StillKicking]

When you sit and view your slides through the loupe for the first time, you will understand.

A thing of beauty...

 

[kokoshawnuff]

With a good scanner and minimal post-processing the results can be amazing (when compared to C-41); fine grain, vibrant (or natural) colors, and resolution to really show what your equipment is capable of.

 

[Thomas78]

Projected slides are the most impressive way to show your pictures.

Even with 35 mm film you can achive detail resolution which is way beyound my scanning possibilities.
(I can read the small letters on a stamp on a license plate of a car 3-5 meters away, Canon 7, Canon 50 1.4, Velvia 50)

And MF slides are even more impressive.

Now I have the first b&w slide film in one of my camereas.
I am courious how they will look like.

 

[Araakii]

I never project my slides but I shoot them just for the look.

 

[nikon_sam]

Slides cut out the color printing process (unless you want prints made from a slide, in which case the slide serves as a guide for how the print should look). Color prints are typically made automatically, and the print-making machine will try to "help" you by "fixing" your "errors" -- even if they are not actually errors and were intentional artistic decisions on your part. With slides, what you shoot is what you get.

Totally agree with this...
I was getting frustrated with getting prints back where they were cropped, the color tweaked or the focus off...
Slides, if properly developed, represent my vision better than prints made through a machine...(that's why I do all my own B&W work)

Plus I got hooked on Velvia...😎

 

[divewizard]

I shoot slides because I like the colors I get back from PCV and NCPS scans better than print film most of the time. It looks more like what I see when I was there.
The scans I get back from print film are usually a bit more muted and the colors look more pastel. However sometimes that is a desirable effect. Also the fine detail is better with slide film.

If I was going to scan them my self I would probably shoot more print film since easier to scan on my canon 8800f than slide film. Also when you scan it yourself you can make adjustments to your personal liking. However slides are much easier to sort on the light table to see which one you want to take the time to scan.

If you check out my flickr page sorted by film you can see the difference between results with different films. Almost all of the E-6 and C-41 scans were done by PCV. All of the standard B&W was done by North Coast Photo.

 

[hub]

I used to shoot slide because it looked better and was easier to scan. Also I ended up having them in strips.

I haven't shot slide film in a very long time: processing has gotten more difficult, and I still don't have a proper light meter to expose properly.

Nonetheless I ordered from the last batch of Astia that B&H had to feed my Mamiya.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I think shooting slides is silly myself.

Shorter tonal range, more critical exposure, blown highlights and plugged shadows... shooting slides is a lot like shooting digital.

I have about four feet of notebooks full of slides from the 80s and 90s if you want any. I literally want to edit them down to a few dozen pages and toss the rest.

Of course projecting them destroys them, you can sure bet that every National Geographic photographer used dupes for their shows. Even the Velvia from the 80s is faded now. Your best bet is to scan them if you want to archive them ;-p

 

[Araakii]

I guess the short answer is that you should try shooting a roll and see if you like it. I don't really care about all the technicalities that are behind the film. I think each film is great in its own way.

 

[EdwardKaraa]

Pros: Very fine grain, high resolution, scans well and easy, beautiful colors.
Cons: Exposure is critical down to 1/3 stop, doesn't correct well for artificial lighting.

I always use slide film when I know the light is suitable, it's so much better than negative film, but things can quickly turn ugly if the light is no good. Negative is much more versatile and forgiving, and my carry around camera is always loaded with Fuji Pro 160C.

 

[sevo]

My audience has always have been horribly annoyed when I projected negatives... ;-)

 

[VF101]

* Beautiful, especially when projected
* What you shoot is what you get
* Easier to scan than C41

 

[Richard G]

All of the above. But my latest scans of Ektar are pretty amazing for detail and colour. I haven't shot slides for at least a year and a half.