4x5 slide film?

seanE · Dec 30, 2015

I always thought it was an Instagram type low quality film just for fun, But I've seen some cool shots taken on 4x5 cameras, Whats the comparison between a negative, Colour and resolution wise?
any shots I've seen were low res scans on flicker, so i can't really make a determination.

seanE · Dec 30, 2015

Also what do you guys think of ''expired film'' I know that sounds dumb, But what happens it, I see lots of frozen/expired stuff going cheap on eBay, Would it be fun to practice with, or is it useless.

Paul Howell · Dec 30, 2015

There is not much 4X5 left, Fuji still makes one emulsion in E6 and Kodak makes Ektar and Porta in 4X5 in C 41, I don't scan so I don't how well either will scan, but a 4X5 transparency or negative if properly exposed and developed should do well. In general I think negative film has more latitude, dynamic range, than a transparency. In the distant past magazine editors wanted transparencies, was a requirement for the job. Of course price is a factor, last I looked Ektar was about $3.50 a pop in 4X5, then processing. In my neck of the woods there is only local photo lab that still process 4X5 color, I don't think I would to try either C 41 or E 6 at home, well I guess I could, use a 5X7 paper tank and motor base.

bdial · Dec 30, 2015

4x5 transparencies are glorious to look at.
Compared to color negs they are easier to view since the colors are not reversed and there is no orange mask.
For a real treat, google 4x5 Kodachrome.

As for expired film from ebay, for color you can expect color shifts and fog and possible not usable results. There is also the matter of very old materials that may not be compatible with current processes. For example e-4 process Ektachrome or C-22 color neg.
Also, I'd only consider buying sealed boxes as many ebay sellers don't quite grasp the meaning of "open only in total darkness".

removed account4 · Dec 30, 2015

sean E

lots of people shoot expired film and the world didn't end like some folks would like you to believe.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

i've bought some of eBay and it was fine, was given some from friends, worked well,
and i have been shooting stuff that i bought fresh and now it is very expired and haven't had trouble.
be advised that sometimes it doesn't turn out perfectly fine so you might have to figure out if that will be OK
( not working out perfectly might mean colors might have shifted, speed might have changed, you might have a tiny bit more base fo or the film didn't work at all
not to mention you bought boxes that were exposed to light previously , or requrie a process that doesn't exist anymore )

good luck !
john

MattKing · Dec 30, 2015

4x5 transparencies can be absolutely gorgeous. Projectors are a little hard to find though.

The "overhead projectors" that used to be common in schools will do in a pinch.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2015

MattKing said:
4x5 transparencies can be absolutely gorgeous. Projectors are a little hard to find though.

The "overhead projectors" that used to be common in schools will do in a pinch.

Getting slide projects for them is a little dicey. Getting a slide projector for 4"x5" with slide trays is really tough, but the slides are stunning.

wildbill · Dec 30, 2015

All the color work on my website is from expired sheet film.
My flickr work as well except where noted. https://www.flickr.com/photos/62218065@N00/albums/72157606715793329
Lots of discussions in the archives regarding the use of expired film.

Slixtiesix · Dec 30, 2015

4x5" slides are awesomely great! The only problem is getting them developed, and the costs, of course... Projection is difficult like Sirius said, but they are large enough to enjoy them on the light table. Or scan. A Fuji Provia should do fine for a 100MP scan with ease.

Ricardo Miranda · Dec 30, 2015

SeanE,
Please, use fresh film whenever you can.

4x5 and 8x10 slide films, especially Fuji Velvia, were the main films used by professional landscape photographers.
Some still use it.
But, most professional photographers became Digitographers due to the pressure of ignorant clients.
Unfortunately, for many professionals it was to be their downfall: the hot news boys have been trumped by "girls with iPhones" these days and many had to retire or seek employment elsewhere.
The same will happen to the remaining landscape photographers as one day clients will no longer pay for services they can do themselves with the latest stupid-phone.

I hope you enjoy some 4x5 transparencies.

DREW WILEY · Dec 30, 2015

I quite shooting chrome films simply because it became inconvenient to print them once Cibachrome disappeared. I still have plenty of 4x5
and 8x10 chromes on hand for the small remaining amount of Ciba and dye transfer materials I have in the freezer. I have no interest in printing them digitally. I've learned to attain similar quality using large format Ektar negs printed onto Fuji Supergloss.

Alan Klein · Dec 30, 2015

Use fresh film. You'll never know when you screwing up if you use expired film. If it's worth your effort to get a nice shot, don't blow it on old film. You're worth it.

removed account4 · Dec 30, 2015

color slides are fun but hand coated very large glass positives that
you hand color can be even more fun ... doing it the old fashioned way
( ink, ware color paints oils ) can be as much fun as using the new technology
that we don't really talk about here ... you can coat plates with store bought
or home made emulsion ( the ligthfarm has info and a book on doing that ).

skorpiius · Dec 30, 2015

Alan Klein said:
Use fresh film. You'll never know when you screwing up if you use expired film. If it's worth your effort to get a nice shot, don't blow it on old film. You're worth it.

I agree with this. If you want to play around with expired film do it once you are certain you know what you're doing.

Particularly since the first sheets you use will likely be to test if the camera works properly, and you don't want any expired film issues to cloud the results.

Mainecoonmaniac · Dec 30, 2015

I agree

MattKing said:
4x5 transparencies can be absolutely gorgeous. Projectors are a little hard to find though.

The "overhead projectors" that used to be common in schools will do in a pinch.

But one trick is to use a 4x5 enlarger. I used to shoot a lot of 4x5 Fuji RTP and they're just beautiful. I shoot less of it now because I used to proof my shots on Polaroid type 59 and it's no longer available. Great for checking focus and exposure. Ah the good old days.

John Koehrer · Dec 30, 2015

C41 or E6 is relatively easy today. Temperature control is pretty critical though. I think they're both three step processes.

Poisson Du Jour · Dec 30, 2015

I would forget about 4x5 in chrome format unless you are processing yourself and are highly competent and refined in the more critical, slower large format. Where I am one sheet of 4x5 chrome commercially processed is The same cost as processing a roll of 120-format chrome: I view that as pricey indeed!

The resolution gain from technically well executed medium format transparencies vs equivalent work in 4x5 is at best modest.

Transparency film that has been stored well e.g. fridge for short term and freezer for long term can produce good results; I frequently use Velvia in 120 format with expiry of 5-6 years. Conversely, film with an unknown storage history is a very real risk and professionals never take that risk for critical work. A hybridised workflow can certainly work if using doubtful film for e.g. correcting casts, loss of contrast and colour shifts, but a this depends on your direction AND experience.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

seanE · Dec 31, 2015

jnanian said:
color slides are fun but hand coated very large glass positives that
you hand color can be even more fun ... doing it the old fashioned way
( ink, ware color paints oils ) can be as much fun as using the new technology
that we don't really talk about here ... you can coat plates with store bought
or home made emulsion ( the ligthfarm has info and a book on doing that ).

Can you buy direct positive emulsions?
That would be cool if you could, Id like to play around with art papers and different textured stuff, il take your advice on the expired film, My first time in the darkroom should be enough with out wondering why my prints are coming out blue and green:confused:

Alan Gales · Dec 31, 2015

Here is an interesting article written by Danny Burk concerning drum scanning negative film versus transparency film.

http://www.dannyburk.com/drum_scanning_color_negative_film.htm

Alan Gales · Dec 31, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
I quite shooting chrome films simply because it became inconvenient to print them once Cibachrome disappeared.

Cibachrome was gorgeous. I use to print 8x10 Cibacrome from 35mm Kodachrome in my parents basement when I was young. I was amazed every time I pulled a finished print to rinse out of my Unicolor drum.

Roger Cole · Dec 31, 2015

Alan Klein said:
Use fresh film. You'll never know when you screwing up if you use expired film. If it's worth your effort to get a nice shot, don't blow it on old film. You're worth it.

Depends - in general I agree but some films had unique looks and are not made anymore so you either use expired or something else.

I have my eye on a lot of such film now (which I'm not going to further identify... ) because it's a unique emulsion that I used to really enjoy and claims to have been cold stored. I just wish the seller would sell it in smaller lots so I didn't have to take such a big gamble. Still mulling that one over.

A lot depends on how fast the film is and how it's been stored. Faster film suffers more than slower film. Cold storage slows but does not stop the deterioration. Some films can be good for decades but most won't. Almost all will be fine for a year or two (exception - very fast films, TMZ and Delta 3200 but we're talking color, specifically transparency, film here) past date at least.

Paul Howell · Dec 31, 2015

I think expire color film can be risk. On one hand I had some ANSCO/GAF 200 from the late 60 to 70s that had been frozen in a commercial deep freeze, even when using the old Ansco/GAF kits were long past due I got some fairly good images. Then on the other hand I had frozen some Konica 160 35mm color negative film in 2007, did not hold, fogged. I guess I got a really smoking good deal on some frozen 4X5 in color I might take, but considering the expense of 4X5 in most cases I would buy in date film that has been refrigerated.

removed account4 · Dec 31, 2015

seanE said:
Can you buy direct positive emulsions?
That would be cool if you could, Id like to play around with art papers and different textured stuff, il take your advice on the expired film, My first time in the darkroom should be enough with out wondering why my prints are coming out blue and green:confused:

no, you can't buy a direct postive emulsion in a bottle ( unfortunately )
but precoated you can get ilford direct positive paper, and imago papers
these are direct postive papers, you expose them, develop them in normal developer
and they are a postive print, instead of a negative .. hopefully ... in a few months time
you will be able to purchase the new galaxy positive paper that is a "hyper speed emulsion ( think iso 100 like film, instead of iso 6, 12 or 25 like other papers )
the galaxy will be a reversal process, ... simplified according to their kickstarter page and website like the galaxy,

i suggested taking the negatives you might already have and printing them on sheets of glass that you coat with emulsion yourself ..
also not terribly difficult to do, and a lot of fun ..
the store bought emulsions are similar to paper emulsion, glass on trash day found in windows might be cheap
and it is processed in regular old print developer, nothing fancy ... back lit, pr put in a frame hanging in the window it can look like stained glass ...
the light farm and denises book have recipe's for making your own emulsions, also not extremely difficult to do and lots of fun ...

have a great new year seanE
john

mrred · Dec 31, 2015

The first time I saw a B&W reversal was a glorious 8x10 of a church, shot from the inside. I was hooked. I would suggest going down that road and getting DR5 to process it, to wet your whistle. It's obtainable results and you can see if that's something you want to do. Unlike E6, you can print B&W reversals.

davedm · Dec 31, 2015

Peter,

How do you print B&W Reversal ? Thru paper neg, interneg or paper reversal ?

Thanks,

4x5 slide film?

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