i much prefer the results I get shooting slide film, but shoot neg when i need more dynamic range, especially in a high contrast scene. like ohters have mentioned, i prefer being able to look at a final image with slide film. I also project slides. to me it doesnt get any better than that
I do all my own developing at home, for B&W, color neg and slide film. I use fuji e6 chems replenished. developed 8 4x5 velvia and provia sheeys yesterday and 2 120 rolls. doing myself keeps the cost down to about $1.50 or so per roll with replenishment. but its not for everyone, home development, I get that. but I dont mind, when I can find a few hours to do an all day slide session.
if I want to print an image, yes the only option is to scan. SCAN should not be a dirty word on this forum. it is what it is, now almost the only way to print a slide image. sorry if you dont like it, but dont shoot those of us who have found a way to print our images. if they ever bring back the cibachrome process, then we can talk.
the funny thing is now that kodak has raised prices on color neg film, slide as a cost is much better compared to neg film on a per roll and sheet basis. I am a landscape shooter, so for me its velvia provia and ektar. I take a photo class at my local junior college every year or 2, so I qualify for the B&H student discount. so looking at prices now:
provia 120 pro pack $38 so $7.60 a roll
provia 4x5 20 box $80 so $4 a sheet
velvia 100 120 pro pack $45 so $9 a roll
velvia 100 4x5 20 pack $90 so $4.5 a sheet
velvia 50 120 pro pack $47.50 so $9.50 a roll
(I would add velvia 50 4x5 but as we cant get it in the US i wont. I do have a stash of it frozen, but that doesn't count for this purpose)
Ektar 120 pro pack $37 so $7.40 a roll
ektar 4x5 10 pack $43 so &4.3 per sheet
now that Ektar is the same price as slide film options, it to me makes the decision easier. last year, for example, the ektar in 120 was $5 a roll, I would shoot more of it than slide film as it was cheaper and I could afford to shoot more of it. now I prefer to shoot slide film. I know that this is a simple explanation and that there are many other factors that can and do go into why you should or would shoot one film over another, but for many oth this board, based on the posts, the largest comes down to cost.
I hope that slide film is around for the rest of my film shooting journey, if it isn't, then i will adapt and move on. this is supposed to be fun people, so lets enjoy it while we can and not sweat the little things this hobby brings. just shoot more film and be happy!
john
