E-6 Daylight -- 5000K or 5500K?

Hi all--

I've started shooting E-6 after years & years of C-41, and I'm struggling with the color balance issue. While I realize that it exists for C-41 as well, it's not as obvious, since it's "masked" (pardon the pun) to some extent by the printing process.

Here's my problem: I shot a Macbeth Color Checker chart with Provia 400X, using 3200K lamps and an 80A filter, and the neutrals have a decided blue tint. In my mind, this means that I've over-corrected for the color temperature...that I'm seeing the blue of the filter coming through. I've confirmed this with a densitometer...the blue densities are low. This would be consistent with relatively more blue exposure than red or green, no?

This makes me wonder whether the film is balanced for 5500K, or for 5000K, and I need to use an 80B filter to get neutral rendition.

Can anyone help me out? The Fuji datasheet says that an 80A filter should be used with 3200K lamps, but I'm wondering whether that's really the case.

I don't have an 80B filter to test with, and I'm trying to avoid another $15 in film and processing to get an answer. So I'm hoping someone here can help.

Thanks--

Greg

Depending of the manufacturer, colour slide film for daylight is balanced to 5200°K or 5500°K. I like to add 1,5 dM to 3 dM to Provia, depending the subject, the mood I am in, the light and the time of the day.
So, for Tungsten, it depends of the quality and age of the bulbs and the actual voltage of the power net, and some of the above, not to mention the processing...
If you want to do it rigourously then try to find a colour-temp. meter, a trustworthy light source, a bunch of good filters (LEE LB), a good lab, a large enough budget and test, test, test again...
BTW, I stopped testing (it made me sick) and just go by the so called 'Finger Spitzen Gefühl'...

Good luck,

Philippe

P.S. Do not forget a UVA1 filter.

Thanks for your reply, Philippe. I'm aware that there are a fair number of variables involved, I guess I didn't anticipate the significant effect they might have.

My ultimate goal was to assess the effect of a 1-stop pull on Provia 400X to squeeze a little more highlight detail out of it, but I got waylaid by the color balance issue. Perhaps I will try one more roll with an 80B filter and see where it gets me.

If anybody can suggest some other controlled experiment to give me the info I need, I'd appreciate it. I find characteristic curves easier to interpret than pictoral data for something like this.

And one more thing...in correctly color balanced light, should neutral, middle grays always be neutral on E-6, or can some films have a color bias, even in the mid-neutrals?

leicam5 said:

...and just go by the so called 'Finger Spitzen Gefühl'...

Click to expand...

Is this closer to "Rule of Thumb" or "Lick your finger to see which way the wind is blowing"?

--Greg

I seem to recall hearing that an electronic flash is the best (most consistent and easily controlled) light source for the sort of color tests you're performing.

OTOH, there's also something to be said for using whatever light source you'll be using most often with the film (flash, filtered tungsten, sunlight, etc.); however, that could introduce additional variables (the angle of the sun, haze/smog/clouds, etc.).

One unrelated comment/question: How are you processing the film? If you're having it done at a lab, you probably don't know precisely how it's being done. The brand of chemicals, as well as potential development errors (time, temperature, cross contamination, etc.), can all influence the color of the resulting slides.

gmikol said:

Is this closer to "Rule of Thumb" or "Lick your finger to see which way the wind is blowing"?

--Greg

Click to expand...

I do not know the right expression in English, nor in slang, but it has a lot to do with feeling (and, perhaps, personal attitude?). This feeling can be broaden by experience, trial and error, that is why I said to test a lot... This is dominant in a medium like photography, demanding craftsmanship and a never ending commitment. But when one attains his goals, it is a good feeling!

Good luck,

Philippe