Explain slide film to newbie

[Diapositivo]

So if not Velvia, what other film should I consider?

There is not so much being spoilt for choice any more in 135.

Velvia 100F will soon be discontinued.

If we exclude recently discontinued film, you only have, in 135:

Fujifilm Velvia 50;
Fujifilm Velvia 100;
Fujifilm Provia 100F;
Rollei CR200;
Fujifilm Provia 400X.

That's it.

You should still be able to find large quantities of Kodak slide film or possibly of recently discontinued Fuji slide film, namely Astia and Sensia.
If you find good quality/quantity of Astia or Sensia, I suggest you fill your freezer. Astia is wonderful and Sensia has the same general palette of Astia. Astia lately had became very expensive and I switched to Sensia which is quite similar in general appearance. They have natural polite colours, high definition, low grain, relatively large dynamic range (as compared to Velvia), natural skin tone rendering, and they are also good for nocturne pictures given their exception reciprocity behaviour (reciprocity maintained up to 1 minute exposure according to specification sheet).

Personally I don't think at all that slide film will ever be discontinued. It will probably remain in any case as a specialistic film product, a bit like instant film or aerial film. It would bet in the very long term survival of at least 1 general purpose slide film such Provia 100F. That's because there is a big difference between no slide film at all, and one product. One product would intercept in any case all the residual world demand for slide film and would easily find a niche for survival.

To make a comparison, Fuji makes instant film, this is not probably sold in very large volumes, but is basically the only product available and so it gathers all the demand for instant film and I don't think it is at risk of discontinuation.

Fabrizio

PS Being an optimist I also think that it is possible that, in the future, more and more people will be reconverted to slide projection. It's our "duty" as photographer to keep this wonderful technology alive during this transition period. It's a bit like smoking pipe. It seemed to have disappeared, now there even is a resurgence of snuff and snus.

 

[Bill Burk]

yohimbe2,

You might want to look into adding a Singh-Ray Galen Rowell ND Graduated filter or two to your kit.

They have the potential to improve high contrast scenes with Velvia, especially sunsets.

These examples show "what they do". And they prove you need to be careful, or the results can be gaudy.

Normally you would want the result to look natural.