Good Slide Film to Start

[tinyfailures]

D*****l introduces a host of color balance issues. I mean, every color film has color balance issues, but that's why they have specific purposes. I don't know anyone in my crit classes who shoots d*****l that doesn't make hideous color. I know it's possible to get good results, but I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.

 

[wogster]

D*****l introduces a host of color balance issues. I mean, every color film has color balance issues, but that's why they have specific purposes. I don't know anyone in my crit classes who shoots d*****l that doesn't make hideous color. I know it's possible to get good results, but I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.

If one is interested only in exposure latitude, then colour balance is fairly meaningless, in fact colour itself can detract from the image. Especially if the photographer's eye is B&W, my colour work, for example is terrible, I hate it, and even images shot with the d*****l camera are often converted to B&W, to make them work. In fact it's too bad there are no B&W papers for colour negatives anymore, which would give the OP a better perspective on the exposure, by eliminating the image colour, for a better way of seeing how the exposure itself worked. A B&W reversal paper would be an ideal, in that you could contact print your slides to see how they fair.

As for the best camera technology for a beginner, I think would be something like a Seagull, where the camera is fully manual, and your forced to determine your exposure by means other then leaving the decision up to a computer inside the camera. The best computer for determining the optimum exposure for any image is the one between the photographers ears. Especially if the photographer looks at the scene, and knows how the exposure determined by the meter is merely a starting point. Any good film can be used, even B&W film which has the widest latitude, will provide an image that looks different if your up or down one stop from optimum.

I think that is why so many d*****l images look like crap, the photographer puts the camera on full auto, sets the ISO as high as it will go, and fires away. If you shoot a d****l camera by thinking about the exposure then you CAN get decent results, but it does mean that your camera spends most of it's time in manual exposure mode, or the exposure compensation dial is the first part to wear out.

 

[keithwms]

Astia 100f.

As for the other stuff... well, astia will be available next year. And the year after. And the year after. And you can develop it yourself at home.

P.S. Colour problems with d*g*t*l? Nah. Not a sensible argument. I have my issues with d*g*t*l but colour management definitely isn't one of them.

P.P.S. I also like provia 400x very much. And of the velvias, I prefer velvia 100. Not the 50 and not the 100f.

 

[StorminMatt]

P.S. Colour problems with d*g*t*l? Nah. Not a sensible argument. I have my issues with d*g*t*l but colour management definitely isn't one of them.

It's all a matter of how much time you are willing to sit behind a computer using Photoshop to correct a single image, and how skillful you are at using Photoshop.

 

[keithwms]

It's all a matter of how much time you are willing to sit behind a computer using Photoshop to correct a single image, and how skillful you are at using Photoshop.

Well... I disagree.

In certain mixed lighting (e.g. fluorescent + daylight) I do get demonstrably better skintone results with fuji pro s or h, but generally, colour metering + the ability to shift colour temp on the fly is very, very powerful. Anyway, we will not be able to have this conversation here.

As for the best slide film for starters, I do think astia is great stuff. If the object is to learn metering, and to use MF/LF, then let me suggest fuji instant film, fp100c.

 

[Craig]

I'd echo the suggestion of Kodachrome, because it can be a very unforgiving film. Every error will show, and it will improve your understanding of working with your cameras meter quite a bit. Of course, at first every slide will probably look like crap, but that's part of the learning process.

 

[waynecrider]

For the price Provia is a darn good film. Good color, good resolution but watch the K temp in certain situations or correct it in Photoshop. I also like Elite Chrome 100. With the Kodachrome price, and processing situation (and the occasional rants of problems with processed film I've read over the years) I'd probably stay away from it as a learning device. Sensia is ok but the colors don't float my boat. Astia I shot alot of, but those days are long gone. You use to be able to push it a stop and punch the contrast but at the cost of a lab push; That's when I went to Provia. For portraiture tho it would be my pick. Top two, Provia and Elite Chrome 100. Buy a couple each and compare.

 

[StorminMatt]

If you are dead set against Kodachrome, Ektachrome E100G is another good choice. Much like Kodachrome (and it's probably one of the most, if not THE most, Kodachrome-like E6), colors look nice without being ludicrous. Grain on this film is quite fine (granularity of 8, similar to Provia). It is MUCH less grainy than, say, Ektachrome EPP100 or EPN100. It's also cheaper than either of those older Kodak E6 emulsions. It's actually quite similar to Provia (which it appears E100G was intended to compete with), but color casts seem to be somewhat better controlled. All in all, I would have to say that this rather underrated chrome is one of the best E6 films out there.

 

[Shmoo]

Don't just buy one film...buy a bunch of different films and try them. Each slide film has its own characteristics...some of which you might not like. I tried Velvia based on recommendations, and ended up discarding it...just too saturated for my tastes. The film you choose should be based on YOUR tastes...not ours.

 

[StorminMatt]

Don't just buy one film...buy a bunch of different films and try them. Each slide film has its own characteristics...some of which you might not like. I tried Velvia based on recommendations, and ended up discarding it...just too saturated for my tastes. The film you choose should be based on YOUR tastes...not ours.

I had kind of the same experience with Velvia. I just could not stand those greens or what it did to warm colors at sunset. But I have to wonder how often people recommend Velvia just because it is looked at as the 'cool thing' in the world of slide film.