Kodachrome alternative/equivalent

Nicole · Feb 27, 2006

Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement or alternative to Kodachrome? Could you please share your thoughts and possibly an example image?

Thank you. Kindest regards, Nicole

Nicole · Feb 27, 2006

http://www.imx.nl/photosite/technical/kodachrome.html

http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/htm/TreePf_MAG.aspx?E=29YL53UHS21

Soeren · Feb 27, 2006

Nicole said:
Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement or alternative to Kodachrome? Could you please share your thoughts and possibly an example image?

Thank you. Kindest regards, Nicole

Hmm is there an alternative to Kodachrome ?
I used the 200 for a while but there was the 25 and 64 ISO as well.
As I remember colors and contrast stood out in a certain way.
I suppose you look for a film for people photography.
The films I use are

Kodak Elitechrome 100 Extra color.
Thats for nature only. Green not as good as Velvia but red and blue are better. contrasty. Comes in neutral and warm versions too.

Fuji Provia 400F
For shots of my son. A very finegrained 400 ISO film. I have had it pushed to 800 without significant loss. It is very expensive though. Medium soft

Fuji Astia 100
A really great portraitfilm renders skintones very nice (at least my son)
It is softer than both of the above.

I have tried the Agfa films too but that's irrelevant now
I can't post a pic on this site since I don't have a scanner but I do have some on Elitechrome 100 EC on.

Dead Link Removed

Did I mention my son

Cheers Søren

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 27, 2006

If you like the Kodachrome look, then shoot K-64 while you still can. There really is nothing like it.

SuzanneR · Feb 27, 2006

Agree with David, I don't think there is a real replacement for Kodachrome. I'm not all that knowlaedgeable on E-6 films, but I did shoot some Kodak E-100GX (a slightly warmer version than the E-100G), and was very happy with the results. I shot mostly protraits with it. Great skin tones... not as ruddy looking as some of the Fuji's

Of course, I don't think it'll have the same archival qualities as Kodachrome.

Helen B · Feb 27, 2006

Nicole,

Which particular characteristics of Kodachrome do you like - nothing is an exact match, so which characteristic(s) do you want to match? Do you need a reversal film? Are you likely to want to get good scans from the film with consumer/prosumer scanners? (sorry, I can't think of a more elegant, concise description)

I'd suggest Ektachrome 100G and Ektachrome 200 if you must have transparencies, and Kodak Ultra 100 or Fuji Pro 160S if negs would work, but it really depends on your preferences and priorities. 'Keep using Kodachrome as long as you can' seems to be the best advice.

Nicole · Feb 27, 2006

Thanks Soeren David Suzanne! Helen I prefer chrome to film for my colour work and really like saturated colours such as the Velvia but most of my work includes people and so I need a chrome that gives saturated colours but also relatively natural skintones.

Sal Santamaura · Feb 27, 2006

I'd say Astia 100F for 35mm or 120. If you're shooting only 120 and can find some, give EPN a try too. Both of these provide excellent skin tones. Astia F slightly enhances saturation, while EPN is very accurate. Based on 25 years of shooting Kodachrome -- mostly 25 and a bit of 64 -- I'd say that its reputation for high saturation is not deserved. Unless slightly underexposed, the K14 films delivered surprisingly accurate color, with just a bit of red infiltration.

sanderx1 · Feb 27, 2006

Nicole said:
Thanks Soeren David Suzanne! Helen I prefer chrome to film for my colour work and really like saturated colours such as the Velvia but most of my work includes people and so I need a chrome that gives saturated colours but also relatively natural skintones.

Have you tried Velvia 100F ? It has saturated colours (almost as saturated and contrasty) but the skin tones are still fairly natural.

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 27, 2006

Astia 100F does deliver very nice skin tones. It's cooler than K-25, but you can get a more neutral or warm result by adding a slight warming filter, like an 81A or KR 1.5. If you want a little more tonal richness, shoot it in a larger format. The reason I eventually sold off my cache of K-25 eventually was that I thought Astia (old version) in MF or LF looked better than K-25 in 35mm.

Photo Engineer · Feb 27, 2006

I wish you all could have seen the ISO 400 Kodachrome with t-grains. It was truly superb, but the editors at the major photographic magazines were so ho-hum about it that Kodak cancelled the product. The editors seemed to think that Kodachrome was a dinosaur compared to the new E6 films of the time.

PE

Sal Santamaura · Feb 27, 2006

Photo Engineer said:
I wish you all could have seen the ISO 400 Kodachrome with t-grains. It was truly superb, but the editors at the major photographic magazines were so ho-hum about it that Kodak cancelled the product. The editors seemed to think that Kodachrome was a dinosaur compared to the new E6 films of the time.

PE

What year was that Ron?

roteague · Feb 27, 2006

I would go with either Astia 100F or Provia 100F. Try both to see what your preference is.

Photo Engineer · Feb 27, 2006

Sal Santamaura said:
What year was that Ron?

Sal;

It was in the mid 80s. That is the best I can do OTOMH.

Kodachrome had begun to die after the E6 introduction, and the last ad was featured in 1990 for the winter Olympics IIRC. It shared the spotlight with E6 films.

PE

Earl Dunbar · Feb 27, 2006

Ron: That indeed is sad. Now I'm sure we're going to start seeing the "secret stash of K400 T-Grain hidden in a mausoleum at Riverside" rumours!

Sal: Yup, I agree totally. I used to rate K25 at 32 and K64 at 80 (still do) when I wanted that extra edge of saturation, or at least the appearance of saturation.

I'm hoping Kodachrome lives on forever.

battra92 · Mar 8, 2006

Earl Dunbar said:
I'm hoping Kodachrome lives on forever.

I'm hoping for a million dollars but we can't always get what we want.

Sorry for being facetious there, but as much as I like Kodachrome's look, it's the processing and price that will kill it. For the extra $4 I have to pay for processing over E-6, coupled with the extra couple dollars for Kodachrome makes it just not worth it.

My main chrome has been Elite Chrome 100 which looks nothing like Kodachrome but I do like the pallette. I will definately have to try Asita 100F and maybe some Velvia 100F this summer since I would like to do some people shots outdoors later.

roteague · Mar 8, 2006

battra92 said:
My main chrome has been Elite Chrome 100 which looks nothing like Kodachrome but I do like the pallette. I will definately have to try Asita 100F and maybe some Velvia 100F this summer since I would like to do some people shots outdoors later.

I wouldn't use the 100F Velvia, you are better of with the 100 Velvia.

Dave Parker · Mar 8, 2006

I am not sorry to say, I would not use any Velvia derivitive to shoot people, the color biases are to far saturated to render peoples flesh tones correctly...I often use Astia or Provia, but Velvia is to saturated..

Dave

roteague · Mar 8, 2006

Satinsnow said:
I am not sorry to say, I would not use any Velvia derivitive to shoot people, the color biases are to far saturated to render peoples fleash tones correctly...

Dave

Agreed, I wouldn't shoot it either, however, Velvia 100 isn't too bad with people from what I have read.

battra92 · Mar 8, 2006

Satinsnow said:
I am not sorry to say, I would not use any Velvia derivitive to shoot people, the color biases are to far saturated to render peoples flesh tones correctly...I often use Astia or Provia, but Velvia is to saturated..

Dave

Oops, I meant Provia. Error between keyboard and seat.

ras351 · Mar 8, 2006

For those in the US (and elsewhere) who are unfamiliar with the local situation, Kodachrome has been unavailable for sale in Australia since late 2004. Previously it was sold with processing and mounting costs included which made it attractive as the price was slightly cheaper than E6. The initial issue was the two week delay whilst it was processed. Around 2003 Kodak Australia decided it would only be available from a single mail order source. In early 2004 the local processing lab was shut down and all Kodachrome processing was sent to Switzerland with the delay increased to between four and six weeks. In September 2004 I received a notice saying although it would still be made, due to a lack of demand Kodachrome would no longer be imported into Australia and orders were limited to stock on hand.

Unfortunately I have not found anything comparable in the E6 range - it was quite simply unique. Others have already suggested alternatives which you may find suitable to your application and tastes. Alternatively Kodachrome can be imported from the US although the processing costs are not included. Kodak Australia may handle the processing for you for a fee. They are still honouring the processing included cost of my frozen, expired Kodachrome although I suspect there's a time limit.

Roger.

Claire Senft · Mar 8, 2006

Nicole I miss Kodachrome 25. If you want very pleasing skin tones then Astia 100f is hard to beat.

PKM-25 · Apr 5, 2006

Claire Senft said:
Nicole I miss Kodachrome 25. If you want very pleasing skin tones then Astia 100f is hard to beat.

I learned on the stuff as a kid. A lot of wasted film, LOL!

I have been buying up frozen 2002 / 2003 KM-25 since November of 2004. I now have 70 rolls, all to be shot in a tribute to the fine film in a Hassy XPan. The 64 and 200 will be shot in my FM3A's.

I am working directly with Gary at Dwayne's in Kansas...I can't really go into it much further than that, it could make some serious history. But I figured it was time to share a little of it...

Kodachrome alternative/equivalent

Nicole

Nicole

Soeren

David A. Goldfarb

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SuzanneR

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Helen B

Nicole

Sal Santamaura

sanderx1

David A. Goldfarb

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Photo Engineer

Sal Santamaura

roteague

Photo Engineer

Earl Dunbar

battra92

roteague

Dave Parker

roteague

battra92

ras351

Claire Senft

PKM-25

Kodachrome alternative/equivalent

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