kodak Ektachrome 100 EPN speed

[ronlamarsh]

I rarley shoot color but for some sujects nothing else will do, i.e. mountain wild flowers etc. So I have this film in 120 for use with my rolieflex: I have read here and there suggestions about underand overexposing slide film under different conditions. Couldn't find any threads on apug specifically geared to EPN so are there any experts that can advise me as to wether or not to use the "box E.I." How many stops will it record ? I am shooting in Rainier Park mostly under cloud cover or fog: this cloud cover/fog is very thin and you can see the bright disk of the sun but there is no direct sunlight just a very even brightly lit subject with thin shadows.

 

[Pinholemaster]

First off, EPN is the wrong film. Fuji Velvia will suit you better.

This myth of under exposing transparency film I'd like to end right here. Test your film to learn its true ISO, and expose normally. You expose for the highlights that you want to hold detail and let the shadows fall where they may.

Traditionally I use an incident meter for transparency film.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Pinholemaster, EPN records colors more accurately than any other color reversal film. Velveeta flat out lies about colors.

Original poster, I'm running down my stocks of EPN and moving to E100G because E100G is sharper. But I've shot a fair amount of EPN at ISO 100 and have had no exposure problems. There's no guarantee that my meters are bang on or that my shutters run at exactly the speeds set, but is at least a hint that the box EI is safe to use.

If you're not sure, Pinholemaster's advice to test the film with your gear is well worth following. I did the equivalent of shooting test strips before settling on the box EI with my gear.

 

[Pinholemaster]

It's not about recording color more accurately. It's about photographing under a cloud cover or fog. Perhaps you want to record flat blue light accurately, but under the conditions described, I want a film that lies about color. I want a film that punches up the contrast and increases the saturation in the greens and reds to over come the blue light from the clouds and fog.

This isn't about photographing a product in the studio to record its colors accurately. EPN is perfect for that situation, and I highly recommend it.

Each photographer must select a film that works for one's working conditions and final intend. Just as one one camera can do it all, no one film stock can do it all.

I've been to Pacific Northwest many times. Under their cloud cover, and seeing their rain forest rich greens, it is my humble opinion that EPN will not produce pleasing colors.

But please test EPN against Kodak's E100G, E100VS, E100GX, Fuji Provia 100F, Astia 100F, and Velvia 50 & 100. Testing is the only way you will know what works for you.

 

[ronlamarsh]

EPN

Thank you all for the sage advise I'll wait and see how the first roll comes out