Slide films?

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

Any suggestions on how to pick a decent 120 & soon 35mm slide film, or even one that may be considered "professional"? Is Fujifilm Velvia 100 120 Color Reversal RVP 100 Film slide film? Thanks everyone for the human non Google search touch!

Athiril · Oct 1, 2014

All Velvia is slide film. Colour Reversal is slide film. I think all that's left is "professional" slide film, apart from old stock discontinued stock of Elitechrome etc.

There's Agfa Precisa CT which is made by Fuji if you want something less expensive in 35mm.

Otherwise, currently made stuff, there is

Velvia 50, Velvia 100, there's also Velvia 100f though I think that was discontinued recently. And Provia 100f.

If you know where to look you can still find Kodak E100G, E100VS, and Provia 400X.

wildbill · Oct 1, 2014

Pick one that's available, in other words FUJI anything.

Roger Cole · Oct 1, 2014

Yes, both those are slide films.

You have few choices today in new films, though there are some new old stock older films still available. Assuming you want to buy currently still made film your choices are:

1. Velvia 50 - very saturated and contrasty
2. Velvia 100 - similar to but slightly different from the 50, but still saturated and contrasty
3. Provia 100F - less saturated and contrasty but still rather so compared to films formerly available like Astia and E100G.

All those are made by Fuji. There are also:

4. Agfa Precisa 100 - widely believed to be repackaged Provia 100F, or an amateur version of it (the distinction isn't important for most purposes.) I've used it and can't tell the difference from Provia 100F so I agree with this.
5. Witnerchrome or some similar spelling, sold under a variety of names by different importers and made in Germany. Speed is ISO 200. Rumors vary on whether they are going to make more or are just selling off existing stock. Many people have had problems with very yellow images but reports vary on whether this has been fixed.

Basically you have two speeds of very saturated Velvia to choose from, and one relatively "normal" 100 speed film, packaged under a couple of brands (the Agfa-labeled version is usually a bit cheaper which is why many of us use it rather than Provia 100F) and one from Germany with variable reports. Speed choices are 50, 100 and 200 if you include the German film.

It's not like it was even a few years ago when we had Astia (sigh) and Provia 400X (sigh) and a choice of good films from Kodak as well, all (sigh) gone now.

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 1, 2014

Roger Cole said:
It's not like it was even a few years ago when we had Astia (sigh) and Provia 400X (sigh) and a choice of good films from Kodak as well, all (sigh) gone now.

Go Ferrania...

Everyone try to contribute something if you can. Even just a small amount.

It's possibly the last, best hope.

Ken

Kyle M. · Oct 1, 2014

I've shot 5 rolls of Ektachrome E100VS from the last batch, and 5 rolls of Velvia 100, all 120 and shot in my Mamiya RB67. I processed them myself using the Arista E6 kit from freestyle, honestly I liked the E100VS better than the Velvia. Of course the Velvia still looks amazing, and since Kodak is no longer making Ektachrome Velvia is much easier to come by. I've been telling myself I need to get some more Velvia and another one of those E6 kits but I just haven't got around to it yet.

Ricardo Miranda · Oct 1, 2014

5. Witnerchrome or some similar spelling, sold under a variety of names by different importers and made in Germany. Speed is ISO 200. Rumors vary on whether they are going to make more or are just selling off existing stock. Many people have had problems with very yellow images but reports vary on whether this has been fixed.

It is repackaged Agfa stock made in Belgium as it is stated on the Wittner site. You can read all about it here: http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/katalog/04_filmm/download/en_3004.pdf

Yeap, go Ferrania!

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

thank you very much fellow filmopians! i will try to decide tonight and hopefully eventually use them and send them in and display my results! now, i wonder if i have the ability to get the proper colors and exposure!

AgX · Oct 1, 2014

Slide film is for making slides.
Get yourself a projector.

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

AgX said:
Slide film is for making slides.
Get yourself a projector.

I had those intentions many moons ago, and even though I had a slight clue what film was, a very kind German man form fredmiranda forum aided me in trying to shoot film, however, I suffered from a very severe analysis paralysis as one fm member pointed out, and, well, a year or so later, I not only shot film, I also developed it as well, to top it off, it was an experimental developer, caffenol to top it off! how I wish I shot my Rollei 6008 Pro prior to liquidation! I had my eye on one of those fancy Rollei projector's however, medical bills ran amok, however, the best part is, my daughter lives, and cancer within has not! God blesses us with fantastic scientist and doctors! xD

Emily Dickinson (183086). Complete Poems. 1924.

Part One: Life

LXXXIX

A WORD is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live
5
That day.

Ricardo Miranda · Oct 1, 2014

the best part is, my daughter lives, and cancer within has not!

That is the most important bit of all this page.
Congratulations for your daughter.

About projectors, I bet Agx was thinking about 35mm ones.
You might find a Medium Format projector going cheap in second hand. You never know!

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
That is the most important bit of all this page.
Congratulations for your daughter.

About projectors, I bet Agx was thinking about 35mm ones.
You might find a Medium Format projector going cheap in second hand. You never know!

Thank you very much for the kind words fellow film and photog! xD

Alan Klein · Oct 1, 2014

Glad to hear the good news about your daughter. Regarding film, why not try different ones and see which you like? How are you going to post the pictures on the web?

ME Super · Oct 1, 2014

The Rollei CR200 that I shot a couple years ago was terribly yellow. I shot my last roll of Wittner Chrome 200D about 5 months ago and it was a little warm but not overly yellow. Both are Agfa-Gevaert Aviphot Chrome 200D. If you're after a 200 speed slide film that's not as saturated as Provia or Velvia, Wittner's version is much better than Rollei's.

About to push the button on some more 35mm Velvia 50. For landscapes and fall foliage, it's the bees' knees. Not so much for snapshots. Go with the Wittner Chrome 200D or the Fuji Provia 100F for that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ferrania's offerings - looks like they're aiming for April 2015 for the first limited batch, according to their Kickstarter campaign. They're trying to rescue equipment from the old Ferrania factory to put into their new facilities before the buildings they're already in are demolished by the end of the year. Appears that the research coater they were planning to use isn't big enough for their anticipated production needs.

Project the slides if you can. Used 35mm projectors go for a song these days. There's nothing like a 35mm projected slide, except maybe a bigger slide (6x6 or 4x5, anyone) projected or on a lightbox.

And congrats on your daughter being cancer free! Best news ever!

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

Alan Klein said:
Glad to hear the good news about your daughter. Regarding film, why not try different ones and see which you like? How are you going to post the pictures on the web?

Thank you very much,she is healthy and so far in complete remission, with no traces of unnaturally elevated signs, thank God! I learn something new each day! I assumed they would just scan as well? I do have the Epson V500 Pro, but, I'll assume it isn't going to fix this? Are slides not able to be safe?

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

ME Super said:
The Rollei CR200 that I shot a couple years ago was terribly yellow. I shot my last roll of Wittner Chrome 200D about 5 months ago and it was a little warm but not overly yellow. Both are Agfa-Gevaert Aviphot Chrome 200D. If you're after a 200 speed slide film that's not as saturated as Provia or Velvia, Wittner's version is much better than Rollei's.

About to push the button on some more 35mm Velvia 50. For landscapes and fall foliage, it's the bees' knees. Not so much for snapshots. Go with the Wittner Chrome 200D or the Fuji Provia 100F for that.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ferrania's offerings - looks like they're aiming for April 2015 for the first limited batch, according to their Kickstarter campaign. They're trying to rescue equipment from the old Ferrania factory to put into their new facilities before the buildings they're already in are demolished by the end of the year. Appears that the research coater they were planning to use isn't big enough for their anticipated production needs.

Project the slides if you can. Used 35mm projectors go for a song these days. There's nothing like a 35mm projected slide, except maybe a bigger slide (6x6 or 4x5, anyone) projected or on a lightbox.

And congrats on your daughter being cancer free! Best news ever!

Thank you very much, your words are well received! She was 16 when it decided to invade our spirits, and nearly destroy our lives, however she prevailed and that wicked black death that took her grandfather a few years before, did not do the same with her strong willed mortal vessel! Now at 18 she is slightly PTSD, but doing very well! Human life is a strange ride, and needs to be relished despite any petty ills we may face! This is medicine that I still need to take!!

Roger Cole · Oct 1, 2014

AgX said:
Slide film is for making slides.
Get yourself a projector.

This.

This is also why I shoot a lot of slide film in 35mm but practically none in 120. I don't have a medium format projector (though getting one is tempting.)

Roger Cole · Oct 1, 2014

aRolleiBrujo said:
Thank you very much,she is healthy and so far in complete remission, with no traces of unnaturally elevated signs, thank God! I learn something new each day! I assumed they would just scan as well? I do have the Epson V500 Pro, but, I'll assume it isn't going to fix this? Are slides not able to be safe?

They'll scan fine but you will really appreciate them more projected.

On the Witner, that's interesting that it's a bit warm but not overly so and less saturated. That honestly sounds like the old Ektachrome 200. I shot some of that I had a year or two ago and the difference when the slides were mixed within the same tray with E100G and Provia 400X was startling. When an E200 slide came up it was just warmer and considerably less saturated. For some things I really liked the look.

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

Roger Cole said:
This.

This is also why I shoot a lot of slide film in 35mm but practically none in 120. I don't have a medium format projector (though getting one is tempting.)

I see, I thought I had read some article a bit ago, stating that color slide film brought the best results? I also assumed that the plus side, would be the ability to view them via projector! Ahh, such is life, I shall just pass for now, until I am financially able to afford this endeavour !

Nuff · Oct 1, 2014

aRolleiBrujo said:
I see, I thought I had read some article a bit ago, stating that color slide film brought the best results? I also assumed that the plus side, would be the ability to view them via projector! Ahh, such is life, I shall just pass for now, until I am financially able to afford this endeavour !

Best results in what? It's definitely the best at blowing highlights and blocking up shadows.

There's no such thing as "BEST". It's something that people argue over on digital forum. First you need to look at what you want to achieve. Then look at required tools.

I shoot a lot of E6, C41 and BW. Since they are all best at something. And that is to recreate the image I have in my head.

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 1, 2014

Nuff said:
Best results in what? It's definitely the best at blowing highlights and blocking up shadows.

There's no such thing as "BEST". It's something that people argue over on digital forum. First you need to look at what you want to achieve. Then look at required tools.

I shoot a lot of E6, C41 and BW. Since they are all best at something. And that is to recreate the image I have in my head.

well reproducing color mostly, sure I suffer from deuteranopia, but so what, film doesn't!

Poisson Du Jour · Oct 2, 2014

Just a point to remember. E6 does not blow highlights or block up shadows ***when it is exposed in conditions it was designed for*** -- diffuse illumination. Problems will develop in marginal conditions (not always taken notice of by photographers!): overexposure of scenes with marked spectrals in point illumination is one recurring theme. As to the question, what is best for one or some photographers is not necessarily going to be the best for another. Skills, experience, knowledge of exposure and intention of the end product all feed into the broader question.

The vast majority of trouble with slide film is with the photographer, not the film.

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

aRolleiBrujo · Oct 2, 2014

Poisson Du Jour said:
Just a point to remember. E6 doesol not blow highlights or block up shadows ***when it is exposed in conditions or was designed for***.

The vast majority of trouble with slide film is with the photographer, not the film.

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

Cool beans, thanks for the tip, and thank God for labs, both Chocolate and the film type!

Nuff · Oct 2, 2014

aRolleiBrujo said:
well reproducing color mostly, sure I suffer from deuteranopia, but so what, film doesn't!

What kind of colours? Slide film will go blue in the shade, etc etc... you have to colour balance it before you take a photo using filters.
For reproducing colours? I would probably go Portra 400, Reala, Ektar tc...

Slide films are great if you want saturated and very contrasty colours. Now the question is, how do you want to reproduce the colours?

Nuff · Oct 2, 2014

Poisson Du Jour said:
Just a point to remember. E6 does not blow highlights or block up shadows ***when it is exposed in conditions it was designed for*** -- diffuse illumination. Problems will develop in marginal conditions (not always taken notice of by photographers!): overexposure of scenes with marked spectrals in point illumination is one recurring theme. As to the question, what is best for one or some photographers is not necessarily going to be the best for another. Skills, experience, knowledge of exposure and intention of the end product all feed into the broader question.

The vast majority of trouble with slide film is with the photographer, not the film.

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

Obviously I'm aware of it. I was having issue with Original question which didn't say what is the best thing he's looking for... If he's trying to capture colours over a high contrast scene without using Grad ND filters, E6 isn't the best film for that.

Slide films?

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