Stupid which film is better question

[djklmnop]

For studio work where lighting can be controlled to an exact, Astia may be the best choice.. But when shooting outdoors, there are a lot of color temperature shifts especially in the shaded region of the subject. So I find that films like sensia, E100S (or E100SW), Elite Chrome handles better because of their warmer color temperature target. Shifting is unavoidable, but can be tamed to a degree. It's just the reality of film's response to color temperatures.


Samples:

Fuji Sensia 100:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=3&pos=13
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=3&pos=23
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...?album=5&pos=7

Kodak Elite Chrome 100:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=5&pos=14

Fuji Astia 100F:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=3&pos=25

E100GX:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...?album=5&pos=5

Fuji Provia 100F:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...?album=5&pos=2
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=5&pos=10

Fuji Reala C41:
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=3&pos=10
http://www.burntlands.org/a/displayi...album=3&pos=17

[Tom Duffy]

I shoot little slide film, but I've been very impressed with Kodak E200 for people. I've never liked Astia when shot in real world daylight, weird color casts between highlights and shadows. The 100 speed slide stuff doesn't seem fast enough for people. I really do recommend color neg, either Kodak Portra 400 UC or Fuji NPH.
Take care,
Tom

[Woolliscroft]

I know what you mean about reading col negs, but you really do get it quickly with practice. I use neg when I am having to work fast, because it is so much more tolerant of small expose errors. I also use it in harsh lighting as it, at least seems, to have more exposure latitude (I don't know if that is real or imagination). I use slide when I have time and can bracket at leisure.

David.

[Helen B]

Yes, if you want prints colour neg is so much more useful than slide film when the lighting is out of your control. 'Overexposed' neg film (ie with the meter set about one stop less than the box speed, so use Ultra 400 at EI 200 or Portra 800 at EI 400 or 500) has enormous latitude so it can cope with great lighting contrast and wide variations in colour temperature, and this is usually associated with very good skin tones and comparatively low graininess.

Best,
Helen

[L Gebhardt]

I had the same reaction for a long time to color negative film. However after trying to print it, I think it is great. I just make a contact sheet to see what is on the film. It is disconcerting to not have a reference point to aim for, but you can always shoot a gray card if you want (I hear it works, though I don't do this). I then just adjust the colors until I am hppy with the print. The Kodak Portra line prints very nicely on Kodak Endura paper. So don't be scared of it, even if the negs are ugly.

If you want to scan and print digitally then Astia is a great film. I haven't been able to get decent prints of people on Ilfochrome with it however. To my eye the only film that doesn't seem to have color crossover with Ilfochrome is Kodachrome. If it came in 120 again I would shoot it most of the time when I want prints. Of course I am far from an expert in color printing, especially Ilfochrome.

[jd callow]

So what Slide film deals with people the best?

Its a taste thing but...

EPT or EPL under hotlights are very nice. natural colours great shadow detail (especialy ept) and not too contrasty. EPN or EPR is good under strobes or daylight for similar reasons, but i like the T films better. I also love the grain! E200 is also good -- come to think of it I think I prefer e200 over epn or epr.

EPP and Astia have more saturation and contrast, but will do justice to the skin tones.

Beyond that the films I am familiar with get a bit too much punch for traditional people shots, but not enough to get my heart beating fast. If I want juicy shots of humans I crossprocess e6 films, but then those aren't slides.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Astia does tend toward the cool side, but it responds nicely to warming filters without going overboard. I have one batch that I always rate at 80 and use an 81A or KR1.5 filter with for a neutral result. I have another that I rate at 100 and don't use a filter with unless it's needed. With natural light indoors it looks good with a KR6, which is about an 81C.

[Claire Senft]

I be positive that negative film is by far the best for your application. How many people are printing b&W transparencies because they are easier to read?

[mark]

Since this will be a once in a lifetime thing and I don't want to screw it up, I have decided to go the neg route. I was totally unprepared for our first and only have digital files of him. They are ugly but I think I made up for it later. I can always play with the chromes later. New borns do not move nearly as fast as 3 year olds so I have gone for 400 and slower films. Light is not a problem. Thanks for the advice everyone. Now it is a waiting game.