Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/04/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]So I was running low on my beloved Kodachrome and I asked someone in our local camera club if I could buy a roll of Velvia from them. I wanted to try it out before ordering more film. It seems like everyone in the club is using Velvia now. This club is mostly nature photography (Yakima Cascadians). I am the lone holdout. Some are using Ektachrome of one variety or another. While their slides are nice, I think mine are just as good. I arrogantly attribute that to my expensive Leica R glass and their consumer grade Nikon or Canon glass :-) The properties of Velvia being the great equalizer, as it were. So I shot the roll and sent it off. I was expecting rather garish color from what I have heard. It was just an experiment, after all. I didn't even over expose a bit to flatten it. Shot it at straight ISO50. I was sure I would be buying more Kodachrome, even if I have to wait 2-3 weeks for the slides to be returned. Our local shop had the roll ready in less than 24 hours. I had the slides mounted and sleeved rather than boxed. I held up the sleeve and WOW! They look too good. Nice and sharp, fine grain, good colors that seem to be fairly accurate. Were were those oversaturated unnatural colors? My subject was mostly flowers as Spring seems to have finally arrived to the Eastern portion of the Northwest (the dry side of Washington). So I scanned a few. They seem to scan much easier than Kodachrome. I am using Vuescan and I set it for generic slides, as there is no Fuji setting, and with very little color correction they came out great. Why it is easier to get good scans with this film I don't know, but it is. I did notice a lot more dust of the fine variety that doesn't seem to blow off. Maybe processing? My Kodachrome, while having a fair amount of cardboard fibers from the mounts, never has any dust that won't blow off. So, now, would someone please talk me out of buying Velvia? It can even be bought in 100' rolls which would make it much cheaper than K-64. But Kodachrome lasts so much longer. There is that arrogant streak thinking that someone will be intersted in my photos 50 years from now. If I'm around then I'll be over 100 and drooling all over them. Please come to my aid. I need professional help. I don't want to experience withdrawals. I even love the smell of Kodachrome. Momma, don't take my Kodachrome away!!! Aram "troubled in Naches" Langhans This message is made of 100% recycled electrons. No new atoms were destroyed in making it. Aram Langhans Science Teacher, Naches High School 101 W. 5th. St / P. O. Box 159 Naches, WA 98937 "Science Rules" - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html