Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/02/10

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Subject: [Leica] Kodachrome apocrypha
From: jbcollier at shaw.ca (John Collier)
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:56:35 -0700
References: <AANLkTi=sV=_JbEztuN+cu2fVp9uxGU8a4=qZc2NdAyB=@mail.gmail.com>
 
No film or sensor/software renders a scene 100% faithful to what a person 
perceives: contrast, colour, etc all are different. So does a film or 
sensor/software designer aim for a "pleasing" rendition? Of course.

John

On 2011-02-10, at 3:06 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:

> It was my impression that the color balance of Kodachrome was deliberately
> altered to achieve a "pleasing" color balance. A professor of mine during
> the '50s claimed that he helped design a Kodak study where users of color
> film were asked to rank snapshots in order of preference. True color photos
> were almost always rejected in favor of those that made complexions look
> "healthy", i.e. redder and slightly sunburned. Scenics were preferred which
> gave the impression of a bright sunlit day. Hence the slightly magenta cast
> of Kodachrome images. Does anyone know the facts of the case? Is it just a
> Rochester urban rumor?
> Larry Z
In reply to: Message from lrzeitlin at gmail.com (Lawrence Zeitlin) ([Leica] Kodachrome apocrypha)