RE: Film, What's that?

["BIRKEY, DUANE" <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>]

On Mon, 8 Sep 1997, Dave Topper wrote:

> Anyhow, I am really curious as to good types of file, both slide and
> regular, that I should use in the camera.  I feel strange about 
taking
> pictures with such a fine, precision instrument, then taking my roll 
of
> Kodak Gold down to the local Pathmark.  Kind of like taking a Ferrari 
to
> Midas.
> 
> So ... any tips?  Please email me directly if you can.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> DT

Tip # 1)  It's a camera, take pictures with it.  

Tip # 2)  Everybody has an opinion about what the best type of film is 
and none of them are you.  There are lots of good films available and 
it is hard to go wrong with any film Fuji or Kodak makes.  Each film 
has it's own characteristics that you may or may not like.   I use Fuji 
Velvia, Astia, Provia 100 and once in a while Provia 400.  I used to 
use Kodachrome and a few of the Pro Ektachromes.  But in Ecuador at 
least, Fuji is the only slide film that delivers the goods.  For color 
I use Fuji Reala, Super HG 100, Kodak VPS 160 and Gold 100plus.  Every 
single one of them are fine films and some just work better for some 
situations than another. 

Tip # 3) Subject choices, composition, lighting, exposure and focus are 
the important factors.  If you don't have those correct, the choice of 
film is pretty irrelevant.  

Tip # 4) A Ferrari is a fine car, but if you don't know how to drive 
any car, owning a Ferrari  won't make you a great driver.   A Leica is 
a fine camera, but if you haven't mastered the factors in tip#3, Owning 
a Leica won't make you a better photographer. 

Tip #5) I'm not familiar with Pathmark labs.  I would try every local 
minilab you can and compare the results from similar subject taken 
under identical lighting situations.  Some will stink and others may be 
quite good.  If you underexpose your film by three stops, none of them 
are going to give you nice prints. 
For what it's worth.

Duane Birkey
HCJB World Radio
Quito Ecuador