[Leica] Film question

[Doug Herr <71247.3542@compuserve.com>]

On Thu, 3 Sep 1998,  Greg wrote:

<SNIP>
>As these are wild and semi wild creatures, I expect most to be long shot=
s,
>and will be using my f4 Vario-Elmar 80-200, and my beloved f4 APO-Telyt
>280mm, mostly on a Tiltall, some handheld.  What I seek is film fast
enough
>to permit flexible use of these f4 lenses, but without enormous grain, a=
nd
>with good color saturation.

>My favorite color films are Velvia and K25 as extremely fine grain, and
>color saturation can be achieved with them.  My great satisfaction with
>Velvia, primarily, has left me out of touch with faster films.  However,=

>movement of my subjects, and the ability to handhold if I need to, make =
me
>think I need faster film.  I am thinking E200 is about as fast as I can
go,
>given my preferences.  Any ideas?  Print film is not ruled out, I simply=

>shoot transparency a great deal.

Greg,

I like using K200 in these situations because its color rendition and
saturation are very close to that of my usual film, K64.  It's too
contrasty for full daylight but under overcast conditions it works well. =

For those handheld photographs you might also consider using a shoulder
stock.  I've found that I can work in 2 stops less light by using the
shoulder stock vs. hand-held without the stock.  It doesn't keep the
critters still but it keeps me from shaking the lens too much.

At shutter speeds of 1/60 or faster I'll use the shoulder stock instead o=
f
the Tiltall because the steadiness is similar and the mobility I get with=

the shoulder stock allows many photographs that would have gotten away
while fiddling with the tripod.

Below 1/60 sec I definitely prefer the tripod.

Doug Herr
Sacramento