Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Kodachrome processing is available in the US through the Kodak Premium/Kodalux labs using the PK-24/36 processing mailers. There are also a few other reliable independent sources with reasonable turnaround, including Holland Photo in Texas, and both A&I and The New Lab in California. According to test results I read a while back, RVP (Velvia) actually out-resolves PKR (K25 professional) 160 lp/mm to 125 lp/mm. I'm an obvious skeptic of the value of test results of anyone's doing because it still boils down to a subjective opinion as to what portion of the results is or isn't repeatable, let alone significant, in actual field use. My experience is that RVP and PKR's sharpness is very close. If PKR has a minute theoretical advantage it is probably cancelled by the requisite slower shutter speed or wider aperture the 1-stop speed difference requires. Of much greater significance is the apparent sharpness generated by 1) grain (especially in even-toned areas such as open sky) and 2)saturation; in both cases Velvia is the clear winner. I do not agree that PKR has rich black shadows. The old KII (pre-1974) did, but PKR is a higher-contrast yet less-saturated film and given the slightests overexposure to mitigate that contrast and the shadows go green and mucky. Shoot Velvia at EI 40 and you can tone the contrast a bit and yet the shadows stay inky black. Velvia also pushes well to EI 80 or 100, whereas PKR is ISO 25, period. For 99% of subjects the snap, crackle and pop of Velvia out-wows Kodachrome 25 by far and away. The 1% is skin-tones. In that respect PKR is the agreed winner as Velvia is a quite warm-balanced emulsion. Another factor worth consideration is that whilst Kodachrome has superior archival properties when stored in the dark, E6 films such as Velvia will hold up much better with repeated projection. In short, to concur that using any specific film-- and in particular Kodachrome, is necessary to fully exploit the optical prowess of the latest Leica lenses hardly speaks well of Leica's lenses with respect to the photographic artists' needs. Regards, Nigel ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]