Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/17

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Colour negative film
From: "Henning J. Wulff" <henningw@archiphoto.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 14:32:44 -0700

At 9:00 AM -0400 4/17/00, Martin Howard wrote:
>OK, I'm now officially confused.  I've read about the Portra films on
>Kodak's site and about other manufacturer's colour negative film on their
>sites.  It seems that the Portra films come in two versions, VC and NC for
>more or less colour saturation.  There is also a lot of talk about how
>neutral greys are neutral, and how skin tone is natural.
>
>But this is negative film, right?  I thought that the colour could be
>corrected (or screwed up) at the printing stage.  So, what's the difference?
>
>Also, is there *any* point in using colour correction filters with colour
>negative film?
>
>Hmm, does anyone know of a good source of information for how to use
>professional colour negative film?  It seems that I have a lot to learn.
>
>(Why am I considering negative film and not trannies?  Well, it's cheaper,
>has greater exposure lattitude, is easier to make prints from, and
>presumably scans at least as well as chromes do.  BTW -- is it E6 or C-41
>that's a female dog to do in the home darkroom?)
>
>M.
>
>--
>Martin Howard                     |
>Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU       |  All wiyht. Rho sritched mg
>email: howard.390@osu.edu         |  kegtops awound?
>www: http://mvhoward.i.am/        +---------------------------------------

I shoot quite a bit of color negative film. Most do some job well, but
there is no universal film for me. I like the Kodak Portra series, using NC
or VC depending on whether the extra saturation/contrast will harm or help
the picture. Generally, going to the 160 instead of 400 film seems
pointless, as the faster film is generally just as good. Fuji NPH is also
quite good possibly with a bit less sharpness, but is otherwise comparable
to Portra NC.

For the highest sharpness, Konica Impressa 50 is right now the best.

Under flourescents, Fuji Reala is best.

   *            Henning J. Wulff
  /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
 /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
 |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com