This new film is supposed to be Kodak's answer to Velvia except that it is trying to capture the 100 speed market. Any comments on ASA accuracy? Pushability? Saturation? Grain? Velvia comparisons? Have heard some good things about Fuji's 200 multi speed. Fine grain with good saturation. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), January 17, 1999

Answers

Haven't used it myself but I talked to Cathy Church at the DEMA show (she's a well-known underwater photographer) and she's used early samples of VS and recommends it highly. Says it is virtually indistinguishable from Velvia and is twice as fast. Since I'm a new owner of a Pentax 67 myself, I'm interested because medium format lenses are slower than their 35mm counterparts.

Elite Chrome Extra Color is also supposed to have excellent saturation. Neither is on the market yet (March is what I heard).

-- Clint O'Connor (clint@argonauta.com), January 17, 1999.

I received 5 sample films and used one last week. It is beautiful, no exaggeration of subtile colors. I would buy and use them in future without any doubt.

-- Milco van Klingeren (milco.vanklingeren@wang.com), July 14, 1999.

I'm fairly new to MF, but I've been using this film for a while in 35 mm, and more recently with my P67. I generally do landscape stuff. A few of observations. I like the 100 speed with a highly saturated film like this. I've found that when using Velvia, my favorite, I have to use ridiculously slow shutter speeds to get the DOF I need, especially in the woods or other low light situations. It's a lot easier film for me (Velvia that is) in 35 mm. I'm shooting VS at 100 ASA and I think that's accurate enough for me. I don't like it at all in contrasty light-the shadow details get murky, almost brownish. It looks best, and probably excels on overcast days. I've also had two clearly defective rolls-one 35 mm, one 120 from different (reliable) suppliers. All in all, I like it and will continue using it for now, but I'm eagerly anticipating RDP III and if it's as good as early rumors say it is, then I'll have to reconsider. Anyway, my 2 cents worth.

-- Cowan Stark (cowan@nh.ultranet.com), August 14, 1999.