I am slightly mixed up on this issue.

Are QuickLoad and ReadyLoad both same? I gather from the list that there are two QuickLoad/Readyload holders manufacturers, fuji and kodak. In terms of price to performance ratio, which is advisable to go for, fuji or kodak?

Thanks.

-- Reddy (rrgudur@krdl.org.sg), April 22, 1999

Answers

Quickload is by Fuji and allows use only of Fuji film. Readyload is by Kodak and allows use only Kodak film. The Fuji Quickloads contain only one sheet of film vs. the Kodak Readyloads' two sheets per envelope. Kodak Readyloads are supposed to fit Polaroid holders, but few people have found this to be very workable.

As far as which is superior, well, that's been debated endlessly on this site (scroll down through "Film and holders" section of the "Older questions" category and you'll see numerous threads about each). I've used Kodak Readyload holders for a couple of years now with great success; I go through several hundred of sheets of Readyload film per year without a single problem. Other participants in this forum (e.g., Ellis) have reported a high failure rate with Readyload and will only use Fuji Quickloads.

Which should you use? That depends on which film you like. If you do color transparencies, Fuji Quickload may be a safer bet. If you prefer black and white (as I do) Kodak Readyload is the only real choice (though I often shoot Kodak's color transparency film in my Readyload holder too).

As far as cost per sheet, it depends on which films you're interested in. Check B&H or your film supplier for relative pricing....

-- Simon (fourthpres@aol.com), April 22, 1999.

You can also use the Fuji QuickLoad films in the Polaroid 545i holder, but the results of my testing showed you get nbetter sharpness with using either the Kodak or Fuji films in their respective holders.

Kodak currently offers a daylight (E100S) and a tungsten balanced (100T) E-6 films. As well as the Tmax100 B&W negative film and possibly a C-41 color negative.

Fuji currently offers several E-6 films: Velvia, Astia & Provia (RDPII) (all daylight balanced films); and tungsten balanced 64T. Outside of the United States Fuji markets a B&W negative film (Neopan 80) and possibly NPS, an ISO 160 color negative film. According to a Fuji USA representative starting this summer the last film will be sold in the USA. The new Provia F (RDPIII) will also be availible this summer.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), April 22, 1999.

One minor correction to the notes above - you can use Fuji Quickloads in the Kodak Readyload holder. I work with both Velvia and E100SW, and can only carry one holder. But I've had no problems with sharpness in my Fuji transparencies.

As I've said regarding other subjects - try to borrow one of each of the holders and try them before making your purchase. It likely a personal issue.

Bruce

-- Bruce M. Herman (bherman@arctic.net), April 23, 1999.