hello

which slide film has the most latitude? i don't expect a xp-2 range, just something where you can be a bit more floppy.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), December 20, 2001

Answers

Stefan

No to Kodachromes, or probably Velvia as they are high contrast. My inclination would be that the faster the slide film the more acceptable latitude there is (but with a trade off in quality). If someone can identify a particularly forgiving E6 film then I will be interested to hear. I use Sensia 100 and find that much more forgiving than Kodachrome.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

Agfa Scala's got alot of latitude as well. I think +2 stops and -1 stops if memory serves me correct. I use it once in awhile but the cost is quite prohibitive. Also, it can't be developed using E6 chemistry.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), December 20, 2001.

IMO, Fuji ASTIA has the most latitude of any slide film I have used, however it also has the lowest contrast, which is probably to be expected. But even so, it does not have anywhere near the latitude of C41 emulsions.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 20, 2001.

Galen Rowell taught me that slide film can be made to have much greater latitude than most people think. Using graduated ND filters and daylight fill-flash can stretch the tonal range several stops.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 20, 2001.

Jay:

Not to be critical, because SND filters do save the day when you are shooting in high-contrast light, and I own several for that reason... But to be accurate I think it should be pointed out that SND filters do not stretch the latitude of the film, but rather they diminish the latitude of the light that is present in the scene.

;-) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 20, 2001.

I don't know if it has the most latitude, but EPN works unusually well for me, especially when I am taking backlit portraits and the like. And the color fidelity is a real treat, especially when you try to get prints from the slides.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), December 20, 2001.

Jay

Graduated ND filters would certainly be great for landscape and other aps, but these would be hit or miss to use with Leica M since it lacks TTL viewing. ? Could these filters be used in a device similar to the swingout polarizer, or do you just guess how to aim the camera.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), December 20, 2001.

For lining up SND filters on the M, I use the SEWAG method... Slightly Educated Wild A&& Guess!

;-) Cheers,

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), December 21, 2001.