I heard these films were the same thing, so I gave Sensia a go. Supposodly the Sensia is the same as Provia 100f only not btach tested or sometging!?

I usually use Provia so I only compared the Sensia results to past Provia 100F images.

So what did I find? ......They honestly seem the same. Provia 100F costs AUD$18.50 and Sensia 100 costs AUD$7.50. From now on I'll be using Sensia and if I need better I'll go for Velvia rated @32 or 40ASA. Any similar opinions or flames???

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002

Answers

It is my understanding that Sensia II (100 ISO) is the amateur version of Astia, not Provia 100F. Given that, I have found Astia (compared to Provia 100F) to have somewhat courser grain, slightly less color saturation, a more accurate color palette and greater exposure latitude. These last two attributes make Astia the slide film of choice for product and portrait photography. With such a cost difference for you in Australia, I would not hesitate to become a Sensia user.

-- Doug from Tumwater (dbaker9128@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

Generally I've noticed that Sensia films are slightly warmer (yellow) than the Provia equivalents. I don't know if this is just an aging issue - pro films are (or once were) theoretically 'aged' to the perfect color balance in a warehouse and then refrigerated to keep that balance, while the amateur versions are presumed to 'age' while sitting on a store shelf or in a camera or camera bag for weeks at a time.

I prefer the warmth of the amateur films, but I'm shooting at 5,000 feet and above with lots of extra UV in the sunlight.

I shot a comparison of the newest Sensia 400 with Provia 400F - and except for color balance, they are the same for grain and sharpness.

Since I luuv sharpness, I tend to shoot Velvia and reach for the flash before I reach for a faster film.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), March 03, 2002.

I have not done enough comparisons for my comments to be in any way conclusive. I find the films are about the same for grain and sharpness, but find the Provia more forgiving in the exposure (less contrast problems when I get it slightly wrong, and holding more detail in the highlights), but I don't like the muddy greens it can give compared to Sensia. I think the real difference is in the colour cast, and you just have to choose what suites best. I like Provia best on a sunny day.

-- Steve Barnett (barnet@globalnet.co.uk), March 03, 2002.

I use Provia F in 5x4 sheet for my proffesional work but I used to use Astia before it was phased out. Provia is sharper with finer grain and a has a much higher tolerance of long exposures ( I can go to a about 60 seconds without reciprocity faliure). Side by side on a light box the Asti looked a bit warmer but the provia looks cleaner and more accurate - for architectural work anyway. If Sensia and Provia F are the same emulsions and not Astia then the difference is that pro films are kept at low temperatrures until point of sale / use in order to maintain their latitude and tollerance etc ( when it is used quickly after and processed promptly). Where as the Sensia is put through a procces of controled temperature changes to stabilise the film so it is more tolerant of storage conitions and delays in processing the latent image. - Well that's what i always was told! BTW - I can't stand Velvia - way to saturated to look anything like 'real'!

-- John Griffin (john@griffinphoto.u-net.com), March 03, 2002.

Sensia 100 (RA) is the amateur version of Astia (RAP). It is not as fine-grained as Provia 100, but then, neither is anything else. Sensia is a wonderful all-round film and has the added advantage of being cheap -- I've bought it for as little as $2.77 USD per roll. Personally, I like the color better than Provia.

Sensia 400, on the other hand, is the amateur version of Provia 400F and is much less expensive than the Provia.

A few months back, Popular Photography did a comparison of Sensia 100, Provia 100F, and Provia 400F. They shot the same scene on all three films, then blew up a small section of each. In magazine reproduction it was impossible to tell the films apart.

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), March 03, 2002.

I shot about 70 rolls of Sensia 100 last year and I am totally happy with the film. I use it for projection only. It's nice to have film and processing (Fuji Mailers) cost so low that I don't mind experimenting or over-shooting subjects because the per-exposure cost is so low. I wish the 400 speed version was as good, but it's a little too grainy for my taste.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), March 03, 2002.

I have shot several hundreds of rolls of sensia and I like the film, recently I changed to Provia 100F and I was very pleased with the more saturated color but, after a few months of looking again and again to those photos, I began to miss Sensiaīs more natural colors and better shadow details. Provia 100F does have finer grain, but not that much really to spend twice as much money on it. I personally think will keep on using Sensia and shoot a lot more photos. ( when shooting product on 4 x 5 film I always use Ektachrome , Fuji canīt beat shadow detail on studio work, color saturation is non important in studio, as strobes and controled light do all the color work for film ).

-- Marco Hidalgo (marco_hidalgo@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

I always heard that Sensia II was the "amateur" version of the previous version Provia 100 (not "F")and had never been changed. It certainly has a lot more contrast and is much warmer than Astia so I have a very hard time believing that those two are the same emulsion. I like Provia F but do not find it signficantly better than my standard film, which is Kodak EliteChrome 100 (not the supersaturated version). EC100 is the "amateur" version of E100, with color balance midway between E100S and SW (again, I do not use the VS because though more saturated it is less sharp, and I can add saturation digitally better than interpolating sharpness). Provia 400F is a unique film, as is Velvia...neither have Kodak counterparts IMO. So if you can get ahold of EliteChrome in Australia cheaper than Fujichrome, go for it. Or order it from B&H.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

First there was Sensia, then there was Sensia II, and now we're back to Sensia. Sensia is the consumer version of Provia, or at least based on the Provia technology. An interesting Sensia offering is the ISO 200, which of course doesn't have a Provia offering unless you push Provia 100 a stop. But having said that, I was fortunate to find refrigerated Sensia II 200, 24 exp, for 99 cents a roll. Found some Fuji slide mailers for $3.75 a piece. Now I don't consider that a back deal, slide film and developing for under $5.

Leitz M6, Elmar-M 50mm 1:2.8, B+W KR1.5 MRC, Sensia II 200

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

I'm buying my Sensia 100 from B&H (import) for $2.50 a roll. I used to shoot Provia 100F and I'll be darned if I see a difference. I routinely drum scan and blow my prints up to 20"x30" so any discrepancies in grain or sharpness would be readily apparent. There's another advantage of using Sensia besides the price: I don't have to worry about refrigeration or minor heat exposure. I like to be as worry-free as possible when travelling.

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

My feelings chime with Doug's. Astia and Sensia are the same film and are fine all round films with nice natural color and good sharpness and fine grain (more grain than E100/Elite Chrome 100 perhaps, but sharper if not in theory then in appearance). Provia 100F has even fine grain with perhaps lower contrast than Sensia 100, perhaps more aggressive "Fuji-type" greens. Both have good flesh tones with Sensia/Astia a little ahead. Sensia 200 is good too but has more grain. I think Provia 400F is finer grained than Sensia 200 and so very good that using Sensia 200 (or Kodachrome 200) seems redundant (unless you prefer the grain)when you want speed. I have not tried Sensia 400 but had noticed too that it looks like the amateur version of Provia 400F. I will probably switch to this as it is much cheaper - if it really is the same basic emulsion.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

I use Provia 100F bought from B&H in NYC. Compared to Sensia 100, the Provia 100F seems to have slightly lower contrast but more saturated colors and finer grain. The price difference here in the USA is not as bad as it is in Australia! That's why I use Provia 100F and Velvia most of the time when I am shooting slide film.

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), March 07, 2002.