Hi, I am new to photography and since I inherited a Leica M4 from my uncle, I checked out this site. I was looking at the B&H Photo website and in checking slide film prices noticed a huge difference in price between US and Imported films. US is almost twice as much for Sensia or Kodachrome, but for pro films the price differences are not so great. What gives? Is the US film that much better? I am preparing for a trip to Scotland and Ireland, and thought I would take Sensia 200 or Kodchrome 200. Which would be better? I plan on using preprocessing mailers because I figure I will get more consistant results. Thanks for helping a dumb rookie.

-- tam (talangston@aol.com), March 04, 2002

Answers

First of all, from my extensive experience the imported film from B&H is just as good as the USA film, so buy whichever is cheaper. Personally I would use Kodak EliteChrome 100 (not the Extra-Color type)or go straight to Provia 400F, skipping the 200-speed films altogether. That's the easy part of what I have to suggest. Here's the real issues you need to consider: Take one "rookie", add a new-to- you camera, *especially* a Leica rangefinder camera, *especially* one without a light meter like the M4, throw in slide film (which is intolerant of exposure errors), mix it all up on a foreign trip...you've got a recipe for *major* disappointment. You need to get a book on exposure theory, a good light meter (I suggest the Sekonic L208 Twin-Mate which will fit into the accessory shoe on top of the M4 and you can aim it at exactly what you want to meter using the M4's frame selector to bring up the 90mm framelines), and several rolls of the cheapest slide film you can buy (Sensia 100 or Elite 100), and practice like heck before your trip. If you don't have time for that, I strongly suggest taking an auto point-n-shoot loaded with 400-speed print film and shoot it alongside the M4, just so you are certain to come back with usable pictures from your trip.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 04, 2002.

Tam:

I second what Jay said. What lenses do you have? I recently went to Ireland and used 100 film. 400 for outdoor use would "probably" be too fast. You might consider print film as it has more exposure latitude than slide film. The best advice is to get out and shoot some film and get used to the equipment. Use the equipment now, so it is familiar to you on your trip.

-- Mark A. Johnson (logical1@catholic.org), March 04, 2002.

Good morning, I agree with the answer above concerning using print film. If you need a slide later on they can easily be made. The use of prepaid mailers concerns me though. You never know what scanning machines your film will be subjected to. Check out local processing as you go along. your local consulates can help you with that. As a photographer, the new (and necessary) security needs relly worry me where film is concerned. I've read where the very slow film will not be hurt but that, to a traveler, is truly limiting. Find out what film is available where you are going, and if at all possible, have it processed BEFORE you step back on a plane. Have a great trip.

-- Ned Learned (ned@kajabbi.com), March 04, 2002.

He's going to Scotland and Ireland and will need the local US consulate to help him find a local processing lab? What are you guys on?!

Just make sure you take the bridge from Paris to London (not in the monsoon) - it's quicker than sampan. From there, check out the local rikshaw service to Ireland. They have these really nice mudhuts for tourists - but they tend to get washed away during the monsoon. I recommend eating toasted cockroaches with worm sauce and look out for the cannibals!

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), March 04, 2002.

Lucky you. That's a great, classic camera. Take along mostly print film and a few rolls of slide film, which is not as forbidding as it sometimes seems. The suggestion of the Sekonic lightmeter is a good one, as is the suggestion to practice a bit before you leave.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), March 04, 2002.

Tam - to get back to film prices: Kodak (Fuji) have more competition from each other and from smaller film-makers (Ferrania, Efke, etc.) in the rest of the world outside the US and Japan.

So they have substantially lower wholesale prices in those markets - so much lower that US retailers can buy film overseas for less than Kodak's US wholesale price.

Plus some overseas Kodak film is MADE overseas, cutting shipping, production, and wholesale costs even more.

In theory, the emulsions are identical - Kodak Gold 200 is Kodak Gold 200. But, also in theory, film that has been shipped overseas in a cargo hold and then shipped back to the US may have a higher chance of getting 'cooked' somewhere along the route.

BTW, I can't imagine worse compromise films that 200-speed slide films - they are probably the worst possible mix of speed, color, and grain.

Either shoot 50 or 100 speed slide film for the quality, and carry a couple of rolls of 400 speed slides for low-light situations - or shoot color negative, which is sharper and less grainy at speeds above 100.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), March 04, 2002.