Does anyone use Elite Chrome, the consumer version of Ektachrome? How does it compare to the professional versions of Ektachrome, or Sensia II or Provia F100? Color, grain, latitude, skin tones? Thanks.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 22, 2002

Answers

I have used it quite a lot because it is widely available in most countries. A very good all-round film without the saturation of E100S or 100SW, but a pleasing and natural palette. Grain is perfectly acceptable, latitude is good for a slide film. Elite Chrome Extra Color is good for scenics but hopeless for portraits - expect red caucasian faces. Provia seems to have more saturation.

-- David Killick (dalex@inet.net.nz), March 23, 2002.

elit chrome has nice grain, but too biased to red...gets worse when used with flash in low light.

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), March 23, 2002.

I'm very surprised to read some of the above comments re: saturation and color balance. Perhaps some of the Elite varies due to the conditions it is stored under prior to purchase. I use Elite Chrome 100 as my standard ISO 100 slide film, and before it the EliteII 100 (which I believe to be the same film/different box). I've shot thousands of rolls between them. It is identical in saturation and grain to the E100-series which is expectable since they are the same emulsion. The only difference is in the color balance: Elite is midway between E100S and E100SW. If you think of E100SW as E100S+81B, then EliteChrome is E100S+81A...in my book, just right. I seem to recall reading that Bob Krist said he uses EliteChrome, and also Rick Sammon, though I recall he uses the Extra-Saturated version as well and I personaally don't care for it. Underexposing EliteChrome 1/3-stop (rate it at EI 125)kicks the saturation up a notch. To me the Extra Color version is not as sharp as the regular version. As for caucasian skin tones, folks know I rarely shoot people but if you're subject is in the shade the balance of Elite is corrected enough to be fine. A hint of fill-flash from a typical blueish electronic flash does the trick in more direct light. And there's always CC filtration, or switch to Astia.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 24, 2002.

It is a good film and I agree with Jay about its virtues. I don't use it myself as I find although it has fine grain it lags behind on sharpness (or I should say "perceived" sharpness) compared to Sensia/Astia or Provia 100F. It also suffers from the red skin issue when slightly underexposed (c.f Velvia) which the other films I mentioned are better at controlling. But it is a good all round film.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

Thanks guys for the opinions on this film. I've been using Velvia lately and while it really is a great film in a lot of ways, for some things it isn't always what I think I need. I think I'll try a test shooting Elite Chrome and Sensia II side by side and see which one I like better for people. I know Steve McCurry uses Ektachrome along with K64 but most of the NG photographers use Velvia or Provia F. Cheers.

-- Don (wgpinc@yahoo.com), March 25, 2002.