Film for landscapes

[NZDavid]

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What is your favorite film for landscapes and why?

 

I think choice may vary a lot on lighting and location. For example, here in New Zealand our light is ultra bright and contrasty. In England, lovely soft light and pastel colors may require a different response.

 

I have never had much success with Velvia, though I feel it is probably better at 40 not 50 ISO. Used to like Agfa for neutral colors (and looked great projected) but it's gone. E100G or Elite are pretty good. Provia is very sharp but shadows tend to go blue. Astia has incredible grain, very neutral, maybe too subdues though it can be boosted after scanning.

 

Rockwell had a comparo of M9 versus film for landscapes, but mainly only Velvia (which he preferred.)

[andybarton]

Astia for me, hence my lament at its demise, earlier in the week.

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Astia for me, hence my lament at its demise, earlier in the week.

 

Kodachrome 25 and 64, need to pick something different for next summer...

 

Noel

[holmes]

You are spot on with shooting and rating Velvia 50 at 40. Have you tried the ISO 100 version. Rating it lower is the same thing I used to do Kodachrome. If you have and you do by your accounts, lots of green you might get overwhelmed. Have you tried Fuji's 100 F Provia. It will handle the greens without feeling you are in a jungle. I shot with nothing but Provia 100 F in Puerto Rico.

[tobey bilek]

The really nice color films are falling fast and we are left with consumer garbage.

 

Unfortunately it is time to pack up the old slide projector and do something else.

 

Maybe a digi projector or show the digi files on a HD television. Make the files from Portra 160 or Ektar 100.

 

I have some K25 from 1964 that are spectacular. Nice projections, terrible prints like most slide film. Color neg goes both ways and is readily available for now. Stay away from consumer stuff. If you spent the money on a leica, feed it some decent film.

[NZDavid]

You are spot on with shooting and rating Velvia 50 at 40. Have you tried the ISO 100 version. Rating it lower is the same thing I used to do Kodachrome. If you have and you do by your accounts, lots of green you might get overwhelmed. Have you tried Fuji's 100 F Provia. It will handle the greens without feeling you are in a jungle. I shot with nothing but Provia 100 F in Puerto Rico.

 

Thanks Holmes, I've been meaning to try Velvia 100 -- trouble is, trying something is usually when I need something critical. But could be fun. Provia is undoubtedly excellent, specially on brighter days. Ah, those Kodachromes! My earliest are from the 80s and family chromes go back to the 60s.

[andybarton]

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Maybe a digi projector or show the digi files on a HD television. Make the files from Portra 160 or Ektar 100.

 

If you spent the money on a leica, feed it some decent film.

 

I still don't understand how anyone can claim that Ektar is a decent film. I have never seen any decent output from it

[dicko101]

I still don't understand how anyone can claim that Ektar is a decent film. I have never seen any decent output from it

I am rather fond of Ektar...but I don't love it, like the love one has for Velvia, Kodachrome or even 160S. I think Ektar is capable of interesting output and I do enjoying using it but it's not my desert island flim, no colour neg is.

 

Remember Velvia has three varieties, the 50 and two 100 ISOs. The 'neutral' 100F and the straight 100. Still, I wouldn't ever go past the 50 for most landscapes also vote for Provia RDPIII.

[surfer dude]

I've just been in New Zealand last week - to the South Island. What a beautiful country, with warm, genuine people. You reckon you've got harsh contrasty light - HA! - we couldn't stop commenting how soft and diffuse it is compared to Australia's!

 

For colour, I used Kodachrome 64 in 35mm (haven't seen those yet, they are on their way to Kansas), and Portra 160NC and VC in Medium Format, and that works really well for me. B+W was Tri-x and Plus-x, although I kind of missed not having some FP4+.

 

You'll get many diverse opinions on this sort of subject, so as usual I guess its best to choose a few films that you think you'll like, try them out, and discard them for something else only when you find compelling reasons for doing so.

[Jay66]

Kodachrome 64 or Velvia 100 for slides. Agfa Ultracolor 100 for prints. Been working off of 200+ rolls of Ultra in the freezer. After that's gone, maybe Ektar 100 or Portra 160VC.

[NZDavid]

Philip, glad you enjoyed the South Island. Yes, indeed our light is very clear. There's no aerial pollution, also the color temperature is very neutral I think. It's fascinating to compare light in different countries. I'm not sure if there really is a universal landscape film. Kodak E100G and Fuji Provia may come close, not sure about Velvia, but I may give the 100 a go. A lot also depends on processing and scanning. I still prefer slides and find colors are more saturated. That Agfa Ultra is ultra saturated! Made grass look neon emerald.

[Guest AgXlove]

Velvia 100 if I need long exposure times or more latitude to cover extremes in lighting;

 

Velvia 50 for everything else, especially sunrises/sunsets and flower shots. Velvia 50 has an outstanding rendering of delicate pastel colors. In my experience, 100 just can't hold a candle to its older brother in this area.

 

Astia 100 if you are after less contrast and less saurated colors.

[NickB]

Can anyone help me find where to get RolleiI ATP 1.1 in 120 size? I do monochrome landscapes and have just got hold of some 35 mm Rollei ATP 1.1, which looks as though it will replace my much lamented Kodak Techpan, which was great for landscapes in 120 size using my old Hasselblads. But B&H and Silverprint do not list it. Has anyone else got a lead on where to purchase some.? Would be most grateful.

[tgray]

I do find it funny that people RAVE about Ektar. Not that it's a bad film. It's quite nice, but there are a lot of nice films out there.

 

I think I finally decided that I like Portra more. 160VC and 400VC are saturated enough, scan easily, and can easily be tweaked in processing to give you more if you want. It gives nicer skin tones in my opinion too.

[tgray]

Nick - Freestyle sells ATP in 120 I think.

[leicapages]

For color negatives: regular Fujicolor Superia 200 works well and I also obtained excellent results with Kodak Portra 160VC and 400VC. Use the film varieties with a bit more punch than neutral (avoid Fujicolor Superia Reala 100, Kodak 160NC and 400NC).

 

For slides: Fujichrome Velvia 50 if it is maximum color you are after, otherwise Fujichrome Provia 100 works very nicely.

 

Pascal

[andybarton]

I bet that ATP 120 is an absolute mare to load onto a reel. I recall the roll I tried in 35mm being very thin indeed, so with the x2 width of 120, it's going to be like loading a sheet of Izal loo paper into the reel.

 

Could be outstanding results though