Fujichrome or Fujicolor?

[res08hao]

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I just purchased a Leica Minilux rangefinder, just to have a film camera. What do the forum members suggest as a medium, color negative or slide, to transfer to digital?

 

Thanks for any and all responses.

[Overgaard]

Depends what you are in to.

 

I prefer slide films for several reasons. Mainly because it is MUCH easier juding slides on a lighttable to find out which ones to scan. And then in scanning, you can see from the slide what the colors are, you should aim for/be able to get out of the slide.

 

Then, that requires at least a scanner (and preferable a light table and a loupe).

 

Scanning negative color films is a nightmare unless you are really trained in seeing which pictures that are worth scanning. I find it impossible.

 

In slide films I prefer Fuji Astia og Fuji Sensia for their natural skin tone. Many like Fuji Velvia for its nice colors (for outdoor landscapes, etc.) I think the grass looks to plastic green and the sky too blue. But there's a lot of power and easy effects in using Velvia. Skin tones, however, are indian looking (reddish/orange)

 

 

If you don't scan yourself, go for negative film that are more economcal to print at the photo shop/lab. Kodak Portra 160 has very super-natural skintones if the lab can handle the film. I've seen simply fantastic prints made from that film in terms of skin tones.

[john_f]

Thorsten,

 

Good to read you and glad to see you made it to the new forum with the rest of us!

 

Very good explanation (and warning) about the pros & cons of scanning negs vs slides. If you intend to scan your film (and the odds are that you eventually will), I too would recommend using slide film.

 

But there is another reason to go with slides. I might get into some trouble here, but IMHO, a Leica film camera really shines at its best with slide films (although I will admit to using color print film from time to time ;-). If you want to see what a leica lens can do for colors, tonal range, shadow details, etc.. you really should try some slide films, at least once. My favorite is Fuji Provia 100F. More neutral than Velvia (whether 50, 100 or 100F) and easier to process than Kodachrome - another great favorite amongst Leica photographers. Just for the fun of it, get a roll or two or Provia 100F (and also Astia 100F) and Kodachrome 64.

 

Cheers, and have fun with your Leica !

 

John F.

[timbedsted1234]

Hello,

 

My personal favourite is Kodachrome 64 and 200. However the Fuji Sensia and Kodak ELite Chrome are cheap easy to come by and produces very good results.

 

You might also want to have a look at this detailed discussion and comparison of different films.

 

http://www.photo.net/equipment/film

 

Regards and have fun fun with film:)

Tim

[rjans]

I own a budget scanner and scanning slides was easier than colour negatives. It takes a lot of time to scan so these days I have my slides scanned by the lab who processes the slide film. These scans are sufficient for me for an occasional photo print. Prefer to use the Fuji Sensia: not expensive and easy to find.

If I want only prints I use Fuji Superia.

 

Best