New Kodak Ektar 100 Shots Coming!

[artur5]

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Great post Svante. Many Thanks !

I've been using lately Reala 100 and I was interested to know how the new Ektar compared with the Fuji.

Do you scan at 5400 dpi. with your Minolta.? If it's so the grain is really nice and small - better than Reala's

[svante]

The film scan was made at the full nominal 5400dpi resolution of the Minolta scanner and I asked for three samples in Vuescan. This is my standard procedure that I beleive minimize "grain aliasing".

 

If you want grainless prints Ektar100 responds very well to treatment with Neat Image. The actual pixels sample below was cleaned in NI by sampling the sky for grain structure, auto fine tune on the entire picture, and the following noise reduction amounts: High, mid, and low 100%, Y 40%, Cr and Cb 100%. High frequency sharpening 100%.

 

Yes, the grain is better than for Reala, and it is easier to reduce it further with NI.

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[abrewer]

It looks like everyone's results are pretty similar with regard to the color palate of the film

 

I rated mine at 80 when I shot

 

I think I'll go lower still next time to try and get more color from the film

[JBA]

I've always shot slides in preference to negatives when shooting color, but this looks like it would be worth a try.

[MPJMP]

I just shot my first roll and am duly impressed. I have been slowly moving away from E-6 due to the increasing inconvenience in locating processing and was previously using Fuji Reala as my standard color film. The Ektar has it beat! Reala always scanned with an odd greenish hue, while the Ektar looks great with no color tweaks needed. Colors are very rich and vibrant, and of course the grain is very fine. Some Ektar and Tri-X in my bag and all my needs are taken care of.

[adan]

I'll just toss this in, as an M8 user:

 

Ektar 100 is a substantial improvement over any other color neg film I've scanned, and really is in the E100/Velvia 100F range for grain, with better dynamic range available.

 

It is NOT just repackaged 100UC, although it does have a ...UC-like tendency to scan "hot" and oversaturated in the red/cyan dimension.

 

Kodak delivered on their claims.

 

Does it persuade me to sell my M8s? No. At least not in 135 image size. The lack of an anti-alias filter just gives me more tightness to object edges and fine details from the M8. Blame it on the scanner if you want - I won't argue (Nikon 5000ED).

 

But if I need to shoot stuff that calls for an SLR (macro, studio, 135mm+ focal lengths) or using my 15mm C/V uncropped AS a 15mm, - well, there are lots of really good film SLRs (without AA filters) going for cheap out there. And Ektar 100 would be my go-to film.