Shooting Velvia 50 and 100 on Nikon F100

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Shooting Velvia 50 and 100 on Nikon F100

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kanuck

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Hi,

I would like to hear if anybody has any suggestions for shooting velvia slide film on a F100 or any other Nikon film body. The reason I am asking is because I will be using Velvia for the first time this summer for when I visit a few US national parks. I have tried Provia 100 F daytime film before, but any pointers to remember with Velvia would be greatly appreciated. Maybe Chris Lange? I have a few months still to brush up so no immediate hurry.

I know velvia is a super saturated film and many who shoot with it often get under exposed shots. Any darks in the photo show no detail whatsoever. I also hear it can be very sensitive to which metering mode you use on the camera. I usually only use Matrix metering on the F100 and even my D700. However, if shot properly, Velvia slides can produce fantastic images so I want to give it a shot.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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the green in much, much greener on velvia, anyway You know You'll be shooting on very low iso.
as for metering, AFAIR in normal situations I was using the matrix metering on velvia, and in the tricky ones (lot of contrasts) I was using the spot metering. anyway, was very happy with the results I got on my f100.

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Slide film need to be spot on in terms of metering. I use my digital camera to check my exposures before I press the button on my film camera. Like using a Polaroid back :-) in the old days. I also set every thing manually on my film camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Heartyfisher, thats interesting I was thinking of doing the exact same thing with my D700 in order to get to the exposure right or not. Adamz did you ever use any special filters when using Velvia? I heard about the greens having extra pop. The digital Velvia presets i have in photoshop and lightroom are nuts!

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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I'm not a buig enthusiast of filters, so generally no - apart from standar UV and B+W Pol-Cir (Kasseman), as for beeing spot on with exposure, don't forget that still the most important part is the picture - don't get to involved with settings as they can easily overwhelm the joy of photography (usually 1/3 of difference each way will not make that big change, nothing that couldn't be corrected in PP, as I assume You gonna scan the negatives)

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Yes I plan on scanning them probably in Fuiji local lab here. I wouldn't mind picking up a V500 scanner for myself actually. I guess it is fairly common to waste a lot of the slide roll for bracketing shots to make sure you get the right exposure. I don't have a problem with this as long as it yields a beautiful shot. One place in particular I can't wait to shoot velvia is the "Delicate Arch" and Coyote Buttes.

Your also right Adam about being too involved with settings taking away the joys of photography. Having too much gear, and switching lenses I find will also do this. I'll give the velvia a shot on my F100 and if it doens't work out then my D700 suffice. I have some nice black and white Ilford and Tmax 400 to use as well.

Adamz and heartyfisher do you both still shoot velvia these days or just digital now?

Posted 3 years ago #
heartyfisher

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I dont shoot slide much anymore .. I still put a Pro Negative through some times as I have a Prolab close by but they only do c41 negatives only. :-( They also do scanning too, to 19 MP for me.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Kodak's E100VS film is pretty good too. It's a bit more expensive but I like it.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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kanuck - I still have couple velvias in my fridge, but haven't been using the for the last two years, it's just too expensive in Poland - app. $15 per roll of velvia and add $15 for processing and scanning - so it gives app (little less) $1 per slide, and with my keepers ratio of 2-3 slides from one roll it's simply too expensive

Posted 3 years ago #
clillja

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Buy a bunch of whatever film you're going to use and test it with the camera you're going to use. One or two carefully shot test rolls should give you all the info you need. Make notes. Study the exposures. Store the rest of the film in a "cool dry place" or fridge or freezer until it's needed. Have fun! I love shooting slide film on colorful summer days... mostly Velvia 100F for me. It's a little easier to handle and I like the skin tones better than Velvia 50.

Niko - I like the E100VS too, but the local supply has become iffy. :>(

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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as for skin tone I prefer provia, had also good experience with sensia

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Yes I heard that Velvia 100 is a little more forgiving than the 50. Velvia is expensive where I live as well. Its about $13 a roll and at least $10 to develope it then to develope each slide its about $20 from there depending on sizes. I want to go with Velvia because my trip this summer to some US parks will show some of the best landscape features in the World and I want to be ready. I think only Australia and maybe Guilin China offer more extreme raw landscape images.

Oh Adamz, there are good deals on Velvia rolls on ebay they could ship. I'm pretty happy with Digital, but for extra special places I'd like to go film and digital.

Posted 3 years ago #
ChrisLange

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as someone still regularly shooting chromes, I can say this, use your center weighted or spot meter to make intelligent choices about tonal placement in conjunction with manual exposures, and you should have no problems.

but in all honesty, unless you're projecting, or getting cibachromes done, a good color neg will suit you just as well. Ektar is awesome for much of the same stuff as velvia, but if you really want the velvia look, then go for it. I still shoot it every now and then, but have found I prefer Astia quite a bit over Velvia.

Posted 3 years ago #
kanuck

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Thanks Chris thats good advice. I might try to see if I can find any Astia rolls to shoot now and if I like it enough, more for later when I take my trip. I know you are a big fan of black and white and I think Arches National Park and Bryce Canyon look great in black and white as well as in color. I decided to go with the Ilford HP5 Plus 400 and Kodak 400 Tmax for now. I am really enjoying the F100 I find its a big improvement over the F90x even and the perfect compliment to my D700.

Posted 3 years ago #
ithurtswhenipee

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I haven't shot with Velvia 50 yet, but I have a roll in the fridge though that I have been saving for the right occasion to try it out. Thanks for the exposure tips. I have shot some Kodak Ektar 100 negative film and it is awesome. So if you are looking for a less expensive alternative I highly recommend it. I made 25 MP scans of it that you wouldn't believe are negative film.

Posted 2 years ago #

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Shooting Velvia 50 and 100 on Nikon F100

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