Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

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Paul Dunning
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Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:17 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Hi All,

I was just looking at the data sheets for provia 100F, velvia 100 and velvia 100F, provia appears to have a dynamic range of about 5 stops but using the same methodology I used to calculate for provia I get about 3.3 stops for V100F and 3.7 stops for V100, can this be right or are the graphs wrong for these films?

For some reason I’d assumed that all the 100 speed films would be similar but I was astonished to see the two velvia 100s coming out with less range than velvia 50.

Basically I’m trying to decide which films to stock up on for a trip to Scotland at the end of April, I’ve got plenty of velvia 50 and a couple of boxes of provia but I need to stock up on film for more contrasty situations, will take a few boxes of colour neg (portra 160 and maybe Fuji 160NS) but was also thinking of velvia 100F for longer exposures and a bit more range than velvia 50 in situations where I think the colours of provia might be too muted. The data sheets have me confused though :?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Paul.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:53 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

OK, scrub all that, me being dumb (what's new I hear you say :lol: ), after looking again I find that velvia 100 and 100F both come out at around 4 stops , so about the same as velvia 50.

Apologies.
Paul.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by dave_whatever » Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:01 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I thought you must have been reading something wrong!

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Charles Twist » Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:09 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

V100 is OK for strong, unreal colours whereas V100F is more natural and IMHO a good complement to V50 for the reasons you state. Astia 100F is a good choice for wider dynamic range.
Regards,
Charles

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:31 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks Charles,

I've now ordered some 100F to try. Astia has me intrigued but I assume the only option is to get it from the US. Badger Graphic and B&H both list it, anywhere else worth looking at ?

Paul.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Charles Twist » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:11 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Once again the UK gets shafted by Fuji... I think their plan is to shut down as much as they can and centralise to reduce costs. If that means continued access to film, then I'm happy to order from Germany. Maco has Astia 100F: http://www.macodirect.de/fuji-astia-100 ... -1433.html
A few years back, Fuji were talking about discontinuing this line. Thankfully, they seem to have recanted. Anyone any news?
Regards,
Charles

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:28 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks Charles,

I love buying stuff from German retailers, they always include a little bag of Haribo :D

Astia arrived from Maco today and I'll definitely use them again (unlike a certain UK supplier of Kodak film which I'm getting increasingly annoyed with).

Paul.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by dennis » Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:27 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Paul,
Silly question, but how do you pay for items from Germany? i.e. phone & credit card, send Euros, whatever? Thanks Dennis.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:02 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

dennis wrote:Paul,
Silly question, but how do you pay for items from Germany? i.e. phone & credit card, send Euros, whatever? Thanks Dennis.
Dennis,
For Maco I just used their paypal option, other retailers I've dealt with I've generally used credit/debit card or paypal. No real difference to dealing with any other online retailer. It is a rarity though, most of the time I can find somebody in the UK to supply my needs.

Paul.

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by timparkin » Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:52 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

You'll be intrigued to know that DxO tested the dynamic range of velvia and came up with over 11 stops (using the same techniques they used to analyse there digital cameras). My own tests support this.
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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:22 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

timparkin wrote:You'll be intrigued to know that DxO tested the dynamic range of velvia and came up with over 11 stops (using the same techniques they used to analyse there digital cameras). My own tests support this.
That's astonishing, but for the average photographer what does it mean?

Paul

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by timparkin » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:20 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Paul Dunning wrote:
timparkin wrote:You'll be intrigued to know that DxO tested the dynamic range of velvia and came up with over 11 stops (using the same techniques they used to analyse there digital cameras). My own tests support this.
That's astonishing, but for the average photographer what does it mean?
It means that if you see some too dense shadows (i.e. that are -5 or -6 stops or possibly more) you should still take the shot and send it off to be drum scanned :-) Also, there is usually a little bit more in the highlights than you might expect.. How much I can't really say at the moment as I still need to do a proper test.

There are also better drum scanners than I have (I think I can only get about 8 or 9 stops out of velvia 50).

Tim
Waiting for the developing bill - 2 hours (and it's so small now!)

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by Paul Dunning » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:49 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

timparkin wrote:It means that if you see some too dense shadows (i.e. that are -5 or -6 stops or possibly more) you should still take the shot and send it off to be drum scanned :-) Also, there is usually a little bit more in the highlights than you might expect.. How much I can't really say at the moment as I still need to do a proper test.

There are also better drum scanners than I have (I think I can only get about 8 or 9 stops out of velvia 50).

Tim
Ah yes, I'd forgotten about drum scanning.

Paul

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by dave_whatever » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:19 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Are you selling your grads then Tim? :wink:

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Re: Velvia 100F dynamic range confusion.

Post by timparkin » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:34 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

dave_whatever wrote:Are you selling your grads then Tim? :wink:
You could get away without them for some work but it still looks better with them :-) I use them for my colour neg work too (although substitute one stop less soft instead of hard typically
Waiting for the developing bill - 2 hours (and it's so small now!)

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