dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

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AbsolutelyN
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dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by AbsolutelyN » Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:18 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I thought I'd share the link to these film tests I did last year if anyone is interested - taken on 35mm film but applies to 5x4 just as well. Quite handy for understanding what kind of latitude you have to work with and the kind of colour changes you can encounter. I find most Kodak films seem to go magenta within two to three stops under. At the time I tested a wide range of films but could not get hold of Portra 160 at the time of running these tests, 160nc is going to be pretty close to the current emulsion. Amazingly both films here record some kind of image data at both extremes if you dig into the image with levels, though I doubt that data is very useful. Target is a Aztek CAT8, both films dev'd at the same time in same chemicals, scanned on a Howtek 4500.

https://plus.google.com/u/1/114325678117355564773/posts

Hope someone find them of use/interesting. Feedback / comments most welcome - do the colour casts in under and over exposure match with other peoples experiences?

Thanks
Tristan Campbell
http://www.tristancampbell.co.uk

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Trail Images
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Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by Trail Images » Sat Oct 27, 2012 11:35 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks for sharing these informative tests and comparisons, Tristan. To answer your question, I've not used either of these films yet. However, as I burn through my remaining Velvia 50 stock, I will be there fairly soon I suspect.

Paul Dunning
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Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by Paul Dunning » Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:32 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Very useful, I've been thinking of giving Ektar a try so this is very useful, thanks for posting.

Paul.

Dave Tolcher

Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by Dave Tolcher » Tue Nov 20, 2012 8:12 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Very useful - thanks. So how do you expose your Ektar ? I just picked up some sheet film cheap on ebay and wanted to give it a try. I notice from your blog that you suggest the densest shadow you want detail at -2 for portra - does this still apply and what do you get +8 ?

Thanks

Dave

AbsolutelyN
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Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by AbsolutelyN » Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:54 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Hi Dave

Yes I'd still use -2 with Ektar also for the absolutely darkest area of the image I wanted to preserve detail. Not sure what you mean regarding +8. Typically I've always over exposed colour negs (such as Pro160, Portra) by a stop or sometimes 2 stops as I like how over exposure mutes the colours and fills the scene with light - you just need to be careful not to do this with Etkar.

Thanks
Tristan

Dave Tolcher

Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by Dave Tolcher » Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:32 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks tristan, you have answered my question, I was worried about what happened to the highlights as my limited experience with 35mm ektar suggested that I should think more slide film than negative.

Dave

AbsolutelyN
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:53 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Re: dynamic range of ektar and portra 160 - test results

Post by AbsolutelyN » Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:42 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Yes more like slide film regarding getting your exposure right. But as long as you don't overexpose I've had no issues with highlights burning out.

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