Jump to content

Best 220 Color Negative film for landscapes and scanning


gene crumpler

Recommended Posts

Ditto on the Portra 400 UC, but there's something else to consider: If you're going to scan, then you'll get much better results with a 35mm chrome and a dedicated film scanner than with a MF neg and Epson 3200. the 3200 is nice, but no match for a dedicated film scanner. I've scaned 35mm Velvia 50 and produced very nice 20 x 30 prints.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dittoes on the Portra choices, and Fuji Reala is excellent too. Personally I have used

Agfa Optima 100 for gonzo prints, but in terms of scanning, Portra is currently my

preference. I love Supra 100 & 400 too. The Epson 3200 is a fine unit, and yes, I

compromised to get started. A MF film scanner would be sweet! You may find MF

shooting will help your 35mm technique, so don't give it up, maybe just shelve it for

a while?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

 

I use Portra 160VC & NC all the time - great results.

 

I'm not going to go into the pro's & cons of flatbed vs dedicated scanners any more than saying - a MF adaptor on a Nikon film scanner costs more than a Epson 3200 complete.

 

If you realy want the best scans get a Imacon drum scanner.

 

If you know what you're doing 13" prints will be no problem with the Epson 3200.

 

I have made lifesize prints off this scanner without problems.

 

Rubbish in rubbish out!!

 

 

Regards

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you telling me that you can still find Supra 100 and 400 in 120 format? I thought

it had been replaced by Royal Supra (born of the marriage between Royal Gold and

Supra films) more than a year ago. I liked Supra, and I can't find it anymore in

Montreal, nor can I Royal Supra. So far.

 

I am very satisfied with my Epson 3200 for MF. At least for prints up to A4. I don't

know for anything bigger.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using Supra 100 in 35mm. I've got a minolta scan dual which will get 2400dpi resolution. However, I've not made digital prints much over 8x10.5 with good results. The 35mm scans from the minolta just don't produce decent 13x19 size prints. My

general impression has been that negatives scan better than slides.

 

 

I've thought about using Velva, but the general wisdom is to shoot negative film if you are shooting for prints. I have no interest in slides, few have MF projectors, including me. My only interest is print making, color and B&W. I've been printing B&W for about 50 years and just got into color 3 years ago with the use of computers.

 

 

Negative films have more latitude, as I generally shot B&W MF without metering. I shot film for many years before I ever got a light meter. What my ultimate objective is to reduce the bulk and weight of equipment that I carry for long trips. My goal is to carry one hasselblad, two lenses and two backs and a tripod. I've been carrying both the blad, lenses, backs and a contax G, two lenses and it is just getting to be more than I want to deal with. The ideal is to use 100 film for color and B&W; setup, shoot B&W, switch magazines and shot color.

 

 

As to the scanner, I'm going to try an inexpensive scanner like the epson 3170/3200 to see if I really want to produce exhibition size color prints. My first love is B&W! If I really get into large color prints, I might consider a $2-3k film scanner, or an upscale digital back or camera-(I have a number of top-of-the-line nikon lenses). But at that point, I could just get large C prints for the ocassional 16x20.

 

I gave up on 35mm B&W about 4 years ago, when I was still struggling with 35mm tech pan to get so-called 4x5 quality. It suddenly dawned on me that I already had about 6 MF cameras and it hit me, why 35mm, Duh???(That rusty old engineering degree did kick in)

 

My web site- http://home.att.net/~nikonguy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gene: Like you, I've left 135-film (I wasn't satisfied). I carry a 503CW (+Metz 45CT-4 when needed), CF50-FLE, CFE80 and CF150 + tubes if needed. I use 2 A12 + A16 and E24 backs, WLF + 45 degree finder.

 

But I use Fujichrome Provia 100F and Astia 100(F) (+ some Kodak Ektachrome 100), and I'm satisfied (these films shall be easy to scan). I plan to buy an A3+ printer and an Epson 3170/3200/4870 scanner. I also plan to develope my own B&W-films, and scan them. I work mostly hand held, but I need a new tripod (want a light weigt Gitzo Carbon). I use a Nissin D4001i light meter for 2d+3d insident + flash and reflected metering, the only thing I miss is spot.

 

In the future I think I'll buy a 350mm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for the confusion above . . . gee whiz! I use Supra 100 & 400 for 35mm tasks, not 120 as was interpreted. I like Supra for 35mm only. Judging by the "pounce factor" a lot of you feel like it would be great as a 120 choice? Again apologies for my dangling participles or whatever . . . :-)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went by the local shop and the only thing they had in 220 was Kodak Portra 160. So that's what I'll be shooting with the next two weeks on our cruise through the Panama Canal.

 

I've shot a little Reala in 35mm and was pretty happy. It's about time for a large order from B&H, so I'll get some then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...