colormeter and new fuji-films

[stefan_marquardt]

hi,

now I was just about to by myself a colormeter (for architectural

interiors shooting chromes) when I read about the new

fuji-chrome-films with that 4th layer (that you get with their

neg-film since some time).

Does this mean, that you dont need a colormeter any longer to get the

cc´s right?(I am puzzeld - also because I have never actualy worked

with their neg-films)

thanks for your advise - regards stefan marquardt

[ellis_vener_photography]

No, it doesn't and here is why: The 4th layer technology in Fuji Films only works in mixed light situations. Also only one of the new Fuji transparency films (probably the Astia 100F) uses he 4th layer technology. And these are daylight balanced films: not all architecture work, especially interior work, has a daylight component in the lighting mix.

[stefan_marquardt]

thanks ellis,

do you use your colormeter when you work with colornegs under mixed light?

(Is there anything I should watch out for, getting a used colometer on ebay?)

stefan

[tim_atherton2]

velvia 100F as well, but not exactly what i use for interiors....

[ellis_vener_photography]

No.

[tim_atherton2]

No to Velvia for interiors? Or no to velvia including the 4th layer?

 

BTW, Astia is one of my favourite architectural films these days. Let's just hope it really does come out in hseet sizes

[neil_poulsen1]

It's interesting. Norman McGrath owns one, but rarely uses a colormeter.

[stefan_marquardt]

I am just switching back from provia 100F to astia. they are selling astia near its end-date very cheap here in germany. I just ordered a lot of astia when I heard about the new emulsion coming out propably after the summer.

Considering the price of the colormeter and the filters I am not quite sure if I want to invest that money. I was hoping the new films would make my life/work a bit easier without it.

[psartman]

Colot meters aren't really necessary or all that useful with color

neg film. After years of anal testing and calibration of Minolta and

Gossen color meters with transparency film I started shooting

neg film almost exclusively. You can get good or better color

correction in a conventional or digital darkroom workfolow with

unfiltered negatives. You have to be a really good printer or

Photoshop guy to do this, but it's a lot easier than dealing with

CC gels on location. Plus, no filters in the optical path. A tip:

daylight balanced neg film looses sensitivity under artificial

sources. You have to give the films more exposure. I typically

rate Fuji 800 ISO color neg films at 320 or 250 under tungsten or

flourescent illumination. Underexposed negs are difficult or

impossible to color correct in scans or prints. Fuji 4th layer films

do help with mixed light, but the previous post is correct that they

still need substantial post-shoot correction. One more tip: no

color meter works out of the box for transparency film without

testing. They typically under correct in the magenta-green axis.

You need to calibrate and interpret the results for your own film

and preferences. Once done, they are indespensible for that type

of work