Velvia 100 versions

[ed_hurst]

Following an interesting thread about Velvia 100 on the Pentax 6x7

forum, it emerged that there are actually two different versions of

Velvia 100. I have done some digging around (including speaking to

the technical department of FujiFilm UK), and found out the

following. It may not be the full story, but is my latest

understanding...

 

One of the Velvia 100s is a new emulsion, Velvia 100F, which is being

distributed in many countries (incl. UK and US), and incorporates new

technology, such as the new colour layers. It is said to be more

saturated than the Provia 100F, but not exactly a 100 version of the

original Velvia 50. It does not quite have the level of saturation

of Velvia 50, but perhaps more importantly it does not have quite the

same colour "character" of the Velvia 50. In essence, it is supposed

to be saturated but truthful in colours.

 

The other emulsion seems only to be distributed in the Far East, and

is called Velvia 100 (with no "F"). This film is not such new

technology (hence why many country operations of Fuji did not take it

up), and is more like a 100 version of the original Velvia 50 in its

colour characteristics.

 

Has anyone done side by side tests of these two versions? If so with

what results?

 

I am interested in trying the Velvia 100 (with no "F"), but live in

the UK. Can anyone suggest a way in which it might be obtainable?

Perhaps there are companies/shops in Japan that might ship it? If

so, can this method avoid x-rays during shipment?

 

All help/advice gratefully received!

[neil_lupin]

Ed, I'm UK based and haven't been able to gt my hands on any 100F yet - would you recommend it over 50 / Provia 100F for travel photography, cityscapes, landscapes etc where that extra stop is needed,but Provia is a bit muted at times?

[Guest]

7dayshop.com sent me some 100F a couple of weeks ago. It's still sitting in the fridge, though.

[ed_hurst]

Hi there,

 

So far, I've only been able to get it through 7day shop .com as well.

 

Re. travel photography, I have tried a few rolls so far on landscapes, and have found it to be a very good alternative to the Provia 100F. The colours are certainly more saturated. I've also pushed a couple of rolls by 1 stop. Now this was not a controlled test, and it was only a couple of rolls, but my early findings are that it takes a 1 stop push very well indeed.

 

But I'd still appreciate help/advice in getting hold of some of the Velvia 100 (without the "F")!

[steven_clark]

As I understand it the difference between Velvia 100f and Velvia 100 is not that the F is neccesarily a better technology, but that the F corrects some of the color balance issues of Velvia 50 while Velvia 100 tries to preserve the same color balance as 50 but use the faster speed and better grain technology of 100f. As for Velvia 100 it's pretty much available only in Japan.

[steven_clark]

<p><a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005L88">I managed to find one of the better previous threads on this topic.</a> Apparently Velvia 100f tries to be a little bit more even handed on color balance than Velvia 50 but still have the same general high-saturation, just without so much emphasis on green and red. Velvia 100 looks like it keeps the same color biases of Velvia 50 and then ratchets up the saturation yet another notch.</p>

<p>One way to think of it is Velvia 100f is Velvia 50 upgraded to RMS 8 and ISO 100 and "fixed". Velvia 100 on the other hand is Velvia 50 upgraded and exaggerated a bit.</p>

[r.t. dowling]

I tend to think of Velvia 100F as an improved version of Provia 100F -- less "pepper grain" and more vibrant colors. It is quite different from Velvia 50. Velvia 100 (sans F) sounds like it is more similar to the original Velvia. I wish it was available in the states.

[ilkka_nissila]

Oh my. So you guys actually want a Velvia which is more Velvia than the original? I hope the 100F replaces all other versions or else that people start shooting digital, so that I don't have to see any of those greens no more. :-)

[david_henderson]

Can't understand the difficulty in getting hold of Velvia 100F.

Speedgraphic shipped some to me 2/3 weeks ago and they

deliver in 24 hours.

 

For UK readers there's an interesting article in October's Outdoor

Photography in which a group of landscape luminaries including

Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite test Velvia 100F against Velvia

50 and Provia 100F and show you the results - which of course

are exactly the same as if Joe Soap had done the testing.

 

Call me a cynic, but I've got a freezer full of Velvia 50.

[steven_clark]

The difficulty is in getting Velvia 100 not Velvia 100f. The two are different.

[upscan]

The claims for Velvia 100F are repeated over and over: finer grain, corrected color. The problem seems to be that everyone seems to be repeating manufacturer's hype over and over. I have thus far read very few opinions based on hands-on experience with Velvia 100F and those seem not too favourable. I am not ready to buy on hype, remembering that the same hype was practiced on the first batches of Provia 100F which were a disappointment and which had to be re-tooled by Fuji to get the colour right. If you have links to photos with Velvia 100F, -minus the gaudy filters, those would be much appreciated.

[steve_unsworth1]

Not sure if you can judge anything from a web image, but here are some Velvia 100F links..

<p>

<a href="http://www.steveunsworth.co.uk/Albums/Indre_aug_2003_colour/pages/03CR00902.htm">here</a>

</p> <p>

<a href="http://www.steveunsworth.co.uk/Albums/Indre_aug_2003_colour/pages/03CR00905.htm">here</a>

</p> <p>

and <a href="http://www.steveunsworth.co.uk/Albums/Indre_aug_2003_colour/pages/03CR00403.htm">here</a>

</p> <p>

In you go to <a href="http://www.steveunsworth.co.uk/Albums/Indre_aug_2003_colour/index.htm">this page</a> all of the pages that begin '03CR' are Velvia 100F - if you put the mouse over a thumbnail you'll see the image name.

</p>

[vitus]

Fuji's official comparison between Velvia 100F, Velvia 100 and Velvia: http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/ppg/velvia-graph.html

 

...and with other lines of reversal firm: http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/ppg/positioning.html

 

Unfortunately, they are in Japanese only.

[tree]

<p>Here is a stand alone version of the rough translation I did of the Fujifilm Japan comparison table of Velvia 100, 100F, and 50. This was first posted to photo.net in a thread linked earlier.</p>

 

<a href="http://www.dreamersrealm.net/tree/velvia100">http://www.dreamersrealm.net/tree/velvia100</a>.