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Re: [OM] Velvia speed?

Subject: Re: [OM] Velvia speed?
From: "Ken Norton" <image66@xxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 11:48:09 -0500
>I'm about to try Velvia for the first time, but am confused by the speed
>ratings I've heard being used. I know Fuji rates it at ISO 50. Yet I've
seen
>mention in several discussions, magazines, etc that it is often shot at ISO
>40
>or even 32, which seems to go against wisdom that slide film should not be
>overexposed. Is there something special about Velvia as opposed to regular
>slide film?


Velvia and Microsoft Windows have become popular "whipping boys" lately.  It
has become quite fashionable to gripe about velvia being a "disneychrome"
and what horrible things it does to skin tones, etc.

I reluctantly switched from Fuji 50D, which I carefully aged, to Velvia
because of availability problems.  Honestly, I could get super-saturation
with the 50D yet retain more shadow detail.  The Velvia was sharper though
and had less apparent grain.

If you want eye-popping color and plan on making enlargements for
art-prints, etc., I would recommend the Velvia being shot right at ISO 50.
The color saturation pays off once the interneg is blown up to 16x20 or
poster sized prints.

Until recently, I typically shot the Velvia at 40 or even 32, but have
"rediscovered" the joys of the saturation possible at 50.  It comes down to
one fact though--shadow detail.  Expose for the shadows!  If you are out in
Sunny-16 conditions, you will want to overexpose by 1/3 or 2/3 of a stop as
the shadows will block up on you.  Anytime you are not shooting direct
sunlight with extremes in exposure values, I'd say glue the ISO dial to the
50 position.

As always YMMV.

Ken N.


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