Under the label Fujichrome, Fujifilm is still selling several types of slide film and one of those is Velvia 100. Let’s have a look at some pictures taken with this film under varying conditions.
Processing (E-6) and scanning (Noritsu) was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.
After having used Velvia 100, Provia 100F and Ektachrome 100, I have to say Velvia 100 is my least favorite of them, but why is that the case?
First I found the exposure latitude of this Velvia to not exactly be great, meaning I didn’t find it suitable for high contrast scenes. As you can see from some of the samples, in high contrast scenes you may even have both, blown out highlights and blacks without any details, at the same time. Therefore I find it more suitable for shooting low contrast scenes.
Colors were also a bit unpredictable. Some may call them vivid, personally I found them a bit weird. While I was told this film produces nice colors at night, with ISO 100 you are limited to tripod work here and I didn’t get to try that. If I get another roll, that is what I will try next.
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The colors are indeed slightly wierd. But you’re a great photographer nevertheless. Makes me want to try some analogue camera one day.
Beautiful photos Bastian, but there should be a lot more contrast, and a lot higher shoulder at the highlights. You are right, one can get into trouble when shooting in extreme contrast situations, like in winter morning sun or late afternoon in autumn.
Sometimes modern lenses can look quite weird when paired with film but the 24-70 actually does a really good job
Personally, I think some of the Nikon AF-S lenses offer peak rendering, better than the latest, overoptimized lenses.
But maybe this is just a sign I am getting old.
I find this comment really interesting – and I think I’m with you. You should write an article about your point of view of this with some samples for argument. Great comment.
No I couldn’t agree more. I sold my Sigma 24-70/2.8 in less than a year for exactly that reason
Used that Film in Canada (end October 2003) with my Nikon Fm2 / F5 ( Sigma EX 15mm f2,8 , Nikkors 24mm f2.8 AIS and 35mm f2 , AIS 50mm f1.8 , 105mm f2.5 AIS and Sigma EX Apo f4 100-300mm) . I liked the Velvia 100 but quite a bit less than the original Velvia 50 . It was also the last time I used another old love Kodachrome 25, Kodak stopped developing those in Laussanne. Good old time of film.
This looks like any Velvia I’ve ever seen. There’s a nasty green cast to everything. I’d question the processing. Any Velvia I’ve shot (granted quite a few years ago) was clean, but very saturated. The Velvia 50 was originally meant to be the Fuji answer to Kodachrome. It did emphasize the deep greens, but never an overall color cast. Surely not an emulsion for photographing people either. Too much saturation.
Sorry – … looks “Unlike” any Velvia ….
I agree these photos don’t look like my experience with the stock. Try shifting the colour balance significantly, it looks all wrong. And desaturated to boot.
But yeah the stock has very little latitude.
The way I feel with Velvia 50, 100 or Provia is – how did it look to my eyes when I was “there”. Positive emulations are the closest to my eyes that achieve that memory of “being there” in that light, that moment. Then I adjust the light in Photoshop, or Lightroom or both until I get the curves, white point, highlights, shadows – whatever to achieve that. It’s a lot of work but it’s rewarding. Film is different to digital. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. All of Bastian’s photos are masterful. Just the colour needs more work with these positives. Just a bit of constructive critique. I always enjoy your photography and the feedback. When I edit and publish on Flickr for example, months later I find a fault or an improvement and republish. Perfection is not guaranteed with film. As long as the image is moving and creates a feeling that is satisfactory. Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing 👍
There’s something very wrong with the scanner of the lab that you process your films with. The colors of the photos you’ve shown do not remotely resemble the characteristics of a Velvia film. The same could be said about your previous Ektachrome film.
Unlike negatives, you can use a white LED to backlit your Velvia and Ektachrome. You’ll be able to see what your film supposed to look like.
Totally agree. Noritsu scanners would always make almost every film to have a strong yellowish tint. I’d vote for a Hasselbald X5, or just do it yourself with modern digital cameras.