Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:09 am
I've been shooting Ektar 100 for about 6 months in 120 format. I've tried long exposure star trails, and it shows promise with good reciprocity.
Shots over water will definitely cause a blue cast to the scene. A KR 1.5 filter will help with this. It will also smooth the red's especially, making it very good for skin tones. I like to shoot this film with an ISO of 64 for day scenes. I find it boosts the contrast. Process normally. I will switch the ISO to 100 during low light and night scenes with my film camera.
Scanning Ektar - if your scanner has a Film Selection to pick from when Negatives are selected - and Ektar is not listed, or the old Ektar 25 is listed - Kodak suggests that you use the Portra 160VC or Portra 160NC. The VC will cause a more vivid output - and depending upon your taste - required very little or no post processing. I find the Portra 160NC 6x6 selection to my liking - allowing me some room in processing with CS2. I try to match up the end result with the film on a light table.
If I'm unsure and just want a good scan result - I use the VC 6x6, and pull back on the blue and green a tad in Curves.
I like the film, as far as a negative film goes. But frankly - Velvia still has my heart. I'm still pissed at Kodak pulling E200 in MF. The LAST great astro film is gone. No other film had the reciprocity, the red response for nebulae, than E200. I'm talking 2 hour exposures. Try a sunset with E200, and Ektar won't even touch it.
Igor