RE: [APML] Film advice sought

[Jon Kolb <jkolb@mindport.com>]

Anthony,

There are other folks on the list who are better at film queries, but here's
my take on your question.

>       I would appreciate feedback on the following films, particularly
> as it relates to reciprocity, for I have a little project in 
> mind which
> will require 3-4 hr exposures from a site with about mag 7 skies and I
> would like to get the best bang for the buck ...

It would help to know what your targets are going to be.  3-4 hours is a
long time - is this a star trails project?
 
>       Fuji Super HG 1600
Never tried it.  Probably grainy at that speed.

>       Ilford Delta 3200
Never tried it. Probably grainy at that speed.

>       Fuji Superia 400
No red response anymore after Fuji "improved" it.

>       Fruji Superia X-tra 800
No red response anymore after Fuji "improved" it.
 
>       I have tried in vain to acquire Kodak's Superia 400 here locally
> without any success but have managed to find a source on eBay 
> with lots
> of rolls up for sale. I will acquire a few rolls of Kodak's Ektachrome
> 100S and 200S.

I think you mean Supra 400.  Beware of the expiration date on film bought on
eBay. Try www.bhphotovideo.com for this and lots of other films.  Kodak
Ektachrome E200 is a superior slide film for emission nebulae, but is weaker
in blue and is not the best choice for reflection nebulae.  Fuji Provia-F
400 records blue very well, and is not bad in red, either.

In print films, Kodak Royal Gold 200, especially when hypersensitized, is
excellent.  RG400 is also good, and Fuji Super HQ 100 (available in grocery
stores) works well unhypered in fast lenses, and works great when hypered in
just about any instrument.

If you're shooting star trails, Fuji Provia-F 100 (slides) or Fuji Reala 100
(prints) at f/5.6 are excellent.  E200 isn't a bad star trails film, either,
and I suspect RG200 would work pretty good, too.
 
>       The camera gear involved is my Canon EOS 3 and a 28-105 mm zoom
> (set at around 80-85 mm).

Without knowing much about Canon, let me ask how you are going to keep the
shutter open for 4 hours - will the battery last that long? You should
probably think about taping that zoom lens in position at the focal length
you want, along with the focus ring.  Zooms have a habit of zooming during
long exposures.

>        As an aside, how are prints made from slides with respect to
> resolution, color etc? Are they almost equivalent to using print film?

That's a good question for one of the darkroom guys, or one of the
professional photographers on the list.

Sincerely,
Jon Kolb
Adventures in Astrophotography
http://home.datawest.net/jkolb/
jkolb@mindport.com

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