kodak

Something for the Holidays

by EveNSteve

The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography, Fourth Edition is a must-have for every serious photographer… period.  An earlier edition was a constant resource for me while at RIT and now this newer edition is my Xmas gift to myself this year… it is expensive but well worth it. It is quite thick and full of very useful content on just about every photographic topic imaginable from film to digital and beyond… and if the heat bills get too high this winter I can burn it to stay warm… or my wife could throw it at me to knock some sense into me or perhaps I could learn something about this wonderful medium we all love… either way it will be my constant companion for the dark winter months here in VT. Be sure to add this gem to your holiday wish-list today!

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

LINK to Amazon

New Kodak Portra 400 Review Part 4: Conclusion.

by EveNSteve

New Kodak Portra 400

Click on the audio play button to listen to my final thoughts on this new film offering by Kodak.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Kodak New Portra 400 Review Part 3a: 3200!

by EveNSteve

The last vote… each of these 400 speed films at 3200! The only light in the room is the 40 watt compact florescent in the lamp behind Eve… talk about crappy light!

All negatives were scanned on an Imacon Scanner as a 3F linear file with no sharpening… essentially a RAW scan.

All images were processed exactly the same in Photoshop. All images were captured with my Nikon FM3a and a 50mm f1.2 AI lens… in this case at F 1.2… bit slow on the shutter speed… hand held. Both files were made so the film edge would read black.

Tell every photographer you know to vote on this as the results will be very informative for our Figital community and will be covered in my fourth and final post on this review on Novemember 23, 2010… vote now!!

Vote Now!!!!

Kodak New Portra 400 Review Part 3: Usable EI Range

by EveNSteve

How low can you go!

As promised here are example images of the new Kodak Portra 400 film with a bit of a twist… you get to vote… again! There are two different films shown, both films are a 400 speed color negative material… one of them is the new Kodak Portra 400. Which do you like? These scans represent the outer edge for a 400 speed film… EI 25 and 50 as well as 1600! In the last post here on FR you are voting on EI 100 and box speed 400- if you have not voted in that post yet please do now:

https://figitalrevolution.com/2010/11/17/kodak-new-portra-400-review-part-2-skin-tones/

I will use the information gathered from both of these posts and your votes along with additional testing I am running for my final thoughts in Part 4 which will be next week.

All negatives were scanned on an Imacon Scanner as a 3F linear file with no sharpening… essentially a RAW scan.

All images were processed exactly the same in Photoshop. All images were captured with my Nikon FM3a and a 50mm f1.2 AI lens.

Tell every photographer you know to vote on this as the results will be very informative for our Figital community and will be covered in my fourth and final post on this review on Novemember 23, 2010… vote now!!

Be sure to Vote now!!!!


Kodak New Portra 400 Review Part 2: Skin Tones

by EveNSteve

As promised here are example images of the new Kodak Portra 400 film with a bit of a twist… you get to vote! There are two different films shown, both films are a 400 speed color negative material… one of them is the new Kodak Portra 400. Which do you like? Both films have two examples images provided- one at box speed and one using a popular 2 stop overexposure. I have also provided a crop detail of each image at both the 100 and 400 speed settings.

All negatives were scanned on an Imacon Scanner as a 3F linear file with no sharpening… essentially a RAW scan.

All images were processed exactly the same in Photoshop. All images were captured with my Nikon FM3a and a 50mm f1.2 AI lens.

Tell every photographer you know to vote on this as the results will be very informative for our Figital community and will be covered in my fourth and final post on this review on Novemember 23, 2010… vote now!!

So which do you like??!! Vote Now!!

New Kodak Porta 400 Review Part 1

by EveNSteve

As promised my review of the NEW Kodak Portra 400 speed film. Click on the audio button to listen to Part 1.

Technical Info on sample images below:

  • New Kodak Portra 400, 35mm.
  • Scanned on an Imacon Scanner, no sharpening applied
  • Photoshop adjustments basic to include levels and spotting.
New Kodak Portra 400, EI 400. Click for a larger image.
New Kodak Porta 400, EI 400. Click for a larger image.
New Kodak Porta 400, EI 400. 5"x 5" crop from 20" x 30".

Also here is a recent artwork of mine made using the Kodak Porta 400 and the Overlapping Frame Panoramic Technique I outlined here some time ago… but now with a tweak!… Print size up to 32″ x 90″!

Cape Cod, 2010. Copyright Stephen Schaub 2010

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

And The Box of Ektar 4×5 Goes To…

by EveNSteve
Bow Not Included

After reviewing all comments regarding my previous post:

Test Drive Kodak Ektar 4×5 Now!

The box of 4×5 Kodak Ektar goes to: Leland Smith of Euless TX! I chose him for a few reasons:

1. He has experience with 4×5 film and view camera systems.

2. He has shot other 4×5 color negative material and as a result will have a good frame of reference for comparisions.

3. And at 81 years of age there has to be some wisdom to pass along…

If you want to read all comments be sure to look under both Kodak Ektar 4×5 posts as some readers posted under the first article and not the second.

Also, for clarification I do not know Mr. Smith and have never met him and my decision to “award” him this film is my choice and my choice alone.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Test Drive Kodak Ektar 4×5 Now!

by EveNSteve

I have one box of 10 sheets 4” x 5” of the new Kodak Ektar left over from my test / review here on FR and I have decided to try something new and exciting! Let me know why I should send this box to YOU…

  • In 50 words or less in the comment section of this post tell me why you would like this box of Kodak Ektar 4” x 5” film… if you have a web project you would like me to look at for examples just post that in the comment section as well.
  • On Sunday March 28, 2010 at 6PM EST I will close the “contest” and I will read all posts and decided which lucky photographer will get this box of Kodak Ektar 4” x 5” film.
  • I will contact the “winner” on Sunday night to get your postal mailing address… I will pay the postage USPS Priority Mail. This contest is available to any photographer world-wide who shoots 4” x 5”.
  • Once you have shot the film and processed it (afraid you have to pay for this part) all I ask is that you send in to FR a scan or two of your favorite images with a brief summary of your thoughts and I will post them here on FR!

Just for clarification… I have no relationship with Kodak and this “contest” is entirely my idea. If your photographs suck with this film I am not responsible for their suckiness. No animals, reptiles, or small household appliances were injured in the making of this “contest.” Please only send images that can be posted on FR without a mandatory visit from the FBI to my door.

I hope in the future to make this a regular thing here on FR where, once a review is completed, I can share the balance of materials for further valuable input from comrades here on FR.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Kodak Ektar 4″ x 5″ Film Test and Review

by EveNSteve

As promised here is  quick test and review of the new Kodak Ektar Sheet film… click on the audio logo to listen to a quick review… but in a nut shell, if you love Ektar in 35 and 120 you’re going to love it in LF.

My thanks to Don Ross in helping make this article possible.

Test image: Full size 24″ x 30″… crop represents a 4″ x 4″ section from the full size print.

Kodak Ektar 4x5 Sheet Film Test
Kodak Ektar 4x5 Detail Crop

Scanners The Achilles Heel Part 2

by EveNSteve

Click on the audio logo to listen to a brief rant on the future of film scanners… Part 2!! As mentioned in the audio, contact Kodak and let them know you want your $500 dedicated film scanner now! Also, if you went to a photographic institution- such as RIT (Rochester Institue of Technology) or SCAD (Savannah School of Art and Design)- please send this information to them as well… this directly effects the choices their students will have as working photographers.

LINK TO PART 1: Scanners The Achilles Heel

PS-Two great methods to let your voice be heard on this important topic:

Kodak CMO Jeffery Hayzlett on Twitter: @JeffreyHayzlett

Kodak Scanner Email Contact: kprodigital@kodak.com

If you can, do both!…let your voice be heard!… remember it is our medium! Please reference this article and the $500 dedicated film scanner in both your tweets and in your emails… pass this along to as many photographers as you know…if you get it as a tweet… retweet it and pass it on!