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.
I met Peter Gowland when he was making my wide 4″ x 5″ TLR some years back at the young age of 91- I found my many conversations with him to be very engaging and creative. I have just learned today that he passed away on March 17th. On behalf of the FR I wish to send our condolences to Alice and the entire Gowland family… Peter will be very missed.
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!
Click on the audio logo to listen to a rant on the future of film scanners. As mentioned in the audio, contact Kodak and let them know you want your $500 dedicated film scanner now!
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!
After reading this post remember that it is always 5 o’clock somewhere so have a stiff drink ready…
I have yet to get the “official” release from Fuji but from what I gather the following is true:
Discontinued:
Velvia 50 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100F 4×5 quickload
Provia 100F 4×5 quickload
Color 160s and 160c: 35, 120, 220, 4×5, 8×10, and 4×5 quickload
Color 800z: 35mm 5pack, 120 and 220
T64 in all formats
Neopan 400 in 120
Not gone only new packaging:
Provia 100F 4×5 and 8×10 now in 20 sheet boxes
Provia 100F 120 now in 5-packs
Arcos 100 120 now in 5-packs
Arcos 100 4×5 now in 20 sheet boxes.
Velvia 50, 100, 100F 4×5 and 8×10 now in 20 sheet boxes
Velvia 50, 100, 100F now in 5-packs
From what I gather this is effective immediately. So what does this mean?… 1. get a freezer and buy a lot of what you love and 2. Support companies like Kodak as they are quickly becoming the best option for the future of film…. did I mention they just released Ektar 4×5 and 8×10 sheet film? Fuji still has many amazing films so don’t despair…
One final thought… discontinuing of certain films may be ok in the long run as I mentioned in a recent interview with Scott Sheppard
Executive Producer/Anchor of Inside Analog Radio … as there are currently too many films offered for the existing size of the film-shooting market… I suspect that this attrition process will continue until we have hit a point at which each company produces their “best” films only and in a quanity that can be sustained financially by film-shooting photographers.
If anyone has additional info please share…
Inspired by a recent comment on the Figital Revolution Facebook page, this Audio Blog explores the concept of Figital and the Figital Revolution. Click on the Audio logo to give a listen.
So the custom case I ordered from Uncommon arrived in record time and the printing is very, very nice. The design of the case is one of the best I have seen but there is a deal breaker… the case is too tight to use with my screen protective film. I have tried several types and they all have a tendency to bubble the clear film when the lower portion of the case is attached. This is a real bummer. I did try the case with Invisible Shield by Zagg installed on the screen and it worked fine but I really don’t like the feel or look of Invisible Shield so I took it off. I even called the folks at Uncommon to see if they had a solution and they said they were aware of the problem and just recommended using the Invisible Shield as that seems to work with their case.
So where do this leave us / me… if you don’t use a screen protective film on your iPhone or if you use and like Invisible Shield and want a custom printed case then I’d give this case very high marks… but for my needs it is a real disappointment.
I am always perfecting my carry solution with regards to my camera gear so by extension this has to affect my iPhone as it has a camera too… right?! Ok this may be a bit of a stretch but this is a very cool service by Uncommon where you can make a custom case for your cell phone printed with all of your artworks and designs. The online interface is very easy to use and setting up files to meet their specs is quite simple. The cost is a bit high but not crazy. I have just uploaded the image to the right and I will write again when the case arrives with my thoughts on its quality in both durability and printing as well as their turnaround time.
Viva la Revolution- Stephen
Note: I got a note from Uncommon several hours after I drafted this post that my order was finished and had just shipped… that’s fast!
iPhone Software Recommendation: I find this panoramic software for my iPhone 3Gs quite good…Panorama Application by i Fone Guys, $9.99… made the image below this afternoon at one of my favorite places to eat in VT… Sissy’s Kitchen in Middletown Springs. The image is made up of 4 individual frames which were merged automatically in the software on the iPhone… very cool and great for web work!
Let the testing begin!
Figital Revolution 