I feel I’ve been neglecting this blog. My three (occasional) readers must be deeply distressed by my recent inactivity, so I’m happy to inform you that I’ll be updating more frequently. I recently wrapped up my summer wedding bonanza, so I’ll update with some photos from the last couple ceremonies soon.
Right now, however, we talk film – specifically, slide film.
I love slide film. I’m not even sure why, but on larger formats (6×7 and above) the look of the slides held up to a light is just magical. I know color negative rules the already-greatly-diminished film landscape, but there’s an absolutely indescribable quality to a large slide negative (positive?) that no digital photo will ever capture, dynamic range be damned!
I finally got around to shipping my slides out to Praus in Rochester, and they did a great job like always. These were from the same trip to Tifft that I posted about more than a month ago. 6×7 is much more cost-effective than 4×5, and Velvia 50 is still available in the format, as opposed to 4×5, where one can only buy its much-maligned 100 speed brother. How do they look? Pretty good! (With a caveat.)
I pretty much nailed the exposure on these guys, and hit the focus on most, but I wasn’t as precise as I’d like to be. That had, in fact, been a consistent problem with the RB67 – I found it difficult to focus precisely with the top-mounted screen. As luck would have it, I found a solution (albeit after these were taken.)
Turns out the RB67 has a little pop-up magnifier hidden away in its viewfinder. With that bad boy, I should be able to more perfectly compose the shots I’m looking for. I’m still a little bit suspicious of the 127mm lens’s quality, but I’m willing to give it a few more rolls before I make a final decision.
Comparing these slides to the Ektar negatives I posted a month ago is almost embarrassing. The dynamic range might be smaller, but the images are undeniably better.
More posts to come. I swear! Stick around. I’ll make it worth your while.
Na zdrowie.
Erik Wahlstrom 