Alternatives to Astia

Kev M

Kev M

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What alternatives are there to Astia in terms of good skin tones? Prefereably slide film and if possible an ISO400 option for when the light isnt' quite enough.
 
Don't know having a look on 7dayshop website the one for skin tones is the Kodak Porta range which has either a 160iso, 400iso & 800iso. The other difference is Porta is print film where as Astia is slide.

Thats looking at the 120 roll film stuff.

I have used Porta once in a studio set up and the skin tones were very nice
 
I've got a load of Provia400, not bad stuff but I'm after something a little less saturated. Portra is OK but seeing as I'm scanning not printing it is nice to be able to hold a slide up to the light and have a look.
 
I've used Provia several times, slightly different than Astia but I got great results.
 
raathistle said:
why not astia Kev?
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Because Astia will soon be discontinued, or Fuji are stopping importing it as they simply don't shift enough of it in this country.:'(
 
Negative film isn't THAT bad, you already shoot B&W negatives and I personally don't have that hard a time holding up colour negs and being able to see what's on there, though yes, slides are MUCH nicer for that.

Maybe a trip to Japan is needed?
 
Kev, what about a bulk order from the states? A quick look at adorama says buying 50 120 rolls plus shipping works out about £3.25. You would need to add duty but when it's not for sale it doesn't seem too bad?
 
mustanir said:
Negative film isn't THAT bad, you already shoot B&W negatives and I personally don't have that hard a time holding up colour negs and being able to see what's on there, though yes, slides are MUCH nicer for that.

Maybe a trip to Japan is needed?
Click to expand...

raathistle said:
Kev, what about a bulk order from the states? A quick look at adorama says buying 50 120 rolls plus shipping works out about £3.25. You would need to add duty but when it's not for sale it doesn't seem too bad?
Click to expand...

The main reason at the time was that I wanted Astia tones but at ISO400. I struggle doing the whole strobist thing at ISO100 given the difference in DOF for a given aperture that you get with MF compared to FF/crop. Having said that I'm totally fed up with scanning images, especially trying to rescue under-exposed slides which is why I intend to shoot as much as possible on B&W and spend some quality time in the darkroom this year.
 
Hi Kev,

have you ever tried pushing Astia? I've never needed to with landscape, but apparently it copes with upto 2 stops very well, giving you your 400 speed, and its still Astia.

I think your only other alternative is portra 400NC, or to try hand colouing B&W after the fact. No-one really make transparency apart from the big 2 now :(
 
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