What 35mm film should I take with me to the Middle East?

[jbaldocchi]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planing a trip to the Middle East in June for three weeks and am wondering whether to bring slide or print film. I'm looking for some fast and medium speed films. I'm taking my Leica M4 and I just bought the zeiss Biogon T* 2,0/35mm ZM lens. I can't wait to try it out. Besides regular photo prints I will also scan the negs/slides for digital use.

Let me know what films you suggest.

Thank you,

Jim B.

[freygr]

Unless your taking evening photos there going to be allot of light and heat. I personal like side film but it's your call.

[jbaldocchi]

Thanks for your input but what films do you recomend?

[mjs1973]

What do you plan to shoot? People? Landscapes? Cityscapes? The more info you can give us on what you plan to shoot, the more specific info people will be able to provide for you.

I like Fuji slide films like Velvia and Provia for landscapes. Provia 400 has a very nice look to it. Not as saturated as Velvia but the ISO 400 might be what you're looking for. It's a little expensive, but a nice slide film IMHO. They tend to give cacasions a "sunburn" tho so I wouldn't use them for portraits. Of couse with darker skinned people, it might not be a problem.

I also like Kodak Portra print film. Nice skin tones and a couple different levels of color saturation. NC=natural color, VC=vivid color. These are available in ISO 160 & 400.

Be sure to check out the reviews section on this site for more info on the films that you're considering.

[another view]

With film, I was always a big fan of slide film over neg film. I'd shoot the whole thing on Fuji Provia 100F but probably bring a few rolls of 400F if I needed it. Try out this film before you use it - in some light conditions you'll get a bluish color cast where it helps to have an 81A or 81B filter to even it out.

[srobb]

I would have to go with most everyone here. If you are going to do anything like portrait work, I would definitely take some Kodak Portra film. It is a negative film, but a very good one. I would take the Provia 100F and supplement it with some Velvia 100F depending on what you are shooting. If you want to do sunrises/sunsets, the Velvia would be the best.

[greghalliday]

All of the suggestions here are sound.

Kodak film, at least to me, seems to have more color saturation along the orange-red end of the spectrum. This has made it (E100VS and Portra 400VC) my favorite "desert" films. Overall, though, Velvia is and Provia are hard to beat for grain structure and overall "look". But that's just my opinion. One thing I have found, and others may corroborate this, is that Velvia is a difficult film to scan. So much contrast in the original image seems to wreak havoc at least with my scanner (a 250 dollar cheap Minolta). A friend of mine uses a not so cheap Imacon and has reported some of the same difficulty.

Aside from any film recommendation, one thing I would stress is to buy a few x-ray shield bags for your film. Airports in the U.S. have been good to me by hand checking my film, but foreign airports, not so much. They are cheap insurance for irreplaceable images.

[jbaldocchi]

Greg,

Thanks for the tip on x-ray shield bags. That's a good idea. It's a long way to go to have the film ruined by an x-ray machine.

Jim B>

[Photo-John]

With film, I was always a big fan of slide film over neg film. I'd shoot the whole thing on Fuji Provia 100F but probably bring a few rolls of 400F if I needed it. Try out this film before you use it - in some light conditions you'll get a bluish color cast where it helps to have an 81A or 81B filter to even it out.

I second this plan. Keep in mind that Provia 100F will push very well. So you can easily shoot a roll at ISO 200 if you need to. Provia is a good conservative choice. If you want to get a little more expressive, substitute Velvia Professional 100. It will push well, too. And the color will be much more saturated. I think I'd probably like a more saturated film for the desert.

If you think you might be shooting a lot in midday lighting conditions, you might want to take some print film, too. It has a much wider exposure latitude and will allow you to get more in harsh lighting conditions.

So, I guess I'm recommending a mix of Provia 100F, Provia 400F, Velvia Professional 100, and a fine-grained print film. It's a big trip and you want to be prepared. Better to take too much film than not enough, right?

I look forward to seeing your photos. I'll be traveling vicariously, through you. That's a trip I've been wanting to do for a long time.

[Ronnoco]

Somebody has to be different!

In print film Kodak Gold, according to test labs, particularly the newer version of this film has better resolution, saturation and colour than even the professional films.

Ronnoco

[Franglais]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planing a trip to the Middle East in June for three weeks and am wondering whether to bring slide or print film. I'm looking for some fast and medium speed films. I'm taking my Leica M4 and I just bought the zeiss Biogon T* 2,0/35mm ZM lens. I can't wait to try it out. Besides regular photo prints I will also scan the negs/slides for digital use.

Let me know what films you suggest.

Thank you,

Jim B.

Sunny places like the Middle East have tough lighting at the middle of the day. I usually use slide film (Provia or Velvia 100F) at the start and end of the day when the lighting isn't too harsh, and in the middle I use - chromogenic black and white film (Ilford XP2). It looks much more natural in harsh lighting. Colour film blows out and black and white looks - contrasty but right.

In bright light I usually rate my XP2 at 200 ISO instead of the normal 400 ISO. It give me some extra security and the grain is actually finer. Plus XP2 scans like a colour negative film i.e. dust removal works.

Charles

[another view]

Keep in mind that Provia 100F will push very well. So you can easily shoot a roll at ISO 200 if you need to.

It can also be exposed at ISO320 with a two stop push at the lab with really good results. It's a little more contrasty and grainy than Provia 400F exposed and processed normally, but still very good. For a one stop push, expose at 200 like John says.

[jbaldocchi]

Wow, thanks everyone. I appreciate all your suggestions. I'll let you know/see what I decide.
Thanks again,

Jim B.

[jbaldocchi]

Wow, thanks everyone. I appreciate all your suggestions. I'll let you know/see what I decide.
Thanks again,

Jim B.

[KillRoy]

I am in the Middle East and the Mid day sun in the summer is BRUTAL. Plan to shoot in the morning and late afternoon for best results. One neat thing in the summer.........the moon and the sun are visible in the daytime a lot of days. You can get some pretty interesting shots.

Good Luck!

[Phil_USN]

jbaldocchi,
DON'T take any color negative film I'd say. If you're going to do color, find some Kodachrome 64 or get a few pro packs of Velvia 50. Kodachrome process doesn't shift with extreme temperatures. depending upon where you're going the temperature is going to range above 100 degrees but up to about 150 in some places. You haven't mentioned that, but I'd say go with a good slow slide film for color. Nothing over 100 ISO. Then The rest should be black & white. B&W doesn't shift at all with extreme temperatures and I shot it just fine. C41 emulsions of color or chromogenic negative film melts very easily and you'll wind up with a roll of orange base acetate and no images. I know, it's happened to me and the rest of the battalion who took color neg to Iraq. Unless you're taking photos at night, get a 35mm f/3.5 Elmar for most of your shots. You don't need a very expensive fast lens in the desert. It's the same as a beach, but not as fun & splishy splashy. Be prepared to drop $200 on a CLA and possible shutter replacement for your Leica when you get back. The desert sun will burn your shutter really quick. take care and have fun!