[MF3D.FORUM:952] Re: First Impressions

[Eric Goldstein <egoldstein@xxxxxxx>]

Sam wrote of Scala:

> The first thing I noticed was the flatness and lack of detail in the
> shadows. There also to be more grain than I would have expected, and the
> d-max was not very dense. So my question is, are these results typical of
> the film or is it dependant on the processing lab? Perhaps I'm biased, but
> my own process seemed to have far more snap than the Scala results. My old
> process did have more grain, but in comparing it to the new Ort results
> I've just recently achieved, I see little difference. Seeing that most
> people on the folio preferred to use Velvia over other less contrasty
> films, logic would dictate that a more contrasty black and white image
> would be the preference.


Hi Sam and List:


You are describing a scala as I have never seen it before, so my guess is
there is either exposure error or soup problems.

I have seen both 35 mm and MF scala in plano and 35 scala in stereo and the
results where in no way flat (contrast). If exposed for highlights (as in
any reversal film), you may loose shadow detail if your subject has a
contrast range far greater that of the film's (about 5 or 6 stops) but this
is true of any reversal film... I have not noticed any particular proclivity
toward this out of scala compared with velvia or 100S or sensia.

The 35 MM Stereo Scala shots I've seen due have moderate grain compared with
other reversal films so those who are sensitive to this will see more in MF
as well (I am not particularly sensitive to grain).

The scala I've seen has consistently had nice rich d-max, so I'm guessing
the lab is the prime suspect... My understanding is that there are only a
limited number of labs which will do scala... Les where'd you get these
souped?


Eric Goldstein