[MF3D.FORUM:954] Re: Re Scala (was First Impressions)

[Sam <3dhacker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think one of the reasons I found these concerns about the grain and 
density of Scala was the brightness of my viewer light. I favor a very 
bright light source. My theory is that with my pupils contracted to a 
suitable aperture I see sharper (like that optimum aperture in a camera). 
Although I haven't measured it exactly, I tried to approximate looking out 
a window on a sunny day. Perhaps I should get a consensus from those who 
have viewed by black & white slides in their own viewer: do they appear too 
dark?

It seems everyone uses a different light source for their viewers. 
Steal-the-light types would tend to have less light unless the sun is 
hitting the diffuser directly or the viewer is very close to a bare light 
bulb. In dim light the shadow detail would appear darker, and if your eyes 
see less detail in dimmer light, the grain would appear invisible. How 
bright is your viewer Eric?

As bright as my viewer is, I still get black blacks in viewing Velvia (damn 
film is bulletproof!), but Scala blacks appear 2 or 3 shades above that on 
a tonal scale. Is there a high speed (ISO 400) Scala? What film did you use 
Les?

If this was indeed a high speed film, then the results were indeed 
expected. As for a standard or low ISO version, I would expect a lot less 
grain.

Sam