Re: A question of grain.

[P3D Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dr. Mike asks about grain in stereo slides:

> have other stereo photographers gone to slower
> film because of it, and through the viewer, is there a great difference
> (compared to say Velvia).

As with most aspects of stereo viewing/perception, there seems to
be quite a bit of individual variation.  For example, I believe DrT
primarily uses Sensia (ISO 100) and is quite satisfied with it in
his T'd RB, whereas Gary Nored has remarked (if I may paraphrase)
that he finds Sensia totally unfit for stereo slides due to grain
roughly the size of boulders.  Personally, in my flattie days I
never had much sensitivity to grain in anything smaller than, say,
a poster-size enlargement from a 35mm neg on ISO 400 film.  But
when I got a T'd RB I was quite astonished to find the grain of
even Velvia quite noticeable in blue sky.  I still consider
myself rather low on the grain sensitivity scale, but I have
not particularly noticed the grain in Provia (ISO 100) being
any more noticeable than in the Velvia (ISO 50).  Then again,
I haven't done a side-by-side comparison.  I have no experience
with Kodak E-6 films for stereo, so can't comment specifically
regarding the Elite II.  I might note however, that some on the
list assert that the grain of K25 is not detectable at all, so
that's an option to consider if you your grain sensitivity
continues to grow.

Paul Talbot


------------------------------