P3D Re: Slide film recommendations please

[Rob <lilindn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I know that I will taking a lot of my beloved Kodachrome 25 with me, I
certainly hope that film is still as good as it always has been.  But I
also want to bring something faster as well. In the past I wasn't
thrilled with K64.  The grain wasn't bad, but the color saturation
wasn't that good.  But I  don't know if it has improved recently. 
  And now I see that there is a K200 as well.  Does anybody have recent
experience with these films?  Or is there some other slide film that   
you are particularly fond of?

..
      There are several choices out there, as E6 films of ISO 100 and
below are significatnly better that those of decades past, which one
depends on preference, the following are all reliable, with fine grain
and good sharpness (though KM-25 is still king in the latter).
      Fujichrome Velvia - ISO is not much faster at 50, but if you want
to add saturation, this is it.
      Fujichrome Provia 100 and Kodak Ektachrome E100 - these offer very
good sharpness and grain at 2 stops above KM-25, saturation is quite
high, but not extremely so as in Velvia.
      Fujichrome Sensia II 100 and Kodak Elitechrome 100 - being amateur
films, they are less expensive that those above but are equal in
sharpness and grain.  But they produce warmer (reddish-orange) color
balance than their pro counterparts.  
      Agfachrome CTX 100 - slightly grainier than Sensia II and
Elitechrome but still good and usually less expensive yet.
      Kodak Elitechrome 200/Ektachrome pro E200 - these NEW ISO 200
slide films are said to be of much finer grain than all the other ISO
200 slide films, I have not yet tried it to verify this (as I have
stocked up on too much Sensia I 100), so comments from others that have
tried it are needed - 
      In my opinion, NONE of the other slide films ISO 200 and above
(this includes the discontinued Ektachrome Elite II 200 still found on
store shelves) are suitable for stereo UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, they are
just far too grainy - in print films, faster films have improved, but
this has not occurred in slide films (unless, that is, Kodak's new 200
is all its said to be) 
      Enjoy your trip!


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