What type of film should I use?

[JeroldCuico30]

I’ve a photography aficionado and have recently ventured into film photography. I’m using the Canon AE-1 camera, which I’m planning to take with me on my Ukraine ski trip. Any advice on what type of film I should get? I’m going to buy the film online, so there won’t be a problem with its availability. I appreciate any photography tips for shooting outdoors in a winter setting as well!

[pnodrog]

Velvia 100... or a film that suits your style...

To many variables to offer an informed response.

Do you want to use negative film or positive (slide/transparency) film?
Colour or monochrome?
Fast action or static?
Under what lighting?

When traveling using a film camera I mainly used Velvia 100 but usually had some Provia 400 film with me. Unfortunately I don't think the Provia 400 or 400X is available any more.

P.S. Make sure you either adjust your exposure or use exposure compensation to offset the under exposure that may/will occur in snow scenes.

[Manfred M]

Film can be tricky in extreme cold conditions. The base material becomes stiff and brittle in extreme cold and can fail. I had this happen to me with a 135 film camera and the film was ripped by the film advance mechanism. It ruined the film and there were bits of material the fell into the camera that needed removal.

This is a personal experience I had many years ago.

[William W]

. . . . Canon AE-1 . . . Ukraine ski trip . . . I appreciate any photography tips for shooting outdoors in a winter setting as well!

Condensation is your main concern. Second main concern is (lack of, insufficient, improper) lubrication.

Bringing your camera gear from cold (outside shooting) to warm (inside, in your car, in your backpack.)

A sensible procedure is to close everything into ziplock bags and then into a camera bag. When inside leave the camera bag in a cool area (e.g. near the front door of the house or in the boot of the car - i.e NOT in the lounge room near the fire or on the car seat and the car heater on). This allows the gear to warm up gradually. Latter bring the camera into the warmer room but still let the camera bag warm up before opening it and opening the zip lock bags inside it and exposing the camera to room temperature.

Regarding lubrication with the AE-1, if you're intending to shoot at -10C or lower, it would be wise to have a technician clean and lubricate the camera and lens(es).

WW

[pendennis]

Most of the newer films are quite hardy in the cold, and the base layer is not as fragile as in the past. The solution is to put the camera in a coat pocket, allowing it to warm before rewinding it. I've shot film in temperatures as low as -15 F, and never had a tear, even using motorized rewind. Keep film in your inner coat pockets until time to load and shoot.

As to the types. Velvia 100 is a great slide film. It gives very saturated colors. Fujicolor 100 works well as a print-type film.
Kodak Portra 100 and 400 also give good results for print films. Portra 400 should be exposed at ISO 320, and the results are really good. Ektar 100 Professional has very saturated colors, and is reminiscent of the old Kodak Vericolor. Fujicolor 100 and 400 provide very saturated colors, though not as much as the Fujichrome films. Provia 100F is an excellent slide film and yields excellent skin tones. Provia 100 is saturated, and the skin tones don't come out as well.

Most film labs print C41 prints up to 8x12. After that, they scan and print digitally.

E6 processing is getting rare. There are fewer places processing it, so you may need to mail it off for processing. I have to send my slide film to a company in Kansas.

I scan all my film. My local film labs still do C41, and I only have developing done. I scan and edit all my own film.

I hope this helps, and enjoy your trip!