 BetterPhoto Member |
Film Choice for Safari I am going on a safari next month to Tanzania. We will be there 3 weeks and I believe we will get very close to the animals. I am taking my old reliable Nikon FM and a Nikon Seies E 70-210 f4 zoom, as well as my Rollei Prego (28-90mm) which takes great pictures and has displaced the FM on all trips but this one. I have no other cameras and a few shorter lenses that I am not taking. I considered buying another zoom or telephoto or teleconverter (I looked at the Nikon TC-14A) but have decided against them due to cost and the fact I am unlikely to use these items in the future. I need help with the right film, both speed and manufacturer. I am a decent amature and wouldn't mind a few shots I could blow up and frame, 5x7 or 8x10 at most. So, is it 400 or 800, or some of each? I am mostly concerned about film for the FM. I am thinking I may need the 800 due to the quick shutter speeds I may need to use. But I need advice. Also, I am willing to pay extra for film that is better than the typical Kodak discount store 800 or 400 (is it called Max?) but only if it is worth the price, and not extremely expensive. I have read some reviews about a Fuji 800 film that people rave about (something like NPH II ?) I live in rural Montana and have few choices so I may have to mail order whatever I decide. Is that wise? Our one local shop has Fuji CZ 135 which he says is very good. Any thoughts on it? (Its expensive.) Any tips, hints, suggestions on any of this or on taking pictures on the trip in general would be greatly appreciated.
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Jeff S. Kennedy |
What film do you usually use? Why would you want to try a new film on a trip like this? Why take a chance on a film you are unfamiliar with on a unique trip like this? Why 400 or 800 speed film if you are going to enlarge? A lot of questions, huh? My advice for things like this is to use the film you usually do because you should be used to it and you know what to expect. As far as speed, if you are going to enlarge I don't think 400 (and God knows 800) is your best choice. I've never been to Tanzania but the pictures I've seen were very sunny. 100 speed film should be plenty fast enough. You could go to 200 speed for an extra stop if you like and if you get in a pinch you could push that a stop.
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Stephen |
I don't know exactly the grain you are looking for on your Safari, but I can tell you this, I have shot lots of color negative film, and if you want more toned down to earth colors, go with Kodak, or if your like me, and want bolder colors that stand out and catch your eye better, go with Fuji. I hope this helped abit. If you have any questions, email me. :D
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Kerry E. Owen |
I am not a professional-a serious amateur, who one day will submit some work to hopefully be published. I have been taking pictures for over 25 years. I like Kodak Royal Gold 100 ASA, a color negative film. Why? It is very sharp-I have gotten great 8X12 enlarements, even a 16X20 used in a presentation that won an award. I get very nice color tones in shadow detail, excellent Kodak color-it has good saturation-and great skin tones when photographing people. I use it for night photography, early morning fog landscapes, with the lens usually wide open (f3.5) to get the shadow detail. You may want to try a graduated neutral density filter to help compensate for scenery where there may be differences in exposures-ex. the sky in a sunset or sunrise, and the scenery below-you would rotate your filter to help balance your exposure (the darker half for the sky, lighter half for the foreground) and open up your exposure maybe 1 1/2 or 2 stops. Tiffen makes these in Graduated Neutral Density 3,6, and 9(9 being the darkest gradient). They also have color grads-go to their site at Tiffen.com to read more aout them-you can get these at B&H Photo.com in NY-they have a 1-800 and can offer advice if you have any questions. The color grads are nice if you want to add a certain tone-ex. tobacco for sunsets; blue to darken a sky, yet keep your foregrounds unaffected. You also may want to try a polarizer filter-it will darken your skys and reduce glare from reflected light; it removes glare from windows and water, although you may like this effect at times on water. It will overall saturate your colors. You may have to open up exposure a couple of stops. Good luck on your trip-you can e-mail me at kowen@internet8.net if you have any questions.
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