Alan wrote: AC> I don't think there is subsititute for RVP, negative or slide. Your best AC> hope would be Agfa Ultra 100.
Uh, I just got to see my first Ultra 100 test results and they are not very encouraging to say the least. I took pictures of a variety of subjects, including scenics, macro with and without flash, portraits. Colours are very good in diffused light, even with direct flash. The increased saturation is there but it doesn't impact the colour balance, except for the skin tones that get a red or magenta (for backlight with blue skies) taint. The bad news are firstly grain - unacceptably high for a 100 ASA negative, almost as high as a 400 ASA film. This is especially annoying as in the product specification Ultra is given with very low granularity. I have to take the next Ultras to an Agfa lab to have it specifically developed in Agfa C41 chemicals and see if it gets any better. Second, the Agfa exhibits the same poor antihalation protection I have noticed previously with the old Optima II 100. The edges of overexposed areas are excessively blended with the adjacent areas, resulting in a massive sharpness decrease. For instance in a sunset shot this shows up as fuzzy horizon line and exaggerated silhouettes effects. Anyway I'm not going to dismiss Ultra 100 that fast and continue to test with different subjects and labs. It is obviously a very specialized film that works as intended only in specific situations and I intend to determine exactly its usefulness. Servus, Alin
