Is Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 The Best General Purpose Slide Film Available?
Written: Oct 24 '01 (Updated Oct 24 '01)
Product Rating:
Pros: Very well suited to landscape, portrait, travel, and “street” photography
Cons: Narrow exposure latitude
The Bottom Line: Kodak Ektachrome Elite 100 is an excellent general use color slide film with a neutral palette, tack sharp resolution, fine grain, accurate color rendition, and very good skin tones
The first color slide film was introduced in 1936, and since that time color slide film shooters have always been among the most demanding consumers in the imaging world. More money is spent by film manufacturers on slide film research and development than for all other types of film combined. Color slide shooters comprise only about ten per cent of all film users, but have more different brands, and more specialized types of film than those who shoot color print, instant film, or B&W film. Because of this plethora of slide film options it can be very difficult to choose a general-purpose slide film that will perform well in a wide variety of lighting/shooting situations.
Slide films from different manufacturers tend to have their own individual look. Transparency films from Fuji tend to have highly saturated colors, enhanced reds, greens, and yellows, and super fine resolution. They are superlative films for shooting landscapes in the canyonlands and red rock country of the U. S. Southwest. Slide films from Kodak are known for their neutral palettes, accurate color rendition, and stunning blues; which makes them almost perfect for general use, travel, portraits, and street shooting. Agfa reversal films are likely to appear dull when compared directly with Fuji or Kodak, because they render softer colors with enhanced purples and browns that make them ideal for shooting scenics and seasonal color. They have an artistic “water-color” look that works very well under typically dull gray European skies.
Slide films have certain specific advantages over color print film. Slides are first generation images, and while slides offer very little in the way of post-exposure image manipulation options, they do provide a stable and consistent “original” image. Images from color print film (prints), while offering more post exposure image manipulation options, are second-generation images (the negative is the first generation). Second generation images, especially those produced by mass-market processors, often suffer from sloppy development, exhausted chemicals, cost cutting, environmental pollutants present in the development process, and inaccurate processing by poorly trained technicians. Slides, as first generation images, are more completely controlled (in-camera) by the photographer.
Important considerations for those considering a switch to slide/transparency/reversal films are archivability (how long will the image last) availability, storage/retrieval, overall cost, and the inherent “punch” slide film (more saturated colors, sharper resolution, and higher contrast) provides over color print film. Each slide can be easily stored and retrieved (mine are in archival plastic slide pages (each holds 20 slides) that are filed in loose-leaf binders, by subject) Kodak developed the E6 (Ektachrome) process more than fifty years ago (1947) and Kodak slide films have been continuously tweaked and improved over that half century period. Slide films from Kodak have an archival life of approximately 50 years.
Transparency films are available in two basic “flavors” Pro films (like Fujichrome Velvia) are manufactured under tighter tolerances, shipped when they have aged to their maximum performance potential and stored under refrigeration until they are used. Pro slide films generally offer slightly better performance than consumer films, but at a higher initial price. In order to achieve their maximum potential “pro” slide films should be developed by a custom processor, which is significantly more expensive than mass market processing. Consumer films are virtually identical to pro slide films, except that they are cheaper, more widely available, are manufactured under slightly looser tolerances, do not require refrigeration, age gradually (with little change in performance during the aging process) and are formulated to be developed by mass-market processors.
During the mid nineties while my wife and I were living in Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, AAFES (the Army & Air Force Exchange System) asked me to recommend some cameras, and lenses. AAFES wanted to make sure that their stores were stocked with items that would sell well with visiting aircrews. Kadena Air Force Base is a regular stopover for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard aircrews on active duty rotation. These folks purchase high dollar electronics items in the PX and BX because the prices are very good and there are no state sales or federal excise taxes. I tested several 35mm cameras and recommended the Nikon N70, the Nikon N50, and the Contax T2. I was also asked to recommend a selection of films that would appeal to a wide variety of photographers.
I ended up recommending several Kodak slide films that I felt would cover most of the needs of the resident population and the visiting aircrews. AAFES wanted to offer as many photographic options as possible, with the smallest selection of different films, because almost everything for the U.S. Military in Okinawa comes by boat from the U. S. Photography is very popular in Okinawa because of the wonderful sub tropical land/sea/beach scapes, many fascinating tourist attractions, exotic markets, and dozens of colorful festivals. Scuba diving is also very popular along Okinawa’s miles of pristine coral reefs. In addition visiting aircrew members wanted to be able shoot aerial photographs from their planes in flight.
It is pretty difficult to come up with a small selection of film that will cover landscape, underwater coral reefs, aerial photography, travel, and environmental portraiture. The first and foremost choice was Kodak Ektachrome Elite ISO 100. EliteChrome ISO 100 is a good all round compromise slide film especially when balanced with Ektachrome Elite ISO 200 and Kodak Ektachrome 64 Professional. I also recommended Kodak Ektar 25 and Kodak Royal Gold 100, 200, & 400 for color prints, and Fuji Neopan and Kodak T-Max 100 & 400 B&W films. The project was successful and Okinawa AAFES outlets had the highest photo/optics sales of any of AAFES stores worldwide.
During this same period I used Kodak Ektachrome films exclusively for the color photography that I shot to accompany the travel pieces I wrote for the Kadena “SHOGUN” newspaper. When my wife and I moved back to the states, I continued to use Kodak Ektachrome films for almost all of my shooting in Louisiana. I shot nature images in Louisiana’s wonderful wildlife refuges, landscapes and architecture all over the state, and environmental portraiture and street images in Cajun Country, New Orleans, and the French Quarter. Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 is a great general purpose slide film, it can be purchased almost anywhere, handles short-term extremes of heat and cold well, and does an excellent job in almost all lighting situations.
Technical Specifications
Type: 35mm Color Transparency (Reversal) Film
ISO Rating: 100
Resolution: Very High
Sharpness Rating: Very High
Grain Structure (Granularity): Very Fine
Color Saturation Level: Enhanced
Contrast Level: Medium to High
Exposure Latitude: Narrow (typically ½ stop over to 1.0 stop under)
Archivability: 50 years plus (with proper “dark” storage under controlled conditions)
Street Price Range (36 exp) $6.95 to $10.95
Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 is relatively inexpensive and works very well for most outdoor photography, The colors are true to life, the grain is very fine, resolution is very good, and Ektachrome has more exposure latitude than most slide films. Correct exposure is much more critical with color slide films, which generally have narrow exposure latitude. Ektachrome Elite 100 has the highest color saturation of any ISO 100 consumer slide film on the market today, it offers exceptional performance across a broad spectrum of lighting situations for outdoor, nature, landscape, travel, and scenic shots. It works well for portraits in open shade, wildflowers, macro photography, and scenes with flat lighting or dull colors.
Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 is formulated for exposure under daylight conditions or with electronic flash. You can use this film to produce color slides for projection, or have color prints, enlargements, duplicate slides, internegatives, and photo CDs made from your original slides. Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 also scans well for digital applications. EliteChrome ISO 100 provides serious photo enthusiasts with a useful general-purpose slide film that is widely available and capable of professional quality results without the need for refrigeration or special handling.
Many serious, semi-pro, and professional photographers prefer Fujichrome Velvia when shooting slides. Velvia has exceptional resolution, extremely fine grain, and very saturated colors. I have used Velvia on numerous occasions and here’s why I prefer Kodak’s EliteChrome ISO 100 slide film. EliteChrome ISO 100 is a full stop faster (ISO 100 vs ISO 50). A professional photographer friend, Bill Thomas (author of 28 photography books including “The Swamp” and the Director of “Touch of Success” photographic and writing seminars and workshops) has stopped using Velvia because some of his eight and nine year old Velvia slides have suffered some color shift, even though properly stored.
On a shooting expedition to Louisville’s Cave Hill Cemetery with my sister, the two of us shot images of the semi tame ducks, geese, and wild turkeys that wander the grounds. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to compare my Ektachrome slides of a beautiful male wild turkey guarding his mate on her nest (under a sweeping branched pine tree) directly with my sister’s very similar Velvia slides. My shots were sharp, well exposed, and color accurate, and even though the birds are semi tame the images looked completely natural. My sisters images, on the other hand exaggerated the color of the male turkey’s red throat wattles so much that they looked like “plastic”
On two different visits with my father I used both Ektachrome and Velvia to shoot images around his house. In the first case I shot his old weathered board fence covered, top to bottom with electric blue morning glories. The EliteChrome slides were color accurate and showed the front lit morning glories beautifully. On the Velvia slides, the morning glories had shifted to lavender and the weathered gray board fence had a brownish cast.
During another visit, this time in the late fall, I went out just after dawn to shoot the beautiful sugar maple in my Dad’s front yard. I wanted to get the red leaves with the early morning sun back-lighting them. I glanced down and saw a bright green katydid, covered with morning dew, on a pile of red maple leaves. I immediately went back inside for my macro lens and Nikon flash. I finished up the roll of Velvia slide film I had in the camera, and then dropped in a roll of Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100. When I compared the slides on a color corrected light table a couple of days later, the Kodak slides were absolutely beautiful, sharp, contrasty, and with accurate reds and greens. The Velvia slides looked liked something from “Toys-r-Us” the colors were so exaggerated that both the maple leaves and the insect looked unreal.
Contrary to popular belief digital photography is not going to replace traditional silver based imaging anytime soon. Digital images lack the color and contrast nuances available with color slide film. Digital images don’t handle depth of field effects well, and overall digital images lack the punch and pop of slide images. Digital images do compete fairly well with color print film images, however archivability issues are a major concern for many photographers. If image quality is your primary consideration, at least for the foreseeable future, then 35mm color slide film offers the most comprehensive set of imaging options.
As a general use slide film Kodak EliteChrome ISO 100 will provide professional quality results for serious amateur photographers. The film is widely available, at a reasonable cost, and is formulated to produce beautiful images with mass-market processing. EliteChrome ISO 100 provides exceptional resolution, accurate highly saturated colors, stunning contrast, and first rate overall performance. Ektachrome films are the most versatile general use consumer slide films available, and they are an excellent choice for capturing stunning images under a wide variety of different lighting/shooting conditions. It consistently delivers accurate colors, natural skin tones, and sharp, virtually grain free images.
Awards
European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) European Colour Slide Film of the year, 1996-97
European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) European Colour Slide Film of the year, 1999-2000
Practical Photography (England’s most popular Photography Magazine)
People's Choice Awards
Best Colour Slide Film of the Year, 1999
Australian Camera Magazine
Film of the year, 1999-2000
If you enjoyed this 35mm slide film review, please read my other 35mm slide film review:
"Mama, Please Don't Take My Kodachrome Away" Kodak Kodachrome ISO 25 Slide Film.
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