I rarely take time when traveling to test films side by side, especially when I’m in the Caribbean. I am shooting for pleasure, and I’m there to relax, so I am not likely to take the time to shoot the same subject in two films to compare and contrast. On our January 2020 trip to Anguilla, I decided to walk the beach from end to end, about 1.5 miles in total. It just happened that I was at a particularly picturesque location when I ended a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 and popped in a roll of Fuji Velvia RVP 100. So I had a chance to compare how each film looked under the same lighting conditions, and with the same camera and lens.
Comparison of Ektar 100 and Velvia 100
For those who like to challenge themselves, I’ll show you two very similar images, one with Ektar 100 and one with the Velvia 100, giving you an opportunity to give your best guess as to which is which. Below the next paragraph, discussing the camera and lens used, you’ll see the images with captions denoting the film used. All film was processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab. I adjusted the color temperature in Lightroom to match the two as closely as I could using the water color as my guide.
Camera and Lens Used
I took two cameras for my beach walk, my Canon EOS R with the Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens, and my Canon 1v with the Canon 135mm f/2 lens. For fun, I have included a digital shot following the film images. I use digital for convenience, to take video, and under other circumstances where digital is the better tool, such as very low light. However, with the gorgeous full sun in the islands, you can see why I go to the trouble of taking film cameras and film along for the journey.
Which One is Which?
Both are beautiful, but I have to say I prefer the Velvia, although I may be biased because I love looking at the vibrant color of a positive image. I could probably accomplish the look with a few sliders in Lightroom, but whenever I get slide film back from the lab, I am convinced to pack more slide film on the next trip.
Price Comparison?
Although I prefer the Velvia, the price comparison is pretty startling. As of the time of this writing, a 35mm roll of Ektar is going for $8.99 at B&H Photo ($8.69 a roll at the Film Photography Project Store!), and a 35mm roll of Velvia 100 is going for $18.49. Seriously? Ten dollars different? That’s nutty. I guess I’ll use up my stock carefully, and then it’s back to Ektar.
How About Digital?
And the digital image? Keep in mind that a different lens was used and the image was cropped to compare subject to subject, so it’s not a terribly fair comparison, but I don’t change lenses on the beach. Tropical breezes, seawater, sand, and fine electronics don’t mix. But the comparison reaffirms my decision to shoot film.
What’s your experience using these two films? Do you prefer other 100 speed color films? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.