Is Ektachrome Less Contrasty than Kodachrome...???

[Alex]

I spent 35 hours shooting my in camera Super-8 film project last November. I decided to shoot with Ektachrome instead of Kodachrome because I could get same day processing (yahoooooo) from Yale Labs in North Hollywood. (there were other reasons why I shot Ektachrome, but they are not essential to this discussion.)

Yale offers Ektachrome processing, in by 10:30 am, out by 5 pm. (Yes there is a Super-8 God!!!)

Lets compare sensitivity between Kodachrome and Ektachrome. If I had shot Kodachrome 40, I could have avoided using the 85 filter for my nighttime time-exposure shoots entirely. This would have kept my kodachrome ASA rating at 40.

Because I used Ektachrome, To make sure my reds and oranges came out well, I DID use an 85B filter outdoors, effectively cutting the sensitivity from 125 to 80!!! (I know, the Ektachrome film still has an ASA of 125, but for my purposes, the 85B filter did drop the sensitivity to 80 ASA)

In essence, I had created ONLY A ONE F-STOP DIFFERENCE between Ektachrome and Kodachrome!!!

So, I get the Ektachrome footage back, and frankly, some of it was quite stunning. Time-exposure, when done correctly, can produce some interesting results.
(I benefited by shooting two test Etkachrome cartridges, which helped me pin-point exactly how to proceed on my final cartridge)

But now I am tempted to try another cartridge, and another 35 hours of filming!!! [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img] and shoot Kodachrome 40.

But my question remains, did I perhaps gain more overall fidelity of the picture because the Ektachrome may have been less contrasty than Kodachrome?

Yes, there was some additional grain because I used Ektachrome instead of Kodachrome, but the overall colors and textures so overpowered this aspect as to make the issue of Ektachrome grain a non-issue (in my opinon).

Since the issue of Ektachrome grain is essentially off the table, did I actually gain by using Ektachrome over Kodachrome?

[Greg Crawford]

KODACHROME is most defiantly a higher contrast material.

HIGHER CONTRAST is a good bit of the reason the film seems to be 'SHARPER' than other film stocks.

I think psychologically, people who work in Super 8 always have to prove to someone....that it's a worthwhile undertaking. i.e. LOOK HOW SHARP, COLORFUL AND FINE GRAIN OUR PREMIER FILM LOOKS IN SUPPER 8!

Remember that some filmmakers embrace the more gritty look. All I can say is try the Kodachrome and see. Invest the time ...maybe you'll make a better film than the stuff shot on Ektachrome, because you now know more. Or maybe you'll come away things the Ektachrome was just fine for this project. But at least you'll know. And I'm sure we will all benefit by your experiences.

I hope you can find the personal time to shoot!