--- SteveS <sgshiya@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Learning Photography" <photo@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Ordering Film online
>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am wondering if I ordered professional film online,
> > then is it safe ? My concern is while its being
> > shipped how they handle it especially if the
> > temperatures outside are very high.
> >
> > If anyone has any experiences with getting film via
> > mail I would like to hear from them.
> >
> > By the way do we really have to refrigerate the film
> > if you are going to use that film with in a week after
> > you purchased it ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > -regeti-
----------------------------------------------------------------
> Ordering on line or from a mail order house only serves to
> prolong the
> [your] use.
>
> Professional films are just the same as 'tourist'
films..........
Actually, most pro films have different emulsion
characteristics compared to consumer films. I don't know about
Kodak because I stopped using their films years ago (does anyone
still use Kodak?). But Fuji Velvia, to give a fairly extreme
example, is nothing like Sensia. One is a pro film and the other
is not.
It's essentially the same with color negative emulsions.
Professional portrait films have neutral balance and somewhat
reduced contrast and that alone makes them different from the
consumer color negative films. Ideal for portraiture and
weddings. However, you may not see any difference if you are
having it processed by a minilab or Walmart. If that's the kind
of lab you use you might just as well buy the cheapest consumer
film.
Pros buy professional films because they have the emulsion
characteristics they need. Pro films tend to be more predictable
in terms of color balance and emulsion speed. Pros with critical
color needs often take it a step further and buy a quantity of
film with the same emulsion batch number. Then they run tests
before using it on a job.
I buy film all the time via the Web from B&H and have never
had any problems. But I have them ship it by private carrier
like UPS or Fedex, not the postal system. I order "bricks" (20
roll lots) and freeze what I am not going to use soon. Pro film
is not delicate and can usually be left at room temperature for
some days (depending on the temperature of the room obviously).
Film in the freezer will last almost indefinitely though
high-speed emulsions will degrade over time from radiation.
Richard
=====
Richard Martin specializes in Cityscape
and Waterscape stock photography.
E-mail: marphoto@xxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.marphoto.com
Web: http://www.poetographycreations.com
