What, if any, advantage is there to shooting slide over print film if I'm just going to scan it anyway?

Question

Since getting into medium format photography, I've thought about shooting slides, something I've never done before. I know there is ZERO latitude, so I'm wondering, what, if any, advantage there is to shooting slide over print film?

Also, I've been shooting expired film with the understanding that, for every year the film is out of date, I lose 1/3 of a stop (and adjust accordingly). The results have been perfectly acceptable. But can I do this with slide film? Or is it just too risky?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Answer 1

Slide film is cheaper to have processed; they only "develop" the film but do not print paper images unless you choose to do so. That's OK for those that machine-gun their cameras; today, those people are probably using digital cameras and still machine-gunning their shutter rather than thinking and composing their images (they shoot, shoot and shoot and hope to capture one or two good images).

If you buy bulk film, consider putting them in the 'frig in two zip-lock bags and leave overnight in room temperature before using. The film will last a VERY long time in refrigeration.

Answer 2

The advantages are really determined by who your client will be. For magazines, they will want original positive film. If you print your own from computer, then both scan well. FYI the exposure lattitude for positive film can be corrected in the scan, just the same way as negative density can be corrected in the print. Close is good, but perfection is over-rated.

The big risk of outdated film is the color balance can shift. Again for scan work, a reasonable shift can be compensated.

Medium format, you can develop your own E6 film which is nearly impossible for C22 without automated processors.

The big plus of positives is the satisfaction of being able to look at the originals directly.