Kodak EKTACHROME E100VS quickly become one of my favorites for its vivid look, ability to handle high-contrast, or very bright lighting conditions, and the ease at which it can be pushed past its box speed.

In addition, the crazy color shifts that can be obtained when cross-processed in C41 chemicals are beyond what I’ve come to expect from the current batch of venerable slide films from Fuji.

Let’s take a quick look at what Kodak themselves say about this film:

KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTACHROME Film E100VS is a daylight-balanced, transparency film designed for KODAK Chemicals, Process E-6. This film features the most Vivid, Saturated (“VS”) colors available today in a 100-speed transparency film……this high color position is achieved while maintaining a neutral gray scale.

E100VS Film also features KODAK T-GRAIN® Emulsions for very fine grain and an unsurpassed level of sharpness in a 100-speed film….E100VS Film is ideal for photographers who must create high-color transparency images that spring to life on the light box. It’s an appropriate choice for nature, scenics, wildlife, food, jewellery, and any subjects that call for brilliant, dramatic hues.

Kodak E100VS
NameE100VS
VendorKodak
TypeSlide (Color Reversal)
Formats35mm / 120
Speed (ISO)100
Exposure latitude±½ stop
Push processing2 stops
Cross processingyellow, red and gold hues

What’s it really like?

At the risk of making this a very short review, I’ll come right out and say that I completely agree with what they say. Kodak E100VS has super fine grain, great sharpness, rich colors and produces really vivid slides.

But let me get something out right off the bat: Kodak discontinued its production in March 2012.

Yes, you read that right. This film, just like ALL OTHER KODAK SLIDE FILM is no longer being made and if you want it, you’ll need to find someone with frozen stock, or dig through the bargain bin at your local film lab’s closing down sale (an unnecessary jibe but that the reality we live in, folks).

EDIT: Kodak is making slide film again. Say hello to Kodak EKTACHROME E100! Read the Kodak EKTACHROME E100 review at EI 100, 200, 400 and 800 here.

For the sake of this article, I’ll be continuing to talk about this film in the present, not past tense.

Don’t let me dishearten you. This film can still be found all over eBay and even if slightly aged, it performs very well with consistent results. You won’t find it flaking out if it hasn’t been chilled, or frozen.

On a quick side note, I continue to be surprised by Kodak’s slide films.  I recently shot a roll of Kodak Ektachrome 160, which expired in 1996. That’s a whole 18 years before I shot it and still came out great – review to follow soon.

Back to E100VS. In my opinion, it’s a much better option for shooting every day in comparison to the film it’s pitched against; Fuji Velvia. Whilst Velvia is the preferred choice of many, I don’t personally find it as flexible. I generally shoot all of Velvia’s variants at around 1/3 of a stop slower than their box speed in order to slightly overexpose the results.

My own experience with E100VS tells me that the film is a great performer. It covers bright and even harsh sunlight with ease. It produces deep, rich shadow detail and whilst not as super fine as Velvia 100, EV100S has a lovely, smooth grain structure that’s good for high-resolution digital work and large format printing.

Although its exposure latitude – like most slide film – is only half a stop (0.5 EV), it’s capable of covering a rather wide range of light and shade in a single exposure.

Here are some examples shot at box speed (EI 100) and processed in E6 chemicals:

Rich, vivid greens, natural pinks and reds. Excellent dynamic range for a slide film. With correct exposure under an averagely lit scene, shadow detail can still be retained. The candid shot of a wedding photographer at work is a great example of how this film deals with very bright sunlight.

Whilst the images themselves may not be all that great (blame the photographer), it’s plain to see the breadth of dynamic range this film stock possesses. Several of the images above had elements with metered differences of around two stops from their darkest to lightest points but you’ll notice that blacks are rendered as true black and not the gray, or blue-gray hue we normally see from Fuji’s color slide and negative film.

This kind of dynamic range is something I’m more used to seeing with color negative film and motion picture film, rather than a slide film and very, very welcome indeed. (Note: perhaps that’s a little over the top)

Further examples:


In conclusion

To close off this portion of the review, I’ll reiterate my feeling that E100VS was a great film and I highly recommend getting a roll to try out for yourself. Yes, it’s not as super-fine as Fuji’s Velvia, yes, it’s more saturated and yes, it’s discontinued but if you’re happy with the first two points, you’ll love it. That’s a promise.

If you’re after a slide film from Kodak which a little less saturation, beautiful color rendition and is still in production, I have good news for you, Kodak EKTACHROME is back with new E100.

As an everyday film stock, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend Kodak E100VS. This isn’t because I don’t like, or that it’s not flexible enough. In reality, it’s because you can’t buy the damned stuff fresh anymore…hence the unexpected “was” above.

Here’s my verdict:

A flexible, dependable film stock ideally suited to those who love rich, vibrant colors and chose to shoot slide film in challenging environments.
Great for experimentation, each shot makes you want to hang a new print on your wall.

If you’re looking for more, you can jump over to my Kodak E100VS experimentation article. for examples of push processing, cross processing and both.

Thanks for reading.

~ EM

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11 responses to “Film stock review: Kodak EKTACHROME 100VS (E100VS) color slide film – 35mm and 120 format”

  1. Did you push one stop in development as well?

    1. The xpro shots you rated at 200

    2. I ask because I have seen others recommend rating this stock at 50 when planning to cross process

  2. I like the detail and the color is definitely vivid! Good stuff!

 

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