Film - Which is least grainy?

[Steve]

I'd like to test my film scanner to its limit so I need to buy some film
which has least grain, shoot some photos, then scan. I understand the ASA
rating affects grain and that film which is more light sensitive is more
grainy. So what ASA do I go for and is any particular film brand better
grain wise?

 

[Jim]

I'd like to test my film scanner to its limit so I need to buy some film
which has least grain, shoot some photos, then scan. I understand the ASA
rating affects grain and that film which is more light sensitive is more
grainy. So what ASA do I go for and is any particular film brand better
grain wise?

ASA 100 or less film would be the least grainy. Fuji Velvia is especially
good.

The actual situation is that film with smaller grain is less sensitive.
Hence, a slow film will show less grain.
Jim

 

[PGG]

For color, Fuji Velvia ISO 50 is pretty grainless.

For B&W, Kodak Tech Pan ISO 25 has no grain. Unfortunately it is being
discontinued very soon. Still available, but you'd also have a hard time
finding somebody to process it.

 

[Jerry C.]

I'd like to test my film scanner to its limit so I need to buy some film
which has least grain, shoot some photos, then scan. I understand the ASA
rating affects grain and that film which is more light sensitive is more
grainy. So what ASA do I go for and is any particular film brand better
grain wise?

=========================================
I have recently switched to Fuji Astia as my film of choice for
scanning. It has as little grain as any plus it's low contrast (lower
than Velvia) seems to produce better scans.

Jerry C.

 

[David J. Littleboy]

ASA 100 or less film would be the least grainy. Fuji Velvia is especially
good.

For grain, Fuji's Velvia 50 is the _worst_ of the ISO 100 and under Fuji
slide films. Astia 100F is the best.

My understanding is that the Kodak slide films are grainier than the Fuji
"100F" films. That may be outdated and wrong, though.

The actual situation is that film with smaller grain is less sensitive.
Hence, a slow film will show less grain.

Usually. Velvia 50 is an older technology, and all the Fuji "100F" slide
films are less grainy. Velvia 50 is a high-acutance film with a big MTF
boost in the 5 to 15 lp/mm range, so it looks devastatingly sharp. The
punchy colors add to the effect to make it seriously addicting.

In my experience, negative films _scan_ grainier than slide films. But Fuji
Reala's pretty nice. Negative films (usually) have a much higher MTF50
cutoff (55 lp/mm vs. 45 lp/mm)than slide films, so are actually "sharper".

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

 

[Maris V. Lidaka Sr.]

Konika Impresa ASA 50

Maris

 

[Wilfred]

ASA 100 or less film would be the least grainy.

But when shooting negatives, avoid Agfa Ultra 100.
And also read what David J. Littleboy has to say about Fuji slides.

 

[Hecate]

=========================================
I have recently switched to Fuji Astia as my film of choice for
scanning. It has as little grain as any plus it's low contrast (lower
than Velvia) seems to produce better scans.

Pepperpots?