I just returned from a short trip with images on both Velvia and VS. 4x5 holders, loaded back to back with each film. Both films kept in the holders under my 'normal' conditions(not refrigerated, traveling with me) for 3 months since loading. The VS was the same batch I had bought for testing 3 months ago. Part of the Velvia was fresh, other than the 3 months in the holder & part was outdated by about 3 years(freestyle refrigerated purchase). The results are interesting in that the VS looks like greenish tinged junk while all the Velvia looks very good. Nice pastels & clean colors, no shift in either film that I can see(and I have 35mm Astia & Velvis-fresh dated-as a comparison). Does anyone else out there have images from VS that has been unrefrigerated for a few months they have done a comparison with? I would be interested in the results. In case anyone wants to know, I shot with the VS & Velvia in the same holder, back to back. So there isn't a time lag other than turning film holders around. There is the exposure difference, I rate Velvia at 32 and VS at 100, per my earlier testing. The earlier VS(very fresh at the time) had more pop in the reds than this 3 month old non-refrigerated sample. The Velvia had better & brighter reds & red rock than the VS-a surprise to me. The greens & yellows of fall cottonwoods in Velvia was considerably brighter as well. So, if anyone out there has experience with this, let me know as it was a major surprise to me. Maybe VS just doesn't keep as well out of the ice box as Velvia?

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), October 16, 1999