Telescope Reviews: Pushing Provia 400 to 3200

I've pushed provia 400f as much as 1.5 stops (about 1200) and got some results, but nothing that I would want to brag about. I don't remember if it were here or at a camera store or what, but someone mentioned one time that Provia 400 could be pushed 6 stops. I have never tried it, nor do I know anyone that has. Pushing a 1/2 stop makes a noticeable difference in color density and contrast. The one time I pushed a roll 1.5 stops, in order to try to save the some exposures, it made it grainy enough to be mistaken for Sensia.

You could try it and let everyone know. Thats pushing that film a full 3 stops. I don't know which Provia you're working with, 400f or 400x. The 400x was reported to be best shot at iso320 (non-astro, normal shooting), so I'm not sure if that would make a difference.

If you do want to try it. Go to www.DR5.com they do custom processing and drum scanning. If anyone can make that work, they could. They specialize in converting b&w negatives into positive slides (transparencies) with some special processing techniques. I seem to recall reading someplace on thier site about doing color transparencies as well. They do a lot of work for govt and universities around the world, worth checking out. Make sure that you read up on the site for what info you need to send along with the film. Even with b&w film negatives they require how the film was shot, specifically the speed if it's being pushed or pulled. Provia is much more demanding and exact, so be ready to include all info on how you shot it, and maybe how it was stored. I would also make a bold note that it's astro-photos.

Good luck and let us know how it works out..

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a couple of telescopes,
some cameras,
some accessories...