Hi--
I just had one of my few remaining rolls of RDP processed today - it is lower contrast than current films, none too sharp (in common with the
Ektachromes of the immediate past), and has great color for all but people (that "pumpkin-head" Fuji orange-skin syndrome....). Fuji 50 was great for
everything but landscape photos in our glens ( B L U E shadows!) Velvia
is fine for PIZZAZ!, but, otherwise, I use it now only for architecture
(it is even a bit too glittery-looking for bug photos) - nice grain and sharpness, though. Sensia/Provia/Elite(I)/Lumiere 100 all look about the same to me, but for slightly different color biases - fine for hazy-bright days (with good grain and sharpness characteristics), but the blue sky on
clear days looks too much like it was painted with dark blue poster-paint.
K-25 often has a flat, dull, grey-green look, as does K-64, but K-64 loses ALL shadow detail (grain and sharpness are very nice). K-200 is grainy,
but reasonably sharp, and it looks rich on hazy or overcast days (though
it is not kind to bright, sunny subjects) - it is very useful for aerial
work. Ektachrome Professional 100 has very fine color, but isn't sharp enough for me. The "400" (they are actually 320) speed (and faster) K.
and F. chromes are, uh, adequate, if one is desperate for the speed.
So, there is no ideal, general-purpose slide film (hmmm, remember K-II?),
alas (I guess)...
David Ruether