Low contrast, high saturation film

[andrew00]

Hey,

Can anyone recommend, if there is one to recommend, a good low contrast, high saturation film.

Something like the low contrast of a Portra but more colourful!

Cheers,
Andy

 

[siracusa]

High saturation, low contrast? Wasn't the whole purpose of the original VC range of Portra films and the C range of Fuji 160 to represent slightly more saturated version of the film (albeit with slightly more contrast too). If you are talking Ektar levels of saturation, or heaven forbid Velvia, then you're not going to find it combined with Portra levels of contrast. I'm still only a rank amateur/learner, but if I was after that look I think I would probably either shoot a more saturated film through my old Summitar to tame the contrast a little, or alternatively I'd load up with Portra VC (which you can still get hold of despite I think being discontinued). Slight overexposure with VC does increase saturation (though not as wildly as with Ektar).

 

[Timestep]

You might try Tiffen Ultra Contrast filters.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Andy,

Separating saturation and contrast is surprisingly difficult in film manufacture -- anyone else remember Orwochrome? -- but what are you going to do with the pics? After all, if you're scanning, you can do it all in Photoshop.

Cheers,

 

[andrew00]

Yeah I'm a pretty sweet photoshopper, so shooting Portra was my first choice as I could bump things up on the computer.

But since my ambition would be low contrast high saturation images I thought I'd see if anyone could suggest something that doesn't need the computer involved hehe.

 

[bensyverson]

It doesn't exist, because they're mutually exclusive. Saturation is contrast (color contrast).

You can make a low-contrast shot very saturated simply by increasing the overall contrast. Unless you're printing photochemically, choice of C41 film is more or less irrelevant in terms of achieving your desired saturation and contrast levels. You can get there with any film.

 

[andrew00]

Yeah I thought it might be too much of a reach tbh!

Cool so the best modern way is to shoot for low contrast, ala Portra or equivalent film, then do a hq scan and bump the Saturation a bit in Photoshop?

That way getting a colourful image without burning in the deep contrast.

 

[thegman]

If you're after colour, but not too much of it, then how about Provia or maybe E100G?

 

[sazerac]

Fuji 400H

Fuji 400H

I really like the Fuji 400H. It has a nice classic look. I rate it at 250 and process normally.

 

[JamesFromSydney]

Fuji 800z. It's magic.

 

[ferider]

You didn't mention speed .... How about Superia 1600:

Or 800 NPZ

Both get more saturation when overexposed a stop or so.

Roland.

 

[GSNfan]

What you should be doing is use high saturation/contrast film with a really low contrast lens.

 

[tlitody]

Final contrast is dependent on subject contrast. So you want low contrast, well wait till dusk or dawn and/or the sun to go in. You'll get low contrast then.

 

[bensyverson]

Cool so the best modern way is to shoot for low contrast, ala Portra or equivalent film, then do a hq scan and bump the Saturation a bit in Photoshop?

There are many ways to shoot, but I like getting as much information on the film as possible. Then, I create the contrast I want after scanning. Portra is perfect for that workflow. Any color negative will record a lot. Slides are virtually worthless for this way of shooting.