The Most Cinematic Film (as in photo film)?

[edmelvins]

First of all, please forgive me if there's been a discussion about this. I joined RFF several years ago but haven't been active recently.

I did a lot of photography back in high school (Leicas, Hasselblads, etc.) but now I'm a production sound mixer so I work with a lot of DPs. I'm trying to get back into photography (M2 is on its way to me) and I was wondering if you guys can recommend me several types of film that have cinematic look.

I understand that a lot comes into play when it comes to that look (lens, lighting, etc.). I just bought a Voigt 35mm f/2.5 Color Skopar and I'm trying to experiment with different types of film. My purpose is to try to combine my love for cinema and photography. They're quite related but different at the same time.

That's my only lens as of now because microphones cost a fortune as well unfortunately.

Any suggestions or discussions will be appreciated! Thanks. 🙂

 

[Nokton48]

Take a look at this thread.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52426&highlight=eastman+5222

 

[Araakii]

I think he just wants to achieve a cinematic look with readily available film, not special movie film.

Combining cinema and photography is also one of my biggest drivers in photography. I think Fuji Reala is reasonably close, but it's been discontinued in 35mm. Otherwise I would just shoot some low/medium contrast slides, like Provia 400x.

 

[Araakii]

some examples

Fuji Reala

Provia 400x

 

[canetsbe]

portra is designed with kodak's vision3 motion picture film technology. you get tons of dynamic range.

 

[edmelvins]

I really don't mind to try out special films. Thanks for the link to the thread, Nokton48. It's bookmarked. Sadly, I don't have the budget to buy photographic developing tools. (I used to have a complete set of darkroom kit. Had to sell em all.) Maybe some time in the near future.

And thanks for the reference, Araakii. It seems like they're readily available on Amazon. So I'll buy some when my camera gets here.

And the look that I'm looking for is not the clean and HD type of look that can be achieved easily today even with film. I like gritty and dark pictures. Here's a couple that I took back in high school with my trusty Contax T2.

 

[Aristophanes]

Kodak Potra 400 and 160.

 

[lcpr]

I reckon an old school emulsion like HP5 or Tri-X with an old single coated lens would look quite filmic, especially indoors with glowy highlights.

 

[Araakii]

And the look that I'm looking for is not the clean and HD type of look that can be achieved easily today even with film. I like gritty and dark pictures. Here's a couple that I took back in high school with my trusty Contax T2

So you are talking about B&W film? I was thinking of things like color tone or dynamic range that resemble the color you see in movies.

The new Portra is very clean and digital looking, so it's definitely not what you want.

For B&W film, try the ADOX or Efke 25/50/100. It's supposed to be made with 60's emulsions.

 

[River Dog]

To me, cinematic is something like this from Ektar in a Rollieflex.

Looking at your examples, I think you are referring to the "film noir" look? I would think that lighting and camera angles are more important than film type for that style.

 

[edmelvins]

So you are talking about B&W film? I was thinking of things like color tone or dynamic range that resemble the color you see in movies.

The new Portra is very clean and digital looking, so it's definitely not what you want.

For B&W film, try the ADOX or Efke 25/50/100. It's supposed to be made with 60's emulsions.

Well it doesn't have to be B&W. I love gritty color films too. It's just that I don't have color photos that have the look that I want.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I will take note and try em all one by one. 🙂

 

[edmelvins]

Oh, and I stopped doing photography when the new Ektar and Portra had just been introduced so I've had some experience in using them. Definitely not what I want. But they're great for certain situations.

 

[timor]

I was wondering if you guys can recommend me several types of film that have cinematic look.

I think the trick is more in light management and chemical processing. I shoot lately a lot of Eastman 5222, but I am not finding much of this cinematic look in it. But than again I didn't try development in D96 yet. Can you give us some examples of what you consider cinematic look ?

 

[Jubb Jubb]

Ilford HP5 looks very classic black and white. It isn't HD looking and it can be pushed very nicely.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

here, a somewhat related topic, besides film, the mood and the look has to be cinematic even if one is shooting stills.

there is a very talented photography who shoots still that looks like movies stills.

http://www.reneejansen.com/

raytoei

 

[shermanmagazine]

Hmm. Well, you could try slightly underexposing faster speed Portra, like 400 or 800 (or another neutral color film), which should be pretty indie and gritty feeling. Or conversely you could push very fast speed color films for even more grit, if it's grit you want. I also used to push E200 mercilessly for effect (like to 1600 or even 6400). Yielded a super gritty result, although depending on lighting (and subject matter) it could get very David Hamilton in look. (It also had a tendency to color-shift if you breathed on it wrong.)

Of course, it really just depends on which aspects of a cinematic look you are hoping to recreate...