Alternative to Kodak Portra

[sara]

So I was told yesterday that I need to shoot something tomorrow and im out trying to buy film. I know they stopped making Kodak Portra VC and NC and that there was a new Portra and apparently the 120 isn't out yet?!

So I desperately need some alternative. Some guy told me Fuji pro 400h but I remember using Fuji superia.

Oh yeah I need 400 because of indoors.

 

[Aristophanes]

The "new" Portra 400 is available in 120:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742299-USA/Kodak_8331506_120_Professional_Portra_400.html

if you need it today, that's another matter.

 

[sara]

Yes I need it today argh!!!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yes, Fuji 400H is a good alternative, with "better" grain, imo. Definitely not the same as Superia 400.

I remember using Fuji 800Z once, but it was a bit too rich under mixed (w/Tungsten) lighting.

I'd know where to get it here in Paris, but in the UK...?

 

[Brian Legge]

The new Portra 400 and 160 have been out for quite a while in 120 and 35mm. They are great films. 🙂

 

[filmfan]

My favorite color film = Fuji 400H

 

[thegman]

You're in London? There is Metro Imaging around Farringdon, I think they sell Portra 400, you could just walk in and buy it. I'd give them a call first though, see if they have stock. There is also Calumet in Soho, you could give them a call also.

 

[sara]

You're in London? There is Metro Imaging around Farringdon, I think they sell Portra 400, you could just walk in and buy it. I'd give them a call first though, see if they have stock. There is also Calumet in Soho, you could give them a call also.

I checked Calumet, Process Supplies, Silverprint, Photographer's Gallery, Metro, no one has it. They said it's a distribution problem I think...
:bang: fffffffff.

Think I have to use Fuji Pro 400H.

 

[umcelinho]

Fuji Pro 400H is a pretty good film, you'll be fine with it.

 

[sara]

I bought the Fuji Pro 400 🙂 Ahh let's see what happens 🙂

 

[Paddy C]

I was a 400H guy but prefer Portra now. Both, however, are very good.

 

[HHPhoto]

I bought the Fuji Pro 400 🙂 Ahh let's see what happens 🙂

You will be fine with this excellent film, Sara.
I've tested Portra 400 new and Fuji Pro 400H intensively side by side, and my results are:

- the Fuji has a little bit higher resolution, Kodak is a little bit finer grained (but the difference is very very small)
- Fuji is more neutral colour balanced, Kodak is a bit warmer
- Fuji looks better on the best RA-4 paper (Fuji Crystal Archive Premium).

Both films are top-notch. Personally I prefer the Fuji for its more neutral color blance and the better price-performance ratio, because it is cheaper than Portra.

If I want the best quality in the ISO 400 color class I go for Fuji Provia 400X: It is the film with the finest grain, best contour sharpness and highest resolution. Color reproduction is excellent with very good skin tones and overall natural, vivid colors. It is a great all around film, very versatile.

Projected with a very good projection lens on a 1,5m screen the quality is absolutely stunning: Even at this 40x magnification you can not see the grain at normal viewing distances.
That is impossible with Portra 400 and Pro 400H.
Sharpness and resolution are also superior to Pro 400H and Portra at that size.
And the color brillance and max. contrast range is always superior with slide projection compared to prints.

As to the supply problems with 120 film: Mirko Böddecker from Adox said in his own forum that hoarders and panic buyers caused that: They have bought like hell Kodak film, the stocks are depleted now. Then people switched to Fuji to get film and now it is even difficult to get some Fuji films because of low stock.

Currently demand has been higher than supply.

Cheers, Jan

 

[EdwardKaraa]

The Pro 400H is excellent. Also agree with Jan about Provia 400X except that slide film is more difficult to correct under mixed lighting. The Pro 800Z is too contrasty and saturated under artificial light. I would avoid it unless really needed.

 

[HHPhoto]

Also agree with Jan about Provia 400X except that slide film is more difficult to correct under mixed lighting.

Well, it depends: Provia 400X is very good under mixed lighting conditions, as well as Pro 400H.
Portra 400 is not as good under such circumstances, it reacts with a very strong yellow cast (or green with fluorescent bulbs), much stronger than the other films.

For such conditions I generally recommend a fill-in flash: Then you don't have strong color casts, and you can compensate the high contrast and get both significant detail in shadows and highlights. The pictures look much more natural then with a balanced fill-in flash.

Cheers, Jan

 

[k__43]

I already like 400 VC and NC, especially the NC .. but since the new portra 400 is out I don't think I really need another film. It is that good.
Also I'd pick portra 800 when I couldn't find the 400 and needed speed.

 

[sara]

Well, it depends: Provia 400X is very good under mixed lighting conditions, as well as Pro 400H.
Portra 400 is not as good under such circumstances, it reacts with a very strong yellow cast (or green with fluorescent bulbs), much stronger than the other films.

For such conditions I generally recommend a fill-in flash: Then you don't have strong color casts, and you can compensate the high contrast and get both significant detail in shadows and highlights. The pictures look much more natural then with a balanced fill-in flash.

Cheers, Jan

Thanks Jan your posts have been very helpful.

I developed the shots from the Pro 400H and they're not bad actually! I think I nearly maybe prefer them to Portra now - yes you are right the Portra is very "yellowey" in certain lighting conditions. I have 5 rolls in my fridge I almost want to get rid of them and start using another colour film.

ps. I'm scared of flash! I hate flash! 🙁

 

[Pete B]

PM me if you want to make a swap. I have plenty of Fuji 400H in 120. Possibly 35mm too. Certainly lots of Superia 200 in 35mm.
Pete

 

[HHPhoto]

Thanks Jan your posts have been very helpful.

You're welcome, Sara. I am glad that my advice has been helpful for you.

I developed the shots from the Pro 400H and they're not bad actually! I think I nearly maybe prefer them to Portra now - yes you are right the Portra is very "yellowey" in certain lighting conditions. I have 5 rolls in my fridge I almost want to get rid of them and start using another colour film.

If you are satiesfied with Pro400H, just use it and have fun.
If you like to try also further films I would recommend Provia 400X: The finest grain, highest resolution and sharpest ISO 400 color film.
400X has excellent skin tones and a very natural, vivid color pallete. It's a real all around film.
Pushed @ ISO 800 results remain excellent, and even @ ISO 1600 they are very good.

Best results you get with a good slide loupe on a lighttable (e.g. the Schneider or Rodenstock 4x loupes are outstanding; you can also use them for negatives and prints) and of course in projection with a good projection lens. Once you have seen this you will be blown away by the outstanding picture quality: The color brillance, max. contrast range, tonality and sharpness in projection are unsurpassed. You can't get that with prints of the same size.
If you have ever seen a projected 400X slide in direct comparisopn to a Pro400H or Portra 400 print of the same size you immediately realize what I mean: There is no compettion, the prints look quite crappy compared to the projected slide.
Very good slide projectors and lenses are currently extremely cheap. It is a very good time to buy now.
If you are interested and need some recommendations and tips just ask me. I will help you.

ps. I'm scared of flash! I hate flash! 🙁

Well, there flash, and then there is balanced fill-in flash with modern cameras and flashes 🙂. They do look completely different.
With balanced fill-in flash you can get results which look absolutely natural. You even don't realize that flash was used in the picture! But with this method you can get both shadow and highlight detail despite high contrasts. And you can avoid color casts in mixed lighting situations.
It is a very useful and versatile technique.

Cheers, Jan