Enjoying film while it lasts

[drjoke]

My usual shop no longer stocks print films or any slide films above ISO 100. I will now have to go the extra distance to grab all the other films. I know one day I will probably have to import them. The days of film for me will probably last until I can no longer find a processing lab. But then, my soon-to-be wife will probably allow me to develop BW film in our house. That will, however, make color economically infeasible.

Anyway, I think it's about time. It is now or never that I would get to enjoy film to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, I only got into film 1 year ago. I am usually only using Provia 100F, Provia 400X and Velvia 100.

I am looking for the ultimate street film. I haven't had much experience with prints except for 160C and 160S, which while I totally enjoy the dynamic range, the color is not enough for me. Now there is this guy I found:

http://focusingclub.net/smf/index.php?topic=1786.msg32336

who seems to be doing quite well with Portra 160VC. He probably has a very cheap scanner, but I can clearly see the potential.

If I want to choose just one "color" film for all occasion street photography, and be able to WOW or even convert the DSLR users over, what film would it be. I can usually WOW them with my Velvia shots, but the miss rate is too high. It's very sunny and contrasty around here, and it is very difficult to manage everything into the limited dynamic range of Velvia, even with careful bracketing. Provia is a little better, but the color sometime just does not cut it like Velvia. I tried E100VS, and the color theme is entirely different from Fuji. I may try again, but didn't really like it the first few times.

I well believe the days of color film will run out soon before BW. Also, professional print films will probably die out before slides. I now want to focus on capturing the best possible color without the use of Photoshop.

What would you all recommend? I don't have the occasions to separate different roles for portrait, landscape or street. I would like the film that would suite all types of photography.

 

[rich815]

>>>> I would like the film that would suite all types of photography.

Me too!

 

[charjohncarter]

When I had kids and was busy with work, photography was all sent to 'the lab' and I slowly started to not enjoy it as much. I told myself someday when life is a little slower I'll do it right. So just as soon as that day arrived digital shows up. But I have to say everything I want is available and I think films, chemicals, developing products, and especially information are more available and better than ever. Maybe I'm an optimist, but photography has never been better for me.

Rich says 'me too,' we all look for the perfect wave (surfing), but I don't think film will get that good.

I've used Portra 160 VC, I like it, but there are so many try them all.

 

[Jamie123]

If you're scanning your negatives there is no "capturing the best possible color without the use of Photoshop". There will always be some color adjustment whether you do it yourself or let the scanner software do it.

From my own limited experience with Fuji Pro and Kodak Portra films I can say that Fuji Pro160C is probably the one that's most saturated. If you want more saturation you'll have to push your film. Consumer labs normally don't push process c-41 so you'll have to find a pro lab.

 

[PhotoJim]

Film seems to have a future yet. Kodak is still doing R&D on films (it's releasing new Portra films and just released a new version of T-Max 400). Ilford seems to be doing well and Fuji seems to be as well. Kodak made some statements lately that make me believe that management is realizing that the end of film is further out than they suspected. Film generates a substantial portion of Kodak's profits despite only making up a small percentage of total sales.

Local film availability is starting to suffer here too (my local dealer can get me good films but rarely has the exact film I want in stock; however, the films are often available in the company's warehouse with one- or two-day availability). However, I've gotten into the habit of making two or three mail orders of film a year. The prices are better and, since I keep a stock of film in my freezer, the lag time to receipt is not that big of a problem. I just have to anticipate what I think I will need.

 

[bmattock]

I would like the film that would suite all types of photography.

Your best choice for a 'do-all' film is a generic consumer Kodak or Fujifilm ISO 400 color print film. They are not 'the best' for any one thing, but they are 'acceptable' for many things.

Seriously - it may sound silly, but your basic grocery-store color print film marked 'Made in the USA' or "Made in Japan" (or China) is going to be Kodak or Fuji. Try it - you might like it. Saves you a ton of money, too - and it tends to be available.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Kodak 100UC and 400UC.
Scans great. Buy it by the block from B&H and keep it in the fridge.

I like the Porta series as well. It's just from my very subjective POV, the UC films scan very well.
I too live in a very bright, high contrast area. I've actually found myself turning down the saturation on scans from UC film.

 

[Rey]

Porta 160VC is my exclusive color film when I shoot medium format. The color saturation is just right, for me. It also scans well. Love the stuff!

 

[rich815]

Porta 160VC is my exclusive color film when I shoot medium format. The color saturation is just right, for me. It also scans well. Love the stuff!

I too like the Portra film for MF but prefer the NC versions. I find the VC versions too often have weird colors in the scans that I find harder to "fix". The NC come thru more consistently for me. Yes, less saturated but that's something that is easily compensated for and controlled in PS.

I've found the Fuji 400H (NPH replacement I believe) to be quite nice too and scans well.

I still have a bit of trouble with satisfactory colors sometimes in scanning with Kodak's 400UC. Shame too as I have a number of 220 rolls of this stuff in the freezer.

 

[Rob-F]

I don't think digital will completely drive out film, any more than photography has driven out water colors, oils, and acrylics. I think these materials will simply each find their respective niches. I do agree that Color negative film is less essential than transparencies and B&W film, since digital is such an attractive way to produce economical prints at home, simply and economically. But color negative film, too, will find its niche.