Favorite Color Negative Film for your Voigtlander

[Burkey]

After searching around this site I still remain curious about favorite color film recommendations for Voigtlander/Nokton use. I have a relatively new R3A and 40mm MC Nokton. I’ve been shooting XP2 since I bought the camera and lens primarily for B/W. Results so far are excellent. I’ll be on vacation with my family in early January and will be in central Florida. ‘Thought it might be a good opportunity to shoot some color detail stuff since we’ll be in Disney most of the time. (I’ll be using a small Pentax Optio S4 digital for family pictures.) So bright sun will be common and I’ll be printing from scanned negatives. Your color negative film recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[sockeyed]

Nothing seems to compare to Fuji Reala for vibrant but accurate colours, good skin tones and fine grain.

For a higher-speed film, I'm a fan of Fuji NPH, but that's a bit subjective since it's a lower-saturation portrait film.

Because many of the Voigtlander lenses are higher-contrast, I find it better to avoid the more contrasty consumer emulsions, like Fuji Superia.

I also over-expose my neg film by 1/3 of a stop when I can - it can bring the grain down, enrich the colours, and act as insurance again underexposure (as the Voigtlanders have light meters than can pick up the sky quite easily).

 

[akalai]

It's going to come down to what "look" you are after, realisitic or vibrant colours.

How about trying some of the new Fuji PRO160 C <C is for Contrast>?

I can imagine this film really pumping some of those "Disney" colours, perhaps making it a bit more unatural but then again Disneyland is just that. And if you need the extra speed....although not likely if you are shooting in sunny Florida... you could also try some Kodak 400UC.

 

[Burkey]

Thanks for the excellent advice thusfar. Not sure excactly what I'm looking for but contrast is an issue in the Florida sun and yes, Disney color certainly is vibrant.

 

[Meleica]

NPH is simply no match for Kodak 400 UC.....probably the best all around 400 speed color film ever...

 

[fredus]

Here are my favorite ... I'm a Fuji guys 🙂

Reala @ 80
NPH @ 320
NPZ @ 640

Fred

 

[rich815]

Fuji Reala or Kodak 400UC

 

[Byuphoto]

Reala at 80
S160 Pro at 100
superia at 320

 

[Ralf]

Reala. As stated, it has high colour saturation (what else for disney!!) and renders skin tones nicely. A beautiful film if thats what you are looking for.

 

[wlewisiii]

Reala. It's the only one of the high saturation films that renders skin tones in a way I like.

William

 

[sockeyed]

I'd have to agree to disagree with Meleica about UC400 vs NPH. I shot a fair amount of UC400 in Vietnam a year ago and found that while it delivers very nice reds and yellows, I don't find it particularly accurate and I really didn't like what it did with flesh tones, particularly Asian ones. I just returned from a trip to Indonesia and Sri Lanka where I shot Reala and NPH, and was very pleased with the results. I find NPH to be much more accurate and true-to-life, and also a good match for Reala (which is somewhat more saturated, but not terribly so). In full sun, NPH can deliver fantastic results that would be over the top with a more contrasty or saturated film. It's all personal taste, though, isn't it?

Images of mine shot on NPH

 

[aizan]

porta nc, nph, reala for 400 and lower. i got a pile of fast film to try out now my camera is back.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

The slightly lower contrast of Agfa Optima should be nice
in combination with contrasty Cosina Voigtlander lenses.

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[Burkey]

I'm hearing some great suggestions. I'm also hearing some suggestions based on CV's contrasty lenses. Again, thanks.

 

[Pherdinand]

Reala. Worked also in my af slr equipment with multicoated blah blah contrasty lenses in full sunshine.
Tried kodak portra160 VC and loved it as well, but it was in 120-format; can be different in 135-format, dunno.

 

[pvdhaar]

When Agfa Vista was still available, it was 50/50 between Agfa Vista for it's saturation, and Fuji NPH when I needed soft skin tones. At the moment, it's just NPH for me. Goes lovely with the CV25 and the Hexanon-50.

With Agfa Vista not on the shelves anymore, I've been looking for a high saturation alternative. I did try Kodak UC400, but it's not really my cup of tea.

 

[simonankor]

for a slightly weirder answer... Press 1600! I actually quite like the grain of this film and even outside in bright sunlight, the Voigtlander can managed it (unless you're shooting in snow, then it will struggle).

The colours are quite nice.

 

[Toby]

If you are after prints remember that many pro labs can now do E6 plus digital prints for the same price as C41...so my answer is Provia 100f 😀 Other than that I've found most colour neg much of a muchness especially at 400 asa

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Reala every time.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Alternatives to The Green Box

Alternatives to The Green Box

FYI Walgreens Studio 35 is Agfa Vista - another good choice.
There's plenty of this film still around. I really like the 400...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-