Fuji Color Press 800, am I missing something?

[Mephiloco]

I bought a bunch of expired film and have been shooting it lately. Almost all the black and white has some nasty effects on it, usually 10 frames per 36 roll are black, and some of the other frames have some weird lines. Risk I take with expired film.

Anyways. There were a couple rolls of Fuji Color Press 800 in with this back of long expired film. I had no expectations as the film was long expired, color, and the b&w film has been giving me rather poor results. Anyways, I shoot the rolls at a show a couple weeks ago and if you the prints side by side next to the 400 speed film I also shot, you couldn't tell which was from which roll.

I used to like Portra, but the cost is just too prohibitive for casual photos, and on top of that I never got results that were significantly better than cheaper film.

Anyways, I've been reading up on the color press 800 and people generally have high regard for it, but say the downside is the price.

B&H has it for $2.99/36 roll. That's a little cheaper than walgreens brand 400 speed film, and it looks better. I've been reading as much as I could find in the past week or so and can't find any reason not to get order a brick of it.

I just wish Freestyle carried it so I didn't have to make a seperate order for b&w film.

 

[emraphoto]

you and me both.

fuji press 800 (not sure what it is called now as i thought it was re-named?) is without a doubt my favorite color film and has been for long while.

i recently went on a "cheap color film" excursion and i tell you, i will be returning to the fuji press as soon as i burn through this stuff. the higher cost is well worth it.

order a brick, you won't be disappointed. (and if you are i'll buy the remainder off you).

 

[JohnTF]

I bought a bunch of expired film and have been shooting it lately. Almost all the black and white has some nasty effects on it, usually 10 frames per 36 roll are black, and some of the other frames have some weird lines. Risk I take with expired film.

.

That is not normal, something must have happened to this film, luggage X ray?

I used to send in problem film occasionally to the manufacturer, and they went to extremes to try and figure out what the problem was. Konica sent some film to Japan for analysis with their IR film.

J

 

[Mephiloco]

That is not normal, something must have happened to this film, luggage X ray?

I used to send in problem film occasionally to the manufacturer, and they went to extremes to try and figure out what the problem was. Konica sent some film to Japan for analysis with their IR film.

J

I bought the film off ebay after expiration, so probably x-ray. It was something like 40 rolls for $20 something, so I use the film for stuff that doesn't matter.



My point about am I missing something is that Fuji Color Press is one of the cheapest color films I can find, especially at 800 speed. It also happens to be my favorite color film (going by the last roll I did). I can't understand how it's cheaper than Kodak Max 400/200/100. I can't find any reason why I would get a film other than Fuji 800 Color Press, unless I were to spend 2x as much for Pro-Z or Portra, especially since it's finer grained than most color 400 speed films.

 

[btgc]

you and me both.

fuji press 800 (not sure what it is called now as i thought it was re-named?)

Networked wisdom says that Press is same as Superia just cut from mid of roll for consistency, people say they have same code on edge. Press isn't renamed for many years, NP* series were replaced by ISO-letter (like 160S/C, 400H, 800Z) names.

I hope we shoot enough to keep Fuji making their film.

 

[Lilserenity]

I've been using a fair bit of C41 lately, particularly now I do RA4 at home, and I have to agree that Superia is excellent stuff as well as the professional range. I have shot a lot of Superia 400 and 800 this year and have been mightily impressed. I'm sure 400H and 800Z are excellent too, but Superia is doing a great job for me!

 

[Mephiloco]

I just thought it was weird that 800 Press is $1/roll cheaper than Superia

 

[not_in_good_order]

I've always been impressed by the fine grain of Superia 800 (click the image for a higher res view):

 

[oftheherd]

I have had good luck with Kodak's 800, but do prefer the Fuji Superia. Now I want to try their Press 800. Thanks for the info.

 

[gm13]

I ordered a couple of rolls of 800 Press along w/ a brick of BW from Freestyle 3 weeks ago. The film canister was labeled "Fuji Press 800" the film cartridge said Superia.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Press 800 is not the same stuff as 800z? I really love 800z.

 

[not_in_good_order]

Press 800 is not the same stuff as 800z? I really love 800z.

Superia 800 and Press 800 are the same emulsion, though Press is refrigerated from manufacture to the point of sale whereas Superia sits on the retailers shelf at room temprature. 800z is a different emulsion.

 

[amateriat]

Yes, Fuji Press 800 is neat and keen, especially in mixed lighting:

Jeslyn, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, 2003

(Technical: Hexar RF, 50 f/2 M-Hex, Fuji Press 800 @ EI 640)

And, $2.99/roll, IMO, is a screaming bargain.


- Barrett

 

[Ronald_H]

Used Superia 800 a lot when I still shot concerts with film. This is a recent shot:

 

[szekiat]

press800 used to be a staple when i was doing event coverage in the 90s and early 2000s... it was pound for pound the best 800 color of its time. Not sure if that still stands. U can push it to 1600 or even 3200 easily.

 

[not_in_good_order]

 

[stupid leica]

Superia/Press are the best reasons to shoot Color C41. Period.

I just bought 20 rolls of (non-bricked, individually boxed) Superia 400 36exp from B&H for $1.99 each... I will prob grab another 10 or 20 rolls of Press 800 before long, i love that film.

 

[emraphoto]

here here!

 

[Huss]

Superia/Press are the best reasons to shoot Color C41. Period.

I just bought 20 rolls of (non-bricked, individually boxed) Superia 400 36exp from B&H for $1.99 each... I will prob grab another 10 or 20 rolls of Press 800 before long, i love that film.

Ahh, where is my hot tub time machine when I need it?

 

[Mark C]

Save a seat for me. I was getting excited when I read the first post. Until I saw the date.


I shot a roll of 120 NHG II 800 last week that must have been one of the first batches since it expired in 1999. For whatever reason that had some of the nicest colors I've gotten straight from the scanner.