Fuji Natura Classica For BW? NP mode?

ncc1701

ncc1701

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I was thinking bout picking up one of these, primarily for Tri-X @1600 in diafine.

It is marketed for low light situations with accurate color using Natura film.

Is it all a ploy to buy the film or does it have some sort of mechanical advantage for low light?

What is so special about NP mode?

Thanks in advance
 
From what I understand, the Classica will adjust the program modes in the camera to prioritize wide open lens and faster shutter speeds.
It should work with ASA 800+ film.
 
My understanding is that the Natura (& the accompanying film, which was basically rebadged Superia 1600) was designed for available light shooting in typical Japanese restaurants & nightclubs. Accordingly, NP mode basically fixes the aperture @ f/1.9, the shutter speed @ 1/25th or 1/30th (I think), & turns off the flash. 1 drawback of the Natura is that it only has auto-DX & goes into NP mode anytime an ISO 1600 film is loaded (can't remember if it does it w/ISO 3200, too), so you have to mess w/the DX coding using markers or stickers to override the default settings.

ncc1701 said:
I was thinking bout picking up one of these, primarily for Tri-X @1600 in diafine.

It is marketed for low light situations with accurate color using Natura film.

Is it all a ploy to buy the film or does it have some sort of mechanical advantage for low light?

What is so special about NP mode?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
 
i haven't shot one as i still use an old GR1s.

just a note to avoid further confusion:
Fuji Natura Classica is 2.8/28mm (w/ 28 - 56mm, zoom lens)
http://fujifilm.jp/personal/filmandcamera/filmcamera/35mm/naturaclassica/feature.html

Fuji Natura S is 1.9/24mm (discontinued)
http://fujifilm.jp/personal/filmandcamera/filmcamera/35mm/naturas/feature.html


Is it all a ploy to buy the film or does it have some sort of mechanical advantage for low light?

What is so special about NP mode?
Click to expand...

not really a gimmick to buy more film. from the first 2 photos in the Classica page above, NP uses a different programming. possibly prioritizes natural light exposure as opposed to using the flash. the first photo reads (NP mode, non-flash), while the second photo reads (Auto flash-on).
 
But (at least on the Klasse) it can be manually deactivated.
Very important, when you're shooting with fast film in bright light.
Exp comp is supposedly set +2 in NP mode.
 
I have one and it's a good camera.

The NP mode requires ISO 800 film or higher. It's a drop and load P&S camera with DX coding and no override.

To get 400 speed film in and shoot at higher ISO you need to scratch and tape the DX coding on the Tri-X cannister.

I have done this with Portra 400 (too ISO 800) and it worked just fine:

http://www.oocities.org/yosemite/2131/dx-code.gif

The NP mode is primarily a no-flash, aperture priority mode, though all automatic. So it will favour shallow DOF over everything else. I wouldn't say it is a mechanical advantage, but since it starts at f/2.8, if you don't zoom, it's very good in low light at higher ISO. There is some light falloff and vignetting, but not much, not more than most zoom lens P&S's. This is a high-quality Fuji lens that does well wide (28mm).

ncc1701 said:
I was thinking bout picking up one of these, primarily for Tri-X @1600 in diafine.

It is marketed for low light situations with accurate color using Natura film.

Is it all a ploy to buy the film or does it have some sort of mechanical advantage for low light?

What is so special about NP mode?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
 
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