Fujifilm Superia 1600 vs. Fujicolor Press 1600 vs. Natura 1600?

[iamzip]

Just wondering if anyone has the experience to weigh in on this - I've recently become interested in available light shooting, and was looking to get some 1600 color print film. What's the difference between the three? From my minutes of extensive research on flickr, the Superia seems very grainy, the Press looks better and the Natura looks best, nice colors and relatively fine grain. Is it worth the trouble of buying some Natura on eBay?

 

[kshapero]

I have used all three. I actually like Superia a lot, but Natura is really the cleanest. I would go for it.

 

[mackigator]

I've bought the Natura and, in practice, to me it seems very close to Superia. The Superia does have grain but it is a capable low light film. Both films usable for sure. No experience with press 1600.

I settled on 400x (slide) pushed to 1600 for this type of work. It is not cheap but I like the look and it has very little grain even pushed 2 stops.

Consider a versatile black and white film in low light, especially indoors with skin and where lighting temperatures are going to give you color balance problems that you don't want to deal with. Of course, you may want the color balance problems - I like the slightly wonky colors in many night shots.

Here is a set of all three films (natura, superia, 400x pushed) mixed together in the search results. Check the tags to see which film:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=1600&w=95742421%40N00&ss=2&ct=6&s=rec

EDIT: No idea why my link is malfunctioning - just hit the search button once you follow the link.

The hardest thing for me in low light/night/limited DOF has been subject matter, not film. Behaviors change after dark - people seem more guarded, less relaxed. It's been harder for me to compose and melt into the background as a fly on the wall, whether I have a relationship with the subjects or not. After some effort I've produced fewer images I like in this "category" than from any other shooting effort.

 

[iamzip]

Thanks for your responses. I've used Neopan 1600 before, but wanted to try some color film.

kshapero, can you elaborate a little? do you like the Superia better than the Press? What do you like about it?

Also does anyone know of a good source for the Natura other than eBay?

 

[TJV]

Provia 400x pushed 2 stops, and, dare I say it, 3 stops is a great option. At 1600 hundred it looks very good scanned and printed large (I've got about 10 at 18x27" being framed at the moment.) What I like most about shooting slide against negative film is the contrast and depth it appears to have. Negative film is also harder to scan.

 

[btgc]

Press line is said to be same as Superia, just cut from mid of roll to maintain consistency though batch. Look for edge codes, should be same.

 

[hans voralberg]

Provia 400x pushed 2 stops, and, dare I say it, 3 stops is a great option. At 1600 hundred it looks very good scanned and printed large (I've got about 10 at 18x27" being framed at the moment.) What I like most about shooting slide against negative film is the contrast and depth it appears to have. Negative film is also harder to scan.

How do you process them, as normal ? The lab near me has push-phobia and take 2 weeks for processing, so I'd love to know 😛

 

[TJV]

I'm lucky that even here in little old New Zealand we have two labs in the city still doing top quality E6 processing same day, even when pushed. Some other labs do have problems doing it, granted. Worth the wait if you have to, though.

 

[iamzip]

Okay, so I emailed Fujifilm USA and here is the response I got:

"Thank you for contacting Fujifilm, USA's Contact Center. Please allow us
to assist you.

Our Press and Superia films use the same emulsions. Press film is
marketed to professional photographers and is packaged only in 20 roll
propacks. Superia film is marketed to consumers and is packaged in
single, double, and 4-roll packages.

Please be advised that Natura 1600 film is not imported into the United
States. Therefore, we do not have information regarding the film.

Thank you for your interest in Fujifilm products.

Respectfully,

Kelly, Imaging Support Team
Contact Center
FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. "

I am still waiting to hear back from corporate headquarters in Japan.

 

[haagen_dazs]

I am still waiting to hear back from corporate headquarters in Japan.

did you hear back from Japan?
I wonder if its still being sold in Japan

 

[richkayser]

haagen daz,

It appears Natura 1600 is still available in Japan. Megaperls webshop http://www.unicircuits.com/shop/, from whom I've purchased it in the past, has it listed as its top seller.