Help on exposing Portra 400VC

[PATB]

I usually travel with a point and shoot digital for color and an MP for black and white (Delta 400).

I will be travelling to London and Paris next week and am thinking of using color film exclusively. I will scan the film to make a photo book, and print some in the darkroom when I take a color film class in the local community college next quarter.

I decided to use Portra 400VC as I liked the 400UC last time I tried it years ago. I shot the 400UC at ISO 320, metering the MP on something that looks gray enough. Unfortunately, the 400UC is no longer available.

I have not shot Portra 400VC before and do not have enough time to test. Any tips on shooting the 400VC will be much appreciated, such as EI, and such.

Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[aizan]

1-2 stops more is fine, preferably 2. that's if you're using an incident meter. if you meter the shadows with a spot or averaging meter, go with that reading or give it one stop less.

 

[pphuang]

Portra 400VC works very well at 320, or even 200.

 

[sleepyhead]

I agree with the above posters - I didn't like the results I was getting at ISO 400, and eventually found that 250 works best with my camera/meter.

I also tried pushing this film to 640 or 800 with increased development but never liked the results - the negs were always a bit thin (even with two stops overdevelopment) and too contrasty to boot.

I now shoot Fuji films like Natura if I need a fast colour film.

 

[Svitantti]

Color negatives like to be exposed well and they can take it quite well even if you give them "too" much light.

Meter as usual, but you can give that film +1 stop whenever you have the light to spare. You might like it even more that way, dunno... At least peronally I prefer to expose color negs a bit more then might be needed.

You should be able to shoot it even 200 no problems... But I'd say much depends on your metering also. This also goes for previous comments I guess.