POLL: What COLOR Films do you use?

[mike-s]

Some years ago I knew a pro who specialised in school portraits. He went around with a Nikon 401, two Bowens lights and depended for his living on working fast and selling the shots to the highly critical parents. He took only one shot of each child, pointing out the film and processing was his biggest cost. He was an expert in his field and much sought after by schools.

He made a point of saying that he bought the cheapest 100 asa print film he could find. If he saw an offer in a supermarket - 5 rolls for £1 or suchlike- he bought it as he rekoned no-one had ever demonstrated to him any significant difference between colour negative films. he also said he distrusted anything with the word "professional" in the title. My own, much more limited, experience would tend to confirm his view.

 

[degruyl]

Astia.

I also shoot provia in 8x10, but only because I can't find Astia. Provia 400X when speed is required.

I gave up on negative film because I scan. I was very unhappy with Pro 400h when scanned. I liked Reala and Pro 160S, but standardized on E-6 films. It scans so much easier, and dust is tiny black spots, not big white specks.

 

[40oz]

I have to question the authority of anyone who says there is no significant difference in color negative films.

I prefer the Kodak Gold films.

i prefere kodak gold 400, the colors work best for me, a good compromise between contrast and dr, and i also love the way red looks on it.

I agree completely, but I also really like the 100.

 

[maclaine]

I shoot more Tri-X than anything else, but when I shoot color, it's usually either Kodachrome, Provia 400X, or recently Ektar 100.

I like Fuji's color slide film a lot, but unlike others, I've never been happy with their color negative stuff. The exception is the cheaper consumer stuff (Superia/Reala), which has given me some images I really like, but I have to admit that I really dislike their pro stuff. It always seems to give me really pale, sickly skin tones. I'm not 100% sold on Ektar yet, at least for people, which is what I primarily shoot. I'd like to do some comparisons with the Kodak Portra options, which I've never tried before.

 

[Mauro]

I like the Ferrania colour print films (but it is not in the poll): in my opinion, a good quality film for outdoor photography, and really cheap here.

 

[Damaso]

Ektar and Portra for me, nice to see so many people using Ektar!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi Dámaso,

The other day I saw the flower you have on Kodak's site...So beautiful! Congratulations!

Do you remember the film and lens you used?

Cheers,

Juan

 

[stupid leica]

i am seriously considering a "C41" tattoo. I love the Fuji Superia films.

 

[chris00nj]

I like Portra 400, but I don't like Portra 800 and prefer Fuji 800Z.

I also still have 10 rolls of Kodachrome 🙂

 

[gb hill]

I also still have 10 rolls of Kodachrome 🙂

You better get busy times running out!🙂 I have one roll to shoot. Prices on ebay are up there. So I will make a mini project & that will be it for me I suspose. Maybe around Oct. prices will start droping because folks will need to off load in a hurry & I may pick up a roll or two, but It's not too likley!

 

[Tim Gray]

I've got some K25 that I'd be willing to part with for a reasonable price if you want some...

 

[Damaso]

Hi Dámaso,

The other day I saw the flower you have on Kodak's site...So beautiful! Congratulations!

Do you remember the film and lens you used?

Cheers,

Juan

I used Ektar 100 with a canon 85mm f1.8 and an extension tube on a EOS 3

 

[sevo]

Fuji Astia...

 

[stupid leica]

Astia is good stuff. I recently got a brick of short-dated Astia off ebay for $40.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi Dámaso, Ektar is great! But especially you, don't get me wrong!

I guess you used Ektar also for the shot I was talking about: I had seen this one before here, but the other one is a whole flower on Kodak's site... Maybe with the same equipment... Beautiful!

This shot is incredible too... I've done some macro, and you really did it well with the bee... Thanks for the info...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[ElectroWNED]

superia 400, since its what everybody carriers. I want to branch out to some more radical films though.

 

[Damaso]

Hi Dámaso, Ektar is great! But especially you, don't get me wrong!

I guess you used Ektar also for the shot I was talking about: I had seen this one before here, but the other one is a whole flower on Kodak's site... Maybe with the same equipment... Beautiful!

This shot is incredible too... I've done some macro, and you really did it well with the bee... Thanks for the info...

Cheers,

Juan

Yes I know the photo you are talking about and it was taken with Ektar 100 and the same equipment as the photo above, I just thought I would post something different!

This is a variation on the image Kodak has been using in its Ektar ads....

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Wow! That's really incredible! That point of view works like no other would! You know, criticizing is easy, but I can't imagine one single thing that would have made this shot better... Congratulations again!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Damaso]

Wow! That's really incredible! That point of view works like no other would! You know, criticizing is easy, but I can't imagine one single thing that would have made this shot better... Congratulations again!

Cheers,

Juan

Thanks! Let's get together the next time I am in Barcelona, hopefully later this year!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

It would be my pleasure!

Contact me then!

Cheers,

Juan