Recommendations for good color high-speed film?

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kchong

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I'm experimenting with film right now and I'm looking for a good color high-speed film. I've already tried underexposed Portra 400, Natura 1600 and Kodak 800. While I like how noise free Portra comes out, I'm not a big fan of the relatively cool color tones. I do like the tones of Natura but its just a bit too grainy for my tastes even when I shoot at 1000-1200 ISO. Kodak 800 is just terrible.

Anyone have any good recommendations? I don't mind paying a premium but of course something more affordable than $6 a roll (natura) would be preferred.

Thanks!
 
kchong said:
I'm experimenting with film right now and I'm looking for a good color high-speed film. I've already tried underexposed Portra 400, Natura 1600 and Kodak 800.
Click to expand...

Then there are also Fuji Superia 800 as color negative film
and Fuji Provia 400X as slide film.

Provia 400X is excellent at ISO 400 and pushed one stop to 800.
You even get very good results pushed two stops to ISO 1600.

kchong said:
While I like how noise free Portra comes out, I'm not a big fan of the relatively cool color tones.
Click to expand...

Use a Skylight 1A or 1B filter and you get a bit warmer tone. It's the easiest solution.

Cheers, Jan
 
I think most of the high speed colour films have now been covered. There might be some cheaper brands, I think I've seen a lomo re-branded one somewhere. Give Solaris 800 a try anyway, but it has a green colour cast. Up to you whether you prefer that to the blue of Fuji.

But this is all I know that is above 400iso:

Portra 800npz (discontinued, but still floating around stores and ebay)
Solaris 800
Superia 800
Kodak 800
Natura 1600
LOMO 800 (which is probably the Kodak or Fuji re-branded. They do a redscale 800 too I think)

And as you seem to have noted that the new portra 400 is supposed to deal with push processing well.
 
Portra 800, with a warming filter always: under direct sun, shades/soft/cooler light/natural available light indoors. Much better than tonal digital processing only.

Cheers,

Juan
 
Thanks for the advice guys, I'll definitely try out Portra with a filter. I've seen some nice results out of 800NPZ though, is that the same as the new 800Z?
 
Pro 800Z replaced NPZ, but was discontinued earlier this year (or was it last year?).

kchong said:
Thanks for the advice guys, I'll definitely try out Portra with a filter. I've seen some nice results out of 800NPZ though, is that the same as the new 800Z?
Click to expand...
 
kchong,

If you meter Portra800 incident at 800, you'll get the superb results that film gives (and you can even "forget" about the slight light loss because of the warm filter). If ISO800 is not enough with a fast lens wide open (not usual), you can shoot metering at ISO1600, but ask a pro lab for a push (a bit longer development). If you shot half the roll at 800 and then you need some scenes at 1600, no worries, shoot some scenes at 1600 and do the same: take the roll to a good lab and ask then to develop for 1600, that is, pushing... (And your scenes shot at 800 will be 100% perfect too!). If you expose Portra800 at ISO3200, you'll be giving your film one fourth of the light it really needs (no cure then!), and your negatives will lose all they can be if correctly exposed, and your shadows and dark colors will be grainy and muddy. For ISO3200 you get better results with a recent digital camera. Up to 1600, Portra is really sweet for skin.

The best way to use it -because few labs push well- is metering at 800 only, and using a fast lens wide open...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Thanks for the tip Juan. Its a pity Portra 800 is no longer being made but I see good results shooting 1-2 stops underexposed. Guess I'll be going with the filter plan.
 
Portra 800 is not longer being made? First I've heard.

I'd recommend Portra 800 if you need the speed. Exposed properly it comes out very nice.
 
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