What 120 film to try while I still can?

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AlexBG

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Wanted some recommendations of what 120 film to try while it is still on sale. I shoot mostly Ektar and Velvia but have just bought some Reala and Ektarcolor pro gold to try. I know both are expired and I'm not looking to get crazy results with them, just want to try some film that is still for sale before it goes years out of date or there is none available.

It's a shame fortia SP is so expensive, that looks like a film I would like.

So, has anyone got any suggestions? I only like colour.
 
Do you want to try B&W film as well or only colour?

With colour, you can still get some Portra NC and VC that are only a few years out of date quite easily.
 
Back when I shot 120 I used Portra 160 and 400, I thought they were pretty decent.

I wouldn't freak out about colour 120 being discontinued anytime soon, stuff like Ektar, Velvia and Portra are still popular and I would count on Ferrania bringing out new emulsions soon. If 120 colour dies off it'll be a slow death with plenty of warning.
 
AlexBG said:
Wanted some recommendations of what 120 film to try while it is still on sale....
So, has anyone got any suggestions? I only like colour.
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Any film you could find and buy. I don't think 120 color film is something which is going to stay for long.
 
Astia is an excellent lower saturation color slide film. Reala would be my other suggestion so you're covered there.

If you really are looking to try everything, I'd look for the faster films first as they will fog due to age more quickly than anything 100 speed.
 
Portra 400. One of the best color films, in my opinion. I've always loved the subtle gradations and low contrast. Also a very tolerant film, if you're not particularly exact with your shooting practices.
 
If you've any interest in shooting slide films, either for proper E6 processing or playing around w/ x-pro, my personal hunch is those are the films most likely to die off next.
 
Fuji Astia 100. Kodak Vericolor II. Kodak UC 100 and UC 400. Konica Centuria 400.

All only available as expired film but I love them.

Consider 220 film, lots of the above still are easier found in 220 than 120.
 
PRO160NS is hard to find in the states- I loved its predecessor
Provia400X just got axed- my favorite slide film after E100VS and E100G
 
Portra 800 is amazing and one of my favourites, but expensive unfortunately.
Pushed Portra 160 also looks realy good and it's affordable.
 
johannielscom said:
Fuji Astia 100. Kodak Vericolor II. Kodak UC 100 and UC 400. Konica Centuria 400.

All only available as expired film but I love them.

Consider 220 film, lots of the above still are easier found in 220 than 120.
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Just missed an auction for a big pile of UC400 in 220 by a few euros :bang:

I have to agree on Astia - crazy good film.

Untitled by Kay K, on Flickr


You should try slide anyway .. it's so awesome when you pick it up from the lab. E100G is very very good! One of my favorites is RSXII50 .. hurry up to get it - it will be gone soon for good:
Untitled by Kay K, on Flickr


To be honest I prefer C41 lately for the lower contrast. I just finished 10 rolls of Fuji NPH400 in 220 - I gave it one stop of overexposure for the 8 years of expiration
Untitled by Kay K, on Flickr

on fresh stock .. all the Portra films are incredibly good. 400 being my most used but 800 my favorite
 
johannielscom said:
Fuji Astia 100. Kodak Vericolor II. Konica Centuria 400.

All only available as expired film but I love them.

Consider 220 film, lots of the above still are easier found in 220 than 120.
Click to expand...

This is great advice Johan. I never thought to search for 220.

I should have said in my first post that I only shoot portra in 35mm. And I don't like to say it on here but shoot B+W on digital.

Is there much of a difference between E100g and E100VS?
 
AlexBG said:
This is great advice Johan. I never thought to search for 220.

I should have said in my first post that I only shoot portra in 35mm. And I don't like to say it on here but shoot B+W on digital.

Is there much of a difference between E100g and E100VS?
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E100VS is more vivid, warmer while E100g is more natural.
 
fuji astia and 160c if you can find them. while velvia 50 is still available shoot it anyway as you never know what fuji is thinking and gonna do
 
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