Which 400 film?

[gdi]

love the kodak sign (top right corner)!

I have to admit - coincidence!

 

[Rhoyle]

The Kodak 400UC really does give you "Ultra Color". I find it a little too harsh, but others really like it. Quite subjective... I usually use Portra 400VC. It has punch, but doesn't go over the top. I avoid the Gold 400 or Max400, whichever it's called these days. The grain is much too pronounced. The Fuji films are quite good as well, I use Kodak because on my particular setup, I need to do less adjusting. For slide films, I use Kodak E-100G usually. It's color balance is very neutral yet the saturation is excellent. Saturated, but not harsh. For 400 speed, E-200 pushed is quite good and the word on the street is that Fuji Provia 400 is also top notch.

 

[titrisol]

The Fuji Superias were excellent consumer films.
Now for the PRO stuff get the 800 and the 100
there is also the one for portraits which has a fantastic color balance

 

[julio1fer]

Both Kodak and Fuji consumer versions of 400 color neg are pretty good. The lab/paper variable has more influence than the film for these two, IMO.

My favorite is Fuji Superia 400. You really don't need the more expensive pro versions unless you are in a studio. Of course Portra is nice!

You might want to set up a poll for this...

 

[Samsam]

i used to use portra 400VC ( now i use 160VC, better grain and details ) I love Portra colors. I would like to try the NC version too. Think about Meyerowitz color photographs to see what Portra looks like.
does anybody know which film does Jeff Mermelstein use ?

 

[venchka]

I am in Connectcut. I saw the postings last year so went to Walmart and bought out the remaining stock. Since then I have found it there consistently - so I buy a few rolls as I need it. I am pretty sure it is about 12 dollars for a 3 pack...

Thanks. I'll keep looking.

 

[raid]

Walgreen's 400 color film is a repackaged Fuji 400 at a lower cost. It gives very pleasing skin rendition for portraits taken in open shade. I also love Portra NC and Fuji NPS.

 

[jlamarca]

Interesting how so many responders here recommended 100 or 160 or even 25 ISO films when the guy asked about 400 films. If he was shooting landscapes with a tripod, he wouldn't be asking about 400 speed films.

I like both Provia 400x rated at 400 and E200 pushed one stop, although I think the Provia has a slight edge in graniness here.

All three kodak 400 print films are good - Portra NC and VC, and Ultra 400. Ultra is more contrasty, VC is not over-the-top colors, and NC is very smooth and pretty. I rate all of these films at 320 and process normally.

I generally prefer slides, even at 400 speed. Provia 400x is supposed to be pushable up to three stops, although the results you get pushing it to 1600 are not great. Even pushing it one stop to 800 gets pretty grainy, so for 800 I prefer Fuji Pro 800z, which you might want to rate 1/3 stopp less at 640 and process normally.

It's alarming how many people here give their business to Walmart, the evil empire that is destroying American towns and small businesses. Don't you people have anywhere else to buy and process film? Can't you spend the extra $0.75 per roll so you can sleep at night?

 

[arnulf]

About the advice on slow speed films: that's ok. Always nice to get a discussion going. Although you are right, I'm looking for film that works well on the street in less than perfect lighting. I am trying out the Kodak films and I'm gonna give the Provia a go later.

About Wallmart: Well, I don't live in America and hence never buy my films there, but for the record: I couldn't agree more with you!!!

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[gdi]

Don't you people have anywhere else to buy and process film? Can't you spend the extra $0.75 per roll so you can sleep at night?

More like $2.35/roll.

And I was able to sleep till I saw this---

http://www.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart

 

[gdi]

That video is very funny but it sums up the sad reality of Big Box Land. It also does not point out that freedom to pollute with impunity in China helps keep everyday low prices low. Ane then that smog drifts all the way across the Pacific to California.

About slower speed films, of course you want to use the slowest speed possible. I wish I could use kodachrome more often but with handheld, 64 is tough. I really like E100G for natural colors and fine grain.

Everyone should watch Frontline's "Is Walmart good for America".

 

[raid]

Is it or is it not?

 

[jlamarca]

Is it or is it not?

Why don't you watch the frontline episode and decide for yourself. The whole thing is viewable at pbs.org. It's quite interesging, especially when they discuss the Walmart-China partnership, and the US-China trade relationship, which is that the US now exports to China raw materials like cotton and scrap metal, and imports from China finished manufacrured goods at 10x the value of our exports. We are like a third-world country, which suits Walmart just fine - more cash-strapped customers attracted like flies to its low low prices.

 

[TheHub]

The Portra series is quite good. I've shot 160, 400 and 800 and they were pleasingly saturated. "VC" is my choice for Holgas and "NC" for old, uncoated-lensed cameras for the old, faded look.
A surprise for me was Kodak Super Gold 400. It's dirt cheap over here (7 rolls for $5) but really knocked my socks off. I find it much better than Fuji Superia (which I now avoid at all costs.)
I tried Ultra Color once but it didn't float my boat. Maybe I should try it again.

 

[pbphoto]

I love the palette of 400VC-2 in most lighting conditions. Skin tones look great - sometimes slightly ruddy which I prefer. 400VC-2 scans very easily - gives me less trouble than 400UC. This film has allowed me to love color film again. Kodak is releasing 400VC-3 on a stock-turnover basis. Hope to get some soon. ps. 160VC-2 is great too.

paul

 

[MCTuomey]

Kodak's Portra 400NC (and its sister 160NC). Just about perfection in a negative film.

 

[thomasw_]

Hello there;

Since you are interested in slide film as well as print, I feel obligated to suggest Kodachrome 64. It is the only colour film I shoot for one simple reason: I have never seen a more lovely colour film. Unfortunately your time is very limited.... I have 20 rolls of it left, and I plan to use them during the coming spring and summer months.

 

[Monte920]

It's alarming how many people here give their business to Walmart, the evil empire that is destroying American towns and small businesses. Don't you people have anywhere else to buy and process film? Can't you spend the extra $0.75 per roll so you can sleep at night?

Walmart does not sell Portra NC or VC. It does not sell Fuji Pro 160S, 160C, 400H, 800Z, either. So where did everyone get these films from?

I like to buy these films from B&H or Adorama. Due to the shipping charge, I usually order more than 10 or even 20 rolls at once to spread the shipping cost. The cost of films can be easily piled up when you order a bulk of them. I once worried about the x-ray or heat may be involved during the transportation, but so far they came out fine. Recently I also tried some outdated films on eBay. They may be cheaper, but the quality varies. For fresh films, most vendors on eBay are actually more expensive than B&H or Adorama. So I do not buy fresh films on eBay.

Walmart or Target are still the most convenient and economical place to get general films like Kodak Gold or Fuji Superia. Ritz or Wolf Camera charge too much on the films. So do local retail stores! (Note Kodak of Walmart is made in USA, while Fuji is made in Japan. There are Kodak made in China, like ProImage, which is quite excellent. But they don't set their feet on American soil.)

For development or print, that is even harder to find satisfactory ones. Neither my local CVS, Walgreen, Sams Club or Walmart are satisfactory. My local Wolf Camera is better. Initially I was willing to spend about 40% more cost at Wolf than Walgreen for better quality. However, later on I found Wolf machine scratched my films. I told them a few times, but they never solved the problem, so I gave up on them. I then tried Kodak process mailer. It took more than a month turn around time from Houston to Dallas and back to Houston. So again it was not acceptable. I also tried the most famous Pro lab in Houston. The cost was more than twice than that of Walgreen. But except for better print paper, I didn't find it superior. Desperately, I tried my local Target. And I was surprized to find that they were actually quite good. With their photocard discount, it costs even less than Walgreen. I can't say they are 100% satisfactory to me, but at least 90%. This is already not easy nowadays from the labs. So for the time being, I will stick with my local Target.

It is really not that I like to go to big marts. It is that I need to find good service with reasonable prices. And unfortunately, a lot of time it ends up only your local big marts can fulfill that need. 🙁

 

[Dektol Dan]

Porta Here Too

Porta Here Too

I've given up on Fuji except for their 1600 which is quite good.
Porta of any speed or flavor is my standard now for everything. It scans the best of all the negative films I have tried. I have a refrigerator full of it.
It's odd, I tried to sell off my approaching pull date stash a couple of months ago on this site for half price and didn't get one bite! How times change;
Porta in all its glory:

 

[mikebridge]

I just bought Sidewalk, I'm also wondering what film Mermelstein uses.

Thanks!

-Mike

i used to use portra 400VC ( now i use 160VC, better grain and details ) I love Portra colors. I would like to try the NC version too. Think about Meyerowitz color photographs to see what Portra looks like.
does anybody know which film does Jeff Mermelstein use ?