Which 400 (or faster) Color film ?

Which 400 (or faster) Color film ?

  • Kodak 400 UC

    Votes: 13 21.7%

  • Kodak 400 NC

    Votes: 12 20.0%

  • Fujicolor Pro 400 H

    Votes: 20 33.3%

  • Fujicolor Superia 400

    Votes: 12 20.0%

  • Something else altogether.

    Votes: 5 8.3%
  • Total voters
    60
  • Poll closed .
srtiwari

srtiwari

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Next week, on my trip to India, I plan to take some Reala and Ektar, but would also like to take some 400 film. I don't usually use this speed and am therefore unfamiliar. But I suspect 400 (or faster) may be better for "street shooting".
What film do most people like, best balanced between natural colors, good saturation, fine grain, and scanability ?
 
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The nicest one I've used as of late is Fuji NPZ800. Really punchy color and the grain IMO is terrific considering the speed....

Have Fun !
 
I've been using Fuji Superia 400 for a while now. It's cheap and I like the colour (although it's more saturated than some might like). Like the above poster, I find Fuji 400H to be too muted. I used Fuji 800Z a while ago (when it was NPZ) and I was really impressed with the colour and grain. I would probably use it more, but I don't need the extra stop.
 
Fuji Superia 400 isn't bad, and has the advantage of being very cheap. You can buy packs of it in Walmart for not much at all. I recently tried Kodak Porta 400NC, with mixed results on the roll I shot. Lots of people really like this stuff though. I'll probably try it again at some point.
 
Fuji Pro400H is quite simply the best film I have ever used. Creamy whites, life-like skin tones, beautiful graduation and fine, subtle grain, it also happens to be as good if not better pushed to 800 (I personally prefer it to 800Z).

Divine...

400H:

2738450252_e3fef2d774_o.jpg


400H@800

2862785957_e1683edde6_b.jpg
 
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This has gotten even more complicated !

I see that there is a Press/Superia (about $.50) more than the "Regular" Superia 400, BUT it is not available. Is that the "Reala" of 400 iso ?

I will have to choose between the Pro 400H and the Superia, I think. The Kodak products all look a bit "warmer" than the Fuji ones. Of course, that is the impression one gets from Flickr. ( I know, its subject to many variables by the time its put up there)
Tough situation, since I don't really have the time to "Test" any films by this coming friday. :bang:
 
I like how the Fuji 400H handles mixed lighting, and it gives wonderful greens in the woods (as urban_alchemist shows above). I've just gotten some of the 800Z to try, loaded up the MP3 with it this afternoon.
 
I guess the 400H is leading in the polls !
And, Sepiareverb, thanks for the note about mixed lighting- that makes it seem more desirable.
So...how is it otherwise different from the "Amateur" fuji product ?
 
I like the Supermarket, er, Superia 400 as it's reasonably priced, available in lots of places (hence my Supermarket joke) and, like all Fuji color film, it handles non-caucasian skin tones and mixed lighting better, to my eyes, than their Kodak equivalents.

It's also the Walgreen's house lable film and can sometimes be found very cheap as a result.

William
 
I found a recent example of the Fuji 800 that I replied about earlier today...

Tech.
Zeiss Ikon
75/2.0 Summicron ASPH
 

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I'm sure the grain would be finer although we might be talking loupes and light tables here.

Any of the newer Hi-speed emulsions will work great whichever your choice. It took some actual examples from fellow RFF member "Sockeyed" of the Fuji when I was asking some of the same questions you are today.

I think the trip to India itself outweighs any film choice !! I hope you have a wonderful time. You may want to look at one of the member's galleries here... "Nachkebia" did a lot of shooting in India a year or so ago and some of the photos were exceptional...... you may get some ideas there.

All the Best!

Sherm
 
sherm said:
...I think the trip to India itself outweighs any film choice !!...Sherm
Click to expand...

Yes, of course it does. I will be seeing a lot of friends and relatives I have not since my last trip in '95. That is why I am being so obsessive with the choice of gear and film-
10 days, 2 camera bodies, 3 lenses, and 6 rolls of 100 iso, and 6 rolls of 400 iso film. So far, its M6, Bessa R3A, Zi 28mm/2.8, 50 Summicron, 90 elmarit, 6 rolls Reala and 6 rolls of -"?"
And I hope to spend some time with my friend Mukul (Payasam) who is often seen here on RFF !
 
For night time I would use Fuji Provia 400 color slide film. You can rate and push it at 800, 1600, and 3200, with pretty amazing results.

For Day time use, I would photograph with kodachrome 64, Fuji 100F, or fuji velvia. If you like to experiment, I would mix and match. If you want to have a consistant look, I would pick one and become proficient with it.

I personally like slide film better than color negative film. Or maybe two films, one for daytime use, and one for night time.

Have a great trip:

:S:
 
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