Worst film that you have ever used?

Lucky SHD 100 B + W film, which is supposedly a copy of Kodak Plus X.

You get what you pay for I guess.
 
Not really the film's fault, but a roll of 800 speed colour film that had probably been in my car trunk for a year.

It came out all muddy.
 
As an expired film user, here's my findings:

Bad films:

- Expired Fuji Reala (green... not the good kind)
- Expired Fuji NPS 160 (what grains, ugly too)
- Even Non-expired Kodak Max 400/200 (just ugh...)

Good films:

- Expired Portra 400 UC/VC/NC (especially in 120/220 format)
- Expired Kodak HD 200
- Expired Ilford XP2 (purple, but what dynamic range)
- Expired Kodachrome 64 (red, but what unique look)
- Expired Kodak E100 (blue if not careful, but easily removed in PS)
- Non-expired Kodak Gold 200 (yep, still can get this at local pharmacies)
 
As an expired film user, here's my findings:

Bad films:

- Expired Fuji Reala (green... not the good kind)
- Expired Fuji NPS 160 (what grains, ugly too)
- Even Non-expired Kodak Max 400/200 (just ugh...)

Good films:

- Expired Portra 400 UC/VC/NC (especially in 120/220 format)
- Expired Kodak HD 200
- Expired Ilford XP2 (purple, but what dynamic range)
- Expired Kodachrome 64 (red, but what unique look)
- Expired Kodak E100 (blue if not careful, but easily removed in PS)
- Non-expired Kodak Gold 200 (yep, still can get this at local pharmacies)


I shoot a lot of expired too and I'm with you on most of the one's you've listed but I'm surprised about the grain comment for NPS which I don't find totally different from NPH. Here's a shot with NPH at low (30%) res for the web, the full resolution is stunning.

2495561577_2b8b049304.jpg
 
Fuji Superia, all speeds I've tried. Might as well leave the camera at home if that's all you've got, IMHO :)

I'm intrigued because I shoot a lot of Fuji C41 including Superia. It's worked well for me. If you want I'll add a couple of images, however I'm more interested in what you dislike. Any links or image would be interesting for me.

BTW I find almost all C41 over 400 ISO does not work for me yet it works for others very well. Go figure.
 
and i thought i was the only one who hated kodak gold, and its evil twin superia

but worst is expired polariod. wow talk about dreading pushing the shutter in fear of what you will see.
 
ORWO was made in Eastern Germany in the former AGFA palnt in Wolfen.
Rollei Retro are relabeled AGFA APX Films.
I had good experiences with Kodak Gold even when pushed to 800 ASA.
Luky 400 BW in 135 had mediocre results when compared to other films.
 
I'm with dmr and Jan regarding the dissing of Superia. Aside from what I think was a mediocre batch I got several years back (and which I equipped galfriend with for her trip to Iceland at the time...I got okay results, but it was a bitch to scan and color-correct), I've largely gotten decent results with it.

What I guess pins this all down is that some film types are either (a) more variable in batches than others, (b) are more processing-sensitive than others, or, goodness forbid, (c) All Of the Above. Maybe this, in small part, is why black-and-white film still exists? :D


- Barrett
 
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Superia 400...Almost made me want to leave colour to digital.
.

Kind of agreeable, it´s tricky, skin tones with flash is not so nice, and it can be kind of red if it is expired, except that quite stable, but not as good as superia 200, that one survives quite a lot, at least what my time in front of a fuji frontier lab ..

Kodak Gold 400, that is some film not to recommend, unstable and grainy :)
Or anything from ferania/trifca, o dear . . . .

Disposable cameras that is well stored bought during holiday in Egypt or thereabout, especially if it is loaded with Agfa anything colour, that is a instant winner ;D

vha
 
Fuji Velvia. Started the trend towards super-saturated, hyped-up colors that we still haven't recovered from. Even digital photographers want their shots to look like Velvia images.

I don't think that's any fault of the film's, except that it offends your color aesthetics. It pleases a surprisingly high percentage of the population.

Not that the average population knows best, mind you.
 
My condolences on your passing. One more film user gone. But at least you (or your next of kin) could make millions selling whatever you've invented that's allowing you to send your findings in from the afterlife! :D


Heh, just put quote marks around "expired film" and everything works ;D

However if he's truly expired... "can I have your film.. please"?
I asked first! :D

I agree on Kodak Gold 400 .. I can never get it right.. too much grain.
Anyone using a good 800 ISO C41 film that they like a lot?
 
A different perspective: I have to scan a lot of old Kodak-chromes from the 60s for the local museum (several thousands so far) and I HATE it - the scanning and manual fixing that is.

I like Superia. Only color negative above 400 that works for me is NPZ.

Roland.
 
Is Kodak Gold the same as Kodak Super Gold? I found Super Gold 400 and F-ing love it. Bought 50 rolls and fired through it like a journalist. Especially in Winter, late in the afternoons Super Gold 400 picked up colors really well.
 
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