fursan Posted August 31, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I shall be touring China for about 2 months..Oct/Nov. I am taking my MP and my M8. I am ok for BW C41. What one color film would you advise me to carry, for everything. Daytime, indoors ( monasteries etc. ) and general use. I was thinking of the Kodak Portra 800 and/or the Fuji Pro 800Z. Due to weight cut down I was thinking of sticking to crons; but advice would be welcome. Lens set up would be cron 28/35/75. or cron 28/lux 35/cron 75 ( I could throw in a Sonnar 50 just for the look. Thank you. p.s Do not intend to print more than A4, and no tripod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 Hi fursan, Take a look here Travel and Color C41 Film. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted August 31, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2011 Portra 400. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted August 31, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 31, 2011 I also would recommend Portra 400 for its exposure latitude. Enjoy your stay. We are looking forward to see some great shots. Regards, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted August 31, 2011 Ian, Steve..thanks for your replies. Time to order Portra 400!! Going to Tibet by train is an integral part of the journey which is so far proving impossible for various reasons. Hope it sorts itself out by mid-sep otherwise we shall look somewhere else to roam around. Kindest regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted August 31, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 31, 2011 While I like Portra 800, if I could only choose one, I'd take Portra 400. You might want to bring along a handful of Portra 800 just in case though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted August 31, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 31, 2011 If you need the extra speed Portra 800 would be good but I have always found it hard to find stockists. A cheaper fast option would be Fuji Superia 800. I've shot most of the Superia variants and they're good workaday films, although I do find scans tend towards the red end of the spectrum and need a bit of toning down. POrtra 400 on the other hand scans beautifully, gives marvellous skin tones and a grain I like -- though not all do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted August 31, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 31, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) No reason to limit your choice at this stage, you have a few weeks to try out a few different emulsions. Why leave the tripod behind? Portra 400 is an excellent choice but if you are scanning the negs you could try a few rolls of Portra 160 and Ektar 100 before you go. Only you know how or what you intend to shoot. If it were me I'd take the 28, 35 & 75mm Summicrons....and I would not leave without a Gitzo 1550T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted September 1, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 1, 2011 I too would suggest the portra 400. The portra 800 is a great film under some circumstances and might be useful to have a few roles for lower light. Ultimately, as honcho said there is no reason to limit your choices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted September 1, 2011 tgray, Alun, Steve, kokoshawn.. Thanks guys. Indeed Portra 800 is proving difficult to source either in UK or at BH in NYC. I shall try a few more places and then just leave it to the M8 to handle:D Appreciate all your suggestions and am grateful for them. Best regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.henry Posted September 1, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 1, 2011 I also love the new Portra 400, and it would be a good choice. However.... The sun in China is very harsh, and depending on the level of pollution on any given day, 400 speed film might make you stop down to f/16 or smaller. While the 400 speed is good when going into temples and other interiors, it could be too fast much of the time outside. When I lived in China I would usually walk around doing street photography using ISO 50 or ISO 100 film, shooting at over 1/180th second with a mid-range aperture. So, Portra 160 might be a better choice, and then just use the M8 when inside with higher ISO. Take a look at the China Landscapes and China Street Photography galleries on my site--hovering over the center of the photo will bring up the technical data, and you can see what film I used. Galleries Enjoy the trip...it's a a photographers dream throughout the country. If you have any questions, shoot me a PM. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted September 1, 2011 Jeff, a very good morning to you. Much obliged for that ' on the ground ' information. Very valuable to me. Now to spend time looking at your images. Best regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted September 1, 2011 Share #12 Posted September 1, 2011 I also love the new Portra 400, and it would be a good choice. However.... The sun in China is very harsh, and depending on the level of pollution on any given day, 400 speed film might make you stop down to f/16 or smaller. While the 400 speed is good when going into temples and other interiors, it could be too fast much of the time outside.... Local information is unbeatable for these questions - the forum at its best! Anyway, another option could be to buy ND filters for your lenses - troublesome to take on and off, but less problematic than having the 'wrong' film in your camera in any given situation. I tend to take ND filters with me on holiday - mostly because of my stupid addiction to isolated subjects, even in bright sunlight... (I'm trying to cure myself, but it's hard). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted September 1, 2011 Share #13 Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks guys. Indeed Portra 800 is proving difficult to source either in UK or at BH in NYC. Don't know about the UK, but B&H has Portra 800 in stock... Not sure what is difficult. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted September 1, 2011 Local information is unbeatable for these questions - the forum at its best! Anyway, another option could be to buy ND filters for your lenses - troublesome to take on and off, but less problematic than having the 'wrong' film in your camera in any given situation. I tend to take ND filters with me on holiday - mostly because of my stupid addiction to isolated subjects, even in bright sunlight... (I'm trying to cure myself, but it's hard). Thank you. I, too, share your addiction to isolating subjects. Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted September 1, 2011 Don't know about the UK, but B&H has Portra 800 in stock... Not sure what is difficult. Yep..found it. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinA Posted September 5, 2011 Share #16 Posted September 5, 2011 I use Silverprint for film in the UK, Silverprint - Store - Browse Products - Kevin. Home Page | Tree Without a Bird | Kevin Allen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted September 5, 2011 Share #17 Posted September 5, 2011 portra 160 and lux 35 to go with the crons, it's nice to have one fast lens with you . Etienne Michiels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fursan Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted September 7, 2011 Kevin, Etienne... Thanks for your suggestions. Kevin, minimum shipping is GBP 100/= Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinA Posted September 7, 2011 Share #19 Posted September 7, 2011 Kevin, Etienne... Thanks for your suggestions. Kevin, minimum shipping is GBP 100/= Regards. I just order what I need and pay postage, usually a lot less than £100. per order. Kevin. Home Page | Tree Without a Bird | Kevin Allen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windowlicker Posted September 11, 2011 Share #20 Posted September 11, 2011 The new Portra 400 pushes wonderfully if you need the extra stops. I've also shot it a stop or two under-exposed with pretty decent, workable results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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