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Film recommendations


Philip Freedman

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A few months ago I bought a book of photographs of Venice taken a couple of years ago in all four seasons of the year, by Leonard Freed (who has since died) and Claudio Corrivetti. Freed took B&W using only Tri-X in an M6 and Corrivetti took colour used only Fujicolor 800 in an M7.

 

I like the deep colours of Corrivetti's photos and am thinking about standardising on Fujicolor 800 in my film M's which I use for travel photography (mainly street scenes, people, buildings etc - not usually landscapes).

Some people recommend exposing that fim at ISO400 rather than 800.

 

Any views on firm choice and would be appreciated.

 

Thanks Philip

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A lot depends on the light of course - if you're shooting in bright light then you're possibly going to run into problems even with 800 film pulled to 400.

 

I used quite a bit of Fuji 400 colour film - also know as Fuji Press - and that would be my first choice for a 400 speed colour print film.

 

Tri-X would be my B&W 400 film of choice.

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Depends on the type of photography, 800 speed in bright sunlight will mean fast speeds with small apertures, will impart a certain look, which is good if thats what you want to evolve into your style.

As for standardising on one or two films, I wouldn't do that myself as my photography is pretty varied tomorrow I'm shooting 6x7 Delta 3200 which I'll probably rate a EI6400 at the week-end I'm going to be outside light permitting and using Acros.

I also like Velvia and Portra for different situations, hard to narrow it down to just two but if you put a gun to my head Neopan 400 and Provia 100 will do most stuff, but I'd agree 400X is a great film

Mark

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Guest wls.shanghai

If you look for deep - rich colour,

maybe try the Fuji REALA

 

this film is the TOP of the TOP !!!!

 

regards

wls

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I wouldn't call Reala deep and rich. Accurate, yes. I've found Astia slide film has richer colors. Fuji's consumer Superia print films -- 100 and 400 -- are excellent all -round films IMO I haven't tried the 800. I'm also curious about good old Kodak Gold.

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I wouldn't call Reala deep and rich. Accurate, yes. I've found Astia slide film has richer colors. Fuji's consumer Superia print films -- 100 and 400 -- are excellent all -round films IMO I haven't tried the 800. I'm also curious about good old Kodak Gold.

 

IIRC, Fuji sell variant films in the Far East and in the Rest of the World. Maybe Reala is punchier in Asia and softer elsewhere? I know in Japan they sell some films that are so vivid they'd never sell any here.

 

My votes are for Astia for slides, Reala for colour negatives and Tri-X for B&W

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Interesting point, Andy. I'm at 45 S (New Zealand) where the light is clear and bright. So I do prefer more neutral color rendition. I was also a fan of Agfa. I reckon there's a huge difference depending on where in the world you photograph, which is seldom touched upon. For B+W, I've always been a fan of Ilford Pan F, which is ultra sharp.

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Hi Philip,

I used the Fujifilm Pro 400H only at ISO 320 or 250 for more vivid colors..

Now I'm using Kodak more:

- PORTRA 400NC - NATURAL COLOR FILM

For subtle color and natural skin tones in low-light situations or with on-camera flash.

- PORTRA 400VC - VIVID COLOR FILM

For enhanced color in low light. - Maybe this is what you are looking for?

More here KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA 400NC and 400VC Film

 

Peter Irmai in LFI International 06/2007 uses Portra 400 VC for this very nice series shown at Ball-Saal.com

 

For Black-and-White Films I like to use KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX 400 Film World’s sharpest 400-speed B&W film

 

Hope this is some help.

All the best

Ruben

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Guest wls.shanghai

I buy most of my Fuji films (REALA - VELVIA etc.) from

 

YODOBASHI Shinjuku (Tokyo)

 

and some in Germany.

There is no difference.

 

And I use a circular-pol-filter to make the colour more deep & rich, also

on my trips to new zealand & tasmania-australia.

(I never buy films in new zealand, because the extreme high price)

 

wls

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For absolute accuracy, I think REALA really does take some beating. However, there are times when something faster than ISO 100 is needed. I've been very impressed with the "consumer" Fuji Superia Extra 400 - a remarkable performer given its speed, and my film of choice when I am just carrying a zoom (with less wide aperture) on holiday.

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Velvia in the M6 for grain free scans and slides that are equal to Kodachome 25. For pure scanning Fufi Pro 160s, grain free and low contrast, as a bonus the lower contrast of Pro160s is a great match for the colour and contrast of the Leica lens. Also for B/W conversion. no burnt out highlights and detail in the shadows.

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My choice of film has evolved to something akin to picking a film to suit a purpose

 

Reala is really, really good for just about anything; but I think it's best at urban and suburban landscape, sports and events (like airshows, cars, etc) and I always get compliments of it when scanned

 

I've been using Kodak 100 UC for nature and general landscapes; Kodak 400 UC for brightly-colored work (flower gardens, ceramics and glass, museum exhibits etc) and think it is wonderful for this kind of work

 

I guess Velvia has been and continues to be the standard for landscape slide film while Astia suits the portraiture crowd with its natural palette of colors--don't use a lot of either so I'll go along with the others on this if they feel differently

 

Don't forget Agfa 100--if you can find it--great B&W that I can develop myself at home; and Ilford XP2 machine-processed is very nice too

 

Thanks

 

Allan

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I was looking through my files to find you an example of Kodak 400 UC and (of course) the only one I can find is the exception, taken on a cloudy day out at the Speedway

 

:rolleyes:

 

Thanks

 

Allan

 

 

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Kodak 400 UC 18 April 08

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I must second Stunsworth re the Fujipress 800. Pushed, pulled or just shot at 800 it exhibits minimal graininess for an 800 speed film. Prints up a bit hot but that can be colour-corrected.

 

R. Morrison, M4-P, etc.

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Must admit to being terribly predictable in my choice of film:

Colour Negative - Fuji Reala

Colour Slide - Fuji Provia

 

I keep threatening to shoot a roll of the new Velvia, but I have an inherent resistance to overblown colours.

 

I'd like to see a few examples of the original poster's images shot on 800ASA film along with a bit of the rationale for plumping for this as an exclusive, one cap fits all film.

 

Peter

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