Best Color film to learn on? When is old film too old to even learn on?

[photopriscilla]

I would love anyone's thoughts on best color film to learn on? Should I even bother purchasing 8 year film to practice on? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FujiLove]

If you are starting out, I would strongly recommend using fresh film or film that's maybe up to a year expired at most. Otherwise you're adding a complex variable into the mix that will only confuse things. As an example, if you have a photograph which is underexposed, you won't know whether that's something you did wrong or it's due to the film losing sensitivity. Same goes for colour casts, things that look like light leaks, muted colours etc.

Once you've nailed down your exposure, understand how the emulsions you use react to different types of light and are happy with your processing, then start experimenting with older film if you feel the need.

 

[NJH]

Agfa Vista 200. Here in the UK it is £1 a roll from Poundland, last time I bought some I got 10 rolls of 36 exp as they seem to mix 24 and 36 exposure rolls on the shelf. This film is thought to be made by Fuji and some form of repackaged C200. C200 is usually available really cheap as well.

Dead Link Removed
This guy shoots the similar Fuji Superia films in a Leica, also fairly cheap films and sometimes available for a really good deals if bought in large packs.

 

[FujiLove]

I forgot to add, I'd recommend Portra 400 or Fuji 400H to learn on, because they are both extremely flexible (you can shoot them three stops under and over exposed). They are both available in 135 and 120 formats, so you can swap systems and still use the same film. The quality control of both films is as good as it gets, so you don't have to worry about manufacturing faults. And the emulsions behave in similar ways, so you could swap to the other type if you're stuck somewhere and can't buy your usual film.

 

[FujiLove]

Agfa Vista 200. Here in the UK it is £1 a roll from Poundland, last time I bought some I got 10 rolls of 36 exp as they seem to mix 24 and 36 exposure rolls on the shelf. This film is thought to be made by Fuji and some form of repackaged C200. C200 is usually available really cheap as well.

Dead Link Removed
This guy shoots the similar Fuji Superia films in a Leica, also fairly cheap films and sometimes available for a really good deals if bought in large packs.

^^^ If you're on a tight budget and only use 135, this is perfect.

 

[RobC]

depends on what you're going to be photographing. For people/portraits then Potra is most peoples favourite I think, it reproduces skin tones well.

 

[bvy]

Fuji Superia. It's cheap (relatively), easy to find (Wal-Mart), and it delivers the goods. I'm still "learning" on it.

 

[removed account4]

I would love anyone's thoughts on best color film to learn on? Should I even bother purchasing 8 year film to practice on? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

don't bother with 8 year old film use fresh stuff, otherwise
you won't know if what is going wrong ( if anything at all )
since using expired color film is pretty much a crap shoot.

 

[railwayman3]

Agfa Vista 200. Here in the UK it is £1 a roll from Poundland, last time I bought some I got 10 rolls of 36 exp as they seem to mix 24 and 36 exposure rolls on the shelf. This film is thought to be made by Fuji and some form of repackaged C200. C200 is usually available really cheap as well.

Unfortunately this doesn't help our friend in the U.S., but, for those in the U.K., I can definitely recommend this film for general use, and certainly for learning. The AgfaPhoto Precisa colour slide (also Made in Japan) is also an excellent neutral and sharp film, and can sometimes be found on good offers.

I'd also avoid long-outdated films for learning....as others say, you're adding an unknown variable, when you're already working through the known variables of exposure, processing and printing.

 

[jeffreythree]

Fuji Superia. It's cheap (relatively), easy to find (Wal-Mart), and it delivers the goods. I'm still "learning" on it.

I am about to process my first C-41 rolls. Almost all of it is Walmart sourced Fuji Superia . The small electronics clearance shelf is near the camera section, at least here in my area. I find short date 4 packs of Fuji 24 exposure film on those shelves for <$2 a roll, usually about 4-6 months before expiration.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Learn what? DIY developing, printing?
I can't print color in DR. So, I'm using color film as something special from digital. Eight years old film might be as good as fresh film, if you are after color film look and not into technical details like WB.
I have about 400+ ft of very old Kodak 50D cinefilm and it gives me color and rendering no digital will give. Plus, some old slide film. Also fun. Both films developing in C-41 fine.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Start learning on fresh film. I recommend Kodak Portra 400 because the skin tones are accurate. You may consider Kodak Ektar which is bright, contrasty, but is not always good for skin tones.

 

[Malinku]

fuji superia 400 as it is cheap and easy to use. 4 packs are currently $15 at walgreens in my town. So shooting boring test/learning shots will not set you back much.

 

[trondsi]

Try slide film. It will tell you immediately how to expose film correctly. Fujifilm produces very high quality slide film (Provia is my favorite). Bracketing is a good way to learn. I can't tell you how many times I've been frustrated with color negative film for not showing me immediately what's wrong (eg. is it my exposure, or the scanning, or the printing? The negatives can be hard to interpret, but slides are not).

 

[jsmithphoto1]

I agree that the Fuji you can purchase at WalMart is good stuff. Being a Kodak admirer by heart, I would recommend Kodak. However, I have about 8 rolls of Color Plus that is fresh and in date that I think is sub-par to the WalMart Fuji. The color is too warm/yellow. Maybe Kodak ISO 400 would be much better if you could find it!

 

[NB23]

I don't understand this "learning on" thing. Buy the cheapest FRESH film. That's it.