cheap color negative film

[dynachrome]

When it's on sale the 4-oacks of CVS 200 speed film is a good buy. I have a lot of it which I got for $4.99 a 4-pack of 24 exp. rolls. It's some kind of Fuji film. The Superia Xtra 400 is also reasonably priced at Unique Photo and B&H and scans very well. It may not have grain quite as fine as the Portra 400 films but it' still very good. I sometimes see the Kodacolor 200 in large packs at the warehouse stores.

 

[BetterSense]

We went to Sam's club yesterday to buy a couple bulk items and figuring on buying some Superia. Even though Sam's has a really big minilab setup, they don't sell any film at all. It's strange to me considering that walmart sells film, and I mean, people bring film in there to have it processed. They have to buy it somewhere; it stands to no reason that they process film but don't sell it.

 

[WolfTales]

Superia is super and Gold is golden.

C-41 chems are toxic - use care!!

 

[mrladewig]

I really like the color of Fuji Reala, but the grain looks weird and I haven't gotten as much detail with it as other films I use. But its the only C-41 film I've used that gives a real pure blue sky that looks like slide films. I like the palette of Fuji's Pro160S/NPS pretty well too, but Portra scans a bit better for me.

In the 800 speed films, Portra 800 and Kodak's Ultramax 800 have the same print grain index rating, but the 400 speed films are noticeably better. If I just needed ISO 800, I would typically choose to shoot ISO 400 at -1EC versus ISO 800 at box speed even though the colors are a bit muted.

My favorite all around film is Kodak's HD400. It has finer grain than the current Portra 400NC, great detail and nice colors. It can still be found at B&H for about $3.50/roll. I talked my local shop into carrying it.

I have mixed feelings towards Ektar. The grain is indeed very fine and it captures detail quite well, but there are some things about the palette and contrast that I'm not fond of. I think after I've shot a dozen rolls of it, I prefer the old UC100 or the Portra 160 films.

 

[Ektagraphic]

You may also want to try some Kodak HD400 which is pretty much one of the Kodak Gold films. It's pretty good.

 

[matthewm]

In my experience as a Lab Tech at Ritz Camera (please don't hate me, I just work there) I've noticed that the Kodak tends to be warmer and a little bit flatter and the Fuji tends to be cooler and more contrasty. Popeetheus is right about Fuji, the greens and blues will seem 'enhanced' while Kodak tends to be more balanced for skin tones. I don't know if they did that on purpose or not, but I've definitely noticed it in developing and in shooting stuff for myself.

My favorite films right now are Kodak Ektar 100 (really nice colors) and Portra 400NC. I don't care much for the Porta VC, but I do shoot it in my Diana camera since that camera tends to mute everything a bit. Oh, I also really like Portra 800 or Fuji 800Z if you can find either one of those. I think the Portra is still around, but not sure on the Pro 800Z.

For "over the counter" films, I'd try Fuji Reala 100 (if that's fast enough) or just plain old Kodak 400. For snapshots neither one of those has ever failed me and the Reala is pretty great for enlarging.

Best of luck!
Matthew

 

[EASmithV]

The concern here for a lot of people is that you can only buy C41 chemicals in very large quantities and they go off very quickly. How do you get 5 gallons of C41 developer to last the 3-4 years it would take to use it up.

That Is why I only buy press kits.

 

[spb854]

I use to work for Walgreens and I know their brand of film NOW is Fuji and it is pretty good. They still process film at their stores AND you can have them scanned and put on a CD at the same time.

Regarding Ektar 100......you might check out the September 2009 issue of Shutterbug. It has the tests for the 35mm and the 120 size films. From what I gather, the 35mm is not as forgiving as the 120 film. Plus, Kodak suggests that the film be stored below 55°F. I'm looking forward to trying it out though.