Do you have a favorite color film?

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 26, 2015

The new Ektar 100 is my favorite color film. Don't know why I always preferred color negative film over transparency films, perhaps because of the exposure latitude, because a well-made chrome is a thing of beauty. But the new Ektar is just beautiful in terms of color accuracy and saturation, as well as being extremely fine-grained.

trondsi · Jul 27, 2015

TheFlyingCamera said:
The new Ektar 100 is my favorite color film. Don't know why I always preferred color negative film over transparency films, perhaps because of the exposure latitude, because a well-made chrome is a thing of beauty. But the new Ektar is just beautiful in terms of color accuracy and saturation, as well as being extremely fine-grained.

Yeah, Ektar is my favorite negative film, so if Provia is discontinued I'll probably mostly shoot Ektar.

ME Super · Jul 27, 2015

I'd have to agree that for a negative film, Ektar is pretty darn good. Not dissing portra in any way, because that's good too, but in a different way. Love me some Ektar every now and then. But my first love is slide film, and of those currently produced, I like Provia 100F/AgfaPhoto Precisa CT 100, followed (a very close second) by Velvia 50.

Roger Cole · Jul 27, 2015

Well "of those currently produced" you managed to name both as favorites.

It's horrible that nothing faster than 100 is available (save the German stuff that no one can seem to agree whether it's still being produced or only sold from frozen rolls, whether it has a yellow cast or not or even whether every place that does E6 will process it with the acetate base...) new any more. I'm at least glad that is, and really, REALLY hope Fuji keeps making Provia 100F at least until Ferrania starts making and selling film.

mehguy · Jul 28, 2015

Kodak 400.

DREW WILEY · Jul 28, 2015

I'd be totally shocked if anyone other than Fuji comes up with another serious chrome film (meaning something versatile and not just silly fun looking). And more likely, they'll probably just keep trimming their own selection.

Sirius Glass · Jul 28, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
I'd be totally shocked if anyone other than Fuji comes up with another serious chrome film (meaning something versatile and not just silly fun looking). And more likely, they'll probably just keep trimming their own selection.

Fuji culls its film so that Fuji can survive. I hope that they can avoid self culling.

RMF · Jul 28, 2015

Currently, Fuji Superia 200.
In the past, Fuji Reala 100 and Kodachrome 25.

PatTrent · Jul 29, 2015

Ektar 100. Perfection.

wblynch · Jul 29, 2015

Was Kodak Gold 100

Now Kodak Ektar 100 or Gold 200

I use more Gold 200 than Ektar though.

flavio81 · Jul 30, 2015

Used to be: Fuji Superia 1600.

Now, i'm starting to like Fuji "Proplus II 200" which is probably the same as Fuji "C200".

Jeff Bradford · Aug 1, 2015

Velvia 50, Ektar 100, and Portra 160 & 400. It just depends on the subject and the light.

miha · Aug 2, 2015

Used to be Kodak SUPRA, now it's PORTRA.

Devlog · Aug 2, 2015

1. Portra 400
2. Portra 160
3. Fuji Pro400H
4. Ultramax

I had the chance to shoot Fuji Reala once in 120 format, two months before it was discontinued. Coup de foudre.

I hope to shoot Cinestill 800 in an intérieur situation with artificial light. It might well be that it will become my favorite.

flavio81 · Aug 3, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
I'd be totally shocked if anyone other than Fuji comes up with another serious chrome film (meaning something versatile and not just silly fun looking). And more likely, they'll probably just keep trimming their own selection.

Most likely in 3 or 4 years ferrania will launch a pushable 400-speed chrome film.
Yes, probably it will not have the same advanced technology as the discontinued Fuji 400X film, but if they make it in medium format size, this won't matter at all as long as the colors are good.

Roger Cole · Aug 3, 2015

If they get their 100 film going I really hope it isn't THAT long for a 400.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

ME Super · Aug 4, 2015

DREW WILEY · Aug 5, 2015

The thread should have been titled, "DID you have a favorite color film?" More of an obituary. But at this point in time, I sure hope Ektar and
Porta products don't join that list. 8x10 E100G and Astia 100F still live in animated suspension, in my freezer.

Roger Cole · Aug 6, 2015

What Drew said.

Maybe another thread for which departed film you miss the most (besides Kodachrome to keep it from being an all Kodachrome thread.)

Oddly enough there aren't any B&W I miss that much given today's excellent films. I would like Plus-X back but it's not a huge loss.

But the color films I miss are several (Astia, E100G, Provia 400x, Agfa Ultra 50, Agfa Portrait 160, just to start.)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

trondsi · Aug 7, 2015

Well, I don't look at things as darkly as you guys, though choices are few, and even though I was a big fan of Kodachrome.

I actually think Provia 100f and Ektar 100 are excellent films, for instance.

wblynch · Aug 7, 2015

I am elated that we still have dozens of color films to choose from, buy and use.

Imagine it won't be that long until we have only one. (and I will still be grateful having that one)

rbultman · Aug 8, 2015

Not to get too picky on the "dozens" comment, and at the risk of sounding overly pessimistic, I count 21 in 35mm 36 exp from B&H, 12 in 120, and 3 each in 4x5 and 8x10. LF is clearly in danger with only Kodak carrying the torch.

Note that these are distinct emulsions and not multipacks.

That is of course for negative film. The slide landscape (pun intended) is a bit bleaker with 5 in 35mm 36 exp, 5 in 120, and 2 each in 4x5 and 8x10. Here too a single vendor, Fuji, is holding out in LF. The bright spot here is Ferrania. Here's to hoping they can pull it off.

How many emulsions were available in the hayday? Options in 35mm are pretty good, not so much with 120. I'd like to see more options in 120 and hope we don't lose LF altogether.

By comparison, there are about 25 emulsions available in 120 for B&W. That's about a 5 to 1 ratio for slide and 2 to 1 for negative.

I mostly shoot color on vacation but have recently been shooting more and intend to start home processing of color film. If I'm going to start stockpiling anything, it will be color film as B&W seems solid with at least one company fully committed. Perhaps Ferrania will become the Ilford of color film...

Happy shooting,
Rob

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Peltigera · Aug 8, 2015

Went into Poundland this week to stock up on Agfa Vista+ and was heartened to see they have redesigned the packaging. Suggests that the product is still well worth the bother.

wblynch · Aug 8, 2015

rbultman said:
Not to get too picky on the "dozens" comment...

Well there you go Rob. You just counted over Four Dozen color films available. Not too bad I'd say, given the alternative.

aRolleiBrujo · Aug 8, 2015

great article!

Do you have a favorite color film?

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency