Fuji Provia 400X

Allan Swindles · Feb 15, 2009

As a user of Velvia 50 or 100 for macro work I now need a faster slide film for use with a f6.3 420mm. telephoto lens (300mm. f4.5 + 1.4X conv.). Has anyone tried Provia 400X film? The makers claim results comparable with 100 ISO.

keithwms · Feb 15, 2009

It is super.

domaz · Feb 15, 2009

Very good but I do see grain under a loupe which I don't see with Velvia.

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 15, 2009

Allan Swindles said:
As a user of Velvia 50 or 100 for macro work I now need a faster slide film for use with a f6.3 420mm. telephoto lens (300mm. f4.5 + 1.4X conv.). Has anyone tried Provia 400X film? The makers claim results comparable with 100 ISO.

A 300mm lens for macro work!?
Try Provia 100F pushed to 400, which lends itself ideally to this situation and its characteristics remain pleasing.

Lopaka · Feb 15, 2009

I have had very good results with it.

Bob

amuderick · Feb 16, 2009

The finest grain in 400 speed. Better than 100F pushed.

wildbill · Feb 16, 2009

Yes, I have tried it. ?

Stephen Schoof · Feb 16, 2009

I have shot a couple of rolls and would not say it is comparable to 100 speed (at least the current ones) - there is the expected increase in grain and decrease in sharpness. For 400 speed though it is fantastic, and color saturation is much better than the old 400F. FWIW, I shoot mostly Velvia 50 and 100F and in low light I generally prefer pushing 100F to 200 rather than switching to Provia 400x. Grain is finer than 400x and contrast and saturation are higher (not always good things, but pleasing to me if the light is flat).

BetterSense · Feb 16, 2009

Where do you all get your slides processed that will push them?

Stephen Schoof · Feb 16, 2009

BetterSense said:
Where do you all get your slides processed that will push them?

www.theslideprinter.com

samuelphoto · Feb 16, 2009

Stephen Schoof said:
I have shot a couple of rolls and would not say it is comparable to 100 speed (at least the current ones) - there is the expected increase in grain and decrease in sharpness. For 400 speed though it is fantastic, and color saturation is much better than the old 400F. FWIW, I shoot mostly Velvia 50 and 100F and in low light I generally prefer pushing 100F to 200 rather than switching to Provia 400x. Grain is finer than 400x and contrast and saturation are higher (not always good things, but pleasing to me if the light is flat).

Have to agree with this assessment. I also sense the film has a tad of a cold tone to it, though I am a Velvia and Astia fan.

Erik Ehrling · Feb 16, 2009

I can highly recommend Provia 400X. It has quickly become my favourite 400 ISO colour film. The colours are rich but not oversaturated. I have not shot the older 400F variant so I can't comment on the improvement in grain vs the older version. However, the grain is very well controlled for a 400 ISO film.

It's slightly more expensive than other slide films, at least here in Sweden, but worth the extra money in my opinion.

Best regards,
Erik Ehrling (Sweden)

Allan Swindles · Feb 16, 2009

Thanks for your replies folks, I'm encouraged. I am waiting for some to arrive. BTW, I'm not using the 300mm lens for macro work as perhaps I implied, but for wildlife photography.

Mark Antony · Feb 16, 2009

I like it, and think it is the best 400 slide on the market. I think the grain is very fine not quite like Provia 100 but not bad.I have a test and some 100% crops here that should give you a rough idea:
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/2007/05/fuji-provia-400x-when-i-first-tried-400.html
Mark

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 16, 2009

BetterSense said:
Where do you all get your slides processed that will push them?

A&I in L.A. You can order mailers from them or B&H. Duggal in New York. Any pro lab should be able to push/pull E-6, usually in half stop, and sometimes smaller increments.

Tom Stanworth · Feb 18, 2009

superb stuff. Very fine grain for 400 and much more 100 like colours. Very very impressive...

A_T · Feb 18, 2009

Tom Stanworth said:
superb stuff. Very fine grain for 400 and much more 100 like colours. Very very impressive...

Yes that is my experience too.

Prest_400 · Feb 21, 2009

Mark Antony said:
I like it, and think it is the best 400 slide on the market. I think the grain is very fine not quite like Provia 100 but not bad.I have a test and some 100% crops here that should give you a rough idea:
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/2007/05/fuji-provia-400x-when-i-first-tried-400.html
Mark

Not bad, excellent for a ISO 400 slide; much better than my dad's old agfachromes. The grain is pleasant, to say. It adds something to your photo.

How good is this film for portraiture? I'd like to have it as general use, love slides. And usually do portraits at the same time.
Too bad slides are horrible for fluorescent lighting without filter. In a trip I should do one of the next summers I'll have to make a family photo under fluorescent lighting. It's said that Fuji 400H does nice work under this lighting. I Will have to try. I should do that photo with a medium format camera (rollei TLR, bay I) so filters are a bit problematic, and it becomes ISO 125, so need slower speeds; and people have a little normal movement...

2F/2F · Feb 21, 2009

If you need 400, you need 400, whether it is good or bad. Luckily it is a good one. It is my favorite general purpose transparency film (used to be 400F), and the only 400-speed one that I am aware of aside from Sensia 400 (thus is the only one in medium format).

amuderick · Feb 21, 2009

I agree with 2F/2F. I don't use it unless I have to, but I am glad that it exists because all the other options are much worse in terms of grain and flat color. It is not equivalent in grain/color to a 100 speed film.

Heinz_Anderle · Feb 21, 2009

amuderick said:
... It is not equivalent in grain/color to a 100 speed film.

Provia 400X looks very similar to Fujichrome RD(P)100 (3rd generation, 1988 - 1992) or even RF(P) 50, which both were good slide films even by today's standards.

HerrBremerhaven · Feb 28, 2009

Wonderful film, especially when pushed. The only other comparable film I use is Kodak E200 (not Elite Chrome, which is different). Fuji Provia 400X is a little cold to greenish with skin tones, but quite well balanced for any other subject matter. I have shot it out to ISO 3200, with quite good results. It makes an excellent choice in low light situations.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography

BetterSense · Mar 3, 2009

I have shot it out to ISO 3200, with quite good results.

Do you push it yourself, or tell your lab to push it 3 stops?

Fuji Provia 400X

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency