Fuji Superia 200 or Kodak Gold 200...or???

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

So I'm going away on a one month long roadtrip and wondering what you guys would recommend I fill my AE-1P with...

I'm thinking 200 speed film as I'll be going to California/Nevada/Arizona, etc, so plenty of light...I also want to buy something BRAND NEW and commercially available so I don't have to worry about the mysteries of the film's past.

I also want to do colour and C41 process. 100 or 200 ASA, don't see the point of anything higher.

So far, I've run a roll of Fuji Superia 200 and Kodak Gold 200 through the camera and I like the colours of the Fuji a lot better. (The greens and non-bright reds/oranges seem to fall flat on the Kodak).

Opinions as to this? Anything else I should check out?

Thanks,
Tamas

Focus No. 9 · Aug 24, 2010

Well can't help you on what to pick but what I can tell you is: 100 or 200 is not available at retail stores such as drug stores, grocery stores,wallymarts in Phoenix ARIZONA. I would expect that to be the same scenerio elsewhere in Arizona. Only the camera shops/labs carry them which aren't as numerous as your wallymarts.

ntenny · Aug 24, 2010

The colour rendition is kind of a matter of taste, so it seems like you should take what you like.

Is there any special reason you want to use one of the consumer films, rather than loading up in advance with a bunch of rolls of something like Ektar 100? I've gotten some results I liked from both Superia and KG, but I have to admit Ektar smokes them like the proverbial cheap cigar (presumably the Fuji "pro" C-41 films would as well).

By the way, I can't speak to Phoenix specifically, but my experience in southern California and parts of Arizona has been that consumer C-41 films show up unpredictably. Some grocery stores or drugstores carry them, some don't, some still have their film processors, some don't, some have 400 speed only, and occasionally you wander into a random gas station in the middle of nowhere and they inexplicably have a big rack of film for sale (but it probably expired during the Eisenhower administration). Probably safest to stock up before you leave rather than count on buying film on the road.

-NT

2F/2F · Aug 24, 2010

Superia film is very good and very affordable, especially in the slowest speeds. However, I don't see them on the B&H Website, and Freestyle has only the 200 and the 400, sold as "import," in 135-36 single rolls. None of the other plain Superia (i.e. non-Reala) films are available there in single rolls or in press packs any more. This is pretty recent. Is this another one of Fuji's temporary supply droughts, or are these films gone as a part of the recent slaughter in the Fujicolor line?

FWIW, the 400 is very good, and is very cheap from Adorama ($1.79 for 36 exposures). 36 exp. is actually cheaper than 24 exp., because it expires soon (December). I just hope you like shooting at '500 and f/16 out in the sun.

Dead Link Removed

This being said, it is only 20 cents more for fresh stock from B&H (same exact price as 24 exp., perversely enough).

perkeleellinen · Aug 24, 2010

I think the 200 Superia is quite a nice film, it's tamer than its 400 brother and I suppose that may be an advantage to you if you expect to shoot in contrasty conditions. I'd look into Reala also if you like the Superia 200 colours.

mrred · Aug 24, 2010

You are going to an area where the bright sun will mute all the colours. No contest, Fuji is the one to use.

mcgrattan · Aug 24, 2010

Personally, I much prefer the various Fuji Superia products to Kodak's consumer films. I find Kodak Gold grainy with murky colour rendition. On the other hand, if it were me, I'd order some five-packs of pro film online, and use that. Either one of the Kodak pro products [including Ektar] or Fuji Pro160S/C.

Probably the nicest results I've with colour neg 35mm film recently was Ektar, however, it wasn't especially consistent across the rolls I shot and I haven't really taken time to 'learn' the film properly. I've had very good results from both Kodak and Fuji's pro "160" films.

Dan Grisez · Aug 24, 2010

Fuji Superia 200 is one of my favorite "cheap" films. Much nicer than anything Kodak makes IMHO...well, general purpose, consumer films that is. Ektar 100 is really in a league of its own! The best thing about Superia is you can pick it up at the local WalMart.

totalmotard · Aug 24, 2010

I like Fuji for greens and blues, foliage and sky.

I like Kodak Gold for skin tones.

I like Ektar 100 for landscapes with subtle color shifts and reds. It would probably work really well in the southwest.

TSSPro · Aug 24, 2010

Fuji all the way- I bought up a whole bunch of Kodak consumer films thinking that it would present a more muted pallet compared to the fuji. It does, but at the sacrifice of grain size. Fuji has since become my "grab-and-go" 135 of choice for the last few years.

All the best.

Ektagraphic · Aug 24, 2010

I have shot some of the Kodak Gold 200 and it's a great film. I highly recommend it! Why not bring a little of both?

holmburgers · Aug 24, 2010

Where I'm from, the only films you can get at drug stores and the like are Kodak gold in 200, 400 & 800. Occasionally Fuji, but Walgreens always has Kodak.

Personally, if you intend to take mostly outdoor photos, I'd go with 100 or if you're feeling saucy, Velvia 50.

I once heard said that 200 wasn't fast enough to be shot inside and not slow enough to get great saturation outside. I have no experience with it myself, but you could look at it as the best of both worlds, or the worst.

Personally, for C41 I'd go with the 160 offerings from Fuji or Kodak.... but slides are calling you.....

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

wow that's a lot of replies! Thank you everyone and keep them coming I really appreciate them

I'm stocking up before I leave...for a number of reasons, not the least of which is I don't want to run out somewhere where I can't restock...my primary medium is still digital, so I won't be shooting all that much...I'm thinking 3-5 rolls. Last time I checked (and this was a few weeks ago, hope things haven't changed!) Wal Mart still carried both films

Ektar's getting good reviews, though...I'll see if I can get some of that locally...if not, I think it'll be another batch of Superia. (Last time I got 5 rolls for 10 bucks at a place called SuperStore...it's like a ghetto Canadian version of Wal Mart haha).

Oh yeah, I'd order the pro film...but I'm leaving in just over a week and I'm afraid it wouldn't get here on time.

CGW · Aug 24, 2010

Fuji Superia 200 is a great all round film and doesn't have the boosted saturation and contrast that 400 does. Never liked Kodak 200 relative to the old Gold100. I'd splurge on some Ektar just for the AZ colours. If you need a faster film, try Fuji 800 rated ISO 400-500.

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

Holm: you're right it's either the best or the worst of both worlds...the reason I shoot it is because it's widely available...I just wanted some very cheap film to run through my cameras to test them for light leaks, etc...turned out the cheapest film was also a great film haha.

I have a few rolls of Costco branded Agfa 100, but I haven't run a test roll yet (bought them from a guy who said they're not expired, not frozen, but stored in a cool, light-tight box in a basement), but I don't want to take any chances...

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

CGW said:
Fuji Superia 200 is a great all round film and doesn't have the boosted saturation and contrast that 400 does. Never liked Kodak 200 relative to the old Gold100. I'd splurge on some Ektar just for the AZ colours. If you need a faster film, try Fuji 800 rated ISO 400-500.

Thanks! I'll look into Ektar...would that work on the blues of Crater Lake and the blue/greens of Grand Canyon? or is it more just an orange film?

Also, what do you mean the 800 is rated at 4-500?

Excalibur2 · Aug 24, 2010

Fuji Superia 200asa is, IMO superior to Kodak Gold...if you can still get it Fuji Reala 100asa is excellent.

MattKing · Aug 24, 2010

I use Kodak Gold 200 as my "snapshot" film. I used to be able to buy 24 exposure rolls in Walmarts in the US for less than $1.40/roll, but the price went up, and then they stopped carrying any Kodak film.

For any of the major film brands it has been my experience that the quality of the lab work is far more important than the subtle differences between the films.

Have a good trip!

PS if you take a look through my APUG gallery images, the following images were shot on Kodak Gold 200:
"Portal of a different Sort"
"Broken Tree"
"Preparing for the ceremony"
"old & new"
"Colour in winter" (apologies for the lousy scan)

The two "Water" images are shot on Gold 400.

perkeleellinen · Aug 24, 2010

LowriderS10 said:
Also, what do you mean the 800 is rated at 4-500?

Superia 800 looks very nice overexposed by half a stop or so (around ASA 640 for me), but I'd imagine it'll be far too fast for your trip.

CGW · Aug 24, 2010

LowriderS10 said:
Thanks! I'll look into Ektar...would that work on the blues of Crater Lake and the blue/greens of Grand Canyon? or is it more just an orange film?

Also, what do you mean the 800 is rated at 4-500?

It means simply that you set your film speed dial to 400, 500, 640. I find that rated at 500-640, Superia 800 does better than Superia 400 in terms of reasonable saturation and contrast. C41 films like Superia can easily take a full stop over-exposure. The point is, it's handy to have a film that can cover this ISO range and still look good. Useful in lower light if you don't have fast glass, too. Ektar would be great for the Southwest--lots of punch that almost looks like slide film.

BTW, I'd save the Kirkland(Agfa)stuff for something other than your trip. I found it to be genuinely awful relative to Fuji consumer emulsions. My Costco lab celebrated when it was dropped since it ended the chorus of member complaints about "crappy" printing.

angrykitty · Aug 24, 2010

I recently went down to Monterey, CA and I very rarely shoot in color. Or in daylight. Or with slow film. There was a photo store with a pretty cool older guy who seemed pretty experienced, and he recommended kodak ektar. It's 100. He said it was the best, and his favorite. Wearily I bought 2 rolls and I must say I was pretty happy with the results. Perfect for the beach, and the seals!

You could map out your trip and find photography stores along your way for film. I wouldn't go blind, but its pretty easy to find them beforehand and make a pit stop here or there. I never really liked the drug store brands because seriously they cost the same and the quality just isn't as good, so what's the point?

I'd rather just make the extra effort and go to a real shop, and support a small business too. Plus they can process there, and you know they won't mess it up. The shop I went to even had them done in 45 minutes because my bus was leaving, and they did a great job.

I vote that you stock up on film you like, and get a few different things on the road to try out. You never know until you try...

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

Thanks for all the replies...I didn't know that companies "misrated" their films...crazy!

You're right that I'll never know 'till I try out, I just don't really want to experiment while I'm gone...I'd rather stock up on something I KNOW is good and leave the experimentation for stuff that I don't care too much if it gets messed up...(ie: monkeying around my home town or whatever).

I really should check this Ektar out..wonder if I can get it locally.

I'm shocked that you guys in the States are having such problems getting film...my local Wal Mart and SuperStore carry easily half a dozen different kinds of film each...

CGW · Aug 24, 2010

It's becoming grim around the Toronto area(GTA).Loblaws cleared most of their Fuji products late last year when they folded their instore labs(no great loss). I grabbed a bunch of short-dated Superia 200 for cheap but what to do with it now? There's only one Costco that still processes film and that's reportedly ending as early as next month. Cheap 35mm processing is all but dead.I shoot mainly 120 C41/b&w/E6 now but processing/proofing is getting slower and pricier. Roll film is still relatively easy to get. Ektar should be available from photo shops around Van, no?

LowriderS10 · Aug 24, 2010

Crazy...the local Wal Mart said they're expecting to keep developing for at least 5 more years...and they do a good job at developing (suck at scanning, though...I really have to get my own scanner).

Not sure about Van shops, I'm in Nanaimo, and it's a rather time-consuming and expensive trip to Vancouver I'm hoping that I might find something in Victoria...

2F/2F · Aug 24, 2010

LowriderS10 said:
Thanks for all the replies...I didn't know that companies "misrated" their films...crazy!

They don't really misrate them. It is just that some people prefer to (or need to, if their equipment is consistently out of specification) use a built-in exposure compensation of a fixed amount for every shot. Also, the way many people wish to expose their film is different than what many of the manufacturers call a good exposure.

Fuji Superia 200 or Kodak Gold 200...or???

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