I miss Fuji 1600 every day!

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

It's really true! At some point during any given day, perhaps while I'm doing laundry or getting on a bus, I'll think about how much I miss Fuji Superia 1600! I often fantasize about Fuji bringing back my favourite colour film stock, even though of course I know this will not happen. I am a nature photographer, mostly birds, and although Portra 400 is pushable of course, it doesn't sing to me at 1600 like Fuji Superia 1600 did. I also sometimes dream about Kodak holding a press release and announcing their newest film stock: Portra 1600! Ah well, life is for the living, and we're lucky to have the film we have in 2020. Please forgive the impertinence of this post!

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 12, 2020

I used it on and off in the 90's while living in Japan. It was a great film. I'll have to dig up those old negatives!

perkeleellinen · Mar 12, 2020

I feel your pain Joseph but all is not lost.

You have all those 1600 negatives. Work through them in the darkroom, find photos you overlooked before, re-print your favourites. You will still miss shooting it, but you will always be able to print it.

abruzzi · Mar 12, 2020

I still have a few rolls in the freezer. I got some great shots with it at 1am on the Neva river around St. Petersburg.

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

perkeleellinen said:
I feel your pain Joseph but all is not lost.

You have all those 1600 negatives. Work through them in the darkroom, find photos you overlooked before, re-print your favourites. You will still miss shooting it, but you will always be able to print it.

Yes! Absolutely! Thank you for the encouragement.

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

abruzzi said:
I still have a few rolls in the freezer. I got some great shots with it at 1am on the Neva river around St. Petersburg.

If you have those posted somewhere I'd love to see them...

cmacd123 · Mar 12, 2020

higher speed film is on my FILM Ferrannia wish list. at one time they made some of the fastest (although admittedly grainiest) colour films around.

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

cmacd123 said:
higher speed film is on my FILM Ferrannia wish list. at one time they made some of the fastest (although admittedly grainiest) colour films around.

I'm quite sure many of us are pining for a high speed colour film! I am grateful for the iso3200 black and white films, even if they're not really iso3200!

ericdan · Mar 12, 2020

Andrew O'Neill said:
I used it on and off in the 90's while living in Japan. It was a great film. I'll have to dig up those old negatives!

I still have a roll of Natura 1600 that only expired in Oct 2019.
Is that the same?

MattKing · Mar 12, 2020

Joseph Bell said:
I am grateful for the iso3200 black and white films, even if they're not really iso3200!

There not even described as ISO 3200 .

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

ericdan said:
I still have a roll of Natura 1600 that only expired in Oct 2019.
Is that the same?

Indeed! Lucky you!

Joseph Bell · Mar 12, 2020

MattKing said:
There not even described as ISO 3200 .

Ha! No, but those are the numbers on the box. Lies!

MattKing · Mar 12, 2020

Joseph Bell said:
Ha! No, but those are the numbers on the box. Lies!

No - recommendations.
They are designed to be low contrast films optimized for use when under-exposed and over-developed - thus the recommendation for use at an EI of 3200.
Most films are optimized for use when the exposure and development are targeted toward their inherent ISO speed - but not these.

Agulliver · Mar 13, 2020

I used to use it at gigs, and late evening/night street photography. I definitely miss it. I am aware that Fuji are considering bringing back some axed films but I too doubt this is one of them. The best we have now is the Lomography branded 800, which does work at gigs for me but it's not got the same look to it.

koraks · Mar 13, 2020

Agulliver said:
I used to use it at gigs

Me too, on occasion. It was a great film producing very nice results under adverse lighting conditions.

Agulliver · Mar 13, 2020

koraks said:
Me too, on occasion. It was a great film producing very nice results under adverse lighting conditions.

Indeed, and Superia was a big improvement over Super G 1600. It rendered rock bands and stage shows lit by multi-coloured lights really well. If I could have one film back, that would be it.

jtk · Mar 13, 2020

Scanned beautifully for B+W.

Joseph Bell · Mar 14, 2020

Agulliver said:
Indeed, and Superia was a big improvement over Super G 1600. It rendered rock bands and stage shows lit by multi-coloured lights really well. If I could have one film back, that would be it.

O yes I heartily agree!

Agulliver · Mar 15, 2020

A few of my favourite 90s photos on Super G and Superia 1600

Praktica BX20S, Prakticar 50mm f1.8 and CZJ Flektogon 20mm f2.8

Ernst-Jan · Mar 17, 2020

Agulliver said:
I am aware that Fuji are considering bringing back some axed films but I too doubt this is one of them.

Would it be too difficult to do a run op Superia 1600 every now and then? They could do the same for Reala, Superia 200, 800Z and maybe even Provia 400x or Astia if it goes on the same machinery.

But let them first reintroduced 160NS in Europe/outside Japan.

Chan Tran · Mar 17, 2020

I used it but I don't miss it. I now only use low speed film. For high ISO I would use digital.

Agulliver · Mar 18, 2020

I don't know if it is feasible to do short runs of various different films. That is what Film Ferrania eventually hope to do but their machinery is on a much smaller scale than Fuji's. I understand that Kodak have modified their production to achieve something like this. Fuji haven't yet, as far as we are aware....though they are quite secretive regarding their operations as is the way in Japan. Any new or resurrected product is welcome. I don't think 1600ISO C41 film is likely to be one of the first lines they consider reintroducing. But I'd certainly welcome it. While digital can certainly be used, it's not the same. The photos I still shoot at gigs to this day on 800ISO colour film look distinctive and very different to those shot on digital. I like having the option to use film. I do often shoot gigs with both and the film certainly looks distinctive.

Not that I am shooting gigs right now....my local club has closed and big events are being cancelled.

I miss Fuji 1600 every day!

Joseph Bell

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

perkeleellinen

abruzzi

Joseph Bell

Joseph Bell

cmacd123

Joseph Bell

ericdan

MattKing

Moderator

Joseph Bell

Joseph Bell

MattKing

Moderator

Agulliver

koraks

Moderator

Agulliver

jtk

Joseph Bell

Agulliver

Attachments

Ernst-Jan

Chan Tran

Agulliver

I miss Fuji 1600 every day!

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency