Is anyone else unhappy with today's films?

[George Mann]

What warming filter does Provia take to the best?

 

[chassis]

And for the record, I absolutely hate Portra outside of the studio!

George, this is Portra outside of the studio.

 

[chassis]

And for comparison this is Ektar.

 

[George Mann]

George, this is Portra outside of the studio.

Now try a real-world, hi contrast scene with the proper highlights!

 

[Lachlan Young]

Now try a real-world, hi contrast scene with the proper highlights!

Ridiculously easy - unlike transparency films. Especially with Portra. If you're struggling, you're doing something wrong in your imaging chain & it is not the film.

 

[chassis]

OK George, I'm up for a challenge. Please provide a range of image parameters and I'll try to oblige. e.g. a couple of subject types, lighting configurations, etc.

 

[George Mann]

I'm not playing your games. You like Portra, I don't. Simple as that.

 

[BrianShaw]

FLASH: I think I've figured it out!

 

[George Mann]

FLASH: I think I've figured it out!

And?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I have never met a film that I couldn't like.

Some have gone and that saddens me.

But if I worry too much about what was I won't have time to enjoy what is before I'm gone.

Most definitely agree with this.

 

[Agulliver]

Yep, Portra is fine outside of the studio. Ektar has uses with certain scenes....ColorPlus actually renders accurate, true to life colours. I forgot that one.

I think a lot of people are used to the over saturated colours of modern films. I've shot neutral films on a cloudy day and people have said "but that looks dull"....and I respond "It was a dull day. That is exactly what it looked like". That's just my style, I generally reproduce what I see rather than try to make a dull day look sunny...which is what Kodak Gold and it's ilk do. Portra doesn't d that, nor does Fuji Superia (much). Ektar messes with the saturation but it's an effect I occasionally like...plus Ektar has amazing detail and edge reproduction.

 

[Wayne]

I like old color films which were available where I was. ORWO, then Konica. I like true prints.
Now all I could afford and get done by myself is dozen of Kodak Gold per year. And I don't know how to print in color. Film is dead for me on this side, but BW is something I could afford and do by myself. Including printing. Modern HP5+ is all I need. And any 8x10 FB paper will do.

Color is cheaper to print than B&W and not hard to learn

 

[removed account4]

Despite my negative comments concerning Ektar, I have a soft-spot in my heart for it.

i have never liked elktar. used it a bunch ... found it to be "harsh"

 

[chassis]

John and Aguliver, yes the comments about Ektar regarding saturation and contrast are accurate in my experience. I do like it in spite of these things. There is some great work with Ektar on other sites that is inspiring to me. Have a look on the LF site.

I want to do some work with Portra and Ektar on cooler and less saturated subjects. It will probably wait until autumn. In my area now there are too many blooming, colorful things to photograph!

 

[removed account4]

hi chassis

i agree it is good for some things, and i have looked at the LF site, and others .. and used it quite a bit .
seeing work on the internet and even lab work/enlargements can be deceiving because sometimes the user exposes it
one way and it is printed or renderd to view in cyber-space toned-down for consumption ...
you know like in marry poppins with sugar and medicine ...

that said i can see why people like it, it has a "look"
but like shooting a wide open petzval shot on 4x5, with a lens made for 2x3 ( "the swirlies" ) its a look im not particularly fond of
john

 

[Sirius Glass]

Film prices will go up as the demand drops. Stop complaining and shoot more film.

 

[removed account4]

I'll put a hallelujah! on that.

once in a while i think about $6 shipping across the country for 10 100 sheet boxes of "made in england" 11x14 FB paper ...
and 24$ 100 sheet boxes of iso 400/125 "made in england" b/w film ... it bums me out so much that ...

i tried to finesse a master roll sale to PW about 6-7 years ago as big yellow was doing the death-roll
but they (BY ) refused to sell even though the roll would have been completely bought in a number of weeks
and then ... rolls from eastern europe didn't fly because the dollar tanked ... i still have hope that one of these days
none of the planets will be retrograde and will be fully DIRECT and aligned with halley's comet and HAIL-bop and PW will get master rolls again ..

it might not happen until mark twain returns though ...

and ... contrary to what a lot of people might think EK has been raising their film prices constantly
for at least 50-60 years. my mentor used to tell me how they raised their prices every year, sometimes 2x a year ... she'd buy cases of 5x7 tri x ( ortho and pan ) every month or 2 ( from the same vendor) ...
and every handful of deliveries the price of hte film went up.

 

[RattyMouse]

Film prices will go up as the demand drops. Stop complaining and shoot more film.

High demand drives up prices. No demand lowers prices, until production stops.

 

[BrianShaw]

George, this is Portra outside of the studio.

Which Portra is that - 400? I use 160 most of the time and think (not sure if I "know") it to be a bit less saturated than 400. In my fridge I still have a few rolls of the original 400 NC and VC. I may also have some 160 VC but sure I used up all of the 160 NC as soon as I bought it. That's great stuff for portraits - in or out of studio!

 

[Wayne]

John and Aguliver, yes the comments about Ektar regarding saturation and contrast are accurate in my experience. I do like it in spite of these things. There is some great work with Ektar on other sites that is inspiring to me. Have a look on the LF site.

You mean the LF PS site? I don't think there are many non-photoshopped color images being posted on that forum.

 

[chassis]

Brian, yes it is the latest Portra 400 in 4x5. It has been many years since I have used Portra 160, and want to use it again soon.

Wayne, it is the largeformatphotography site. Not sure what the etiquette is here about posting external links.

 

[Wayne]

Brian, yes it is the latest Portra 400 in 4x5. It has been many years since I have used Portra 160, and want to use it again soon.

Wayne, it is the largeformatphotography site. Not sure what the etiquette is here about posting external links.

Yep I knew which site you meant, I meant the same site and was just being snarky. Everything or almost everything is PS'ed scans there.

 

[removed account4]

You mean the LF PS site? I don't think there are many non-photoshopped color images being posted on that forum.

that's what i was getting at in a round-about sort of way.
some of the images there, while lovely, are so overly PS'd
that they look like fauvist photography

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian, yes it is the latest Portra 400 in 4x5. It has been many years since I have used Portra 160, and want to use it again soon.

Wayne, it is the largeformatphotography site. Not sure what the etiquette is here about posting external links.

I like that. Quite a while ago I gave away a box of Potra 160 4x5 because I thought I'd never be interested in shooting it. What a mistake that was!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

They took away our Kodachrome, our Astia, and even our original Velvia, not to mention our Pan-X!

I really cannot say that I am happy with today's selection of films.

But unfortunately,it's all our fault.They only make what sells and is bought.penny pinching ,horsing and smart phones killed our great films.