Is there anything similar to Velvia 50 in print film?

Dan Grisez · Apr 2, 2010

I shoot mostly 35mm with some 120 thrown in (on a Yashica A TLR) for good measure. I really like Fuji Superia Xtra 400 as a good everyday film as it gives me the great colors and saturation that I like. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anything like that in 120 format. I like the look of Velvia, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to shoot slide film. Reala is too dull for anything but pictures of people. Is there a 120 print film that is similar to Velvia 50? ISO200 or lower would be preferred.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

keithwms · Apr 2, 2010

Not anymore. But you could also rate one of the 160 films at 80-100 or so and you'll also get strong primaries. With the Fuji 400 colour neg film, you'd need to rate closer to 200 to get the strong primaries.

Disclaimer: I am not saying the result will look exactly like velvia. I am simply suggesting that you try rating print film slower than box speed and see if it grabs you in a similar way.

But.... don't be silly! You are good enough to shoot slide film. So just do it... while you still can. Try astia 100F, velvia 100 and provia 400x, have fun. Bracket +/- 1 stop 'til you get the feeling. Enjoy.

lilserenity · Apr 2, 2010

Dan Grisez said:
I shoot mostly 35mm with some 120 thrown in (on a Yashica A TLR) for good measure. I really like Fuji Superia Xtra 400 as a good everyday film as it gives me the great colors and saturation that I like. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anything like that in 120 format. I like the look of Velvia, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to shoot slide film. Reala is too dull for anything but pictures of people. Is there a 120 print film that is similar to Velvia 50? ISO200 or lower would be preferred.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

You can get Superia 400 in 120 sizes here in the UK.

I would try Ektar, very saturated. Plus you have a little more exposure latitude than slide, say -1/+2.

Otherwise, shoot Velvia if you like it.

Vicky

frdrx · Apr 2, 2010

Yeah, there's Ektar, but shooting Velvia is just as easy under favourable light conditions.

altair · Apr 2, 2010

I have a Yashica A too, and due to cost issues, my everyday film with it is Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160. It only seems to be available in this region though, and I strongly suspect it's something rebranded. I can't say the colors are anything like Velvia, but I like it okay. So far, cost issues aside, the best color neg in 120 for me would be Fuji Pro 400H.

But yeah, try Ektar. I have 2 rolls and haven't shot it yet.

Hikingman · Apr 2, 2010

Keithwms, are you suggesting normal processing w/ your suggestion, or pull processing?

"But you could also rate one of the 160 films at 80-100 or so and you'll also get strong primaries. With the Fuji 400 colour neg film, you'd need to rate closer to 200 to get the strong primaries. "

-John

fschifano · Apr 2, 2010

Ektar 100. That's the ticket. The color palette is a bit different, but it is highly saturated and more punchy than many other print films. Enjoy the extra stop of speed, and the extra latitude.

Dan Grisez · Apr 2, 2010

Thank you for the suggestions, everyone! And thank you for the vote of confidence, Keith! I will give Ektar a try and maybe some Velvia and see what happens.

PhotoJim · Apr 2, 2010

Agfa Ultra 50 was the closest, and it was interesting, but I never took to it like I took to Velvia.

But if you want to shoot punchy prints, it's hard to go wrong with Ektar 100.

benjiboy · Apr 2, 2010

Fuji Reala or Kodak Ektar.

marylandphoto · Apr 2, 2010

Kodak Ektacolor Pro 160. It only seems to be available in this region though, and I strongly suspect it's something rebranded.

I've tried it. I think it's rebranded Portra.

altair · Apr 2, 2010

marylandphoto: I wouldn't have guessed! Do you think it's VC or NC? My guess would be NC, judging from the subdued, pastel-ish colors.

keithwms · Apr 2, 2010

Hikingman said:
Keithwms, are you suggesting normal processing w/ your suggestion, or pull processing?

"But you could also rate one of the 160 films at 80-100 or so and you'll also get strong primaries. With the Fuji 400 colour neg film, you'd need to rate closer to 200 to get the strong primaries. "

-John

I am suggesting processing normally, while simply rating the film a half to a full stop slower.

I agree with the suggestion to try ektar as well. My first impression of it was mixed, but honestly I haven't spent much time with it so far.

But again, anybody who hasn't tried slide, especially the three I mentioned (astia 100F, velvia 100, and provia 400x), should do so ASAP!

marylandphoto · Apr 2, 2010

altair said:
marylandphoto: I wouldn't have guessed! Do you think it's VC or NC? My guess would be NC, judging from the subdued, pastel-ish colors.

I think it's NC too. I could possibly be wrong on that, but nevertheless I don't see why Kodak would go out their way to make a slightly different emulsion in
the odd speed of 160.

There's a Kodak film called ColorPlus that is consumer film in other countries. I've tried this too; it seems to be different from Kodak Gold.

marylandphoto · Apr 2, 2010

Responding to the original post, I agree with the previous poster who said that Agfacolor Ultra was definitely in the running for being a punchy film close to that of a Velvia slide. I just sold my last 7 rolls on eBay...I've seen them go for up to $20/roll in some auctions!

2F/2F · Apr 2, 2010

Dan Grisez said:
I shoot mostly 35mm with some 120 thrown in (on a Yashica A TLR) for good measure. I really like Fuji Superia Xtra 400 as a good everyday film as it gives me the great colors and saturation that I like. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anything like that in 120 format. I like the look of Velvia, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to shoot slide film. Reala is too dull for anything but pictures of people. Is there a 120 print film that is similar to Velvia 50? ISO200 or lower would be preferred.

Thanks in advance,
Dan

Fuji 160C, rated at 400 and pushed one to two stops in processing...but wait! That's gone now!

Ektar looks nothing like it, though I am sure that will be the stock answer in this thread.

I'd say to go for Portra 160VC, underexposed one to two stops, and pushed one to two stops, possibly printed on Ultra Endura instead of Supra Endura.

If not that, Fuji Reala, rated at 400, pushed two, printed on Ultra paper...but wait! That's gone too!!!

Amaury · Apr 3, 2010

Not sure if it's available everywhere, but Fuji is selling a relatively cheap slide film here called Trebi, which is not as fine-grained and saturated as Velvia, but not too far either, and a little cheaper.
Ektar is cheap to buy, but expensive to process somehow (they apparently insist on sending it to Kodak for development).

2F/2F · Apr 3, 2010

Amaury said:
Not sure if it's available everywhere, but Fuji is selling a relatively cheap slide film here called Trebi, which is not as fine-grained and saturated as Velvia, but not too far either, and a little cheaper.
Ektar is cheap to buy, but expensive to process somehow (they apparently insist on sending it to Kodak for development).

Who are "they" (and where is "here")? Ridiculous! Ektar does not need to be sent anywhere special for processing! C-41 is C-41 is C-41. It is a standardized process, and any film that sez "process C-41" on the cassette can be run with the same processing method in which any other C-41 film can be run. There are no emulsion-specific process variations for still color negative films.

keithwms · Apr 3, 2010

Well 2F/2F aren't Fuji c41 chems optimized for Fuji films? A local lab uses Fuji chems and I have always wondered if that was part of my issue with ektar, and also why my Fuji stuff seemed generally better from the lab than when done at home using different chems.

That said, I do agree that it will work, even if it is not optimal. Amaury just tell them to do it! But know that doing c41 at home is also quite easy....

fschifano · Apr 3, 2010

What are you looking at to come to that conclusion, the prints or the scans? Can't tell a damned thing from either of those. Could be that whoever is processing your Ektar just doesn't have the correct profile in the print machine or plain old does lousy scans. C-41 is C-41. 2F/2F is right.

Bastian Schramm · Apr 7, 2010

I don't think Ektar will work for you if you like Velvia a lot, I would give the Fuji Reala 100 a try.
Ektar has the typical Kodak colours, that work good for me.

rjbuzzclick · Apr 7, 2010

PhotoJim said:
Agfa Ultra 50 was the closest, and it was interesting, but I never took to it like I took to Velvia.

That was my favorite color film back in the 90's, I miss it dearly.

benjiboy · Apr 7, 2010

Bastian Schramm said:
I don't think Ektar will work for you if you like Velvia a lot, I would give the Fuji Reala 100 a try.
Ektar has the typical Kodak colours, that work good for me.

I like Reala but Fuji have has recently announced they are discontinuing it in all formats., if you want strong in your face saturated colours like Velvia has, I suggest you try some of the consumer films.

Amaury · Apr 11, 2010

2F/2F said:
Who are "they" (and where is "here")? Ridiculous! Ektar does not need to be sent anywhere special for processing! C-41 is C-41 is C-41. It is a standardized process, and any film that sez "process C-41" on the cassette can be run with the same processing method in which any other C-41 film can be run. There are no emulsion-specific process variations for still color negative films.

"They" are Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, the two main electronics/camera/film stores in Japan (here). I know it's C-41, but they claim they "have to" send it to Kodak. I've heard stories of people with better japanese language skills than mine managing to convince the odd guy at the counter to process them together with the rest of their color negs, but it seems to be rare & difficult (pro labs like Horiuchi are apparently more easily convinced, but they're also more expensive than big stores).

I doubt it has to do with the scans or prints as I never order either of these (I scan everything myself, their scanning service is expensive and relatively low-res). i wish I could develop myself, but it's not an option where I live currently. Maybe in the next apartment...

Michael Erb · Apr 18, 2010

Ektar is a great film that gives the punchy color of slides. It isn't nearly as contrasty as Velvia. I heard that part of the perceived color saturation with slide film comes from the increased contrast. Supposedly Ektar renders colors just as saturated but more realistically because there is no need to pump the color with contrast.

I shot a role in a Pentax 67 and could not believe how beautiful the color was. It leaves skin a bit magenta just like the Provia I loved to shoot. A good print film for color fanatics.

Is there anything similar to Velvia 50 in print film?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency