Portrait C41 film 400 vs 160

I haven't been much a C41 shooter, preferring slides.

I hear that Portra 400 / ProH 400 are popular for that soft look. Re: the 160 versions are they are more normal look? I know the ProS 160 cannot be bought easily but they can be bought in Japan. Medium format size if that matters. I read some find the 400 speed film grainy under 35mm format.


Cheers.

I regularly use Portra 400 for portraits, it is quite good. I don't consider it soft. I use the words accurate or realistic for its rendering. I have not used Portra 160 for portraits, but in architecture work it seems softer to me than Portra 400 and Ektar. I shoot these all of these films in 35mm, 120 and 4x5.

I don't consider Portra 160 or 400 grainy. Portra 800 can be grainy in 35mm and 120 formats.

WilmarcoImaging said:

I regularly use Portra 400 for portraits, it is quite good. I don't consider it soft. I use the words accurate or realistic for its rendering. I have not used Portra 160 for portraits, but in architecture work it seems softer to me than Portra 400 and Ektar. I shoot these all of these films in 35mm, 120 and 4x5.

I don't consider Portra 160 or 400 grainy. Portra 800 can be grainy in 35mm and 120 formats.

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Thanks. Maybe a better word - the pastel type colours that 400 speed C41 film provides.

The Portra 160 has incredibly small grain. As a result, it renders subtle tonal transitions incredibly smoothly. Smooth tonal transitions can sometimes give the impression of softness when compared with a grainier film, because grain often imparts a sort of artificial sharpness itself.
It is also moderately low in contrast and saturation - certainly less saturated than Ektar. Lower contrast and lower saturation also can give the impression of lower sharpness.
I prefer the way it renders to the way that the higher speed 400 and Ektar render, but that is a subjective preference.

I love them all ...

The milkmaids by Andreas, on Flickr
FUJI PRO400H

untitled by Andreas, on Flickr
FUJI PRO 160NS

untitled by Andreas, on Flickr
Kodak Portra 400

yummy ... by Andreas, on Flickr
Kodak Portra 160

All photographs taken with FUJI medium format cameras.

Very nice work macfred.

rayonline_nz said:

Thanks. Maybe a better word - the pastel type colours that 400 speed C41 film provides.

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The consensus was that both 400H and P400 act well exposed +1 to 2 stops and go pastel. In a way it can be either used at box speed or act as ISO 100. An anecdotal observation is that P160 turns contrasty when overexposed that way. In any case, I think the scanning stage has a lot to do with it also.
I haven't shot much P160, having a few on the mail on the way to the lab; and 160NS I just have a 220 propack frozen for some future trip.

400 in Medium format looks absolutely fine to my eyes, although peeping in shows a bit of pleasing graininess. In 35mm it is grainier and grittier. Pick up Lomo film (Consumer Kodacolor family) and the 400 in 35mm is quite grainy indeed! Scanning has a lot to do with the airy look and lighting has to be taken into account. Ektar has quite a bit of punch and is more sensitive to light quality in showing more, less or just going weird.

WilmarcoImaging said:

Very nice work macfred.

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Thank you - I appreciate !