Should I buy portra 160 or 400, or Fuji Pro 400H for my Lubitel 166B?

brainmonster · Sep 30, 2019

I just bought a Lubitel 166B with a 75mm 4.5-22 lens, max shutter speed is 1/250. I'm not sure which film speed specifically to buy, I plan to shoot in bright sunlight sometimes but I figure I can lower the aperture. It seems like 400 speed is a better speed, but given the max shutter speed of 1/250 which is fairly low, is it better to get the 160 speed film?

I also want to get bokeh sometimes, so I thought the 400 speed film might be better for that, and for shooting indoors. Which should I get? Fuji Pro might be going out of production as well, but I'm not sure how it compares to portra - maybe portra is newer?

Help!

BrianShaw · Sep 30, 2019

Portra 160

If/when shooting indoors, Portra 400

You can’t have it all at all times.

Thread closed...

Ces1um · Sep 30, 2019

There's no one iso film that will do everything you want in every possible lighting situation. Typically, a 400 iso film is a good "all rounder" for walking around outdoors either out in the sun or in the shade. If it's particularly bright out though you might want to pick up a neutral density filter though. 400 iso isn't fantastic indoors, particularly at night. It'll work with a tripod and longer exposure times, but you might want to pick up an 800 iso film for that kind of stuff. That or learn to use a flash.

I'm guessing you're pretty new to all of this. If I were you I'd try a roll of 400 iso film and just get the feel of film.

MattKing · Sep 30, 2019

Who knows how accurate the shutter speeds will be in the Lubitel......
But Portra 400 behaves well when you err on the side of over-exposure, so that would be what I would try.

BrianShaw · Sep 30, 2019

Check a normal day with a light meter. In HI I’ll bet the LV will be 14 or so. You can then see the range of camera settings available to you at each film speed. In SoCal I often feel too constrained with the available exposure setting options when using 400 film. You might feel differently but 10 minutes with a light meter might be an instructive exercise.

wyofilm · Sep 30, 2019

It's really only just a bit over 1 stop between portra 160 and 400. And as Matt said, color neg film can handle over-exposure. Go with Portra 400, it will give you a bit more security.

As an example if you use the sunny 16 rule, on a bright day assume f16 for the aperture, then 1/film speed for the shutter speed. In this case, 1/400 sec for shutter speed. Of course your camera won't do 1/400. But narrow your aperture to f22 OR just shoot at 1/250 sec (f16) and be a little less than 1 stop over exposed. No problem for Portra 400. Some people will shoot portra 400 two-stops over the box speed just because they like the results better.

Better overexposure than underexposure with this film.

Jim Blodgett · Oct 1, 2019

Original poster asked - "Fuji Pro might be going out of production as well, but I'm not sure how it compares to portra - maybe portra is newer?"

Fuji has richer blues and greens. Kodak Portra more reds and yellows. At least that has been my experience. I think you would be wise to get a few rolls of each and see which you like better for the type of images you are drawn to.

As for the film speed, that's a whole other thing. The faster the film, the less light you need to shoot a dense image. But the slower the film, the more dense the grain. So you really need to understand the triangle relationship of film speed/aperture/shutter speed to know what speed film will best serve the lighting situation and subject.

It's not simple, but it's rewarding. Dive in. Try a few different speeds/brands/types of film. The reason why so many people get hooked on photography as a life long hobby is because there is always something else to try, some new idea to pursue, something new to learn.

Help![/QUOTE]

Ariston · Oct 1, 2019

Lubitel? Is that a camera? I'm pretty sure that's a cell phone company. You can't put film in a cell phone.

abruzzi · Oct 1, 2019

macfred · Oct 1, 2019

I would go for a ISO 400 film - no matter Portra or 400H. Like others have said above, overexposure is no problem for both films -
I rate my Portra 400 @ ISO 250 regulary and I've very nice shots with 400H @ ISO 50 and ISO100.
There will be other opinions, though ...
Try it out - go for a roll of each, you won't regret.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 1, 2019

400 speed film is too fast in bright sunlight if you only have 1/250 shutter speed. Frankly, Ektar 100 negative color film is great for landscape. At 100 ASA probably just right for your camera. Also consider using a tripod. If you want to use a slide type positive film, Velvia 100 is exciting but not for people. For skin tones if shooting people, I'd go with Portra 160. For indoors. I'd consider getting a flash. Good luck.

macfred · Oct 1, 2019

Alan Edward Klein said:
400 speed film is too fast in bright sunlight if you only have 1/250 shutter speed. Frankly, Ektar 100 negative color film is great for landscape. At 100 ASA probably just right for your camera. Also consider using a tripod. If you want to use a slide type positive film, Velvia 100 is exciting but not for people. For skin tones if shooting people, I'd go with Portra 160. For indoors. I'd consider getting a flash. Good luck.

Of course you're right, Alan - regarding the fact we've a Russian Lomo camera here, sharpness and an exact colors is not the very first goal a Lomo / Lubitel user.
When I had a a 166 Lubitel I noticed no difference between 125/sec or 1/250/sec ... Anyway, shooting those cameras is fun !
And yes, buying a roll of Portra 160 or Ektar 100 is not a bad idea, one can use the nice softness of the triplet lens wide open.

wahiba · Oct 1, 2019

Why not Lomo 400 for a Lomo camera?

macfred · Oct 1, 2019

wahiba said:
Why not Lomo 400 for a Lomo camera?

Yes, why not - a small review about : https://emulsive.org/reviews/film-r...r-negative-400-in-120-format-by-phil-harrison

macfred · Oct 1, 2019

This photograph was captured with Lomo Color 100 roll film (though I used a Rolleiflex) :

brainmonster · Oct 1, 2019

Great picture! Makes me excited to see the pictures when they come out.

Another vote for 100 speed film I guess. My understanding is that in the old days, <100 ASA film was available only and that was what was mostly used.

I tried Lomo 800 CN on a 35mm camera, and I wasn't impressed. The grain was huge, and I've read it's bigger than other brands, and the colors came out all weird. Some super bright and saturated and other pictures were super muddy and brownish. Never seen anything like it.
Used Ultramax ever since and the exact same lab, and the pictures came out much better.
I've read that Lomography used to "do stuff" to their film to make the pictures come out "aged" looking, or sometimes uses expired film stocks, so it feels like rolling dice. I've read super varied mixed reports on it. Could all be rumors, but I'll stick to Kodak.

Another question is the use of flash. Could I use the following flash trigger to trigger a remote flash? It seems to have a 3.5mm port, I'm not sure if this is supposed to be used in conjunction with a PC port (which the 166B has), but I have seen some stuff floating around online that other flashes use 3.5mm ports for PC port compatbility. Using a flash would enable me to use 100 speed ektar on all occasions.

https://www.amazon.com/Godox-Blueto...odox+sony+flash+trigger&qid=1569957254&sr=8-6

macfred said:
This photograph was captured with Lomo Color 100 roll film (though I used a Rolleiflex) :

macfred · Oct 1, 2019

Any standard universal hot-shoe flash with an X-sync cable and plug should do it.

brainmonster · Oct 1, 2019

Unfortunately B&H only sells 5 packs of 120 film, so I'll have to choose which 5 pack to buy of portra. Can't get it locally here in Hawaii.
So, what do you recommend, 5 pack of Portra 160 or 5 pack of Portra 400? I'm still not sure which one would be ideal.

macfred said:
Of course you're right, Alan - regarding the fact we've a Russian Lomo camera here, sharpness and an exact colors is not the very first goal a Lomo / Lubitel user.
When I had a a 166 Lubitel I noticed no difference between 125/sec or 1/250/sec ... Anyway, shooting those cameras is fun !
And yes, buying a roll of Portra 160 or Ektar 100 is not a bad idea, one can use the nice softness of the triplet lens wide open.

BrianShaw · Oct 1, 2019

If you buy less than 5 rolls of Portra 160 you’ll really wish you bought 5.

But if you insist... check Freestyle; I recall them selling single rolls.

wyofilm · Oct 1, 2019

brainmonster said:
I'm still not sure which one would be ideal.

Flip a coin for 160/400, then buy five. Then shoot them.

macfred · Oct 2, 2019

Go for some Portra 160.

brainmonster said:
Unfortunately B&H only sells 5 packs of 120 film, so I'll have to choose which 5 pack to buy of portra. Can't get it locally here in Hawaii.
So, what do you recommend, 5 pack of Portra 160 or 5 pack of Portra 400? I'm still not sure which one would be ideal.

brainmonster · Oct 2, 2019

Alright, I ended up ordering a 5 pack of Ektar 100, hope I don't regret it. After looking at some pictures, I really liked the look of Ektar with the really fine grain and the colors. Hope the pictures turn out well (never used ektar before).

I also ordered some Ilford XP2 400 (B&W Cross process).

So much for portra! Ever so fickle!

faberryman · Oct 2, 2019

You should buy one roll of each, shoot them, and then decided which one you prefer.

Ko.Fe. · Oct 2, 2019

I would start with cheapest film first. Shanghai 100 at its first price was ideal for it.
You never know if it is working Lubytel or not.

pentaxuser · Oct 2, 2019

brainmonster said:
Alright, I ended up ordering a 5 pack of Ektar 100, hope I don't regret it. After looking at some pictures, I really liked the look of Ektar with the really fine grain and the colors. Hope the pictures turn out well (never used ektar before).

I also ordered some Ilford XP2 400 (B&W Cross process).

So much for portra! Ever so fickle!

As Desi would say to Lucy: "22 posts about Fuji and Portra and you end up coming home with Ektar!

pentaxuser

Should I buy portra 160 or 400, or Fuji Pro 400H for my Lubitel 166B?

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