The Tri-X of Color Films

arigram · May 10, 2008

Hum.
It seems that I should stick to black and white.
Here in Crete there is no color in 120 and in Athens I can only find Portra 400 VC for 6,5 euros a pop.
I guess, I should be conservative with what's left of my Fuji Reala.

Sino · May 10, 2008

Aristoteli,

Eyeland [the only serious photo-store in Chania] does sell color 120 film. So does at least one shop in Rethymno, as a friend of mine shoots only color in his Mamiya. Seems hard to believe that you can't find any at your town, but there definitely is some in Crete. If you want me to I can ask for pricing.

-Sino.

arigram · May 10, 2008

Sino said:
Aristoteli,

Eyeland [the only serious photo-store in Chania] does sell color 120 film. So does at least one shop in Rethymno, as a friend of mine shoots only color in his Mamiya. Seems hard to believe that you can't find any at your town, but there definitely is some in Crete. If you want me to I can ask for pricing.

-Sino.

Παρακαλώ.

ssloansjca · May 15, 2008

The Tri-X of color neg film, in my opinion, is Fuji Superia 800, also called Fujicolor Press 800. It has the grit, more grain and I think more speed than most other films. I really like it for street photography, 35mm of course. I buy it 20 rolls at a time.

The other 800 speed Fuji film has a much velvetier feel and lower contrast to it and handles skin tones better. I think of it as the Tmax 400 of C41 films.

TheFlyingCamera · May 15, 2008

The film you want has been discontinued for a while- Agfa 400. Their color neg films were very neutral in terms of saturation, and they had higher grain than Kodak or Fuji, without being obtrusive or objectionable. That said, the closest thing you'll find today will be as others have suggested Portra 400 NC, and push it a stop if you need to take some more edge off the color.

arigram · May 15, 2008

Thank you all.
When I run out of my stock of Reala which I am using in my experiments in color at the moment,
I might make an order to a german store for some color film, but that could be months in the future.
And just to make one thing clear, which apparently it was not, I was not looking for a grainy film.
I don't like grain and I don't want it. If I did I would just shoot 35mm.
I mentioned "like Tri-X" and "gritty" not in terms of grain, but in terms of the color-contrast-tonality-definition characteristics.
I have been looking for a film that retains the feeling of a rough, unclean, old, beaten up, faded out, hard life,
not over saturated candy colors that would of a Disney movie.
Kodak Portra 400NC sounds good, if I ever find it.

arigram · May 23, 2008

Ok, so Fuji Greece doesn't have any color 120 films at all and won't be bringing any soon.
What's left, a few rolls at 100 iso (probably that Reala) are expired long time ago.
And like I mentioned what's left of Kodak is horribly expensive.
It seems that the film market in Greece is totally dead.

Don Wallace · May 23, 2008

arigram said:
Ok, so Fuji Greece doesn't have any color 120 films at all and won't be bringing any soon.
What's left, a few rolls at 100 iso (probably that Reala) are expired long time ago.
And like I mentioned what's left of Kodak is horribly expensive.
It seems that the film market in Greece is totally dead.

Portra NC is a very popular film and I am willing to bet that you can order it from a supplier somewhere in Europe. Although shops in my area (Ottawa, Canada) stock some film, the selection is not what it used to be. I often have to order film and wait a few weeks. However, when I am in a hurry, I order from B&H in NYC. Things change.

GeoffHill · May 23, 2008

Ari, can you not order from somewhere else in the EU. I think silverprint stock most of the films you would want, and are apug sponsors. The strong euro/£ rate should make buying from them competitive at the moment

arigram · May 23, 2008

The thing is that I can't afford to order.
I can buy a dozen rolls or two, but ordering from abroad needs much larger orders to be economically viable.
Plus, I would need to plan ahead so the film doesn't expire before I use it.
When I have some money in my pocket, I may make an order.
Starving artist indeed.
I certainly do understand all those who jumped to digital. I often think about it.

Mark Antony · May 23, 2008

Ari
contact me with what you need I'll order it from 7 day shop here in the UK and send it to you.
You can pay me when you get the goods.
Mark

arigram · May 23, 2008

Thank you Mark,
but it doesn't change the fact that I need to have a lot of money to make such an order.
I've dealt with a few stores before, in Germany and UK, but right now I am too broke to buy film in bulk.

Mark Antony · May 23, 2008

Ari perhaps you didn't understand me.
I know as a photographer you sometimes want to try just 2-3 rolls of an emulsion before you get too deep.
I'd be willing to ship to you as few rolls as you want to try.
I'll buy the 5 rolls here in the UK then post them by normal mail; you pay me on receiving the film.
Fuji 120 800 is £1.95 here, I'd have no trouble getting you a few mix and match rolls of 120.
Might take a week or two to get your film but it'll probably be less than €20 or so for 5 films inc postage.

Regards
Mark

Don Wallace · May 23, 2008

Ari, don't give up. I don't think that the shipping on small number of rolls would be expensive if someone, such as Mark, were to buy a box and send it to you. I could be wrong, but the big shops tend to use more expensive shipping options, but if someone just popped a box in the mail, it might not be a big deal. A box is... what... about 10 rolls?

fschifano · May 23, 2008

Here in the US, a "Pro Pack" from Kodak is 5 rolls, be it 120 or 220.

Mark Antony · May 23, 2008

A pro pack is 5 rolls but 7 day shop in the UK will split packs so Ari could order (via me) 2 rolls 400 Portra NC 2 Rolls Fuji NPH and a roll of 800 portra.
Have a play, see which emulsion he likes best.
I'm happy to do that as I'll tag them onto an order I'm going to make this week-end.
I'll post them to Crete and he can pay me later (he has an honest face)
Mark

arigram · May 23, 2008

Mark Antony said:
Ari perhaps you didn't understand me.
I know as a photographer you sometimes want to try just 2-3 rolls of an emulsion before you get too deep.
I'd be willing to ship to you as few rolls as you want to try.
I'll buy the 5 rolls here in the UK then post them by normal mail; you pay me on receiving the film.
Fuji 120 800 is £1.95 here, I'd have no trouble getting you a few mix and match rolls of 120.
Might take a week or two to get your film but it'll probably be less than 20 or so for 5 films inc postage.

Regards
Mark

Thank you then and I apologize for the misunderstanding.
When I have more than five euros in my pocket, I may take upon your order. Probably something like 20 or so rolls of Kodak Portra 400 NC.
My photographic business is pretty much dead at the moment and I never
know when I will need some color film, but its good to have around.
That's my problem: its ok for an amateur to wait to get the film but for
a professional, when a job lands that demands film, there can be no wait.
And while I store the film in the fridge it get older and older and color is not
resistant to age like B&W...

arigram · May 23, 2008

Mark Antony said:
A pro pack is 5 rolls but 7 day shop in the UK will split packs so Ari could order (via me) 2 rolls 400 Portra NC 2 Rolls Fuji NPH and a roll of 800 portra.
Have a play, see which emulsion he likes best.
I'm happy to do that as I'll tag them onto an order I'm going to make this week-end.
I'll post them to Crete and he can pay me later (he has an honest face)
Mark

Doesn't sound too bad, thank you.

vic vic · May 23, 2008

the "tri-x" of colour is :

slides:
fuji provia 400x . one of the best general films, just for anything. colours are not exactly mute though not overly saturated and very well balanced, eassy for scanning too. also not exactly "gritty". so, i may call it my "hp5 color" but doesnt fit your description.
kodak e200, if u push it to 400, results are great. contrasty (bold in luminocity) but without too much saturation. also wouldnot call it gritty, but still, with character.

in negatives :
have a look at fujis. 800z starts to show some "gritrty" character. can get bold (scanning/adjustment will help even more) colours are nicely saturated (not overly).
fuji 400h , neutral and clean in colours, but not exactly "gritty".

u want to scan? print in darkroom?

arigram · May 25, 2008

Fuck.
I've four rolls of Reala left and I have a photoshoot tomorrow
with (another) bellydancer. Their costumes demand color!

I am sure now I need a natural color 400 iso film for street
and a 100 iso saturated color for studio.
And there is not a single roll around to buy!

I either have to bite the bullet and order horribly expensive
film from Athens or stop shooting color for a month or so
while I get film from Germany. I hope I find some in Belgium.
I really do understand the people who have switched to digital.

Btw, Vic, the film is developed in a local lab who also will make the prints,
thankfully chemical ones. I can't develop or print my own.

GeoffHill · May 25, 2008

Film from the UK will take a lot less than a month to get to you.

arigram · May 25, 2008

GeoffHill said:
Film from the UK will take a lot less than a month to get to you.

Oh, its not just the shipping time.
Its raising the money to make the order.

Mark Antony · May 25, 2008

Ari I have ordered your film, it should be here next week (Thursday)
I will mail it to you first class.
If you need some quicker than that I have some Portra 800 and Fujicolor I can send on Tuesday, as tomorrow is a bank holiday.
I talked to the post office and they say airmail takes 3 working days within Europe.
Hope this helps.
Mark

The Tri-X of Color Films

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