What is the current best non slide color film?

hoakin1981 · May 15, 2014

I entered the word "current" because I believe some if not many have been discontinued in the past so I am referring to existing choices. As to the word "best" of course this is subjective but nevertheless.

I am looking for a good color 120 film in case I decide to substitute Provia 100F for reasons of both cost and reduced DR. In my mind I would like to get strong saturated colors as close to a slide as possible.

Thanks.

Terry Christian · May 15, 2014

For saturated colors, I'd recommend Kodak Ektar 100. It's about as close to slide film as you can get, with quite saturated colors.

trythis · May 15, 2014

2nding ektar

sent from phone. excuse my typing.

omaha · May 15, 2014

I've settled on Ektar 100 for that saturated/contrasty "pop", and Portra 160 for when I want things a bit more natural.

Jeff Kubach · May 15, 2014

Like the rest I'll go for Ektar 100.

Jeff

shutterboy · May 15, 2014

Ektar 100 and Portra 160 is very nice. I also sometimes use Fuji Pro 400H and it is pretty good as well.

BrianShaw · May 15, 2014

Ektar 100 and Portra 160 are very nice.

benjiboy · May 15, 2014

BrianShaw said:
Ektar 100 and Portra 160 are very nice.

+1, or Fuji Reala if it's available in 120 in Greece

jspillane · May 15, 2014

Ektar 100, no brainer, exactly what you described. I believe tests have shown it to be the color negative film with the greatest resolving power. Easy on the wallet in the U.S., not sure if that carries over to Greece. I do find it more challenging to scan than the other current Kodak c41 films.

Portra 160 and Reala are great, but they are less saturated and contrasty (I'd prefer them for portraits over Ektar by a considerable margin, though).

jp498 · May 15, 2014

Ektar 100 is slide film looking. I use it or Portra 160 when I shoot color. If my camera has portra 160, I just boost the contrast as needed at scan time. Both have better DR than slide film.

StoneNYC · May 15, 2014

Ekta100 for landacapes and Portra160 for people.

But really, truly, the C-41 films aren't much less than the E-6 and I would stick with Provia100f if I were you

jonasfj · May 15, 2014

I love Ektar when I'm looking for saturation, for example when I shoot landscape or cityscapes. I really like how reds and greens turn out. For portrait (skin tones) or when I need the speed I turn to Portra. Fuji Pro 400H is also a cool film!

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dehk · May 15, 2014

You asked a question that is 'impossible' to answer by anyone else but you.

I say go look at samples.

shutterboy · May 15, 2014

shutterboy said:
Ektar 100 and Portra 160 is very nice. I also sometimes use Fuji Pro 400H and it is pretty good as well.

Is Reala available in GB?

wblynch · May 15, 2014

I think Reala is out of production in 120. They might still be making Fuji Pro 160s or 160c. I liked the 160c but not so much the 160s.

For 120 I think the best are the Kodak's, Ektar for punch and Portra for flexibility. The Portra 400 is great from Iso 200-1600 and beyond.

Fuji Pro 400h does not seem to like being under or overexposed by more than a stop either way.

RattyMouse · May 16, 2014

Fuji Reala is not current anymore, but is still available in many places.

That said, if you can find it, *nothing* is even close to as good as Reala. My poor color filled heart literally wept the day that I learned Reala was gone.

What a staggeringly beautiful film. The pinnacle of color negative film was reached with Reala IMO.

Newt_on_Swings · May 16, 2014

I also am a fan of reala. Such a great film.

StoneNYC · May 16, 2014

Newt_on_Swings said:
I also am a fan of reala. Such a great film.

Never shot it, I had two expired rolls given to my by an ex, but I traded them for some Eastman Double-X I believe.

I wasn't into color as much then. Plus I was just tired of expired stuff.

Oh well. I'm resigned to my Provia100f for people

RattyMouse · May 16, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Never shot it, I had two expired rolls given to my by an ex, but I traded them for some Eastman Double-X I believe.

I wasn't into color as much then. Plus I was just tired of expired stuff.

Oh well. I'm resigned to my Provia100f for people

Beg, borrow, or steal some Reala before it is gone forever. Seriously, this is one AMAZING film. I loathe Fujifilm, absolutely loathe them for killing it off.

dorff · May 16, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Beg, borrow, or steal some Reala before it is gone forever. Seriously, this is one AMAZING film. I loathe Fujifilm, absolutely loathe them for killing it off.

Well, I double-loathe them for also killing Provia 400X and Astia. At least I have still 5 rolls of Reala 120, 5 rolls of Astia 120, and 3 rolls of 400X 120. The problem is shooting it on something really worthwhile.

But back to the OP: I think Ektar is as close as you are going to get.

RattyMouse · May 16, 2014

dorff said:
Well, I double-loathe them for also killing Provia 400X and Astia. At least I have still 5 rolls of Reala 120, 5 rolls of Astia 120, and 3 rolls of 400X 120. The problem is shooting it on something really worthwhile.

But back to the OP: I think Ektar is as close as you are going to get.

I triple agree with you there, especially with Astia. I have 20 rolls of 220 Astia left and 20 or so rolls of Reala, which I can still buy here in China but who knows for how much longer.

I also loathe Fujifilm for killing off Neopan 400.......Oh god........

dorff · May 16, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Ekta100 for landacapes and Portra160 for people.

But really, truly, the C-41 films aren't much less than the E-6 and I would stick with Provia100f if I were you

This is one of those difficult things. Negs are inherently lower contrast than slides, and it takes post processing after scanning to get more or less the same look, but never quite identical. OTOH, neg film can record several stops more dynamic range, and handle under and over exposure a lot better. Slides crash into the abyss of blackness 3 stops below mid-gray, and burn out barely more than 3 stops above. Someone who is used to slides will find the neg films a bit insipid, and might not like the task of bumping the scans into the right sort of tonality. But I think if you know what you are doing, you can get further with negatives.

benjiboy · May 16, 2014

shutterboy said:
Is Reala available in GB?

I'm not sure if it is officially discontinued, but several retailers are still selling it
http://www.mailshotsuk.co.uk/acatalog/Reala_100_120_roll_fil.html

Jaf-Photo · May 16, 2014

hoakin1981 said:
I entered the word "current" because I believe some if not many have been discontinued in the past so I am referring to existing choices. As to the word "best" of course this is subjective but nevertheless.

I am looking for a good color 120 film in case I decide to substitute Provia 100F for reasons of both cost and reduced DR. In my mind I would like to get strong saturated colors as close to a slide as possible.

Thanks.

I think that any of the big three should be technically adequate for you.

Which one you prefer depends on you aesthetic preferences, and to some degree the subject matter.

Just get a few rolls of Ektar, Portra and 400H and try them out i typical situations.

I also have a weakness for Superia, but it's not everyone's cup of tea I guess.

StoneNYC · May 16, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Beg, borrow, or steal some Reala before it is gone forever. Seriously, this is one AMAZING film. I loathe Fujifilm, absolutely loathe them for killing it off.

My main focus is Velvia50 and Velvia100 in 4x5 and 8x10. I won't buy discontinued emulsions anymore, I want to support the film that is being made to keep it going.

What is the current best non slide color film?

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