Whats a good film brand?

[surrephoto]

Hello all film experts.

I just started shooting film on an old manual SLR.

The last tube of film i used was Fujifilm Superia 200 which i walked into a fuji shop at burlington and purchased without much thought (all i knew was thinking ISO 200 should be suitable for general day-light shooting).

I presume this is not a premium film, so i was thinking of how better fuji/kodak films would be compared to superia.

Thanks in advance.

[adamadam]

Thanks megaweb
http://www.clubsnap.com/display.php?.../negatives.htm

[aero]

I too just started trying shooting film not too long ago
So far these are the brands i've tried and like em

B&W ILFORD DELTA 400




KODAK PORTRA 160VC

[surrephoto]

Originally Posted by adamadam Thanks megaweb http://www.clubsnap.com/display.php?.../negatives.htm

Thanks bro! Sorry for the trouble.

[xylestesins]

For portraits?

In B&W, my personal choice would be Neopan 400 pushed 1 stop, for both daylight (stopped down of course), and dark area shooting. Grain is still smooth, but tones and contrast are almost perfect for me. I would use it in almost any situation i am in for 35mm B&W. Photoshoot, candids, street - it covers everything so nicely.
Actually, i've stopped 35mm for awhile just because Neopan is sold out in 35mm format for 400speed wherever i attempt to hunt it in Singapore. It's been at least one month already!
Tri-x is if you like extra grain, and higher contrast + edgier look to your photos.

For color, it is very very subjective on what effect you wish to create. Slides and negatives for use under different themes and expectations.
Reala under flash looks nice for cooler temp looks.
E100vs for that saturated, low-color-temp & high contrast cinematic look. Becareful not to underexpose more than half a stop, or skin tones can go horribly wrong.
Provia for the saturated, "definitive" slides look.
Portra 160vc has a nice classic look to it too, but i wouldn't bother with 400vc. The pictures are too clean with zero color cast or "signature", which i concluded to look somewhat like digital files.

[adamadam]

Originally Posted by surrephoto Thanks bro! Sorry for the trouble.

Really no trouble at all, no need to say sorry...!

Originally Posted by xylestesins For portraits? In B&W, my personal choice would be Neopan 400 pushed 1 stop, for both daylight (stopped down of course), and dark area shooting. Grain is still smooth, but tones and contrast are almost perfect for me. I would use it in almost any situation i am in for 35mm B&W. Photoshoot, candids, street - it covers everything so nicely. Actually, i've stopped 35mm for awhile just because Neopan is sold out in 35mm format for 400speed wherever i attempt to hunt it in Singapore. It's been at least one month already! Tri-x is if you like extra grain, and higher contrast + edgier look to your photos. For color, it is very very subjective on what effect you wish to create. Slides and negatives for use under different themes and expectations. Reala under flash looks nice for cooler temp looks. E100vs for that saturated, low-color-temp & high contrast cinematic look. Becareful not to underexpose more than half a stop, or skin tones can go horribly wrong. Provia for the saturated, "definitive" slides look. Portra 160vc has a nice classic look to it too, but i wouldn't bother with 400vc. The pictures are too clean with zero color cast or "signature", which i concluded to look somewhat like digital files.

Thanks for this info! I'll try out a roll of neopan 400 next! I bought about 20 rolls which are now sitting in my fridge!
So you push it one stop, to ISO800? What developer do you use?

[azzurri]

It depends on what you like to shoot. The big film brands are all good; each having their pros and sometimes, the choice is pretty much up to individual taste.

For me, for nature/landscape shots, I would go for Fuji Velvia because of its saturated colours; but for some people,the saturation is too much for their liking. The Velvia 50 has very fine grains and that is something that I love about it too. Velvia is not that good for portrait because it gives an orangey tone to skin.

Portrait shots would be the Fuji Provia for me. The colours are less saturated but still vibrant enough.

General purpose film would be the Fuji Press/Superia. It is an affordable film that produces pretty good results. I would usually go for the Press 800 simply because of its speed.

I use a lot of Fuji and that is not because it is better than other brands but because I am used to shooting on it and am more comfortable using it. There are pretty good Kodaks out there too; choices such as the Portra and E100VS. If you can find the Ekta100 (you may have to buy online), you can give it a shot; read that it is very good and it allows you to develop at any lab.

Black and white wise, it depends on whether you want to go to more specialised labs to develop or develop on your own. Choices would include the Ilford Delta and Kodak T-Max range; all are pretty good and you can push and pull them. If you just want to develop at neighbourhood studios, you can go for the Ilford XP2 and the Kodak BW400CN. Both are rated at ISO400.

[xylestesins]

You have 20 rolls of Neopan 400?!
argh!

I haven't tried Neopan at 400, i think. 800 gives me the ideal speed for both waist-level daytime shooting AND night shooting.

I get mine developed at fotohub, supposedly they use the standard D-76 formula. But, i do it at fotohub because my office is just upstairs
Very good for slides, because i can do a same-day develop+scan & collection. B&W has a 24hours turnaround though.

Ilford seems to give richer grays, while Neopan with cleaner whites. I find the whites nicer for portraits.

My current slides favourite would probably be E100vs.
Picture sample below



Neopan 400 pushed to 800

[xylestesins]

Tri-x 400 pushed to 800



Ilford Pan400



Tmax 100



Provia 100



Provia 400x Pushed to 800

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Depends what u wanna do and what kinda color bias you're looking for... esp for Slides.

Dun ask what a brand of film can do... ask what you can shoot with a roll of film. lol...

Shoot with every kind and test out...

[shaoken]

For me, I'll like these films:

Negatives:
Kodak Ultramax 400 (colour)
Kodak 400CN (B&W- C41)
Ilford XP2 400 (B&W- C41)

Slides:
Kodak E100VS (no doubt)
Fujichrome Sensia 100

[surrephoto]

Originally Posted by xylestesins You have 20 rolls of Neopan 400?! argh! I haven't tried Neopan at 400, i think. 800 gives me the ideal speed for both waist-level daytime shooting AND night shooting. I get mine developed at fotohub, supposedly they use the standard D-76 formula. But, i do it at fotohub because my office is just upstairs Very good for slides, because i can do a same-day develop+scan & collection. B&W has a 24hours turnaround though. Ilford seems to give richer grays, while Neopan with cleaner whites. I find the whites nicer for portraits. My current slides favourite would probably be E100vs. Picture sample below Neopan 400 pushed to 800

These neopan 400 images are simply alluring.

I'm getting a roll or 2.

[daletan]

Just curious here : does anyone know where I can find Kodak Portra NC? I've found Portra VC at Ruby, but that's way too much colour. (http://tinyurl.com/2bc4lt)

Personally, I shoot plenty of Kodak Tri-X (convenient, can be pushed, wonderful grain) and some Reala. I've shot slide before too, but I'm finding that processing can be rather ex.

[clubgrit]

Portra NC only online ... b&h ... my favorite portrait color film ...


.

[chiif]

Strange... how come no one mention Lucky?

Personally, the ISO200 Chinese film beats most consumer grade film on outdoors .

[FortyNine]

cathay says neopan 400 only available now on indent basis. min 100 rolls

[xylestesins]

No no no, it will come soon!

Triple D tells me it will come next month.

But if Neopan will really only ship to Singapore for 100 rolls.. You have my order for 25 rolls already

[Yoricko]

Shalom Colour (bras basah complex) has Neopan 400 going for 6 dollars each. :/

[xylestesins]

For 35mm?

The last i checked they told me it was out of stock!

[jimbo12345]

I just went there yesterday. 400 no more stock. Only have 100 & 1600.