Best colour negative film for flash

[timor]

Hi guys. I have no experience in this. What will be the best choice of colour film for flash ? Also please give me the second and third selection as I don't know, what I can find locally. Thank you.

 

[limr]

Wish I could offer a useful suggestion, but I haven't used a flash in many years, so I don't know how different films do with flash.

My favorite color film in general (so far) is Kodak Portra, though it probably has to be ordered. Don't know if it would be sold in any stores. Kodak Gold might be available in stores in Toronto. I like the 200 speed. I don't know if they stopped production of the 100 or if they just don't sell it in the States anymore. If it's the latter, maybe you've got a chance of finding it in Canada.

I generally prefer the Kodak color emulsions to the Fuji. I prefer the slightly warmer color rendering of the Kodak, and there seems to be a tad more latitude. My experience with the Fuji Superia 400 is that even a little overexposure will leave cool, washed out colors. My bf has shot some of the 200, which he likes a lot better than the 400 but says is still a bit cool for his tastes.

Of course then there is Ektar 100, which will give really beautiful, saturated color but is quite picky about exposure. If you're being careful with your flash strength and exposure, the Ektar might work really well for you.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't do much flash photography either but went to an event not too long ago where I did; checked and I used Kodak Portra 400. I probably used whatever film speed I'd need at an indoor venue in case I didn't use a flash the entire time (and whatever I had on hand at the time!).

In general I usually use Kodak whatever... This thread got me to go check my film stash (where I found some film I forgot I had) and I have some that just says Kodak 400 (gee that's a big help). What I have on hand isn't in the boxes which I think say Kodak Ultra Max; I don't know that I've seen Kodak Gold in my area anymore. I've used Ektar too.

 

[cgw]

Flash. What kind of set-up? Format? On-camera, strobes+modifiers? What/who are you shooting? Where? Fill in those blanks first, OK?

 

[timor]

Set-up is a simple, mobile one. Minolta X 700 plus Metz 45 CL-5 in TTL mode. I may try to use it with bounce card. Environment will be a wedding, but I am only a guest over there.

 

[Josh66]

I don't think there's going to be a "best" here... The flash should be Daylight balanced, and most color films are Daylight balanced - so you shouldn't really have color balance issues with any of them.

It's going to mainly come down to which film you like... How much saturation do you like, how much grain do you like, etc...

My absolute favorite color film was Fuji Pro 160S - but it's been discontinued... I find that Fuji films handle mixed lighting MUCH better than Kodak films. That's something to consider if there will be tungsten or fluorescent lighting there as well.

 

[Josh66]

My experience with the Fuji Superia 400 is that even a little overexposure will leave cool, washed out colors. My bf has shot some of the 200, which he likes a lot better than the 400 but says is still a bit cool for his tastes.

HA! Exact opposite for me. Fuji Superia is actually pretty decent film for 'consumer grade'. I never did like the 200 though - just 400 & 800.

Of course then there is Ektar 100, which will give really beautiful, saturated color but is quite picky about exposure. If you're being careful with your flash strength and exposure, the Ektar might work really well for you.

Yes, Ektar is great - but, like you said, VERY picky about exposure. If you don't nail it, colors will be off. And practically no grain at all. When it "works", it's just beautiful though.

 

[cgw]

Portra 160/400 are tops. Ektar is out. Plain vanilla Superia 200 is another, less expensive option: finer grain, lower contrast and saturation and far better skin tones than Superia 400. Shopper's Drug 200 is Superia 200 and probably easier to find now than Fuji--and cheaper, too. Hopefully, you can do some test shots beforehand?

Keep in mind that Fujifilm Canada is doing process/scan to disc only for $5/24-36 roll. Service isn't quick(7-10 days)but the results aren't half bad.

 

[gsgary]

You dont ned flash CineStill Film

 

[timor]

Portra 160/400 are tops. Ektar is out. Plain vanilla Superia 200 is another, less expensive option: finer grain, lower contrast and saturation and far better skin tones than Superia 400. Shopper's Drug 200 is Superia 200 and probably easier to find now than Fuji--and cheaper, too. Hopefully, you can do some test shots beforehand?

Keep in mind that Fujifilm Canada is doing process/scan to disc only for $5/24-36 roll. Service isn't quick(7-10 days)but the results aren't half bad.

Thank's cgw for this piece of advise. Superia 200 and 400 Henry's has on the shelf and it is about half the price of Portra, but I will take a look at my local Shopper's Drug as it is closer. How I should go about processing ? Time plays no role, 7-10 days sounds pretty good. Of course I will do some testing first, still have 6 weeks to the event.

 

[timor]

Wish I could offer a useful suggestion, but I haven't used a flash in many years, so I don't know how different films do with flash.

My favorite color film in general (so far) is Kodak Portra, though it probably has to be ordered. Don't know if it would be sold in any stores. Kodak Gold might be available in stores in Toronto. I like the 200 speed. I don't know if they stopped production of the 100 or if they just don't sell it in the States anymore. If it's the latter, maybe you've got a chance of finding it in Canada.

I generally prefer the Kodak color emulsions to the Fuji. I prefer the slightly warmer color rendering of the Kodak, and there seems to be a tad more latitude. My experience with the Fuji Superia 400 is that even a little overexposure will leave cool, washed out colors. My bf has shot some of the 200, which he likes a lot better than the 400 but says is still a bit cool for his tastes.

Of course then there is Ektar 100, which will give really beautiful, saturated color but is quite picky about exposure. If you're being careful with your flash strength and exposure, the Ektar might work really well for you.

Thank's Leonore. I agree, Kodak makes pretty nice color film, but looks like it is more "artistic" than I need at the moment. However if you know what hides under the name "Kodak GC" I would appreciate the enlightment. Is this old "Gold" ?

 

[timor]

I don't think there's going to be a "best" here... The flash should be Daylight balanced, and most color films are Daylight balanced - so you shouldn't really have color balance issues with any of them.

It's going to mainly come down to which film you like... How much saturation do you like, how much grain do you like, etc...

My absolute favorite color film was Fuji Pro 160S - but it's been discontinued... I find that Fuji films handle mixed lighting MUCH better than Kodak films. That's something to consider if there will be tungsten or fluorescent lighting there as well.

Thank's Josh for this. Yes, there might be mixed light conditions plus some shooting outdoors to. Fuji Pro 160S is still available in my local photo store, but only in 120 and 4x5. However next week we have here a big photo fair and I'm gonna be on the outlook for this film in 135 format. What's the limit of 'out of date' for it ?

 

[timor]

I don't do much flash photography either but went to an event not too long ago where I did; checked and I used Kodak Portra 400. I probably used whatever film speed I'd need at an indoor venue in case I didn't use a flash the entire time (and whatever I had on hand at the time!).

In general I usually use Kodak whatever... This thread got me to go check my film stash (where I found some film I forgot I had) and I have some that just says Kodak 400 (gee that's a big help). What I have on hand isn't in the boxes which I think say Kodak Ultra Max; I don't know that I've seen Kodak Gold in my area anymore. I've used Ektar too.

Thank you Sharon. Kodak UltraMax might be an option, if I can find any here.

 

[timor]

You dont ned flash CineStill Film

This thing looks awesome Gary. Thank's for pointing me there.

 

[cgw]

Timor, any Loblaws or Loblaws Superstore that still runs a photo studio will take your film and courier it to Fuji in Mississauga. I don't bother with the crappy 4x6 prints and stick to the medium-res jpgs as "proofs" for anything you'd like to print/enlarge. The scans are fine for web use.

Not so sure about expired stuff from the "film guy" at the upcoming PHSC fair. OK for futzing around with but maybe not the best for a wedding. His film was getting older and pricier last time I bought.