Preferred film for landscapes?

earthmanbuck · May 29, 2019

I just realized I've been hobby shooting film for about 10 years now (!), trying any and every type of film I can get my hands on. I've also just realized I actually do have a couple favourites I keep coming back to—Portra 400 and TMax P3200—for the kind of stuff I like to shoot, which is mostly people.

However, I've never really been able to crack what works for landscapes and nature shots—lots of hits and misses with various films, which I concede is probably at least partly my own errors. Does anyone have any favourite films that are consistently good at capturing the vibrancy of nature?

vintagesnaps · May 29, 2019

I like Portra. I've always used Kodak whatever (I think now it's called KodakMax). For B&W I use Kodak T Max or anything Ilford.

I find that getting a proper exposure is key and I rely on the meter to determine that. And maybe with a lot of years of experience you learn how to adjust for various conditions without thinking about it too much. I use whatever is in the fridge.

Derrel · May 29, 2019

T-Max 100 in B&W, developed inT-Max developer was my 1980's fave for B&W landscapes. Such fine grain!

But I also shot a lot of Tri-X. Yes, it has a lot of visible grain,but "landscape" is variable, encompasses a lot of scenarios.

I like medium-speed color slide film for landscapes...something in the 64 to 100 speed range...

JBPhotog · May 29, 2019

Plus-X and Tri-X were my favourites, early on developed in D-76 later in Rodinal. The grain in Tri-X was sharp enough to resolve just fine and its tone curve when matched with the spot metering contrast of the subject and developer time was magic.

AlanKlein · May 29, 2019

I shoot with Velvia 50 (chrome) type for it's bright color palette. If you want a negative color film, go with Ektar 100 for vibrancy.

webestang64 · May 30, 2019

For me I like to use Ilford Delta 100 BW and Extar 100 for landscapes. But I also like Fuji 400 as grain does not bother me, besides the grain is not that bad. I've enlarged Fuji 400 to 20x30 with great results.

Fuji 400.....

limr · May 30, 2019

Try the Portra 160 rather than the 400 for landscapes. I know a lot of people like the vibrancy of Ektar or slide film, but I prefer more subtlety, which I find easier to achieve with the 160, especially when there is color in the sky.

Some examples:

rWindbreak by limrodrigues, on Flickr

rHomestead by limrodrigues, on Flickr

AlanKlein · May 30, 2019

Nice shots.

earthmanbuck · May 31, 2019

Thanks for the tips, all.

smoke665 · May 31, 2019

Lot of years since film, and choices weren't as plentiful back then. For color I shot Kodachrome, then X, then II. B&W was Tri-X, for simplicity sake. Now even though I don't shoot film I do a lot of film simulations with Porta being my favorite for color and Illford for B&W.

Derrel · May 31, 2019

smoke665 said:
Lot of years since film, and choices weren't as plentiful back then. For color I shot Kodachrome, then X, then II. B&W was Tri-X, for simplicity sake. Now even though I don't shoot film I do a lot of film simulations with Porta being my favorite for color and Illford for B&W.

Kodachrome X, Kodachrome II...jeeze...

I cannot get on board with Portra for landscapes...it looks so muted, so "color-effecty"..so muted..so much like an Instagram filter has been applied to lower saturation and contrast...I prefer a more-vibrant look, with colors closer to "reality"

vintagesnaps · May 31, 2019

Oh, it does not look like an Instagram filter! lol To get that look you'd have to scan it and photoshop the heck out of it!

The OP could try a roll of more than one different film and see what he/she likes best.

smoke665 · May 31, 2019

Derrel said:
smoke665 said:

Lot of years since film, and choices weren't as plentiful back then. For color I shot Kodachrome, then X, then II. B&W was Tri-X, for simplicity sake. Now even though I don't shoot film I do a lot of film simulations with Porta being my favorite for color and Illford for B&W.

Click to expand...

Kodachrome X, Kodachrome II...jeeze...

It was iconic man :allteeth:

limr · May 31, 2019

vintagesnaps said:
Oh, it does not look like an Instagram filter! lol To get that look you'd have to scan it and photoshop the heck out of it!

The OP could try a roll of more than one different film and see what he/she likes best.

I agree, and also feel like sometimes slide film or Ektar is what looks exaggerated, oversaturated, and less like 'reality.' I feel like it can sometimes reduce a scene to just sort of primary colors and it loses more subtle gradations of tones that I find to be more interesting when shooting landscape in color.

daveo228i · Nov 20, 2019

The preferred color film for practically everything was Kodachrome. When Kodak pulled the plug on it, Fujistepped up to bat. Their offerings of Velvita 50 and 100 were accepted by many as the next best thing to Kodachrome. They are strong on greens, making for a lush setting. Kodak has some offerings that are good all arounders.

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