Pentax P30 and Kodak Portra 400

pas · 12-29-2019, 04:38 PM

Hi!

my old uncle gave me a Pentax P30. Looking forward to testing it, I loaded it with a Kodak Portra 400 ASA and even took some pictures already but only now I realize that Portra does not have the DX-coding system. What can I do in order to get the correct exposure in the following photos, I really don't want to waste the rest of the film.

Thank you so much for your help!

Kind regards from POrtugal,
Patrícia.

Lhorn · 12-29-2019, 04:52 PM

I don’t know what the camera sets the default iso to in a non DX coded film roll but one option is to remember how many shots you took, rewind the film back into the canister and use that roll in a different camera.

pas · 12-29-2019, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by Lhorn

I don’t know what the camera sets the default iso to in a non DX coded film roll but one option is to remember how many shots you took, rewind the film back into the canister and use that roll in a different camera.

Hi Lhorn! Thank you for your suggestion. Camera set the default iso to 100 ASA.

Zelig · 12-30-2019, 04:07 AM

Patrícia,

this video has interesting information about under and over-exposing the Kodak Portra 400:

You Tube

You can also read these article about the same video here:
This Test Reveals the Exposure Limits of Kodak Portra 400 Film - Workshop In Your Pocket

Another old but interesting article about Portra 400 & 160:
Mat Marrash: Pushing Kodak Portra - The Film Photography Project

Zelig

Jonathan Mac · 12-30-2019, 04:14 AM

Portra doesn't have a DX code? Really?

The best way to get around this limitation of the P series cameras is to make your own DX codes (all you need is paper, tin foil and glue) but if the film's already loaded then that's not really an option. If shot at the settings the camera recommends it'll under-expose by two stops, so use it in manual mode, check what it recommends and expose two stops more than that by either using a longer shutter speed or a larger aperture.

steephill · 12-30-2019, 05:26 AM

35mm Kodak Portra 400 does have DX coding. If for some reason your camera can't read the code it will usually default to ISO100.

**gofour3** · 12-30-2019, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by steephill

35mm Kodak Portra 400 does have DX coding.

Yeah all Kodak films have had DX coding since the 1980's.

Phil.

ecostigny · 12-30-2019, 10:56 AM

Portra 400 has a wide enough exposure latitude that you can give it two extra stops of exposure (as would occur in a camera exposing it at ISO 100) and still get good prints. The colors might be a bit muted--supposedly, they're at their most vibrant if Portra 400 is exposed at ISO 250--but you should still have pleasing results.

pas · 12-30-2019, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by Zelig

Patrícia,

this video has interesting information about under and over-exposing the Kodak Portra 400:
Testing The Exposure Limits Of Kodak's Portra 400 Film - YouTube

You can also read these article about the same video here:
This Test Reveals the Exposure Limits of Kodak Portra 400 Film - Workshop In Your Pocket

Another old but interesting article about Portra 400 & 160:
Mat Marrash: Pushing Kodak Portra - The Film Photography Project

Zelig

Thank you so much Zelig for the super detailed information! It will be usefull in the future as well!

pas · 12-30-2019, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Portra doesn't have a DX code? Really?

The best way to get around this limitation of the P series cameras is to make your own DX codes (all you need is paper, tin foil and glue) but if the film's already loaded then that's not really an option. If shot at the settings the camera recommends it'll under-expose by two shots, so use it in manual mode, check what it recommends and expose two stops more than that by either using a longer shutter speed or a larger aperture.

Thank you for the tips Jonathan!

12-29-2019, 04:38 PM	#1
pas New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 4	Pentax P30 and Kodak Portra 400 Hi! my old uncle gave me a Pentax P30. Looking forward to testing it, I loaded it with a Kodak Portra 400 ASA and even took some pictures already but only now I realize that Portra does not have the DX-coding system. What can I do in order to get the correct exposure in the following photos, I really don't want to waste the rest of the film. Thank you so much for your help! Kind regards from POrtugal, Patrícia.

12-30-2019, 04:14 AM	#5
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911	Portra doesn't have a DX code? Really? The best way to get around this limitation of the P series cameras is to make your own DX codes (all you need is paper, tin foil and glue) but if the film's already loaded then that's not really an option. If shot at the settings the camera recommends it'll under-expose by two stops, so use it in manual mode, check what it recommends and expose two stops more than that by either using a longer shutter speed or a larger aperture. Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 12-31-2019 at 03:24 AM.

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12-29-2019, 04:52 PM	#2
Lhorn Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 554	I don’t know what the camera sets the default iso to in a non DX coded film roll but one option is to remember how many shots you took, rewind the film back into the canister and use that roll in a different camera.

12-29-2019, 05:31 PM	#3
pas New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Lhorn I don’t know what the camera sets the default iso to in a non DX coded film roll but one option is to remember how many shots you took, rewind the film back into the canister and use that roll in a different camera. Hi Lhorn! Thank you for your suggestion. Camera set the default iso to 100 ASA.

12-30-2019, 05:26 AM	#6
steephill Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2018 Photos: Albums Posts: 592	35mm Kodak Portra 400 does have DX coding. If for some reason your camera can't read the code it will usually default to ISO100.

12-30-2019, 09:42 AM	#7
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,093	Originally posted by steephill 35mm Kodak Portra 400 does have DX coding. Yeah all Kodak films have had DX coding since the 1980's. Phil.

12-30-2019, 10:56 AM	#8
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Portra 400 has a wide enough exposure latitude that you can give it two extra stops of exposure (as would occur in a camera exposing it at ISO 100) and still get good prints. The colors might be a bit muted--supposedly, they're at their most vibrant if Portra 400 is exposed at ISO 250--but you should still have pleasing results.

12-30-2019, 12:58 PM	#9
pas New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Zelig Patrícia, this video has interesting information about under and over-exposing the Kodak Portra 400: Testing The Exposure Limits Of Kodak's Portra 400 Film - YouTube You can also read these article about the same video here: This Test Reveals the Exposure Limits of Kodak Portra 400 Film - Workshop In Your Pocket Another old but interesting article about Portra 400 & 160: Mat Marrash: Pushing Kodak Portra - The Film Photography Project Zelig Thank you so much Zelig for the super detailed information! It will be usefull in the future as well!

12-30-2019, 12:59 PM	#10
pas New Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Portra doesn't have a DX code? Really? The best way to get around this limitation of the P series cameras is to make your own DX codes (all you need is paper, tin foil and glue) but if the film's already loaded then that's not really an option. If shot at the settings the camera recommends it'll under-expose by two shots, so use it in manual mode, check what it recommends and expose two stops more than that by either using a longer shutter speed or a larger aperture. Thank you for the tips Jonathan!