Best low light colour film?

**mattt** · 09-29-2012, 09:18 AM

Any suggestions?
I suspect I will be needing 1600 for hand held shooting at f4 1/60 ish.

Hopefully not to pricey - I may not be allowed to take photos during the tour.

Thx

LesDMess · 09-29-2012, 09:24 AM

Kodak Portra 800, Fuji NPZ800 and Fuji Natura. Natura is a 1600 speed film not commonly available outside of Japan.

aurele · 09-29-2012, 10:26 AM

i tried Kodak Portra (new version) 160 iso pushed @1250 and it's just astonishing : almost no grain at all, still a big DR, very natural skin color.

i guess the Portra 800 might be quite close when pushed @1600.

Whatare you going to shoot ? if it's a concert, then, be ready for the tricky metering part

**Eric Auer** · 09-29-2012, 10:28 AM

Fuji superia 1600 can be had at auction sites usually way overpriced.

Portra 800 would be my choice, Excellent film!

Too bad you cant do B&W, lots more options there.....

aurele · 09-29-2012, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by Corto-PA

Too bad you cant do B&W, lots more options there.....

He has 2 film body ... why don't you suggest him to load the 2nd one with B&W film ?

...

Mattt, Corto-PA has something to tell you

stevebrot · 09-29-2012, 10:52 AM

Sadly to say, but the best low-light color film is a high ISO digital sensor.

Steve

**mattt** · 09-29-2012, 03:19 PM

Well it was for a walking/bus tour of a steel factory. Although none of the pre tour media announced it. No photography allowed. I was hoping to make some industrial shots of molten metal and sparks and steam.

My Kr is considered small, but my ME fits in my coat pocket.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Simian Summit · 09-29-2012, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by mattt

Well it was for a walking/bus tour of a steel factory. Although none of the pre tour media announced it. No photography allowed. I was hoping to make some industrial shots of molten metal and sparks and steam.

Were you at the Dofasco tour today? I so, shame you're not supposed to take pictures

.

**mattt** · 09-29-2012, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by Simian Summit

Were you at the Dofasco tour today? I so, shame you're not supposed to take pictures

.

Yep, no photos. Disappointing, but the tour was great. None of the documents nor the indoctrination called out no photography, but I asked my guide and he said no. I can respect that.

I'd love to spend a half our shooting the coal piles - its like some sort of moon scape.

Are you an employee/retiree?

Simian Summit · 09-29-2012, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by mattt

Are you an employee/retiree?

Employee, I work in Research, I'm the Welding Engineer and manage the metallography and mechanical testing lab.

Originally posted by mattt

I'd love to spend a half our shooting the coal piles - its like some sort of moon scape.

I absolutely agree. I think that lighting can be very tricky, but with there are all sorts of subtleties of shadow that can be caught especially with the bulldozer tracks. Oh well, if you work there maybe you can go back to some of those places and take some pictures anyways (however, then you'll have to worry about H&S concerns).

Elliot

**montman** · 09-29-2012, 09:53 PM

I bought a few packs a week ago still waiting to receive. Natura 1600
Fujicolor NATURA 3 Rolls 35mm Film 36 exp Japanese by CineStill

Jonathan Mac · 09-30-2012, 02:00 AM

Originally posted by montman

I bought a few packs a week ago still waiting to receive. Natura 1600
Fujicolor NATURA 3 Rolls 35mm Film 36 exp Japanese by CineStill

I've never heard of that film before, I wonder if it's any good. Has Superia 1600 been discontinued?

Roman · 09-30-2012, 06:30 AM

I'm use Fuji Provia 400F (slide film) and push up it to 1600. It is better then all 800-1600 ISO negatives.

LesDMess · 09-30-2012, 06:45 AM

Roman, I would be interested to see those comparisons.

Roman · 09-30-2012, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by LesDMess

Roman, I would be interested to see those comparisons.

I will need some time to find the scanned images with Fuji Provia in my archive. I can't provide scann from negative film, because I tried them about 10-12 years ago and the result was so bad that I simply threw out negatives. Grain spoiled the image already on a 15х20cm print. It were Fuji Press 1600 and 800 films.
Probably I got excited accusing all negative films, especially modern. But Fuji Provia 400F pushed to 1600ISO grain doesn't exceed some grain modern 400ISO negative films.

09-29-2012, 09:18 AM	#1
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	Best low light colour film? Any suggestions? I suspect I will be needing 1600 for hand held shooting at f4 1/60 ish. Hopefully not to pricey - I may not be allowed to take photos during the tour. Thx

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09-29-2012, 09:24 AM	#2
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Kodak Portra 800, Fuji NPZ800 and Fuji Natura. Natura is a 1600 speed film not commonly available outside of Japan.

09-29-2012, 10:26 AM	#3
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	i tried Kodak Portra (new version) 160 iso pushed @1250 and it's just astonishing : almost no grain at all, still a big DR, very natural skin color. i guess the Portra 800 might be quite close when pushed @1600. Whatare you going to shoot ? if it's a concert, then, be ready for the tricky metering part

09-29-2012, 10:28 AM	#4
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	Fuji superia 1600 can be had at auction sites usually way overpriced. Portra 800 would be my choice, Excellent film! Too bad you cant do B&W, lots more options there.....

09-29-2012, 10:32 AM	#5
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	Originally posted by Corto-PA Too bad you cant do B&W, lots more options there..... He has 2 film body ... why don't you suggest him to load the 2nd one with B&W film ? ... Mattt, Corto-PA has something to tell you

09-29-2012, 10:52 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Sadly to say, but the best low-light color film is a high ISO digital sensor. Steve

09-29-2012, 03:19 PM	#7
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907 Original Poster	Well it was for a walking/bus tour of a steel factory. Although none of the pre tour media announced it. No photography allowed. I was hoping to make some industrial shots of molten metal and sparks and steam. My Kr is considered small, but my ME fits in my coat pocket. Thanks for the input. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

09-29-2012, 06:20 PM	#8
Simian Summit Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hamilton Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 146	Originally posted by mattt Well it was for a walking/bus tour of a steel factory. Although none of the pre tour media announced it. No photography allowed. I was hoping to make some industrial shots of molten metal and sparks and steam. Were you at the Dofasco tour today? I so, shame you're not supposed to take pictures .

09-29-2012, 07:39 PM	#9
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907 Original Poster	Originally posted by Simian Summit Were you at the Dofasco tour today? I so, shame you're not supposed to take pictures . Yep, no photos. Disappointing, but the tour was great. None of the documents nor the indoctrination called out no photography, but I asked my guide and he said no. I can respect that. I'd love to spend a half our shooting the coal piles - its like some sort of moon scape. Are you an employee/retiree?

09-29-2012, 08:07 PM	#10
Simian Summit Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hamilton Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 146	Originally posted by mattt Are you an employee/retiree? Employee, I work in Research, I'm the Welding Engineer and manage the metallography and mechanical testing lab. Originally posted by mattt I'd love to spend a half our shooting the coal piles - its like some sort of moon scape. I absolutely agree. I think that lighting can be very tricky, but with there are all sorts of subtleties of shadow that can be caught especially with the bulldozer tracks. Oh well, if you work there maybe you can go back to some of those places and take some pictures anyways (however, then you'll have to worry about H&S concerns). Elliot

09-29-2012, 09:53 PM	#11
montman Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kansas City Photos: Gallery Posts: 576	I bought a few packs a week ago still waiting to receive. Natura 1600 Fujicolor NATURA 3 Rolls 35mm Film 36 exp Japanese by CineStill

09-30-2012, 02:00 AM	#12
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	Originally posted by montman I bought a few packs a week ago still waiting to receive. Natura 1600 Fujicolor NATURA 3 Rolls 35mm Film 36 exp Japanese by CineStill I've never heard of that film before, I wonder if it's any good. Has Superia 1600 been discontinued?

09-30-2012, 06:30 AM	#13
Roman New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 22	I'm use Fuji Provia 400F (slide film) and push up it to 1600. It is better then all 800-1600 ISO negatives.

09-30-2012, 06:45 AM	#14
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Roman, I would be interested to see those comparisons.

09-30-2012, 07:15 AM	#15
Roman New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 22	Originally posted by LesDMess Roman, I would be interested to see those comparisons. I will need some time to find the scanned images with Fuji Provia in my archive. I can't provide scann from negative film, because I tried them about 10-12 years ago and the result was so bad that I simply threw out negatives. Grain spoiled the image already on a 15х20cm print. It were Fuji Press 1600 and 800 films. Probably I got excited accusing all negative films, especially modern. But Fuji Provia 400F pushed to 1600ISO grain doesn't exceed some grain modern 400ISO negative films.