Kodak Portra......

[MrDrizz]

.... My god if you where only take what youtubers say thaen Kodak Portra would be the only film to shoot!!

I've never shot a roll so maybe if I did I would join the cult?

 

[sirch]

I think it suits those bright, stark Californian and dessert scenes.

 

[LeeRatters]

I'm shooting Portra 400 at the moment

 

[Kevin Allan]

If you buy a few rolls and don't like it, you can always freeze the remainder to use as a pension fund.

 

[Kevin Allan]

Your post prompted me to take another look at the Portra images in my Lightroom Catalog. To be honest I have as many Portra images in which the colour doesn't look quite right, as I have with other film stocks. It's not a magic bullet.

However here are a few where I think the film delivered some attractive colour. The first is 35mm and the rest are 120:

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Like anything in photography, its down the to the light, I shoot quite a bit of Portra400, but IMO it looks best is brighter light (rare in the UK) - only ever shot it on Medium Format


That Hanging Blondin - Dinorwig by David Yeoman, on Flickr


240831 Morecambe - Vintage By The Sea-5 by David Yeoman, on Flickr


Oulton Park Gold Cup - Cooper Mk 11 by David Yeoman, on Flickr

 

[excalibur2]

Well I wish I bought a stack of Portra 400 120, when 7dayshop were selling a pack of 5 for about £18. I also bought a pack of 5 Ektar 120 for about £20....still in freezer when I get around to use my 120 cameras again when I get my mojo back for photography. Maybe this year will be a break through travelling to places on my motorbike and will use my 35mm film up and see my xmas shots

 

[FishyFish]

.... My god if you where only take what youtubers say thaen Kodak Portra would be the only film to shoot!!

I've never shot a roll so maybe if I did I would join the cult?

If you want to shoot colour film in 120 format, then there really aren't that many alternatives, unfortunately.

The choices are basically Kodak Portra, Kodak Ektar, and Kodak Gold. Outside of that you have E6 reversal film in the shape of Kodak Ektachrome, Fuji Provia 100, and Fuji Velvia 50. Most of the other colour films available are just re-badged Kodak stocks (Lomography, FPP, Cinestill etc., or new and still slightly experimental things like Harman Phoenix).

I wish Fuji were still in the market, or that Kodak would release some of it's other stocks (Colorplus, Ultramax, and Pro Image) in 120 or sheet.

 

[LeeRatters]

Portra does definitely suit bright sunny days for sure!

 

[FishyFish]

Portra does definitely suit bright sunny days for sure!

It's a lot easier to get attractive images in nice light (although that probably goes for any film, or digital for that matter), but it can still look good in more subdued or even dull light.


Autumn torch by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr


Skegness lifeguards by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr


Chevrolet Townsman by fishyfish_arcade, on Flickr

 

[Harlequin565]

Some good scans above prompted me to look at the Portra I've shot. Almost all of it is in dull light and I'm not happy with any of the greens.

The last photo here is literally one of about 3 I have in sunlight. Scan process plays a big part in it with colour. It would be interesting to see scans of the same negative from different people to see that.

 

[FruitFlakes]

Portra is all I shoot colour wise these days, it's sharp and it has great latitude.

It's a film designed to have a lot of flexibility in post (whether digitally or in the darkroom) so don't expect to have a signature look baked in like Ektar, slide films or even the old NC/VC versions of Portra. I find that Portra 800 has more of a look baked in compared to 400.

 

[Clive K]

I think it suits those bright, stark Californian and dessert scenes.

Ah, those dessert scenes; Ice Cream Sunday, Jam Rolly-Polly, Apple Pie and Custard

 

[Mostly Vintage Cameras]

Portra is abou tthe est currently availbule, I did like the Street Candy Street Savey but it's about the same price.