Torn Between Fuji's NPS and NPC

[vivaitalia]

Thilo,
Back on topic...
I think its great for people to ask questions about film. It is far better when they just buy a few roles and figure out how to use it and whether it will work for them.

Claro que si! Of course. But it is always good to hear other people's experiences (and opinions) about film, paper, labs, and the like. I am not looking to instigate a debate. I am looking for other photographes' experiences and recommendations on

1) the finest grain color negative presently available (as I have been away from photography for a long time and am clueless about choices out there). My primary critiera for quality of grain is because I have the goal of enlarging these negatives to mural sizes).
2) secondly, in critiera, contract and color.

Thanks, John

[Tom Duffy]

I'm certainly no expert on color film, but I've often shot both Kodak and Fuji sheet film of the same subject to see which palette I prefered.

In sheet film, I really prefer Kodak Portra 160 NC. Accurate, subtle color you can use anywhere with beautiful skintones. And no reciprocity issues. Much superior to the Fuji NPS I used in comparison, which seemed more pumped up (particularly in the greens), i.e., "American".

For smaller formats, 35mm and medium format, I've fallen in love with Portra 400 UC. Despite the name, the colors are not "over the top" in terms of color saturation and the skin tones are beautiful. It is very fine grained. It's a film you can use anywhere, for any subject from portrait to landscape, sunshine to rain.

Take care,
Tom

[Ka]

When I shoot Portra 4ooUC, I do so exclusively for outdoor portraiture in the Autumn only. It enrichens Autumns deep reds, oranges, yellows and browns, ultimately warming the human subjects among the colour.

I have heard that film producers customize film for different markets. i.e. the same Kodak Portra 400UC film for sale in the US will be different than the same film for sale in Europe, due to differences in light strength. Is this true?

[Tom Duffy]

I don't believe there are any regional customizations done by the film manufacturers. It would be interesting to hear otherwise.

I know that Fuji has a super saturated version of Velvia 100 available in Japan (in addition to the Velvia 100F recently introduced here) which is not yet released in the states.