Film for Portraits

[Michele]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a good film for studio portrait work and then outdoor portrait work like at the beach? Print or slide.

Thanks
Michele

[CI Photography]

You didn't say just what format, but for 35mm, I liked Agfa Portrait Professional 160. I use to buy it from B&H.


Joe

[Michele]

Im sorry... Its using 35mm film/slide. Thanks for your recommendation..

[Stephanie]

Fuji Provia is supposed to be great for skin tones. I've used the similar Sensia, and loved it! As for print film... I like Kodak's UltraColor.

[Michele]

Thanks Stephanie..

[Paul Shields]

Only tip I have is to avoid Velvia for portraits - unless you want the subjects to have the skin of orange peel...

[Michele]

Thanks Paul

[k8do]

The knock against old Velvia is correct, but the new Velvia 100 is a different critter... You might try a roll...
Portra NC does well with skin tones...
And, there is no law against Tri-X 400 with a light yellow filter... Especially for beach portraits with some clouds on the background... Develop in Xtol... Print on a warm tone paper with a Pearl finish...

denny

[Narsuitus]

Here are the ones I like:

Kodak Portra 160NC or Fuji Portrait NPS 160 (print) (natural colors)
Kodak Portra 160VC or Fuji Portrait NPC 160 (pint) (vivid colors)
Kodak Portra 400NC or Fuji NPH 400 (print) (low light)
Fuji Astra or Fuji Provia (slide)
Kodak E100SW* (slide)
Kodak Plus X (B&W) or Kodak T Max 100 (B&W)

Please note that some of them may now be discontinued.

[Stephanie]

I also just picked up 2 rolls of Fuji Reala 100, which is supposed to be one of the better print films. I have looked at pbase for some examples and have seen nice skin tones, yet vibrant color...

[Michele]

Thank you Denny, Narsuitus and Stephanie for your input. Alot of good info and recommendations. I have used a few of these in the past, but its been so long. When I get what I need and shoot, I will then post the results here so you can all see what I did.

Michele

[k8do]

OK Michelle, glad we could confuse you sufficiently...
I am shooting Reala in 35mm, T-Max 100 in 6X6, and Tri-X 320 in 4X5, this weekend at a local festival... Boy am I confused... I see a shot, look down at my waist and discover I'm holding a 35mm eye level camera... Or I see a shot, hold the camera to my eye and disicover I'm holding up a TLR with a waist level finder... Or I see a shot, lift the camera and then tip over sideways because it's the 4X5 attached to a tripod and weighs about the same as a good size boulder...
Now these are all old cameras, but then again I'm an old photographer...

cheers ... denny