peter_kim2 Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I just tried Porta UC and I think I got some mixed results and was wondering if anyone else noticed the same. I know it is a high contrast/high saturation film but I shot it on a very bright sunny day anyway. I got my prints back and I noticed that a lot of the pictures seemed a little over exposed. The shadow areas were very dark but more than that the highlights and light areas seemed washed out. Some of this was due to the fact that there was a range of dark/light areas due to the sunny conditions but even in other pictures with a more even range of light I noticed a lot of the lighter areas were very white and washed out looking. Has anyone had any similar experiences or advice for shooting Portra UC? Would this film be more suited to lower contrast conditions like cloudy or overcast days instead of the bright sunny days I shot it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peza Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 Printed on which paper ? Optically or digitally ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constance_cook Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I got it and used it because it works well in high contrast situations. My prints are printed on Kodak Royal paper and they are the best I've ever had from any film. Conni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hal_bissinger Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 <i>...I know it is a high contrast/high saturation film but I shot it on a very bright sunny day anyway. </i><p> Wrong. All the Portra's are <u>low contrast</u> which means that they should excel under these conditions. <p> We hear from people disappointed with Portra all the time and in just about every instance the problem is due to the printing. <p> All the Portra's need to be printed by someone who knows how to print Portra preferably on Portra paper. This usually means a pro lab. Even though Portra is low contrast that doesn't mean that the paper that it was printed on is and you are gonna be disapointed with mini-labs and Wally Mart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted July 6, 2003 Share Posted July 6, 2003 I shot a bride 3 weeks ago with a free roll of 120 UC Kodak sent me,on a cloudy day with fill flash.I wasnt thrilled.This isnt an acceptable film for wedding or portrait work,IMHO.It is way too contrasty!Maybe in a studio situation,with total light control it may be fine.But out in the trenches it leaves alot to be desired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward_c._nemergut Posted July 7, 2003 Share Posted July 7, 2003 I really like Portra UC. It is, however, not a low contrast film as stated above. I would consider it to be medium contrast--like VC. It probably wouldn't be my film of choice for a sunny day nor a scene dominated by black and white (like a wedding). I've found that most people who don't like the film have bad printing. Printed correctly, the film is lovely. <p> I mention Portra 400UC in my film review <a href=" http://photo.nemergut.com/ equipment/film/film.html">here</a>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_eaton Posted July 7, 2003 Share Posted July 7, 2003 <I>We hear from people disappointed with Portra all the time and in just about every instance the problem is due to the printing. </i><P>This be oh so true. Another example of crappy amatuer mini-lab processing and harsh amatuer papers not being held accountable while blaming the film instead. I can't imagine UC having problems on Professional papers like Portra. I'm curious what kind of paper those of you having "contrast problems" with this film are having your images printed on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_piper2 Posted July 7, 2003 Share Posted July 7, 2003 1) As mentioned, Portra 400UC will need to be printed by a person or machine who/which knows the difference between studio/professional and consumer films. The local minilab operated by Joe Highschool may not be programmed to handle it. 2) As a whole, Portra films may be moderate contrast - but 400UC has MORE contrast than, say, 160NC. There is a relationship between contrast and saturation. If, in film "A", red light creates more cyan dye (i.e. more saturation) than in film "B", then white light (R+G+B) will create more total dye (C+M+Y) (i.e. more density in the highlights = more contrast). I love 400UC - but I do my own scanning and printing. And oddly, now that I think of it, I've generally shot it in soft light (shade/cloudy days) since, if the sun is out, I use slower films to get the better sharpness. I'll have to try some in sunlight to see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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