Best color print film for wedding photography

[j._bescup1]

Hello everyone. I have been hired to shoot a wedding coming up in June and I

would like some recommendations for a good color print film to use. I will be

doing wedding party shots outdoors with bright light and I will be doing

shooting indoors at the Church, probably with only ok lighting. I don't

anything fancier than the on-camera flash (I use a Canon Elan IIe) so I will

probably want 2 types of film: 1.) a low ISO for outdoor shots with great skin

color and very little film grain, which will be intended for blowing up and 2.)

a mid to high ISO film for shooting available light inside the church. The less

grain the better, but I don't want to be taking blurry shots, so a higher speed

will be needed.

 

Looking around on BHPhotovideo.com I see that Kodak has several offerings that

could potentially work well for outdoor shots. (I have heard people say that

Kodak has a 'warmer' skin tone, which is why I'd look there first) What is the

difference between Kodak Portra-130NC and Portra-130VC??

 

As for high ISOs, Kodak makes Portra up to 800 ISO. Has anyone used this and

could describe how good it is? Fuji also goes up to 1600 ISO, which might be

good for shooting a dimly lit wedding reception afterward. Again my question

is, how prominent is the grain?

 

Any film type or brand suggestions are welcome. Lookin for input =)

 

Thanks in advance

-John, Chicago IL

[d_s31]

NC = Natural Color (This is for people and portraits) <br/>VC = Vivid Color (Nature, Landscapes)<br/><a href=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/portra/400main.jhtml>KODAK's PORTRA Films</a>

[larrydressler]

I think the Porta 800 has the grain of the old porta 400. Color is good too but don't under expose.

[bill_clark___minnetonka_mi]

When I was film based, I would take a large cooler of film, have many backs to change

because of all the varience in lighting situations. Some of the results were accepted

because that's the way it was during the film days.

 

I believe the B&G demands are quite different now because of digital capture. Things like

RAW capture, ISO speeds that can be adjusted from frame to frame and other aspects

preclude a certain bar of acceptance that wasn't present during the film days.

 

Film still can be used and it is by some folks. But I believe, in the case of wedding

photography, digital is getting to be the acceptable norm of capture.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[russ_butner___portland__or]

For my wedding work, I use Kodak 400UC and Portra 800, if I need the speed. Also, the Fuji Pro-H & Pro-Z will give nice results. For outside in bright light, you'll want to go with one of the superb 160 speed films.

 

Russ

[richard f harris]

I think you're getting the advice you need here but best film varies according to weather and lighting conditions. I use fuji 400H and superia 400. The consumer superia is often preferred by clients, it has more punch and they dont mind the less than perfect skin tones. If the weather is dull and overcast, ie half the time here in the UK, then pro fuji film is just too dull. Sunny day though and it come in to it's own, holding detail in white dresses and black morning coats etc, plus better skin tones.

Richard Harris.

[russ_butner___portland__or]

Richard

 

I agree. The Fuji 400H can be a bit dull on overcast days. That's why I switched to the Kodak 400UC. It looks great under those conditions, and with very nice flesh tones. Give it a try. I think you'd like it.

 

Russ

[richard f harris]

Russ,

 

I would love to use Kodak. My normal supplier does a much keener price on fuji though and I use their Paper (RA4) I do prefer to have medium format and 35mm gear with me and I just can't understand what 400Uc is in the UK in 35mm; in fact I haven't got a clue what any Kodak film is. I did try 160NC and 400 vC some time ago and thought the grain structure was appalling. I believe that Kodak has vastly improved this now and I think that Kodak films need less developing than fuji so I may be need to change my timing if I switched. The local Kodak minilab tells me that he thinks superia on kodak paper is the best thing he is printing at the moment. He is not a prolab but he does print for a couple of local wedding snappers.

Richard.

[russ_butner___portland__or]

Richard

 

E-mail me your mailing address. I'll send a few rolls your way.

 

Russ

[photography by a.f. smith]

I much prefer the Fuji pro series films to the Portra. Less grain, and the latitude of the 800 is pretty incredible.

[vibin247]

Most of the wedding photographers that still shoot film and process it at the photo lab I

work at use Fuji Pro 400H and 800Z. We do get some of the consumer stuff like Superia 400

and Gold 200/400, but skin tones aren't that faithful in comparison to the professional

portrait films.