4x5 Ektar 100 Film, Other films, Recommended ASA??

[neil poulsen]

What's a good, effective ASA at which to expose 4x5 Ektar 100 ASA Color Negative Film? I just received 30 sheets. (Three 10 sheet packages, sheesh!) Is this a color negative film that needs to be exposed at less than 100, or can it be exposed at the recommended setting?

I see from other posts that a lot of photographers see this film as being high saturation and contrasty. Should have read up on this film prior to purchase. But, can use it accordingly.

What's a good lower than Ektar 100 contrast color negative film? I'm thinking that Portra NC might be an option, given that I find VC a bit contrasty for the work I intend to do next week.

Of course, my choice would be Fuji Pro S 160. But apparently, it's no longer available. Can this film be exposed out of date with any kind of results? Say, maybe a couple of years out of date?

[Ari]

Neil, I'm waiting for some Ektar myself, so I can't yet comment on it.
But Portra 160 (shot at 100) works well for me, as long as you don't shoot any scenes of inherently high contrast.
I've also found that it initially scans quite contrasty, but judicious use of pre-scanning tools will tame it easily.

[Drew Wiley]

I always shoot Ektar at box speed (100), but with correct filtration and filter factors
for color balance. I find warming filters 81A, 81B, 81C etc to be quite important for
correct blue balance. Merely attempting to correct this after the fact, PS or otherwise,
might not always be successful. This is somewhat true of other color neg films too,
but Ektar exaggerates the effect, and it is the main source of complaints on this film.

[neil poulsen]

Neil, I'm waiting for some Ektar myself, so I can't yet comment on it.
But Portra 160 (shot at 100) works well for me, as long as you don't shoot any scenes of inherently high contrast.
I've also found that it initially scans quite contrasty, but judicious use of pre-scanning tools will tame it easily.

Thanks.

Did you mean VC or NC Portra?

[Francisco Disilvestro]

Thanks.

Did you mean VC or NC Portra?

There is just Portra 160 now.

[Tobias Key]

I bought some Fuji 160 5x4 just last month, it's called 160ns now not 's' but it is the same film as 160s. Available in 20 sheet boxes in 5x4 and 10x8 on the fujifilm uk website as we speak.

[Ari]

There is just Portra 160 now.

I was shooting older film, so mine was NC, but Francisco is correct.

[Nguss]

I have also used Ektar at 100. It is a little blue, so may benefit from a warming filter.

[Greg Blank]

Last Year I did a review of Ektar 100 for View Camera Magazine when it first came out. March April 2010 films compared to were Kodak VC160 and Fuji Pro 160C. For the Ektar Input histogram 71,1.47, 199 Output was 7-245. The Ektar was rated at 80 ASA. I would guess you could still obtain the complete article from View Camera.