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Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135 USA
- Price: $5.99
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- In Stock
- B&H # KOP16036
Product Highlights
- Sharp Imaging and Fine Grain
- Smooth, Natural Colors / Skin Tones
- Enhanced Scanning Performance
- KODAK VISION Film Technology
- T-Grain Technology: Great Reproduction
- Advanced Development Accelerators
- Great for Portraits, Fashion, Commercial
The Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135 is a color negative film great for portraits, fashion and commercial shoots. The film delivers superb performance both on-location and in a studio setting. Advanced emulsion technology provides sharp imaging, beautiful neutral skin tones and a finer grain than ever, making for excellent scanned color reproductions. Get great shots with this film, even in challenging light. Targeted Advanced Development Accelerators speed up the film development process. The film will yield 36 exposures.
- Entertainment Imaging's KODAK VISION Film Technology provides improved grain that is ideal for scanning.
- Kodak's Advanced Cubic Emulsions offer superior enlargement capability from a 35mm negative; this technology and Kodak's proprietary DIR Couplers work together to optimize image sharpness and provide distinct edges and fine detail.
- Micro-Structure Optimized T-Grain Emulsions deliver finer grain than ever before; Optimized Emulsion Spectral Sensitivity and Image Modifier Chemistry produce beautiful neutral skin tones; all three features work together to create high-quality color reproductions.
- Kodak's proprietary Targeted Advanced Development Accelerators speed up the film development process.
- The film will yield 36 exposures.
| Type | 135 mm color negative film |
| Application | Candid / posed portraits, fashion, commercial, indoor / outdoor, studio / location |
| Speed |
Daylight or Electronic Flash: ISO 160 Photo lamp (3400 K): 50 Tungsten (3200 K): 40 |
| Shutter Speed |
For average front-lit subjects from 2 hours after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset: Bright / hazy sun on light sand / snow: 1/125s Bright / hazy sun (distinct shadows): 1/125s Weak, hazy sun (soft shadows): 1/125s Cloudy bright (no shadows): 1/125s Heavy overcast / open shade: 1/125s |
| Lens Opening |
For average front-lit subjects from 2 hours after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset: Bright / hazy sun on light sand / snow: f/16 Bright / hazy sun (distinct shadows): f/11 - use f/5.6 for backlit close-up subjects Weak, hazy sun (soft shadows): f/8 Cloudy bright (no shadows): f/5.6 Heavy overcast / open shade: f/4 |
| Filters |
Type of fluorescent lamp: Color compensation filter / exposure adjustment Daylight: 20R + 5M / +1 stop White: 40B + 5C / + 1 2/3 stop Warm White: 40B + 40C / +2 stops Warm White Deluxe: 40B + 50C / +2 stops Cool White: 30B / +1 stop Cool White Deluxe: 40C + 10M / +1 stop Exposure times: 1/60s or longer Type of High-Intensity Discharge lamp: Color compensation filter / exposure adjustment High-Pressure Sodium Vapor: 50B + 70C / + 2 2/3 stops Metal Halide: 5C + 10M / + 2/3 stop Mercury Vapor with Phosphor: 30B + 5C / + 1 stop Mercury Vapor without Phosphor: 80R / + 1 2/3 stop Exposure times: 1/125s or longer |
| Storage |
Film: Maximum Temperature: 70° F (21° C) Optimal Temperature: 55°F (13° C) Negatives: Temperature: 35-55 °F (2-13° C) Humidity: 30-35% |
| Process | C - 41 |
| Printing | Optimized for KODAK PROFESSIONAL SUPRA ENDURA VC Digital and ULTRAENDURA High Definition Papers |
| Scanning | Various linear-array-CCD, area-array-CCD, and PMT film scanners |
| Number of Exposures | 36 exposures |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 54 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Reliable (27)
- Easy to use (12)
- Good tonal range (11)
- Accurate (10)
- Consistent (10)
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits (27)
- Travel (15)
- Studio (9)
- Landscape photography (8)
- Home (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Professional (14), Enthusiast (12), Semi-professional (10), Photo enthusiast (5), Pro photographer (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (52)
- Primary use:
- Personal (8)
Most Liked Positive Review
This product is why I still shoot film
I'm in love with this film. Just recently, I've resurrected my old film cameras, as well as buying a few vintage rangefinders, and this has quickly become my film of choice. I process...Read complete review
I'm in love with this film. Just recently, I've resurrected my old film cameras, as well as buying a few vintage rangefinders, and this has quickly become my film of choice. I process at home using the Tetenal C41 Press Kit, and as long as I maintain fresh chemicals and good temperatures, the results are fantastic.
Often, I'm unsure if I want my final image to be color or black and white, so shooting Portra allows me the freedom to capture a scannable image that can end up however I want it to be. This film seems to yield the best results slightly overexposed, I usually shoot it at 100-125ASA, and it holds highlight detail better than any color film I've ever used.
I love conversion to black and white with this film, because you can always manipulate the colors, shadows/highlights, and saturation, BEFORE converting to black and white. Sure beats carrying around a bag full of filters!
Example below...
1971 Minolta Hi-Matic E Rangefinder
Fully Auto Exposure
40mm f1.7 lens
Kodak new Portra 160 (converted to black and white)
Sepia and border effect in Aviary (Flickr Editor)
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Digital Printing Only Review
I have not tried darkroom printing this film in years, so if you are using "wet" printing, ignore this review!
Setup:
Chemistry; Tetnal "C-41&qu...Read complete review
I have not tried darkroom printing this film in years, so if you are using "wet" printing, ignore this review!
Setup:
Chemistry; Tetnal "C-41" kit, fanatically prepared
and executed.
Scanner; Nikon LS-2000, LS-8000
Scan Software; VueScan on amd64 Linux platform
Cropping, color balance, in VueScan, max resolution,
double-scan to uncompressed tiff files.
Final Editing; Gimp and CinePaint (Gimp truncates
color to bits/plane, CinePaint (old Gimp turned
16bits/channel)
Printer Driver; Gutenprint 2.5.7
Printer; Epson 1900
Printer Calibration; Using a Synthetic iT8/7
calibrated to within 0.02OD
Densitometry: Macbeth RD-219, Confirmed on Macbeth
RD-400, both calibrated all the way to Dmax=2.5++
Observations:
* It is trivial to achieve beautiful skintone on a
flat screen display, but printing (which is capable
of Dmax-2.9 and better) produces results that remind
me of sloppy C-22 internegative from a lousy E-3
Extachrome slide.
* Color is dead, greyish, and prone to red-cyan and
magenta-green crossover.
* Skintone is very finiky; if corrected so than person
A is lookin g healthy, person B will look as if
coming from a morgue drawer. Correct for person B,
and person A looks roasted.
* Tone down contrast and/or saturation, even very
slightly will throw the whole image flat.
* If sensitometric curve is bent to brighten shadows,
the entire elbow region goes brownish red.
* Greens are difficult to tune but once they are in
dead-heat, they are beautiful.
* Golds and Oranges are beautiful.
* Reds are easy too (the 1900 has dedicated Orange and
Red inks)
Overall, the film really hates to be printed digitally.
I have seen results from "wet" printing and they look very good (either optically/analog, or scanned onto Kodak or Fuji paper).
As a comparison, I shot parallel rolls on Portra 160 and
on Vision2 and Vision3, processed in ECN-2, or even in the same Tetnal "C-41" and the results are outstandingly
better with the Vision films (I tried 250D, 500T, both in V2 and in V3, and they all are beautiful in my hybrid setup. Portra 160 is definitely not in the same league.
Not even close.
Speculation: It seems that the Vision films are really designed for RGB scanning/printing. Perhaps the Portra 160 is tuned for the old analog process?
Note: I never tried the Vision films in a traditional darkroom.
Disclaimer: This report is based on very limited data and very incomplete test procedures. It is entirely possible that I simply lack the knowledge/experience/talent needed for the hybrid setup to produce acceptable results in my hybrid workflow.
I will entertain non-flaming, polite, constructive feedback, but my days of flaming wars are long gone :-)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 54 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Good Tonal Range
- Scans Well
Cons
Best Uses
- Photojournalism
- Travel
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Excellent color tones. Use it with a Canon EOS 3 and a Nikon FM2.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Good Tonal Range
Cons
Best Uses
- Travel
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Great film. Even good for landscape photography for those of us who still use film.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Similar:
- Kodak Ektra
Pros
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Good Tonal Range
- Reproduces Well
- Scans Well
- Widely Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
- Action Shots
- Artwork
- Home
- Travel
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is the most genuine reproduction of skin tone since Kodachrome!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Good Tonal Range
- Reproduces Well
- Scans Well
- Widely Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
exacty what i expected
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Good Tonal Range
- Reproduces Well
- Widely Compatible
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is, to my understanding, the best color film that exists. Whether you buy this type, the ISO 160, or even ISO 400, the colors are so authentic and real that if you are shooting in the light that you want, it will pay off when you get your negatives back. I have never seen film that comes back looking so true to what it looked like inside the lens. Also, since it is so true to real tones and colors, it is easily manipulable in programs like Lightroom or Photoshop.
Best color film out there.
Pros
- Amazing Color Depth
- Awesome quality
- Beautiful Skin Tones
- Exceptional Color Range
- Smooth Grain
- Stunning Portraits
- Worth every penny
Cons
- Not widely available
Best Uses
- Colorful Shoots
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I love this film! I use it a lot in my old 35mm. Truth be told with a good lens and this film my 35mm shoots as well as my Nikon D800. The bonus is that the depth of colors is WAY better with film. The other thing that rocks about this film is the smoothness. It isn't grainy in the least! Try it for your next portrait session you will love it!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Best Film for Portraits.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Have used portra 160 many years in all formats
120 135 and 4x5
Always amazing true and not exaggerated color.
Useful to know is that it is excellent for scanning.
You will produce some amazing images with portra 160.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Great color
- Reliable
Cons
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Always prefer Kodak portra. Great quality in terms of color and grain. Always happy with results and always prefer over Fuji.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Great for portraits. It's what i use on my Contax T2.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Film with very fine grain. Color are very true, perfect film for portraits
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Unbelievable Colors
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
For portraits, you cannot go wrong with the Portra 160. The colors are unbelievably vibrant and flattering to subjects. So long as you shoot in good light, you can't make a bad shot.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Although I haven't yet had a chance to get this particular roll of Portra 160 Color film developed, I know from past experience that it is a superlative product.
This is why I purchased it from B&H. And if I quite intentionally purchased it from B&H, it's because I have every faith that B&H doesn't sell shoddy or outdated products of ANY kind!
Russell
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Russell
Cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC
Images shared by Russell
Backyard pond in Brooklyn, NY
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
If you're like me, a broke college student who can't afford to upgrade to full frame just yet, then shooting and scanning color negs is a great alternative. For me, portra has resulted in richly colored and crisp images. Highly recommend for those who don't mind a little mystery and the extra step in their workflow.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
It took me a while to appreciate the subtle colors in this film. Best for portraits, not perhaps what I would choose for flowers.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I haven't had a chance to process this film yet, but I recently shot some Portra 800 and loved it. I am very much looking forward to taking a look at this film.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This film does have lovely, nearly invisible grain, and it is not too contrasty. I found it a bit cool for my taste except in the golden hour.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I got always very good shots of people with dark skin. Any portraitists can trust this colour roll film
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fine grain
- Reliable
- Scannability
Cons
Best Uses
- Flash
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This film is wonderful--it (along with Fuji Acros for B&W) caused me to sell my digital SLR and move (back) to my Pentax LX. Wonderful skin tones, amazingly fine grain, great scanning performance.I develop it either with the Tetenal Press Kit or using a lab, either way the results are wonderful. It handles mixed lighting very well; tungsten mixed with flash is no problem. You can always get detail back. I've exposed it at 400 (both by accident by forgetting to change ISO on my meter, and on purpose to test the results) with and without push processing and got good results. This film can handle it.I have not tried optical printing yet, but the results from scanning and digital printing are stellar. RA-4 is a little more advanced than I'm willing to take on when the results from scanning are so good.Only flaw? It's a fairly slow film; best used in daylight or with strobes. I like that because it allows me to control my lighting, plus I get very fine grain with slower film. Even with digital I rarely went higher than ISO 400. If you need faster film, look at Portra 400 which is very similar to 160 in terms of color reproduction, and while the grain is a bit more noticeable it's nothing like most other 400 speed films.And yes, this film is a C-41 standard process film, so in theory you can get it processed at a local drug store. I've never had good luck with my local drug stores processing (I'd rather scratch my negatives myself), but if yours is good this is a huge bonus. A CD and prints in about an hour for about $15. How much Portra 160 can I shoot before it's cheaper to buy a Digital SLR again, and play the endless upgrade game?I am very happy with Portra 160 and my manual focus 35mm SLR.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Everyday use
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I am a documentary photography, and for color work in the sun, there is nothing better. The dynamic range you get with this film blows my digital equipment out of the water. A shame the price keeps creeping up...
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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