Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135 USA
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.
- 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
| 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 |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 31 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
93%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Reliable (15)
- Easy to use (9)
- Accurate (6)
- Consistent (6)
- Good tonal range (6)
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits (12)
- Travel (9)
- Landscape photography (5)
- Artwork (4)
- Home (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (8), Professional (6), Semi-professional (6), Pro photographer (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (30)
- 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 :-)
Reviewed by 31 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Outstanding color
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is my go-to color negative film...
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Business and Formal
- Fine grain
- Reliable
- Weddings
Cons
- Cold feel
- Washed out color
Best Uses
- Home
- Portraits
- Weddings
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Clearly designed for weddings- film slants heavily towards vibrant whites in the highlights (for the wedding dress) and generally has a clean, inoffensive feel to it.
I do not reccomend it for anything but formal portraiture, colors are washed out and lack any punch. I prefer the much cheaper Kodak Gold for people photos; skin tones are much warmer and more personal.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I shoot Portra 160 Color Film with my old M-6 Cameras and love the color saturation I get. I then scan the film into my computer giving me a more natural look compared to digital photography. The grain is tight and contrast is normal to high. The only problem is finding a C-41 processor who won't muck up the quality.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
If you shoot film, you know Portra is the most premier stock you can get. For me personally and professionally, you can't go wrong with the tones 160/400 can produce. As advertised, for portraits, 160 is ideal in all lighting situations: Bright sun, back lit, in-studio, etc. Soft & natural, really soft in cloudy conditions too..yet colors stay bold.
Just side note too, for low light, pushing 400 one stop yields amazing results.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
- Recommended:
- Nikon F6
Pros
- Amazing latitude
- Color accuracy
- Gorgeous grain
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Architectural
- Black white conversion
- Landscape Photography
- Macro Photography
- Nature
- Portraits
- Scanning
- Studio
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
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)
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Daniel
Fire Escape
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Everything it is cracked up to be. Great colors and latitude, a pleasing grain pattern. There is a reason why pro film shooters use Portra when shooting color. I recommend this film.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Andrew
Portra 160 in shade
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
In 135 this stuff is great. Beautiful colors, rich depth. No nuclear saturation problems like in the larger formats, this stuff is a nice blend of VC and NC.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Skin tones Grain
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Yes, Kodak went bankrupt. But, they Film R&D still can deliver miracles and Portra 160 is one of them. I love Ektar 100, this is my primary negative film but for people - sometimes, it's too much. Potra? Lower saturation, not much - just right, Grain - little bit bigger and slightly different but not intrusive. Skin tones - perfect! I love it. With right make up, everything looks less punchy compare to Ektar (as expected) and more pleasant. Scans easily no issues at all. Try it! Surprise yourself.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Portraits
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Best 35mm film type out there these days.
Slick grain.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Portra 160 is perfect stock for me. The ISO is perfect for crisp, grainless pictures (though kodak can achieve this even with their 800) and the colors and contrast render life with a perfect balance between realism and "the film look."
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Everyday use
- Home
- Portraits
- Traveling
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
The pictures came out beautifully-- great color!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Landscape Photography
- Portraits
- Studio
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is for serious photographers, other films are very contrast-y and over saturate the colors. This film doesn't, it gives you exactly what you want every time and is extremely consistent giving you all the control in the darkroom. This stuff however does need to be a bit over exposed. Color film does not respond well to underexposed shots, I recommend pulling the film, so rate the camera/light meter to ISO 100 and that gives me consistent results
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Accurate
- Consistent
- Good Tonal Range
- Reproduces Well
- Scans Well
Cons
- Scarcity
Best Uses
- Action Shots
- Artwork
- Photojournalism
- Sports Photography
- Travel
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Never die, Kodak!
There aren't many bad things to be said about Kodak portra except the fact that they've been forced to consolidate production to a single line. :(
People, this is history you're purchasing. As we've been told before, Just Do It!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is the best film for portraits. I use two 50 mm lenses (Rokkor and Canon) and the color rendition is great! It scans very well. I hope Kodak does not stop producing this film.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Reliable Performance
Cons
- Capability Issues
Best Uses
- Storing images/multimedia
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
This is slightly better than pro160.
NO question it is my first choice!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Great Value
- Large Capacity
- Reliable Performance
- Writes/Reads fast
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Portable images/multimedia
- Storing images/multimedia
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
awesome
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable Performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Storing images/multimedia
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
I started using this film for family events last year. The fine grain and natural colors make it ideal for display and enlargements.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Reliable Performance
Cons
- Only available as 36 exp
Best Uses
- Landscapes Floral
- Portraits
Comments about Kodak Portra 160 Color Film / 135:
Excellent flesh tones and color balance. Over 10 years, I have not changed my folter pack for printing
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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