UPDATE: After messing around with Color Efx Pro 4from DxO's Nik Collection 3, I think my criticism and reaction to the SOOC JPEGs from my Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 5: Kodak Portra 400 test was "user error". I think the exposure compensation dial may have moved during my photo walk. That would certainly explain the washed-out look of the SOOC image. As a test, I used Fuji X RAW Studio to reprocess the images with Ritchie's Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation recipe and adjusted exposure compensation settings, and the results are much better. I think the photos were over-exposed by between EV +1/3 to +1. In the interest of transparency, I left the original blog post but included reprocessed images at the bottom of the post.
This blog entry is my fifth instalment for the Ritchie Roesch's Fujifilm inspired Film Simulation Challenge. For this challenge, I chose Ritchie's Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation recipe for X-Trans III sensors and went for an early morning walk around downtown Princeton. This recipe attempts to simulate the look of Kodak Portra 400 Professional ISO 400 film. I've never used the actual Kodak Portra 400 Professional ISO 400 film, but I like the SOOC JPEG images on Ritchie's web page and decided to give it a try.
I walked north on Nassau Street toward Hogie Haven. I shot using Kodak Portra 400 until I got to Shouse, then switched to Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation.
I shot RAW + JPEG and EV +2/3. The challenge is all about film simulation recipes and SOOC JPEGs, so I've included the best of the roll of 36. Many of the SOOC images have been cropped and edited for perspective correction only. Despite my best efforts with the built-in level of the Fujifilm X-T2 I tend to tilt.
What I learned from this experience is that while it's an ISO 160 film, Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation might not be the best for brightly lit scenes. The image of the woman walking toward me seems washed out, although this could be because I did not expose correctly. I think Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation might be best when shooting in the shade or shadows or on more overcast days.
Other entries in this challenge series.
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 1: Kodachrome II
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 2: Velvia
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 3: Tri-X Push
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 5: Kodak Portra 400
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 6: Kodak Portra 160
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 7: Fujicolor Pro 400H
- Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 8: Vintage Kodachrome

serving up foot-long hoagies since the early 1970s | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Physical distancing | Saturday 6 June 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

COVID spreader | Saturday 6 June 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

215 | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Lunch | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

upscale boutique | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Starbucks | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Oldest bicycle shop in the USA. | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

People in glass houses ... | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation Recipe

serving up foot-long hoagies since the early 1970s | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Physical distancing | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

214 | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Ladies lunch | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

upscale boutique | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Starbucks | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

Oldest bicycle shop in the USA. | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation

People in glass houses ... | Saturday 6 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR | Kodak Portra 160 Film Simulation
7 Comments
Khürt Williams
7th May 2022 at 11:05 AMLong time readers will know that I favour the film simulation recipes created by tireless photographer Ritchie Roesch. Ritchie churns out new recipes almost as often as it snows in Utah. I had become so used to using recipes that I was starting to forget how to use Adobe Lightroom’s Develop module. I would import the SOOC JPEG and RAW images, and after a few quick crop adjustments, the images were uploaded to my blog. Ritchie’s app, which he released last year, helped push this workflow along. The retro 35mm SLR design of the X-T3 cements the feeling that I am using a 35mm film camera.
However, I realised that film simulation recipes are not much different from the software presets that I used several years ago before I put effort into really learning Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. They are an easy dopamine hit, but eventually, I started to feel that this type of editing was too limiting. It is affecting my creativity and my ability to express myself.
Blooms at Belle Mead | Saturday 20 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | ISO 800 | Fujicolor Superia 800 Film Simulation
The film simulation recipes are helpful and practical for quick photographs; the kind of photographs I might make while doing my best to look like a street photographer when walking around a large city like Philadelphia or New York City, or when drinking American craft ale at a local brewery, or attending a family event. But for intentional photography, the kind of project where I plan out the where, when, and the how ahead of time, I want to be more in control of the final result. I want to focus (no pun intended) on composition and lighting with the intent to change the image in a certain way.
I don’t want to give up on film simulation recipes. I want to be more intentional about how I use them. Ritchie’s website offers so many recipes I am frequently overwhelmed with choices. He has so many recipes he built a mobile app to help patrons filter and arrange them. With only seven slots available on my X-T3, I would stress over which recipes to program into my XT-3. Then once I am on location, I would stress over whether the scene or subject would look better with Porta 160 or with Nostalgic Negative or the standard Provia. I would sometimes realise that a particular scene or subject could not be captured correctly in-camera using a film simulation recipe; some focused editing in Adobe Lightroom or advanced editing technique in Photoshop would be needed. I did not want to limit my photography to what could be accomplished with film simulation recipes.
24 April, 2022 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 R WR | ISO 80 | Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation
If I need to make snapshots for the spring and summer, I intend to use just two film simulation recipes; Portra 160 and Kodachrome 64. Ritchie provides a suggested ISO range for each recipe, but I intend to use the film simulation recipes at “box speed”. If I’m going to pretend that I am shooting 35mm film, I may as well go all the way. The lowest ISO on my X-T3 is 80, so the Kodakchrome 64 recipe will be used at that ISO. The native ISO of the X-T3 is 160 and is a perfect match for Portra 160 recipe. If I need to use a higher ISO or attempt more intentional photography, I will probably switch to the Provia or Eterna film simulations. The SOOC JPEG from the film simulation recipes will still be cropped as needed but will otherwise remain untouched in Adobe Lightroom.
I have already set my camera to record RAW only.
Here’s a list of websites with excellent film simulation recipes.
Website
Fuji X Weekly
Life Unintended
Ivan Cheam
Jamie Chance Travels
Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 5: Kodak Portra 400 on Island in the Net by Khürt Williams
27th November 2020 at 12:20 PM[…] Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 6: Kodak Portra 160 […]
Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 8 : Vintage Kodachrome on Island in the Net by Khürt Williams
3rd November 2020 at 10:30 AM[…] Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 6: Kodak Portra 160 […]
Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 7 : Fujicolor Pro 400H on Island in the Net by Khürt Williams
3rd November 2020 at 9:38 AM[…] Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 6: Kodak Portra 160 […]
Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 3: Tri-X Push by Khürt Williams on Island in the Net
26th June 2020 at 5:04 PM[…] Fujifilm Film Simulation Challenge Roll 6: Kodak Portra 160 […]
Ritchie Roesch
7th June 2020 at 4:37 PMThat's funny, I have the same problem with crooked pictures. The level helps, but even with it half my pictures tilt. Without it, you'd think I was leaning and not standing straight. Nice pictures, in this article, the Portra 400 article, and throughout your website!
Khürt Williams
8th June 2020 at 7:08 AMHi Ritchie, thanks for the compliment. Sometimes I wish I had a level inside my head.