Topic: Portra 400 @1600

[Indofunk]

A week or so ago, I discovered that pushed color looks great. So armed with that newfound knowledge, I intended to push some 400 film to 1600 and develop accordingly. But Peter mentioned that apparently Portra 400 can be exposed at 1600 and developed normally. I wanted to cal shenanigans, but since I just happened to have a roll of Portra 400 that Adam gave me, I decided to give it a whirl. I'll admit that I got nervous and added 30 seconds of dev time, but I definitely didn't keep it in there for 5 minutes like I did that roll of Gold.

Results? Amazing!! I do credit my EpsonScan software for its "auto adjustment" because the negs were a bit thin, but that along with a bit of Lightroom adjustment and we got some great shots. Here ya go.

[Indofunk]

Here's some Tri-X from the same show. Also shot at 1600, developed in HC110 1:100 for 1.5 hrs.

[Adam Doe]

Wow, those shots look hot!

[hookstrapped]

Wow! Looks great!!  Film does not stand still.

[Bryan]

They all look great Satish!  I just sent a roll of Cinestill 800T to the lab for a 2 stop push that I metered at 1,600.  If they come back anywhere near what you did I will be happy.

[Indofunk]

Full disclosure: There was a LOT of dust and speck removal in LR. I'm assuming that's because the epsonscan software boosted the exposure so much, even minor flaws turned into huge ugly specks. But luckily, the midtones being basically nonexistent, I was able to be very heavy-handed with the clone tool and you don't really notice it.

Next roll = Portra 400 @1600 without ANY pushing? 

[SLVR]

Im having some issues seeing the files linked from your website. I'll see if I can see at home.

[Ezzie]

Thanks Satish. Your experience explains why I like the colours in the shot below. Exposed a roll of Portra 400 at what I thought was EI 400. But as it turned out the lightmeter I got from Peter needed a slight calibration. It was one stop off (my fault for not checking), so the whole roll was most likely EI 800 or so. And this shot I managed to meter incorrectly, so is most likely EI 1600 or even worse.

The effect looks rather like E6 cross-processed (at least to my eye). This has been slightly desaturated in post.


Båstnäs untitled by Eirik Russell Roberts, on Flickr

[Indofunk]

Nice! This experiment has given me newfound respect for Portra. But if any old color film can be pushed, then there's no real reason to go with Portra just to avoid push-processing...

How did your EI800/1600 negatives look? Were they as thin as mine? I should take a reference picture to demonstrate what I mean.

[Ezzie]

Not bad, a bit thin. Certainly less punch than another Portra roll shot with the GA645, developed the same evening. The frame shown here was definitely on the thin side, saw it immediately when hanging up to dry.

[hookstrapped]

Nice! This experiment has given me newfound respect for Portra. But if any old color film can be pushed, then there's no real reason to go with Portra just to avoid push-processing...

The reason to avoid push-processing is higher quality negs --> The reason to go with Portra is higher quality negs.

[Indofunk]

The reason to avoid push-processing is higher quality negs

How do you figure?

Portra pushed ~.5 stop:


Les Vilains Chicots by Satish Indofunk, on Flickr

Gold pushed 2 stops:


diNMachine by Satish Indofunk, on Flickr

Colorplus, not pushed:


Cortland Alley by Satish Indofunk, on Flickr

I like the quality on all of them, and honestly couldn't really tell them apart in a blindfold test (ha ha ha). Unless you're talking about printing, in which case for the time being at least, I bow out. My intended audience is online

[hookstrapped]

Your 3-image test notwithstanding, in general...

Summary (Push Processing):
Push processing is not recommended as a means to increase photographic speed. Push processing produces contrast mismatches notably in the red and green sensitive layers ( red most) compared to the blue. This produces reddish- yellow highlights, and cyan- blue shadows. Push processing also produces significant increases in film granularity. Push processing combined with under exposure produces a net loss in photographic speed, higher contrast, smoky shadows, yellow highlights and grainy images, with possible slight losses in sharpness.

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/support/technical_information/processing_information/push.htm

The loss of color accuracy is not a big deal and the effects might enhance the music scenes you mostly shoot, but the increased graininess in theory could be a problem.  If not, keep on pushing

[Indofunk]

If not, keep on pushing

 

[SLVR]

I may end up giving this a shot at 1600 through the pentax. I'm curious to see how scans will look with the Nikon. Also I have been told to shoot portra 400 at 640 then push process to 800. Supposed to give punchier colors and a snappier contrast.

[Indofunk]

I may end up giving this a shot at 1600 through the pentax. I'm curious to see how scans will look with the Nikon. Also I have been told to shoot portra 400 at 640 then push process to 800. Supposed to give punchier colors and a snappier contrast.

NOT ACCORDING TO PETER.

(j/k )