Kodak Portra 160 Film Review

Here is our Kodak Portra 160 Film Review. We shot a roll of Portra 160 in our Hasselblad XPan. So, have a look at our film test and see what you think.

Having shot a roll of medium format in our previous Kodak Portra 160 Film Review, we thought it was time to give it a go in 35mm. So, we put a roll of Kodak Portra 160 in our Hasselblad XPan and took it out around London.

Kodak’s Portra films need little introduction. They are the most popular films on the market today and a favourite choice for many film photographers. So we knew what to expect – soft, warm and natural-looking tones with extremely fine grain – and we weren’t disappointed.

On this occasion, the photos had a lovely softness to them, which was surprisingly different from the more contrasty results we had got when shooting it on medium format. The diffused nature of the light when shooting this roll gave the images a more muted palette, compared to the vivid colours of the 120 when shot in strong, direct sunlight.

Some people find the 160 ISO limiting in certain light conditions, but we found it okay for daylight shooting outdoors. Plus, it does give you excellent grain. So even though this roll was 35mm, every image has the fine grain quality you would want from a professional film.

While Portra 160 might not be quite as versatile as its 400 ISO sibling, it is slightly cheaper and it’s certainly its equal when it comes to quality. We would certainly recommend picking up a roll of Portra 160 next time you need a high-quality colour film.

Film: Kodak Portra 160
Format: 35mm
Rated at: 160 ISO
Shot on: Hasselblad XPan
Location: London
Developed and Scanned: Photofusion

We review the most popular films in the shop, as well as some new and lesser-known ones to see how they compare. Have a look at the full list of our Film Reviews.

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