Second Kodak Portra 400 Film Review

Here is our second Kodak Portra 400 Film Review. We shot a roll on our Olympus mju-II. So, have a look at our film test and see what you think.

There is no doubt about it, Kodak Portra is the most popular film on the market these days. Portra 400, in particular, is a favourite choice for a huge amount of film photographers. We really liked the results from our first Kodak Portra 400 Film Review (you can see that one here). So, we decided it was time to load up another roll. This time we put a roll of 35mm into our Olympus mju-II and went for a walk around sunny Margate.

Box Speed

Last time we reviewed Portra 400, we tried the popular technique of overexposing colour negative film to desaturate the colours. This time, we decided to shoot at the box speed to see how it compares. It really paid off, we were rewarded with a range of glorious blue and rich creamy white tones. It is well worth shooting Portra at its correct ISO to get this wonderful saturation.

Once again, the professional pedigree of the film shone through. We got excellent detail in both the shadows and highlights. It held up superbly, even when faced with tricky situations that include bright highlights and dark shadows. While the classic soft, warm quality you expect from a Kodak film was there in abundance.

It is easy to see why so many photographers have come to rely on Kodak Portra 400 as their go-to film stock. It is highly reliable, delivering excellent image quality in a range of conditions. Plus, it is packed with the nostalgic tones that make film unique. If you haven’t yet tried shooting Portra 400, you should.

Film: Kodak Portra 400
Format: 35mm
Rated at: 400 ISO
Shot on: Olympus mju-II
Location: Margate, Kent
Developed and Scanned: Photofusion

You might also be interested in This Is How You Shoot Portra 400 which features photos taken by our community. Use the hashtag #parallaxshootskodakportra400 on Instagram to get involved.

We review the most popular films in the shop and 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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