The vast majority of the film that I shoot is Kodak Portra. It is one of the best 35mm film stocks out there.
In this Kodak Portra 800 review, I’ll explain to you how I use this film and in what situations you should load it into your camera.
Portra 800 is a very fast professional-quality film and the price reflects this but when you are looking to shoot a special occasion then this is the film for you!
Verdict: 4.5/5. The best color film you can put in a camera after dark, with skin tones no other 800 speed stock can touch. Best for: weddings, events, and city nights where flash would ruin the moment.
Low-Light Versatility
Natural Skin Tones and Fine Grain
Wide Exposure Latitude
Introducing Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Portra 800 is a color-negative film designed for professional-grade use. It makes an excellent addition to many film photographers’ gear bags as a low-light film and one that is surprisingly versatile.
The History of Kodak Portra 800
In 1998, Kodak released the Portra 160, 400, and 800. They provide a lineup of speed choices and balance options for film enthusiasts and professionals.
Portra 160 and 400 get the most attention due to perceived higher versatility. But even the low-light-focused 800 performs well in many conditions.
Since its introduction, Kodak has introduced upgraded versions of the Portra lineup. The brand stays committed to ongoing excellence.
Key Features of Kodak Portra 800
The Portra 800 is a high-speed color negative film. It is part of a rare segment of film classes with an 800 rating. As you can tell from the name, the Portra 800 has an ISO of 800. This high ISO rating helps capture quick-shutter images in low-light environments without a fuss.
It comes in 35 mm format with 36 exposures per roll. And is an excellent choice for portrait and fashion photography, but I was surprised by its performance in other uses.
The Technical Aspects of Kodak Portra 800
As you can likely relate, most film photographers understand that minute details can make a big difference. And that’s why I take my time to dive through the Portra 800’s specifications.
One thing to know from this Portra 800 review is that it still uses Kodak’s older emulsion technology. Portra 160 and 400 were updated with VISION3-derived film tech in 2010 and 2011, and the 800 never received the same refresh. Although we wish it had, the difference is minimal in practice.
Breaking Down the ISO of Kodak Portra 800
As an 800 ISO film, this Portra does well in challenging light situations where using a tripod or extended shutter speeds isn’t easy. It walks a tight-rope balancing act between ISO and speed that is hard to match.
Kodak Portra 800: Grain and Color Reproduction Analysis
While the 800 won’t have the extremely-fine grain of the 160, it still offers very-fine grain that doesn’t distract from the result. Compared to other low-light films, I was amazed by the Portra 800’s grain.
Although this film can produce some grain in the unfocused areas of the shots, the results with the Portra 800 are clean. Of course, when you enlarge the photos to the extreme, these little details become more visible.
The saturation of the Portra 800 is supposed to be well-balanced, which I found to be true. Once again, I expected a noticeably worse saturation against the Portra 400, but that wasn’t the case.