Comparison of 19 Fuji and Kodak Unhypered Color Negative Films

The Top 5 Unhypered Fuji and Kodak Color Negative Films
(Tested With a Two Minute Exposure)
FILM FILM CODEISO2 MIN F/STOP LOSSP FACTORCOLOR SHIFT 2 MINUTE ISOCOMMENTS
Fuji Superia X-traCZ 800 1/20.93Brown600 1st best col neg film
Kodak PJ-400 PJ-4004002/30.90Yellow 2662nd best col neg film
Kodak PPF-2 PPF-24002/30.90Moderate yellow 2663rd best col neg film
Kodak PMZ PMZ10001/20.93None 7504th best col neg film
Kodak Royal Gold 1000 RF100010.86Moderate Blue 5005th best col neg film

The 2 MIN F/STOP LOSS refers to how much sensitivity in F/stops the film lost in a comparison of a normally illuminated 1/8th sec exposure compared to a 128 second exposure at the same illumination level taken through a 1000X (10 F/stop ND 3.0) neutral density filter. (These two exposures are theoretically equal.)

The P FACTOR is the film's Swartzchild exponent used for measuring reciprocity law failure with the formula P=1-(s/7) where "s" is the speed loss in F/stops over a given exposure length.

The 2 MIN ISO is the film's AVERAGE ISO speed over a two minute exposure, accounting for reciprocity law failure, and rounding to the nearest 1/3 F/stop.

The Fuji Superia films were chosen as the best unhypered color negative films because of their outstanding red sensitivity and very low reciprocity law failure. The Superia films are also widely available at common retail outlets while professional films like PJ400, PJC, and PMZ are only available though specialized camera stores.

NOTE:These film preference recomendations are simply MY OWN opinion based on the limited and somewhat unscientific comparison described here. They are listed only as a suggestion of which films may be worth further star testing with an individual's particular astrophotographic setup.

*** To see these images at their best, adjust your monitor to distinctly show all the gray steps in this step wedge. ***
Step wedge courtesy of Chuck Vaughn

Blue, Green, and Red response For Fuji and Kodak Color Negative Films

Blue = 470 nanometers, Green = generic LED, Top red = 650 nanometers, Bottom red = 660 nanometers

19 Color Negative Films

These images were taken in a light-proof box which allowed me to expose a white test target illuminated by blue, green, and red LEDs. Each color's target was partitioned from the adjacent color and ruled at one-inch intervals. The LEDs illuminated the target from the left side and the degree of film sensitivity in each color can be compared by reading the faintest scale visible. All exposures were two minutes at f/2.8 taken with a Nikon F and a 50 mm f/1.4 Nikor lens. All films were developed in the same developer according to manufacturer's specifications. The images were scanned with an HP PhotoSmart scanner. This scanner works well for most applications, but it really hates large black areas on color slides, so the background on some images way be mushy.

NOTE: These images can only be used for comparing one film against another. The LED brightness is not calibrated and the target scale divisions do not represent hard numerical data about any specific film.

A note about Kodak Portra film:

Kodak regained much of its stature as an astronomical film supplier with the release of its PPF emulsion several years ago. Now, Kodak is discontinuing the production of PPF in favor of its replacement film, Portra 400. This new film comes in two varieties, Portra NC (natural color), and Portra VC (vivid color). I have not tested Kodak Portra films for their astronomical suitability because overwhelming anecdotal evidence shows these films, even the VC version, are failures for astronomical purposes. Several very well respected astrophotographers have tried unhypered Portra VC and discovered the film has very little red sensitivity in the H-Alpha region of the spectrum. Spectral sensitivity curves for this film provided on the Kodak web site support this anecdotal evidence. The film displays a marked dip in sensitivity at the important 656 nm wavelength. I invite others to try Portra on green and blue targets, such as planetary nebulae and galaxys, but I recomend the film be avoided for emission nebulae.

Comparison of All 19 Unhypered Fuji and Kodak Color Negative Films
(Tested With a Two Minute Exposure)
FILM FILM CODEISO2 MIN F/STOP LOSSP FACTORCOLOR SHIFT 2 MINUTE ISOCOMMENTS
Kodak Royal Gold 25 RZ 251/30.95Slight red 21Not recomended
Fuji Super G+ 100 CN 1001/30.95 Moderate yellow83Acceptable
Fuji Superia 100 CN 10001.0 Slight yellow100Acceptable
Kodak Royal Gold 100 RA 1002/30.90 yellow-green67Acceptible
Fuji Super G+ 200 CA 2002/30.90 Slight green133Acceptable
Fuji Superia 200 CA 20001.0 Slight yellow200Acceptable
Kodak Royal Gold 200 RB 2001/30.95 Slight green167Acceptable
Fuji Super G+ 400 CH 4001 1/60.83 Slight yellow183Acceptable
Fuji Superia 400 CH 4001/30.95 Slight brown333Acceptable
Kodak Ektapress PJ400 PJ400 4002/30.90 Yellow2662nd Best Film
Kodak PPF-2 PPF-2 4002/30.90 Moderate yellow2663rd Best Film
Kodak Royal Gold 400 RC 40010.86 Slight yellow200Acceptable
Fuji Super G+ 800 CZ 80010.86 Slight yellow400Acceptable
Fuji Superia X-tra CZ 8001/20.93 Brown600Best Film
Kodak Gold Max GT 80020.71 Slight yellow200Acceptable
Kodak PMZ PMZ 10001/20.93None7504th Best Film
Kodak Royal Gold 1000 RF 100010.86 Moderate blue5005th Best Film
Fuji HG 1600 CU 160010.86 Yellow800Acceptable
Kodak Ektapress PJC-1 PJC 160010.86 None800Recommended

Unhypered Fuji and Kodak Color Negative Films Compared by Characteristic
(Best at the Top, Ranked in Descending Order)
RANKINITIAL ISO 2 MIN ISO2 MIN F/STOP LOSSRED SENSITIVITY GREEN SENSITIVITYBLUE SENSITIVITY
1PJC-1 PJC-1Superia 200Superia X-traSuperia 400 PMZ
2HG1600 HG1600Superia 100Super G+ 800Super G+ 800 PJC-1
3PMZ PMZSuperia 400Gold Max 800Royal Gold 1000
4Royal Gold 1000 Superia X-traRoyal Gold 200Royal Gold 200Superia X-tra Super G+ 800
5Super G+ 800Royal Gold 1000 Superia 100PPF-2PMZPPF-2
6Gold Max 800 Super G+ 800Royal Gold 25PJ 400PJC Super G+ 400
7Superia X-tra Superia 400PMZRoyal Gold 400Royal Gold 1000 PJ 400
8Royal Gold 400 PPF-2Superia X-traSuper G+ 400PPF-2 Royal Gold 400
9Super G+ 400 PJ 400PPFSuper G+ 200PJ 400 Super G+ 200
10PJ 400 Gold Max 800PJ 400Royal Gold 100Superia 200 Superia 100
11PPF-2 Royal Gold 400Superia 200Super G+ 100Royal Gold 400 Superia 200
12Superia 400Superia 200Royal Gold 100PMZSuper G+ 400 Superia 400
13Royal Gold 200 Super G+ 400PJC-1PJC-1Super G+ 200 Super G+ 100
14Super G+ 200 Royal Gold 200HG 1600Royal Gold 1000Royal Gold 200 HG 1600
15Superia 200 Super G+ 200Royal Gold 1000HG 1600Superia 400 Gold Max 800
16Royal Gold 100Superia 100Super G+ 800Superia 400HG 1600 Super G+ 100
17Super G+ 100 Super G+ 100Royal Gold 400Superia 100Royal Gold 100 Royal Gold 100
18Superia 100 Royal Gold 100Super G+ 400Superia 200Super G+ 100 Superia X-tra
19Royal Gold 25 Royal Gold 25Gold Max 800Royal Gold 25Royal Gold 25 Royal Gold 25

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