Kodak Ektar 100

Kodak's most saturated color negative film. Extremely fine grain. Vivid reds and blues. It rewards good light and careful metering and shows it when you get either one wrong.

Where I have shot it

Plaza de España in Sevilla. A quiet morning on the Camino. Bright Spanish light both times. Ektar is built for exactly that and it shows.

How it behaves

Meter carefully. It does not forgive overexposure the way Portra does. Skin tones can go red in the wrong light, though I shoot people on it plenty and it usually behaves. In hard sun on stone and tile it is hard to beat. The color does the work so I do not have to.

Questions people ask

Is Ektar 100 good for portraits?

People say no, because skin tones can go red in the wrong light. In practice I shoot people on it a lot. In decent light, metered right, it looks good. If the light is mixed and you want the safe option, that is what Portra is for.

Can you shoot Ektar 100 in low light?

It is a 100-speed film with very little latitude. It wants bright light and careful metering. For low light, get a faster stock.

Ektar 100 or Portra 400?

Ektar for saturated color in good light. Portra 400 for people, mixed light, and forgiveness.