Ultramax, Cinestill & Ektar
So after using 2 rolls of Kodak Gold 200, and some Ilford HP5, I decided to try out three other film stocks: Kodak Ultra Max 400, Cinestill 800T, and Ektar 100. Each of these films has a unique character and personality, I was excited to see how they’d perform on the Leica M6 (any performance based issues here definitely won’t be down to the camera). This post will walk you through my experiences and lessons learned, as I try to find the best film stock for use on a regular basis.
In my last post I mentioned that I was going to start recording the exposure triangle for the shots I’m taking, this has really helped me understand what works best when shooting film.
All photo’s here have been developed by Analogue Wonderland.
Kodak Ultra Max 400: Everyday Versatility
First Impressions:
I’ve found from using these rolls that ISO 400 is the easiest to work with in terms of it being viable in “most” lighting situations. These rolls of film have been used across multiple days, and in different scenarios, so having a film stock that performs across the board made the Ultra Max the easiest of the three to use.
Performance and Results:
After using Kodak Gold I was worried that this might feel oversaturated for my tastes, but the photos have a nicely balanced colour reproduction and don’t feel over done. The tones are slightly warm, but natural, giving a pleasing aesthetic. The film also offered solid contrast and harmony between shadows and highlights, making my images pop without looking overly processed.
We're Closed: 1/250th - f11
In terms of grain, Ultra Max 400 has a noticeable but pleasing texture that added character without overwhelming the image. This gave the photos a nostalgic feel, hence the below shot working quite well despite the subject being rather bland.
Blue Tractor:
1/250th - f11
Fern:
1/60th - f10
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Affordable, versatile across lighting conditions, forgiving for beginners, and great for daily photography.
Cons: Not as sharp or fine-grained as more professional films, can lack some punch in colour compared to Ektar 100.
Cinestill 800T: For Moody Nights
First Impressions:
Cinestill 800T had me most excited. This tungsten-balanced film is famous for its cinematic aesthetic, particularly in low-light situations. I had obviously planned to use this to capture neon signs. What drew me to Cinestill 800T was its ability to render artificial light with its unique halation effect, that creates an ethereal glow around bright lights.
Performance and Results:
I found this a little harder to shoot and it took me over a month to work my way through the 36 shots on the roll. The colours were deep and rich, particularly in the blue and green tones the contrast was fantastic, which comes across well in the shot below from Canterbury.
Under the Overpass: 1/250th - f7.1
Cinestill 800T excels in creating an atmospheric look, I’d specifically got the stock to test out shots of neon signs, (I was hoping to get a petrol station too but didn't manage that on this roll). I’m fairly pleased with how the shot below has turned out, however was expecting to see slightly more halation. Something to experiment more with next time!
Composing a photo without looking at what’s going on in it:
1/250th f5.6
Climbing - there’s some halation:
1/125th f2.5
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Incredible for low-light, cinematic colours, and halation creates a distinctive look.
Cons: Limited usability in daylight, the halation effect can be hit or miss depending on the scene.
Ektar 100: Vibrant and Sharp
First Impressions:
Kodak Ektar 100 is known for its incredibly fine grain and vibrant colours, perfect for landscapes and travel photography, both of which I enjoy, so I was hoping i’d really hit it off with this stock. My M6 has taken a tumble, and after missing the chance to take it to Italy, I decided to pick up some Ektar while collecting it from repair—perfect to test everything was well!
Performance and Results:
This film is associated with working best in bright conditions, rendering contrast in shadows, and highlights beautifully. I shot this roll of film in just three days and running through the 36 photographs without having the best conditions has meant I haven’t made the most of where Ektar excels, but learned a lot…
Bad Photography:
1/250th f5.6
The main challenge I encountered was shooting in low light, I went out hoping to catch some nice woodland shots, however there wasn’t enough light to allow me to do this effectively. Since Ektar 100 is a slower film, it’s not ideal for indoor or dim settings unless you have a tripod or shoot wide open (my quickest lens is only f2.5). Yet when the light is right I can see this film producing sharp and vibrant images. I think I need to come back to this one, but have a stronger plan on how and when to use it, this definitely felt like the most “situational” stock out of the three.
Cow:
1/250th f11
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Extremely vibrant colour, very fine grain, perfect for daylight and landscape photography.
Cons: Limited to bright lighting, not as forgiving in lower-light conditions.
Conclusion:
Using Kodak Ultra Max 400, Cinestill 800T, and Ektar 100 with my Leica M6 has been a great educational experience for someone who has primarily used digital camera for the last 15 years. Each of these films has its strengths, with their own individual character.
Ultramax 400 - for me, this feels like a good all round stock for any setting, it's also a hell of a lot cheaper (in 2024) than the other two. I’m not sure i’d rush back to using this over Kodak Gold 200.
Cinestill 800T - My favourite shot out of the three was on Cinestill, and because of how versatile I found having 800 ISO on hand, I definitely want to shoot more of this. It’s more of a challenge than Ultramax in daylight, but having the ability to shoot low lit scenarios was a big plus.
Ektar 100 - This was my least preferred of the three, I found it frustrating in situations I thought it would do well in, but will try this stock again, specifically for landscape scenes with my tripod for the full 36 shots. This roll has helped remind me why I called this website Bad Photography ;-)
If you’re looking to explore film photography, I’d recommend giving each of these stocks a try. They all have their own quirks and characteristics, but that’s part of the charm of film. Next on the list is going to be some Portra 400.
Happy shooting all!
I hope your photos aren’t as bad as mine.
