I use it all the time, sometimes seems a little grainy when shot at 1600 in low light but still acceptable. Here is an example shot at 1000 with contax T.
Here is another one shot at 1600 contax IIa zeiss jena sonnar 85mm f2 (strange but the 1600 shot looks less grainy.)
I wanted some but couldn't get hold of any at short notice so I got Fuji Superia 1600 instead.
I'm not sure what the difference in technology is.
I imagined that I could take photos in very low light*, and was disappointed with the rough grain, although it does add some atmosphere on some photos on the roll.
* Dim street lights on a dark night, film rated at 1600, lens wide open f1.4, and exposure set to automatic.
[EDIT] The 'After Dark' album in my Gallery shows this slightly different film. All the outdoor photos were with the Superia 1600. The most successful is probably 'Market Tiles'. [/EDIT]
I'd probably shoot a lot more of it if I didn't have digital bodies & I could get it here in the U.S. more easily (e.g., from B&H). To my eyes it has finer grain than Superia 1600--not a huge difference, but noticeable--& better color in mixed lighting.
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Five a Second. Chicago's Bell & Howell Co. (cameras) announced that it would put on sale this fall the world's most expensive still camera. Its "Foton" will take five 35-mm. pictures a second, sell for $700. Bell & Howell, which has found that "families of both low and high incomes now spend over $550" for movie equipment, hopes to sell 20,000 Fotons a year.
Thanks Charlie and David. I wonder what the difference is between Superia 1600 and Natura 1600. It's all academic anyway because all I can get in Japan is Natura. I don't know of any other color 1600 so it is what I use for pubs and other low light photos.
steamer--I really like that second shot of yours. A little detailing in levels really puts emphasis on the monk, and I hope you don't mind me playing with the picture.
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vita brevis, ars longa portfolio blog
Thanks Erik, don't mind at all. I'm pretty much a photo shop know-nothing. Your take is more dynamic and dramatic, but the original is a little more subtle, I think they both work.