Fuji Natura 1600 samples

sockeyed · 09-19-2008

I recently picked up three rolls of Fuji Natura 1600, a colour neg film available only in Japan, from the Megaperls webshop. I shot a roll on the weekend at a night market and at a friend's wedding. First impressions are very good for such a fast film: grain is controlled and attractive, and colours are natural. This would be a fantastic go-to low-light film if it was easier to get.

It would be great to see samples from other folks posted in this thread.

The night market was shot with my M6 + ZM Planar 50/2. The wedding on my M2 + CV 35mm f/1.4. I exposed the film around 1250 ISO (hand-held metering, mostly guesswork)

Sweet red bean filled 'fish' waffles:

Japadog: hot dog with seaweed and mayo. Very popular:

That's candlelight on the tables:

Again, lit by candles and a lantern:

luketrash · 09-19-2008

I obviously don't have any of this since it's a challenge to get in Iowa, but I must say that this is the first color film I've seen where I think the grain looks great

I saw someone post aurora shots with this film on flickr and have liked it ever since.

haagen_dazs · 09-19-2008

may i know how did you scan them?
just bought some natura from a rff member.
hope to try it out too

sockeyed · 09-19-2008

These are lab scans, done on a Noritsu machine. I did a very small amount of adjustment in Lightroom (adjusting the black slider to makes the blacks more pure).

marke · 09-19-2008

Very nice, sockeyed. I bought 3 rolls of this from the same vendor earlier this year. I shot one roll, but I have no idea where the negs went! (Darn, I must clean my office up!). So I have two rolls left and your pictures really encourage me to give it another go. Have you heard any other recommmendations as to what to expose it at?

Prosaic · 09-19-2008

Too bad Fuji doesnt sell Natura over here in Europe.

sockeyed · 09-19-2008

Marke - I always give my colour neg a slight push - 1/3 of a stop most of the time. Careful meeting helps too - bright lightbulbs can really throw AE off if you're using it. Manual metering really helps.

Hope you find your negs!

Henrik · 09-19-2008

I read somewhere that Natura is the same thing as Superia 1600, comparing the data sheets seem to confirm it as far as I can tell!

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/con..._datasheet.pdf
http://fujifilm.jp/support/pdf/filma...ra1600_001.pdf

Or am I wrong?

sockeyed · 09-19-2008

I haven't used Superia 1600, but I find that the Natura has a better colour balance than the Superias that I've tried (100 through 800). Can anyone post samples from the Superia 1600 to compare?

raid · 09-19-2008

This would be awesome news for Natura camera users!

btgc · 09-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henrik

I read somewhere that Natura is the same thing as Superia 1600, comparing the data sheets seem to confirm it as far as I can tell!

Haven't compared data sheets, though when Fuji announced Natura [camera], Natura [film] were added as companion.

Personally I think it would be too loud bang for repackaged Superia1600.

I can be wrong, for sure.

And it seems good film. I'm skipping it because of price.

Henrik · 09-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by btgc

Haven't compared data sheets, though when Fuji announced Natura [camera], Natura [film] were added as companion.

Personally I think it would be too loud bang for repackaged Superia1600.

I can be wrong, for sure.

And it seems good film. I'm skipping it because of price.

Well, take a look at the sheets, the curves are exactly the same.

raid · 09-19-2008

Fuji would not develop a new film that is meant for the small number of Natura camera usesr in Japan. The Natura film most likely has a different DX code on it; it makes the Natura camera overexpose by 2 f stops. Effectively, you should be able to use any ASA 1600 film with the Natura camera and just overexpose by 2 stops.

btgc · 09-19-2008

I have to admit raid's idea is clever. And what's important, it would explain "same curves". Hm.
Anyway, most of times I add a stop for negative, so I have my own Natura

raid · 09-19-2008

The Natura camera and film ads talk about the two extra f stops automatically being used when having Natura 1600 in the camera.

PMCC · 09-19-2008

Hey Raid,

Have you tried using Superia 1600 (or, alternatively, Neopan 1600) in your camera? The results would be interesting. I have a Natura Black F1.9 but haven't tried any film that triggers the "NP" mode. Also, do all DX coded ISO 1600 films cause the camera to overexpose +2 stops, or is there some adjustment needed to make it do so? I couldn't grok much from the instructions, which are only in Japanese.

Peter.

btgc · 09-19-2008

Uh ah..I haven't read Natura stuff too carefully, just noted "wide and bright for PS class lens".

btw Konica Centuria 1600 film isn't bad either...before it disappeared, I bought several rolls for 1/2 price of Superia1600.

raid · 09-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMCC

Hey Raid,

Have you tried using Superia 1600 (or, alternatively, Neopan 1600) in your camera? The results would be interesting. I have a Natura Black F1.9 but haven't tried any film that triggers the "NP" mode. Also, do all DX coded ISO 1600 films cause the camera to overexpose +2 stops, or is there some adjustment needed to make it do so? I couldn't grok much from the instructions, which are only in Japanese.

Peter.

Hello Peter,
I have sold my Natura to Mark. I used only slow film in my Natura since I did not buy the camera to be used for night photography but for its superb 24mm lens at daylight. DX coded ASA 1600 film does not lead to overexposure by itself. You need to Natura ASA1600 [this is what I have understood from online readings].

PMCC · 09-19-2008

If the Natura film is coded to cause the Natura camera to overexpose +2 stops, I wonder that means the true ISO of Natura film is really 400. But that conclusion conflicts with the good results obtained in Sockeyed's photos, presumably rated at 1600. Can someone clarify for me?

Peter.

goo0h · 09-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by luketrash

I must say that this is the first color film I've seen where I think the grain looks great

Yeah, these are lovely shots.

LKSC · 09-20-2008

IIRC, any film that is DX-coded at 1600 will engage the "Natura" mode on the Natura cameras - flash is automatically turned off and film is given about 2 stops overexposure, as raid says, but lowest shutter speed in that mode is limited to 1/45s. I recall some posts in Japanese forums about using DX labels/ sharpie to trick the camera to do this. In normal usage, lowest shutter speed is 1 second.

When I shoot Natura 1600 in an M7, an ISO of 1000 works best for me.

raid · 09-20-2008

Cool. Now I wish I had kept my Natura camera, but this is history.

retow · 09-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMCC

If the Natura film is coded to cause the Natura camera to overexpose +2 stops, I wonder that means the true ISO of Natura film is really 400. But that conclusion conflicts with the good results obtained in Sockeyed's photos, presumably rated at 1600. Can someone clarify for me?

Peter.

When a roll of film with the DX code 1600 or higher is loaded, the camera will be set to NP mode - no auto-flash, +2EV ex-comp, 1/45sec limited slow shutter speed.

marke · 09-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sockeyed

Marke - I always give my colour neg a slight push - 1/3 of a stop most of the time. Careful meeting helps too - bright lightbulbs can really throw AE off if you're using it. Manual metering really helps.

Hope you find your negs!

I found it yesterday, and I hadn't even processed the film yet!

And I took another look in my basement freezer, and found 9 more rolls!!!

Here's one at a local cafe. MP & Summilux 50/1.4

shimo-kitasnap · 09-27-2008

here's one of Blue Oyster Cult at Spiedie Fest, Binghamton '08.