“I’ve heard of that one before,”
the beginner film photographer says as they point behind the store counter at a bright green box. It’s so universally known that it—paradoxically—is easy to forget about. We’ve shot it, you’ve shot it, and everyone’s shot it: Fujicolor.
It’s the film stock your mom used to capture your 11th birthday party. You put it in your camera and take photos. It’s true: Fujicolor is a great everyday film stock. When shot with a little extra thought, however, you can get particularly good results.
The Fujicolor look
Every film stock has people debating on what it’s good for. Ektar 100 is primarily considered to be a landscape film, while Ektacolor Pro 800 (Portra) is perfect for portraits. Then there are the general-purpose stocks, the jack-of-all-trades films that feel good to have loaded when you don’t have a plan. Think Gold, Ultramax, and yes—Fujicolor.
As the emerald box suggests, Fujicolor’s greens are what set it apart. Vibrant, crisp, and saturated, it’s a good idea to be shooting natural tones on this film.
Situations where Fujicolor looks its best:
- A hike in the springtime
- The jungles of Hawaii
- Your local flower patch
- A day at the beach
- Camping in the evergreens
It’s not exactly a stock we’d recommend for studio sessions, but skin tones on portrait work look very natural and true to life. They still pop a lot better when contrasted with green and blue tones.
ISO 200 vs 400
Fujicolor comes in two different ISO speeds: 200 and 400. Aside from the standard visual differences faster film speeds cause, there are a bit more that set these two apart.
For starters, Fuji 200 is lower speed. You’ll get less light sensitivity and therefore won’t be able to shoot it in as many light situations. In good light conditions, Fuji 200 has medium-low contrast and bright, warm tones. Fuji 400, on the other hand, has much more contrast and slightly cooler tones. 400 means slightly more grain, but also more light sensitivity.
Both Fujicolor 200 and 400 can be overexposed quite a lot without ruining your shots. If you’re unsure of a particular shot, lean toward overexposure, and your image will come out looking great.
Springtime shooting
Spring is when you break out the Fujicolor. Its wide exposure latitude, vibrant color, and general application make it a great base film to have loaded in your camera. Perfect for everyday scenes: a walk in the park, a trip to the grocery store, and sometimes even cityscapes. Pick up a roll or two!
TheFINDlab’s articles are written by humans.
