ANALOGUE: Kodak Ektar 100 35mm

MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2018

This one is not difficult to like even with high expectations. No wonder Kodak’s Ektar is a favourite amongst film photographers. The secret to that is high contrast and saturated colour, traits that quickly capture anyone’s interest and curiosity.

True, Ektar does render fairer skins with a red hue but it doesn't really affect the skin tone of south east Asians’. Grain is minimal and it is one of the many film that requires a healthy amount of sunlight to bring the best out of. It is a negative generously spared in my refrigerator.

Shot on Canon EOS 3 paired to a Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS

CHARACTERISTICS

Low grain

High saturation

High contast

Having Kodak’s other golden child in mind, Portra 160, Ektar’s attention grasping colours is hyperactive by comparison. What a photographer wishes to paint in a picture is easily portrayed through Ektar given how contrasty it is by nature. When light is not on your side, pictures will still turn out favourable with a hint of magenta. Despite constrained by slow speed, Ektar is able to perform up to two stops of underexposure.

It is a low grain film but I personally wish for more as that will bring about more character in a photograph. Whenever slide film’s not available, Ektar 100 is where I would turn to.

Shot on Canon AE1-P paired to a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4

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