Trying Out Ektar 100 Film

Recently I've been on the search for different color 135 films to shoot with.

As much as I like good old Kodak Portra 160, I wanted to see if there was a slower film out there that could work as well. It just so happened that I had a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 laying around in my drawer, so I popped it into my trusty M6 TTL and went out on a location scouting trip.

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100

According to Kodak's product description:

Featuring ISO 100 speed, high saturation and ultra-vivid color, EKTAR 100 offers the finest, smoothest grain of any color negative film available today.

Ideal for scanning, and offers extraordinary enlargement capability from a 35mm negative. A perfect choice for commercial photographers and advanced amateurs.

Recommended applications:

  • nature

  • travel

  • outdoor photography

  • fashion

  • product photography

So being in nature, outdoors and fashion, this should turn out great right?

Well, not so much. It certainly is ultra-vivid! It brings out a lot of red. A lot more than I was expecting. As for fine grain, it's not bad.

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100

I think for nature, it certainly does well. I just can't get around the reddish skin tones. Maybe I'll revisit this film if I happen to run across another roll, but the hunt still continues...

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100

Leica M6 TTL, MS Optical Sonnetar 50mm f/1.1, Kodak Ektar 100 film @ ISO 100