Fujifilm has what they call Film Simulations on their cameras instead of traditional JPEG settings, which are designed to mimic the look of different films. One of these Film Simulations is called Velvia, named after Fujifilm’s most popular color transparency (slide) film.
I’ve shot a lot of Velvia film over the years. Velvia 50 was one of my absolute favorites for color landscape photography. It was originally just called Velvia with no “50” in the name, and was rated at ISO 50; however, it is now called Velvia 50 and there are two other versions of the film. I have a couple rolls of Velvia 50 sitting around right now. It’s a great film!
The Velvia Film Simulation on Fujifilm cameras is not quite right. It doesn’t really match the film. But I have noticed that they’ve improved it (over the X-E1, which is where I first experienced it), and it is a closer match than it used to be. It’s more similar to Velvia 100F than Velvia 50. I suppose Fujifilm never specified which version of the film that they are trying to simulate.
If you want vibrant colors, then the Velvia Film Simulation is what you want to go with. My favorite choice for color photography on my Fujifilm X100F is Classic Chrome, but sometimes something more bold and punchy is needed.
Velvia 50 film has exaggerated colors and high contrast and a slight green cast with warm yellows. Velvia 100 is very similar to Velvia 50 but with a slight purple cast. Velvia 100F has less contrast, less saturation and is slightly cooler than Velvia 50.
My Velvia Film Simulation recipe isn’t meant to make the settings more accurate to actual Velvia film. I don’t think you can get a 100% match. It just makes it more in line with what I personally like. Feel free to adjust it however you wish. It all can be customized to taste. Also, for high-contrast scenes I find that -1 Shadow is typically better and for low-contrast scenes +1 Shadow is better.
Velvia
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -1
Shadow: 0
Color: +2
Noise Reduction: -2
Sharpening: +2
Grain Effect: Weak
White Balance: Auto, +1 Red & -1 Blue
ISO: Auto up to ISO 12800
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 (typically)
Example photos, all camera-made JPEGs captured using my Velvia Film Simulation recipe:
Excelsior Geyser Crater – Yellowstone NP, WY – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Alpine Autumn – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Wasatch Dressed In Fall Colors – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F Vevia
Timpanogos September – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Road To Timpanogos – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Autumn In Utah Mountains – American Fork Canyon, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Wasatch Fall – Midway, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Koi Pond – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Caladium Leaves – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
Delicate Pink – Lehi, UT – Fujifilm X100F Velvia
See also: My Fujifilm X100F Acros Film Simulation Recipe
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Thanks for all of these film simulation settings. As a fan of the Velvia film sim, are there any updates to your current recipe that you’d recommend for the X-Trans IV cameras?
I do have a new Velvia recipe coming soon! Stay tuned!
Early Fall/Autumn and late Spring are my favourite times of the year on the east coast. October brings us cooler air and bright colours as the leaves change from green to yellow, orange and red. May turns the dead grey of winter to the bright green of spring and the hope of renewal.
The Velvia film simulation is the one I have used the least, perhaps because I bought my used Fujifilm X-T2 in June of last year and have not had much opportunity to use it in the right environment. This fall, I’ll remove one of the Kodachrome recipients from my camera, all eight slots are occupied, and make room for Velvia and some experimentation.
I like Velvia, but it definitely gets used more during the fall and spring and less in the summer and winter. Let me know how it works out for you. Thank you for the comment!