Dock Light – Flathead Lake, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Ektar 100”
I already have a Kodak Ektar film simulation recipe that I published a little over two years ago, but I’ve been wanting to revisit it for awhile. In the article that I published for that recipe, I wrote, “I’m actually a little hesitant to call this film simulation recipe Kodak Ektar 100 because it’s not quite right. It’s close, but a little off. The color palette is slightly askew.” That’s a true statement. My original Ektar recipe is close but no cigar. Since that time Fujifilm has added more JPEG options to their cameras, so would it be possible to get closer to real Ektar on my X100V?
Kodak introduced Ektar in 1989. It has been made in ISO 25, 100, 125, 400 and 1000 versions at one time or another. Kodak discontinued Ektar in 1997, but they brought it back in 2008 with an updated emulsion. I’ve shot the old Ektar but never the new Ektar. It’s my understanding that they’re similar but not exactly the same.
This new film simulation recipe will be controversial. To achieve a more correct color palette, this recipe is based off of Classic Chrome instead of Astia. The reason that I used Astia in the original recipe is because “Classic Chrome isn’t vibrant enough, even with Color set to +4.” That’s still true, although Color Chrome Effect does help a little. Honestly, if +6 was an option, that’s what I’d set Color to. Unfortunately that’s not an option, so we have a slightly undersaturated recipe. Another issue is that Ektar can have several different looks, depending on how it’s shot, developed, and printed or scanned, just like any film; however, with Ektar, even a 1/3 stop over or under exposure can noticeably effect the aesthetics of the picture.
Peach Sun – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Ektar 100”
Fuji X Weekly reader Thomas Schwab helped me immensely with this recipe. He’s had a hand in several recipes, and even created one from scratch that’s quite popular: Urban Vintage Chrome. Thomas captured a bunch of pictures with actual Ektar film, and made several similar exposures with his X-Trans IV cameras. He showed me examples of both, applying my original Ektar recipe to the pictures captured with his Fujifilm cameras. Then we began to create a new Kodak Ektar 100 film simulation recipe based on his Ektar pictures, hoping to achieve something closer to the film than the original recipe.
We discovered very quickly that Ektar is impossible to faithfully recreate on Fujifilm cameras, because only Classic Chrome has the correct color palette, and it’s not vibrant enough. We tried Astia, Provia, Velvia, and PRO Neg. Hi, and of those Astia was the closest, but none of them were right. We settled on Classic Chrome despite it not being vibrant enough. We went back-and-forth on different settings, but especially the white balance. There were several times that we said, “This is it,” only to modify something the next day.
A problem we encountered is that Ektar can have several different looks, even from the same roll of film. There was a discussion about creating as many as three different recipes, depending on the exact aesthetic we wanted to recreate, but decided to go with just one recipe, modeled after our favorite pictures from Thomas’ Ektar film. After even more back-and-forth we finished with this recipe here. We feel confident that it is as close as we could get to actual Ektar film, acknowledging that it’s very close but not exactly right.
Boat in the Bay – Flathead Lake, MT – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Ektar 100”
The original Ektar recipe isn’t an exact match to the film, and I believe that this new recipe is closer. The two recipes each produce a different look, and perhaps they both have a place, depending on what exact aesthetic you are after. This new recipe was a collaborative effort, and I want to give a special “thank you” to Thomas Schwab for all of the time and effort he put into making this a reality. It’s much appreciated!
This Kodak Ektar 100 film simulation recipe is intended for and only compatible with (as of this writing) the Fujifilm X100V, X-Pro3 and X-T4. It uses Clarity, which slows down the camera considerably. I just allow the pause to slow myself down. Another option, which is what Fujifilm recommends, is to add Clarity later by reprocessing the RAW file in-camera or with X RAW Studio.
Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: +1
Shadow: -2
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: 0
Clarity: +3
Grain Effect: Off
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Weak
White Balance: 6050K, +3 Red & 0 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this new Kodak Ektar 100 film simulation recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:
Daisies by the Dock – Flathead Lake, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Henry’s Fork – Island Park, ID – Fujifilm X100V
Johnny Sack Cabin – Island Park, ID – Fujifilm X100V
North Shore of Island – Wild Horse Island State Park, MT – Fujifilm X100V
Butters – Roy, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Mustang Evening – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Roofline Sky – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Finding Clues – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Golden Boy – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Rocket Launching – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Yellow Lady – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Light Too Bright – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Lawnmower Handle & Shadow – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Air Pump – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Blossom Red – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Flower Garden Blossom – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Bug Hiding on a Flower – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Rose Fence – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
Marsh Reeds – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V
See also: Film Simulation Recipes
This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.
Fujifilm X100V Black Amazon B&H
Fujifilm X100V Silver Amazon B&H
Help Fuji X Weekly
Nobody pays me to write the content found on fujixweekly.com. There's a real cost to operating and maintaining this site, not to mention all the time that I pour into it. If you appreciated this article, please consider making a one-time gift contribution. Thank you!
$2.00
I don’t know how closely it matches Ekta 100 but it’s a beautiful colour recipe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It doesn’t match Ektar completely, and it depends on the exact Ektar aesthetic you’re talking about, but it looks pretty interesting nonetheless. Thank you!
LikeLike
some shot is spot on, you’ve made a great work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Man, you are just a genius!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! It was definitely a joint effort.
LikeLike
Very beautiful colors, I think, the original simulation has too deep shadows.
LikeLike
Thanks! It’s appreciated!
LikeLike
May be here is the right place to remember you for the request for Ricoh Positive Effect. After some cameras has Clarity and Color Chrome Effect Blue this can help.
LikeLike
I need to see if I can. It seems a bit kodak-esque from the samples I’ve seen.
LikeLike
Really excellent work, respect! maybe when you have time try to create the Panavision look of the 70-80ies (example)
the Movie “Lethal Weapon 1” from 87 has a nice Vibe, but maybe it just works with DaVinci & CO, but what I see here from your works/passion is a lot possible come out of the cam 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! Sounds like a good excuse to watch Lethal Weapon again!
LikeLike
This is a great film recipe! Really good looking, i have never used Ektar film but from this simulation, even if its not 100%, i can see why they brought it back!
Thank you for your efforts on all the recipes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad that you like it!
LikeLike
White Balance: 6050K, +3 Red & 0 Blue!
is it correct? there is no 6050K on X-T30!
maybe white balance setting is different on X100V. Right?
then how to achieve this look on X-T30(except clarity & color chrome blue)?
Thx for your efforts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The X100V (as well as the X-Pro3, X-T4 and X-S10) can adjust WB by 0010 increments, so it can, in fact, be set to 6050K. The X-T30 cannot.
The closest on the X-T30 is going to be 6000K +3R & 0B, Highlight +2, Shadow -1, disregard CCEB and Clarity. It won’t be exactly the same, but that’s as close as you’ll get, I think.
LikeLike
Thx a lot. i’ll try it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome!
LikeLike
maybe they should hire more people like you to implement this idea and to perfect this method to the point where similars stimulation we set on the camera can directly transfer to the raw, so we can use it as a base. That way Fuji will make it big, ur a genius bro. I already love the x100v, but i m thinking to go w leica m10p for my everyday camera, then here is Richie. Brilliant bro! Make it way too fun to shoot and careless the process and edit part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate the kind words! I would love to work for Fujifilm someday. Don’t know what the process is, but I do know it’s a small team. Thanks for the comment and encouragement!
LikeLike