CineStill 400D is a cinematic color negative film meant for C41 processing that’s been around for less than a year. Unlike other cinematic films, the “D” doesn’t apparently stand for “Daylight” (even though it is Daylight balanced), but “Dynamic” because it has a large latitude for push processing. I’ve had a number of requests to create a Film Simulation Recipe that mimics the aesthetic of CineStill 400D. The problem I encountered is that this emulsion has a lot more variance than most films. All films can produce different looks depending on a host of factors, including how shot, developed, and scanned, but CineStill 400D seems especially so. As I understand, this film “scans flat” and some degree of post-processing is necessary, which likely accounts for some of that variance, as each photographer will manipulate the file to their own tastes to produce a final image.
No one recipe will ever come close to replicating all of the possible aesthetics from CineStill 400D, so instead I will publish a series of CineStill 400D Film Simulation Recipes, each a facsimile of a different look produced by the film. This recipe—CineStill 400D v1—has more contrast and leans more green/yellow than the other versions that will follow. I think it is especially well suited for sunny daylight conditions, but it is also a good option for dreary overcast days. While it is certainly usable for many genres of photography, I particularly appreciate this one for landscapes.
This CineStill 400D v1 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with “newer” Fujifilm X-Trans IV cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and all X-Trans V models—as of this writing, X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30. Those with newer GFX models should be able to use it, too, but the rendering will be slightly different (try it anyway). Click here for the CineStill 400D v2 recipe.
Film Simulation: Astia
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: Fluorescent 1, -6 Red & -3 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +3
Shadow: +1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +2/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “CineStill 400D v1” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:
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Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H Moment
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I love this one. I sometimes change the tint to a little less green, or color to -2, but it depends. I’ve become really fond of it the last couple of days.
Awesome! So happy to hear it. 😀
All your recipes are beautiful! Do you use any diffusion filter? Greets from Mexico.
I sometimes use a diffusion filter. I like the 5% CineBloom because it is subtle and doesn’t otherwise have much impact on the image—less is more in this regard. However, I did not use a diffusion filter for any of the images in this particular article.
Can you recommend a halfway comparable recipe for the X T3?
Thank you.
There’s nothing exactly like this for the X-T3, but if you ignore Grain size, Color Chrome FX Blue, and use a 10% CineBloom diffusion filter or 1/4 Black Pro Mist in lieu of Clarity, you’ll get pretty similar results. Not identical, but not too dissimilar.
This is better than the second version!
They each have their place, but this one is my personal favorite of the two. Thanks for the feedback!