Omar Gonzalez posted a hilarious YouTube video called Do You Suffer from Fujifilm Sim Depression?, which is a parody of pharmaceutical commercials, except that it’s about Fujifilm film simulations and not prescription drugs. It’s incredibly well done and funny! I don’t want to spoil it if you haven’t watched it, but the conclusion is that Omar likes the Provia film simulation. So watch the video if you haven’t yet seen it, and if you are suffering from “Fujifilm Sim Depression” let me offer you are this cure: the PROvia Film Simulation Recipe. Perhaps Omar someday will see it and try it; if so, I hope he likes it!
Provia is one of the film simulations that I personally like least… well above Sepia, but towards the bottom of the list nonetheless. Ouch. As it turns out, I was never meant to like it, yet it is the “Standard” film simulation on all Fujifilm cameras. This PROvia Recipe is my take on a “better” Provia, and is intended to not only look good, but also be versatile so that it could be one’s go-to Film Simulation Recipe (that’s why “PRO” is capitalized in the name). It is compatible with all X-Trans II cameras; those with X-Trans I and Bayer models can use it, too, but it will render slightly different on those models (try it anyway!).
This PROvia Film Simulation Recipe is a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access recipe, which means if you are an App Patron, you have access to it right now. The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes, such as this one. These Patron Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App, so I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons!
If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, I invite you to give the PROvia Film Simulation Recipe a try today! Don’t have the Fuji X Weekly App? Download it for free today! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience, to gain Early-Access to this Recipe, and to support Fuji X Weekly.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this PROvia Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X70:
Provia is probably my least favorite film simulation because it’s just so… normal. If I want Provia-like colors I feel like I could shoot any other camera brand. Funnily enough, I’ve never shot film myself except for the occasional disposable camera that my mom bought me as a kid, but I still don’t really like the “regular” colors that Provia produces. My first Fujifilm camera was an X-T1 (actually no it was a S9000 but that was before I knew anything about photography, I didn’t have CF cards so I had to use xD cards and those were max 2GB so I couldn’t really shoot raw files without filling my card in like 50 shots, but anyway, I digress) and the first film simulation I went “oh… oh, yes, I like that” when seeing it was Classic Chrome. After that, I just never looked back, especially after getting my X-T4 and Classic Neg (my current favorite, although I feel like Nostalgic Neg might be up there if I had an X-Trans V camera… I love your X-Trans IV recipe for it, it has a permanent spot in my presets).
I’m definitely going to give this PROvia a try though at some point, see if I end up liking it! I’ve programmed it into my X70, now I just need to wait until everything that’s winter-yellow and brown comes back to life so that I can see true greens and reds with my eyes too!
Sorry for rambling again (see, I told you this would happen if I commented…), and thank you again so much for all the work you put into these!
Classic Kodak Color is my favorite Recipe for the X70. PROvia is good for those who like Provia… and it is indeed good, I think… but Classic Kodak Color is the one I’d use if I could only use one. Thanks for the comment!
I have been looking for a daily recipe like this. Can’t wait for it to be available.
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div dir=”ltr”>Kev
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Loving the colors, can you make this one for the xtrans 3
It might be possible, I’ll look into it. Thanks for the feedback!
Ha ha! The Fuji world needed this… to know that “it’s OK to shoot Provia”.
Also interesting article that you link to on the Fuji interview and the film vs digital version of Provia. I enjoy trying a lot of your film simulations, but in the end I shoot mostly Provia. But I was never interested in film. Ever. I waited until I could buy the first digital camera (1996 – Apple Quick Take 100) because I refused to touch film, considering it antiquated even before then.
That said, I love the look of it. But not the “technology” and functionality of it. So Provia it is… 🙂
Each person has their own tastes, and that’s the great thing about all of the options Fujifilm has… there’s something for everyone! Thanks for the comment!