Fuji Recipes

My 5 Favorite Film Simulation Recipes that use Astia

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Peach City Drive-In – Brigham City, UT – Fujifilm X100F – Kodak Ektar 100

Provia — Velvia — Classic Chrome — PRO Neg. Hi — PRO Neg. Std — Classic Negative — Nostalgic Neg. — Eterna — Eterna Bleach Bypass — Acros

There are 20 different film simulations on the new Fujifilm X100VI. Since there are likely many newcomers to Fujifilm who aren’t all that familiar with the various film sims and Film Simulation Recipes, I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss each one in more detail, and offer my personal favorite Recipes for each. I don’t (yet) have access to the new Reala Ace film simulation, so that one will be excluded from this (for now, anyway). Also, I’ll combine the four Acros film sims into one article, and the four Monochrome film sims (and probably Sepia, too) into another.

The Astia film simulation (a.k.a. Astia/Soft) is named after the Astia line of slide films by Fujifilm; however, this film simulation does not faithfully replicate the emulsion. Astia 100F had low color saturation (for a slide film), and was specifically intended for portrait photography. While the film sim is notably divergent from the film of the same name, Fujifilm states that the Astia film simulation is the “ideal Astia” and is what the film would have looked like had it been possible to do so.

City of Grace Tower – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – CineStill 400D v2

While intended for vibrant portraits, the Astia film sim can be good for many situations, with a rendering in-between Provia and Velvia, yet not exactly like either. Personally, for vibrant landscapes, I prefer Velvia, and for pictures of people I prefer some of the less-saturated options, like Classic Chrome, PRO Neg. Std, or even Eterna. Since Astia is a bit bolder than Provia and not quite as bold as Velvia, some might find it to be a happy medium. I don’t often choose it for my photography—it’s one of my least-used film simulations.

The five Film Simulation Recipes below are my favorites that use Astia as the base. Everyone has different tastes, so you might like other ones more. I count 10 Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App that use Astia, so there are only a handful of others to choose from. But, if you are unsure which Astia Recipe to try, let me suggest picking one from my list below.

#1:

CineStill 400D v1

Great for sunny daylight, and decent enough for dreary conditions, CineStill 400D v1 replicates one possible aesthetic of a cinematic film. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

#2:

CineStill 400D v2

This Recipe replicates a different possible aesthetic of the same cinematic film. While this one is also great for sunny daylight, it’s a good option for shade and blue-hour photography. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

#3:

Everyday Astia

A versatile Recipe that can be used for most any situation and subject. Compatible with X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3 and X-T30.

#4:

Astia

A lovely Recipe for sunny daylight photography. Compatible with X-Trans II cameras.

#5:

Kodak Ektar 100

This was my very first attempt at replicating Kodak Ektar film. Colorful, and surprisingly versatile. Compatible with X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3 and X-T30.

See also:
How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
Why Film Simulation Recipes are BETTER than default Film Simulations
Why Shooting JPEGs Is So Popular

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

Summer of ’59 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) FXW App Patron Early-Access Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Stop Time – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of ’59

This Film Simulation Recipe began as an attempt to recreate the aesthetic of some of Saul Leiter’s color photographs from the 1950’s and early-1960’s, particularly images like Paris 1959, Foot on El 1954, Bus 1954, San Carlo Restaurant 1952, Taxi 1957, Near the Tanager 1954, Phone Call 1957, and Pipes 1960—among others—with the greatest emphasis on Paris 1959. While I don’t think it’s possible to faithfully reproduce that look exactly on Fujifilm cameras, this Summer of ’59 Recipe is definitely at times pretty darn close. Also, some of Saul’s other photographs from that same era had a divergent aesthetic, and this Recipe isn’t good for replicating those.

During this time, Saul Leiter was using the first era of Kodachrome film. Something interesting that I learned while researching this is that Saul preferred shooting Kodachrome that was past the expiration date. He liked the way the film looked when expired, and especially the serendipity of not knowing what the precise aesthetic was going to be. An alternative name for this Film Simulation Recipe could be Expired Vintage Kodachrome.

Saul Leiter liked reflections, shooting through glass, and using layers. He kept his eyes out for catchy colors. He wasn’t afraid of shadows. His favorite lenses were telephoto, particularly 90mm and 150mm. If you are really trying to replicate his look, those are things you’ll want to consider. Vintage lenses might help, too.

Mint Chocolate Shake – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of ’59

This Summer of ’59 Film Simulation Recipe is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, you have access to it right now. If not, no worries, as it will eventually be made available to everyone, once it is replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe. It is fully compatible with X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI.

One consideration is White Balance Shift: I wen’t back-and-forth on both Red and Blue, and I think +5 Red could alternatively be used, and/or -7 Blue could be alternatively used. All of the sample pictures in this article are with the WB Shift as published, and not the divergent options mentioned above.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Summer of ’59 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Hanging Glass – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Falling Water in a Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Lion Water – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pet Waste Station – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red & White Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainville & Palm Tree Trunk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Summertime Feelings – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Founder’s Day Weekend – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Blue Flags – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Power Lines – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
An Arizona Home – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Corner – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Yellow Car – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea Along a Sidewalk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Jogger – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
CVS Pharmacy Sign – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Next Time – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunlit Lamp – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fake House Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bedroom Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
1000 Record Covers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fountain Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Jo in the Backyard – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bench End – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Twin Seats – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fashion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Outdoor Potted Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Desert Cactus Landscape – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
The Boys – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red Hots – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Protection – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pick Up – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Kodak Royal Gold 400 — Fujifilm X-Trans IV & X-Trans V Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

This Old House is now a Business – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Royal Gold 400

This Film Simulation Recipe began as an attempt to achieve a “memory color” aesthetic of photographic prints from the 1990’s and early 2000’s; when creating this recipe I wasn’t concerned about the specific films or processes. After shooting with this recipe and reviewing the results, I was reminded of Kodak Royal Gold 400 film… sometimes. Of course, one film can produce many different aesthetics, depending on (among other things) how it was shot, developed, scanned and/or printed. Royal Gold 400 didn’t always or even usually look like this, but sometimes it did, and I found some examples in a photo-box and online that were quite similar—I’m not sure why, but my suspicion is that the film was mishandled, either from being stored improperly (possibly exposed to too much heat), waiting too long to develop after exposing, or maybe even improper storage. Film can be finicky, but that serendipity is something that makes it special.

Royal Gold 400 was introduced by Kodak in 1994 as a replacement to the original Kodak Ektar 400 film. The Royal Gold line, which also came in ISO 100 and 200 versions, was marketed as a “step up” from Kodak Gold, with finer grain and more vibrant colors. It was more-or-less an updated Ektar emulsion that was renamed for marketing reasons (Gold sold a lot more than Ektar). In the early 2000’s Royal Gold was replaced by the High Definition/Royal Supra line. This Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe is a “happy accident” facsimile of one possible aesthetics from the film.

Bougainvillea Among Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – “Kodak Royal Gold 400”

This Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with Fujifilm X-Trans IV cameras, specifically the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II (but not the X-T3 and X-T30), as well as fifth-generation X-Trans camera, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI (just follow the Color Chrome FX Blue adjustment). This was a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, and has been available to App Patrons for awhile; however, it’s been replaced by a different Early-Access Recipe, so now everyone can use it.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong (X-Trans IV), Weak (X-Trans V)
White Balance: Shade, +3 Red & +5 Blue
Highlight:-1
Shadow: +1
Color: +4
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs captured using this Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-T5:

Mending Blue – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Quality Auto Service – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
A-Town Garage – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Clubhouse – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
A Little Red – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
4 Sale – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Shapes – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Cactus Liquor – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sideways Saguaro Stop – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Library – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Lock & Safe – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Going to the Dentist – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sidewalk Bicyclist – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Red Car & Wine Bar – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Americana Icon – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Avon – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
N Recep – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Park Hoop – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Outfield – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Bougainvillea Among Trumpets 2 – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Butterfly Cage – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Pink Bloom in the Garden – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sunlit Table Corner – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Orange Soda Cup – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Lion Hair – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Promenade Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Modern Bench – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Urban Plant – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Smiling for the Camera – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pavilion View – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Potted Flowers at the Park – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fast Car – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dodge Vannin’ – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Six Palms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Stop All Way – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

See also: How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

My 5 Favorite Film Simulation Recipes that use Velvia

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Engine 237 – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Ektachrome E100VS v2 Recipe

Provia — Astia — Classic Chrome — PRO Neg. Hi — PRO Neg. Std — Classic Negative — Nostalgic Neg. — Eterna — Eterna Bleach Bypass — Acros

There are 20 different film simulations on the new Fujifilm X100VI. Since there are likely many newcomers to Fujifilm who aren’t all that familiar with the various film sims and Film Simulation Recipes, I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss each one in more detail, and offer my personal favorite Recipes for each. I don’t (yet) have access to the new Reala Ace film simulation, so that one will be excluded from this (for now, anyway). Also, I’ll combine the four Acros film sims into one article, and the four Monochrome film sims (and probably Sepia, too) into another.

The Velvia film simulation (a.k.a. Velvia/Vivid) is named after the Velvia line of slide films by Fujifilm. Back in the film days, Velvia was a popular choice for vibrant landscapes, with it’s over-the-top wild colors. When Fujifilm designed the Velvia film simulation, they brought in some people from the film department who had developed the actual Velvia emulsion to assist with the film simulation; however, it wasn’t until X-Trans III cameras, plus the introduction of Color Chrome Effect, that they were satisfied with the results.

Arizona Aspens – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell

The Velvia film simulation is great for colorful landscape photography. It’s the most vibrant of all the film sims, so it will make your pictures pop. It has a little more contrast than Provia. If you are after bold pictures, consider using Velvia. It’s probably one of the last film simulations that you’d choose for portrait photography, as it can give someone a sunburn who doesn’t have one. While Velvia isn’t especially versatile, it’s very good at what it does: colorful pictures.

The five Film Simulation Recipes below are my favorites that use Velvia as the base. Everyone has different tastes, so you might like other ones more. I count 20 Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App that use Velvia, so there are many to choose from. But, if you are unsure which Velvia Recipe to try, let me suggest picking one from my list below.

#1:

The Rockwell

This is the most punchy Velvia Recipe; however, be careful, as it can be too bold sometimes. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras. And, yes, Ken Rockwell actually used it.

#2:

Vibrant Velvia

Very similar to The Rockwell, except slightly less punchy. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

#3:

Kodak Ektachrome E100VS v2

Mimics the look of Kodak’s most vibrant slide film. More contrasty but less vibrant than the two Recipes above. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

#4:

Velvia v2

Bright and colorful; not too dissimilar from the Vibrant Velvia Recipe (above) and the Velvia Recipe (below). Compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30 cameras, plus can be used on the GFX 50R and GFX 50S.

#5:

Velvia

This Recipe is probably the closest to actual Velvia film. Compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30 cameras, plus can be used on the GFX 50R and GFX 50S.

See also:
How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
Why Film Simulation Recipes are BETTER than default Film Simulations
Why Shooting JPEGs Is So Popular

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

My 5 Favorite Film Simulation Recipes that use Provia

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Barn in the Field – Prefumo Canyon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Provia 400 Recipe

Velvia — Astia — Classic Chrome — PRO Neg. Hi — PRO Neg. Std — Classic Negative — Nostalgic Neg. — Eterna — Eterna Bleach Bypass — Acros

There are 20 different film simulations on the new Fujifilm X100VI. Since there are likely many newcomers to Fujifilm who aren’t all that familiar with the various film sims and Film Simulation Recipes, I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss each one in more detail, and offer my personal favorite Recipes for each. I don’t (yet) have access to the new Reala Ace film simulation, so that one will be excluded from this (for now, anyway). Also, I’ll combine the four Acros film sims into one article, and the four Monochrome film sims (and probably Sepia, too) into another.

The Provia film simulation (a.k.a. Provia/Std) is named after the Provia line of slide films by Fujifilm; however, it was not intended to closely mimic the emulsion. The Astia film simulation is actually a little closer approximation of Provia film, but it is not an especially close match, either. When Fujifilm designed the Provia film simulation, they intended to make a color profile that “looks beautiful” to those who come from a digital-photography background, and in doing so they discovered that those who have a film-photography background don’t tend to like it as much (I learned photography on film, so you can probably tell already which way I lean). In other words, if you want a close replication of Provia slide film, default Provia/Std will leave you disappointed.

Follow the Bird to Salt Lake – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – Cross Process Recipe

While the Provia film simulation can indeed “look beautiful” (as Fujifilm put it), it’s not my personal favorite. I would describe it as being true-to-life with just a hint of contrastiness and vibrancy. It’s kind of a middle-of-the-road option that can be used for anything; a Jack of all trades, but a master of none. I don’t find it to be especially analog-like, if you are hoping for a film look. That doesn’t mean it should be avoided, because it is possible to get good results from Provia—it can even be used to replicate some emulsions and analog processes—it’s just not my personal first choice. Or second choice. Or third. You get the idea. Still, there are some pretty good Film Simulation Recipes that use Provia as the base, and I definitely do enjoy using this film simulation from time-to-time.

The five Film Simulation Recipes below are my favorites that use Provia as the base. Everyone has different tastes, so you might like other ones more. I count 26 Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App that use Provia, so there are many to choose from. But, if you are unsure which Provia Recipe to try, let me suggest picking one from my list below.

#1:

Fujichrome Sensia 100

Intended the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30, plus X-Trans III cameras; set Grain size to Small, Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, and Clarity to 0 for use on newer X-Trans IV models and X-Trans V. Great for sunny daylight and especially sunset photography.

#2:

Provia 400

This Recipe is for the GFX 50R and GFX 50S. It’s compatible with the X-T3 and X-T30, but will render slightly different; for newer X-Trans IV and X-Trans V, set Grain size to Small, Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, and Clarity to 0.

#3:

Cross Process

Mimics the look of slide film developed in C41 chemistry, this Recipe is for X-Trans III cameras. It’s a lot of fun when used occasionally.

#4:

Standard Provia

A better look than default Provia, compatible with X-Trans IV (except the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

#5:

KodaNeg VC

A vibrant and warm Recipe with some similarities to a couple of Kodak emulsions. Compatible with X-Trans IV (except the X-T3/X-T30) and X-Trans V cameras.

See also:
How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
Why Film Simulation Recipes are BETTER than default Film Simulations
Why Shooting JPEGs Is So Popular

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes in February 2024

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Window Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Agfa Ultra 100 v2

I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular. For me, this is a fascinating topic, but it’s definitely hard to know definitively. While I get a glimpse on social media, my best gauge is the Fuji X Weekly website statistics; specifically, which Recipe articles are viewed the most. I don’t collect any data on the Fuji X Weekly App, so that’s no help—although, if I did, it would likely offer the most accurate picture; however, it would still be impossible to know which Recipes people programmed into their Fujifilm cameras, or how often they used each. Perhaps a survey would be particularly useful, yet even it has its limitations. While certainly a flawed method, page-view website statics offer the best glimpse at which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular, so that’s what I’m using for this article. These are simply the Top 25 most-viewed Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly website last month (February 2024).

Most of the time these lists are pretty predictable. Those with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, etc., etc.—are the most popular. Classic Chrome is the king of film simulations, as the majority of the most-viewed Recipes are based on that film simulation. X-Trans IV Recipes, especially for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras, tend to be the most popular, although I see a spike in interest in X-Trans V.

Motor Hotel – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

For the month of February, however, I was quite surprised by many of the rankings. Reala Ace topped the list, which is the first time in a very long time that Kodachrome 64 wasn’t number one. It’s also the first time that I’ve ever seen a Recipe that uses Classic Negative reach the very top, or one specifically for X-Trans V cameras. Kodak Portra 800 v3, Agfa Ultra 100 v2, and Fujicolor Superia 1600 (for X-Trans V) were all published last month; Vintage Eterna was a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe that became available to everyone in February. The remaining Recipes were not surprising, but their rankings moved around compared to January; several moved out of the Top 25 altogether.

Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!

Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of February 2024

#1:

Reala Ace

Reala Ace is a Classic Negative based Recipe for X-Trans V cameras. It was ranked #8 last month.

#2:

Kodachrome 64

A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is almost always number one in these lists.

#3:

Kodak Portra 400 v2

A Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras that is almost always number two in these lists.

#4:

McCurry Kodachrome

Another Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras. It was published in January, and was ranked #3 last month.

#5:

Reggie’s Portra

Again, a Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras. It was ranked #4 last month.

#6:

Kodak Portra 800 v3

A recently published Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V cameras.

#7:

Kodak Portra 400

Another Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV cameras. This was often ranked at #3 for a very long time, and was #5 last month.

#8:

Vibrant Arizona

Again, a Classic Chrome based Recipe for X-Trans IV and X-Trans V models. Was ranked #6 last month.

#9:

Kodak Tri-X 400

By far the most popular B&W Recipe, Kodak Tri-X 400 is based on the Acros film simulation, and has compatibility X-Trans III, X-Trans IV, and X-Trans V models. It was ranked #10 last month.

#10:

Vintage Kodachrome

A Classic Chrome based Recipe that is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. This is almost always the most popular X-Trans III Recipe, and has been around for a very long time. It was ranked #7 last month.

#11:

Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues was the highest-ranked Classic Negative based Recipe in 2023. It’s compatible with X-Trans IV models (there is an X-Trans V version). Last month it ranked #9.

#12:

Kodachrome 64

This is the X-Trans V version of Kodachrome 64. It was ranked #24 last month.

#13:

Kodak Portra 400 v2

This is the X-Trans V version of Kodak Portra 400 v2. It was ranked #18 last month.

#14:

Kodak Portra 400

The original Kodak Portra 400 Recipe, compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It was ranked #12 last month.

#15:

Classic Chrome

This was the very first Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly, and is compatible with X-Trans III cameras. It was ranked #14 last month.

#16:

Kodak Portra 160

Another Classic Chrome based Recipe, Kodak Portra 160 is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. Last month is ranked #13.

#17:

Agfa Ultra 100 v2

A newly published Recipe for X-Trans V models that is based on the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation.

#18:

CineStill 800T

The original CineStill 800T Recipe, intended for X-Trans III cameras. It is based on the PRO Neg. Std film simulation, and was ranked #15 last month.

#19:

Kodak Gold 200

Another Classic Chrome based Recipe for use on X-Trans III models, plus the X-T3/X-T30 (there’s a new version for X-Trans V). Last month is was ranked #11.

#20:

Vintage Eterna

Vintage Eterna is based on the Eterna film simulation, and is compatible with X-Trans IV and V models, plus the X-H1. This is its first appearance on the list.

#21:

Fujicolor Super HG v2

A Classic Negative based Recipe that’s compatible with X-Trans V cameras (there’s also an X-Trans IV version). It was ranked #25 last month.

#22:

Kodak Ultramax 400

Yet another Classic Chrome based Recipe, compatible with X-Trans IV cameras (there’s an X-Trans V version). It was ranked #19 last month.

#23:

Kodachrome II

This used to commonly be in the Top 10, but it has been slipping in popularity lately. It’s based on Classic Chrome, and is compatible with X-Trans III models (there’s an X-Trans IV version). It was ranked #16 last month.

#24:

Fujicolor Superia 1600

A newly published Recipe for X-Trans V cameras (there is a version for X-Trans IV that’s been around awhile), Fujicolor Superia 1600 is based on the Classic Negative film simulation.

#25:

Kodak Max 800

Lastly, there’s Kodak Max 800, another Classic Negative based Recipe that’s compatible with X-Trans IV cameras. It was ranked #20 last month.

See also:
How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

Fujicolor Natura 1600 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Lantana Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Natura 1600

Fujifilm produced Fujicolor Natura 1600, a high-ISO color negative film, from 2003 through 2017. It was only sold in Japan, but it became renown worldwide as word got out about this wonderful emulsion. A lot of speculation has surrounded it. Is it simply renamed Fujicolor Superia 1600? Many people think so. Is it slightly modified Superia 1600 for Japanese skin-tones? Some people think so. Is it slightly modified Superia 1600 made specifically for the Fujifilm Natura camera? Perhaps so. I haven’t found any definitive evidence to conclude if Natura 1600 is unmodified Supera 1600 or a slightly modified variant of it; if it isn’t identical, it’s very similar.

I have a Fujicolor Superia 1600 Film Simulation Recipe already, and it’s a Recipe that I personally quite like. One film can have many different aesthetics, depending on a whole host of factors, including (but not limited to) how it was shot, developed, and scanned. In a sense, you could consider this a v2 of the Fujicolor Superia 1600 Recipe; however, it was modeled after examples of Fujicolor Natura 1600 scans that I found online (and not Superia). This Fujiclor Natura 1600 Recipe isn’t new, but simply a modification of the X-Trans IV version for use on X-Trans V cameras. Because X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on some film simulations, a slight change was needed to Color Chrome FX Blue, but otherwise the two versions are identical.

Fiat – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Natura 1600

This Fujicolor Natura 1600 Film Simulation Recipe is intended for fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI. For X-Trans IV, use the X-Trans IV version (click here). For newer GFX cameras, you can use this Recipe, but know that it will render slightly different (try it anyway). Click here if you’re not sure how to program a Film Simulation Recipe into your Fujifilm camera.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: 5500K, -1 Red & -2 Blue
Highlight:-1.5
Shadow: +1.5
Color: -2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Fujicolor Natura 1600 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Newly Sprouted Bougainvillea Branch – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea in the Neighborhood – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
A Frame, Dormant Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea by Twin Windows – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Americana Suburbia – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Suburban Spanish Architecture – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunset over Suburban Home – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Apartments behind Pond – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tree Reflections – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Reflection Abstract – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunset Light on Jonathan – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Parking Garage at Dusk – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Parking Garage at Night – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Library Shelves – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Don’t Look – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dying Blossoms – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pallets & Blocks – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Caution Light – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Car Light – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rover Mini Headlamps – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Mini Wheel – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Car Rider – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison:

Fujicolor Natura 1600 Film Simulation Recipe
Fujicolor Superia 1600 Film Simulation Recipe

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

The first 7 Film Simulation Recipes to use in your Fujifilm X100VI

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

So you purchased a Fujifilm X100VI, but you’re not sure which Film Simulation Recipes to program into your camera’s C1-C7 Custom Presets first. Well, let me help with that! I’ve got just the seven Recipes for you to try. If you have any other X-Trans V camera, this set will work for you, too.

Like film, many Film Simulation Recipes have specific use cases where they work best. The majority are intended for sunny daylight situations; however, they can sometimes work really well in other scenarios, too. For example, I’ve gotten great results pairing Kodak Portra 800 v3 with flash for indoor photography, even though it was intended for sunshine. This set is meant to provide you with at least one Recipe that will work great in nearly any light situation and with almost every imaginable subject.

It’s important to note that everyone has different tastes and preferences. Your style might be different than mine. If you don’t like one or more of these seven Film Simulation Recipes, no problem. Simply try the suggested alternatives until you do. Perhaps you won’t like Kodachrome 64, but you’ll love Kodak Gold 200. Or maybe you’ll love both Reala Ace and Timeless Negative. The only way to know for sure is to give them a try! You can pick any from the X-Trans V list, and I’m always making more.

Don’t know how to program Film Simulation Recipes into your camera? Click here to find out how.

Now, to the first seven Film Simulation Recipes to program into your Fujifilm X100VI (or any X-Trans V camera) first!

C1 — Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome 64

Classic Kodak slide film aesthetic that’s great for sunny daylight situations. Alternatively, consider Kodachrome 25, Kodak Gold 200, or Kodak Negative.

C2 — Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2

This is the Recipe for a Kodak color negative film look, and it’s perfect for golden hour photography. Alternatively, consider Kodak Portra 160 v2, Kodak Vision3 250D v2, or Agfa Ultra 100 v2.

C3 — Kodak Portra 800 v3

Kodak Portra 800 v3

With warm summer-like analog colors, this Recipe is great for sunny daytime situations. Alternatively, consider Vibrant Arizona, 1970’s Summer, or Kodak Vericolor Warm.

C4 — Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues

The perfect Recipe for a sunny day at the beach, yet surprisingly great for other situations, too. Alternatively, consider Fujicolor Superia 100, Thommy’s Ektachrome, or CineStill 400D v1.

C5 — Reala Ace

Reala Ace

Great for versatility, use this Recipe anytime of the day or night. Alternatively, consider Kodak Ultramax 400, 1976 Kodak, or Timeless Negative.

C6 — Fluorescent Night

Fluorescent Night

Use this Recipe for after-dark photography. Alternatively, consider Pushed CineStill 800T, Fujicolor Super HG v2, or Superia Xtra 400.

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400

Kodak Tri-X 400

Classic B&W aesthetic with strong grain and good contrast. Alternatively, consider Ilford FP4 Plus 125, Kodak T-Max P3200, or Ilford HP5 Plus 400.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

How to Program Film Simulation Recipes to your Fujifilm Camera

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

My Film Simulation Recipes are popular, but programming them into your Fujifilm camera can be confusing for those trying to use them for the first time. A little over three years ago I published an article explaining how, but I think, with the new X100VI coming out, it would be worthwhile to try again, and perhaps offer a little more clarity. If you are new to Film Simulation Recipes, then this article is for you!

To start with, there are some variances between models. It’s important to read your camera’s manual, which thankfully Fujifilm makes easy: click here to find your owner’s manual online. For most cameras, within the manual, navigate to the Shooting Menus set, select Image Quality Setting (Still Photography), and finally Edit/Save Custom Setting. For example, click here to view this for the X-T5. Also, I’ve included a screenshot of this section from the X100V manual below. Everything you need to know for your specific camera is found in your manual, so that’s why it’s important to review it first.

There’s an easy shortcut for navigating to the Edit/Save Custom Settings Menu. Simply press the Q-Button, which brings up the Quick Menu, then press-and-hold the Q-Button, which activates the Edit/Save Custom Settings Menu. This shortcut works on most Fujifilm cameras. A shortcut to edit the Quick Menu is to press-and-hold the Q-Button from outside of the Quick Menu.

A Film Simulation Recipe is simply a set of JPEG parameters that produce a certain look straight-out-of-camera, mostly inspired by film stocks. Each Recipe contains a specific set of settings that must be programmed into your camera, either in the Edit/Save Custom Settings Menu or the IQ Menu. The newer the camera, the more options and parameters there are to program.

Duck Pond – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1970’s Summer Recipe

On the latest cameras, a Film Simulation Recipe contains: Film Simulation, Dynamic Range, Grain Effect, Color Chrome Effect, Color Chrome FX Blue, White Balance and WB Shift, Highlight, Shadow, Color, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Clarity, ISO, and Exposure Compensation. All of those settings together make up a Recipe. The older the camera, the fewer parameters there are, and might only include: Film Simulation, Dynamic Range, White Balance and WB Shift, Highlight, Shadow, Color, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, ISO, and Exposure Compensation. On the newer models, Noise Reduction was renamed High ISO NR (it is the same thing) and Highlight and Shadow were combined into Tone Curve.

One parameter that cannot be saved is “Typical Exposure Compensation.” On most Fujifilm cameras, there is an Exposure Compensation knob on the top of the camera, which is where this is adjusted (unless you are in Manual Mode, in which case you’ll have to do it manually). An important note is that the suggested Exposure Compensation in each Recipe is only meant to be a starting point, and not a rule; each exposure should be judged individually. Also, most often I use Auto-ISO, but it is certainly alright to manually set the ISO. You might prefer different ISO parameters than what I like, and that is perfectly fine. It’s always ok to “season to taste” any Recipe to make it work better for you.

Pacific Poppies – Montaña de Oro SP, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues Recipe

Most Fujifilm cameras have seven Custom Settings (sometimes called Custom Presets), that are often referred to as C1-C7. The X-S10 and X-S20 have only four (C1-C4), and I believe there are some GFX cameras with six (C1-C6). Edit/Save Custom Settings is where you’ll program Film Simulation Recipes into your camera; however, some older Fujifilm models don’t have Custom Settings. In that case, you’ll program the desired Recipe parameters into the IQ Menu subset. Also, the newest Fujifilm models will allow you to program a Recipe into the IQ Menu subset in addition to the Custom Settings presets (basically, a bonus Recipe).

An important side note is that the Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T30 (however, not the X-T30 II), along with all of the cameras that came before it—X-Trans I, X-Trans II, X-Trans III, and older GFX—cannot save a White Balance Shift within the Custom Settings. Only the newer cameras can: X-Trans IV (except for the X-T3/X-T30), X-Trans V, and newer GFX. For those models that cannot save a WB Shift within the Custom Settings, you’ll have to program it from within the White Balance Menu found within the IQ Menu set. Also, those cameras will only remember one WB Shift per WB type, so choosing Recipes that either share the same WB Shift or use different WB types will make the user experience more enjoyable.

Autumn in a Mountain Meadow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100 Recipe

I don’t have any step-by-step instructions to program a Film Simulation Recipe into your specific camera, because there are variances between some models, and each step can be slightly different. It’s not difficult to program a Film Simulation Recipe, and once you’ve done it a couple of times it becomes quite easy. It’s just getting through the first time or two that can be confusing. Should you find yourself stuck, there are a few videos on YouTube that walk you through the process. If you are a visual learner, you might find these especially helpful to you: How to Save Fujifilm Simulation Recipes by Scott Dawson, Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes — How to Find & Save Them by Craig Pitts, and What are Fuji Film Simulation Recipes — Getting Started by TB-Photography. Even if you have a different model than what’s in those videos, the process for most cameras is similar enough that you should be able find your way through.

For those with the newest cameras, Custom Settings saves more than just your Recipes, but literally most camera settings, including focus preferences and even sound settings. My best recommendation is to program C1 with everything just as you want it to be, then copy that preset to the other C2-C7 (or C2-C4), so that they’re all exactly the same. Then, you just have to update them with the Film Simulation Recipe parameters for the specific Recipes that you wish to program. I also recommend disabling Auto Update Custom Setting. If your camera doesn’t have those options, then disregard this paragraph.

Arizona Barn – Sedona, Arizona – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vibrant Arizona Recipe

A common question is what about the settings that aren’t in the Film Simulation Recipe? What should those be set to? There are some options that are user-preference, so I don’t provide those as Recipe parameters. Choose whatever works for you. Let me touch on a few of them real quick, though.

I most often choose Image Size Large 3:2. I used to shoot with Image Quality Fine, but now choose Fine+RAW, as the RAW files can be reprocessed in-camera, which makes creating new Film Simulation Recipes much easier. My RAW files are Uncompressed. I choose JPEG over HEIF because Clarity isn’t available with HEIF (by the way, Clarity causes a short storing pause when set to anything other than 0). I don’t like Smooth Skin Effect personally, so I set it to Off. Lens Modulation Optimizer is often set to On, but it can be interesting when set to Off. Color Space is sRGB, as I had a bad experience once many years ago with AdobeRGB and have avoided it ever since. I usually use Multi Mode for metering (Photometry), but sometimes I use Spot.

Sentinel & Merced – Yosemite NP, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Color Recipe

There are over 300 Film Simulation Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App, which is free (consider becoming an App Patron to unlock the best experience and to support this website), and available for both Android and Apple. Otherwise, find them here:

EXR Recipes
Bayer Recipes
GFX Recipes
X-Trans I Recipes
X-Trans II Recipes
X-Trans III Recipes
X-Trans IV Recipes
X-Trans V Recipes

If you are not sure which Film Simulation Recipes to try first, no problem! I have several articles that might help with this, including:
Which Film Simulation Recipe, When?
The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First
Try These 3 Film Simulation Recipes, No Matter Your Fujifilm Camera
Helping You Decide Which Film Simulation Recipes to Choose

See also: Answers to the 10 Most Common Fujifilm How-To Questions

The Connection Between Fuji X Weekly & the New Fujifilm X100VI

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Fuji X Weekly is intrinsically connected to the brand-new Fujifilm X100VI.

Let me explain.

This goes back about a year-and-a-half ago, when the Fujifilm X100V famously and suddenly became an instant hit, two-and-a-half years after its release. I later discovered that I played a significant role in that. You see, social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram began using the X100V, and when they shared their pictures, it caused a spike in interest in the camera, which led to an explosion in demand. As it turns out, those social media influencers were using my Film Simulation Recipes, and it was the film-like straight-out-of-camera pictures that ultimately caused the buzz.

Autumn in a Mountain Meadow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Superia 100

Last Christmas Eve I pointed out that a number of camera stores mentioned Fuji X Weekly and my Recipes. I concluded that they were doing so because Film Simulation Recipes sell Fujifilm cameras. Many camera retailers recognize this, and so they encourage new and potential customers to check out this website.

Yesterday evening I finally had a chance to view most of the articles and videos about the upcoming Fujifilm X100VI. I caught the X Summit when it was live at 10:30 PM my time, then in the morning did a live broadcast with Fujifilm X-Photographer Nathalie Boucry discussing the event and the new camera. Then I had all sorts of things going on, and finally found some time in the late afternoon to write an article about the new camera. It wasn’t until later that I could finally take a look at what others were saying, particularly those who had early-access to the camera.

A lot of people are surprised that Fujifilm doesn’t send me their new models. This website is one of the most popular for Fujifilm (2.4 million visitors in 2023), and (as I already said) Film Simulation Recipes do more to sell Fujifilm cameras—directly or indirectly—than probably almost anyone. I pay for my gear myself, except for a few inexpensive third-party lenses that were sent to me free of charge. Fujifilm gifted me a coffee mug three or four years ago, which I still use occasionally. If I’m being completely honest, it is a little disheartening when I see others who seemingly do less for Fujifilm get the goodies; however, I never imagined that all of this would go anywhere near as far as it has (and it seems to be still growing!), so I’m just thankful to be on this ride, whatever it does or doesn’t have in store for me. If that means not getting early-access to the latest models like others did, that’s perfectly ok with me. It’s better to be grateful for what you do have than be envious of what you don’t.

Golden Light in Abandoned House – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Reala 100

As I was going through the content posted about the new camera, something caught my attention. In a number of videos, there were mentions of—or even a focus on—the JPEGs produced by the X100VI. They talked about film simulations, no need for editing (or maybe only lightly editing), and even film-like results. I didn’t catch any specific mentions of Fuji X Weekly or Film Simulation Recipes, but many hints towards it. But, in the articles, there were indeed some direct mentions, and even links to this website. The Verge said, “Ask any Fujifilm shooter, and they’ll tell you one of the company’s core strengths is JPEG processing: there are entire websites devoted to tweaking these film sims and getting the best possible straight-out-of-camera results.” They included a link to Fuji X Weekly. That’s huge! Moment stated, “If you’re interested in creating custom film recipes using film simulations, you can easily do so with the Fuji X Weekly App or by visiting the Fuji X Weekly website.” Jonas Rask wrote, “…the community that revolves around making your own custom looks from Film Simulations has exploded in popularity, largely due to the popularity of sites such as FujiXweekly.com.”

There’s a seemingly universal understanding that many of those who have already ordered (or who plan to order) the Fujifilm X100VI will be shooting straight-out-of-camera JPEGs with it. Film Simulation Recipes will be such a big part of the experience of the new camera. Even those who aren’t all that familiar with Recipes (yet) are well aware of film simulations and Fujifilm’s out-of-camera output. It’s this ability to get film-like results without the need to edit that is a big driver of all the preorders that apparently are greatly exceeding Fujifilm’s expectations. If you wanted to buy the X100VI, I hope that you ordered it quickly after preorders opened, otherwise you might have to wait a little while. I’m “sorry, not-sorry” for any role that I may have played in that. Joking aside, I hope you enjoy your new camera, for all of those who took the plunge. For those who didn’t, let’s not forget how awesome our cameras are.

See also: The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First — Part 1: X-Trans V

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X100VI in black: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex
Fujifilm X100VI in silver: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

Find over 300 Film Simulation Recipes in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Comparing Kodak Portra 800 Recipes

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Fujifilm X-T5 + Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe

This morning I headed out with my Fujifilm X-T5 to capture some images, so that I could do a side-by-side comparison of the new Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipes with the other two Portra 800 options, plus Kodak Portra 400 v2. As I explained in the article for the new Recipe, Peter McKinnon’s Portra 800 photographs were the inspiration for it, and it is also reminiscent of some of Kyle McDougall’s An American Mile Portra 400 pictures. With all of these Recipe options, perhaps you are unsure which one you should use. Just because I published a new version, doesn’t mean that it is inherently the best one or the right one for you; it’s simply an alternative that you may or may not like. Hopefully, this article will help you with your decision. I do believe that many of you will appreciate the new Kodak Portra 800 v3 Recipe.

It’s important to understand that one film can produce many different looks based on a whole host of factors: how shot (film format, lens, exposure, filters, light, etc.), how developed (push/pull, brand of chemicals, freshness of chemicals, timing, temperature and pH of the water, etc.), how printed (paper, chemicals, timing, filters, etc.) and/or how scanned (brand of scanner, correction profiles, post-editing, etc.). Even within one photographer’s collection of one specific emulsion, there can be some noticeable variances. In the case of Peter McKinnon and his Kodak Portra 800, there is indeed significant divergences in the exact look of different pictures. My Kodak Portra 800 v3 Recipe does not accurately mimic all of his pictures captured with the film, but it is pretty close to some of them.

These three Kodak Portra 800 Recipes can all resemble the film; however, they’re much different from each other. Since one emulsion can produce divergent results, you can achieve various looks by choosing different Film Simulation Recipes. My original Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe was a joint venture between myself and Thomas Schwab based on “memory color” (as Fujifilm likes to put it) of the film. The next version, Kodak Portra 800 v2, was created entirely by Thomas Schwab after he shot a roll of the film and his Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera side-by-side. The third version was created by me after carefully examining Peter McKinnon’s pictures of Kodak Portra 800 film. I included my Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe in this comparison because it is fairly similar to the Kodak Portra 800 v3 Recipe, and because there is an obvious resemblance with the new Recipe to some Portra 400 film photographs.

With all of that said, let’s jump right into the comparison! Because X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on some film sims, I adjusted Color Chrome FX Blue down one notch on Kodak Portra 800 and Kodak Portra 800 v2 to make them compatible with my X-T5.

Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe

For me, personally, it’s really hard to beat Kodak Portra 400 v2. It’s one of my all-time personal favorite Film Simulation Recipes, and it’s also one of the most popular. In each of these five sets, it’s the Recipe that I’m most drawn to. Kodak Portra 800 v3 is the most warm of these four options; a comparison of warmer Recipes—1970’s Summer, 1971 Kodak, Vibrant Arizona, Kodak Vericolor Warm, Kodak Portra 400 Warm, Bright Summer, Bright Kodak, and the new Kodak Portra 800 v3—would be interesting. The original Kodak Portra 800 Recipe is the punchiest, Kodak Portra 800 v2 is the softest, and v3 is the warmest. Ignoring the Kodak Portra 400 v2 pictures, I like Kodak Portra 800 v3 the best in the first set (with the truck), the third set (broken window, wide), and the fourth set (gas station); I like the original Kodak Portra 800 Recipe the best in the second set (broken window, tall) and the last set (Motor Hotel); while I do like Kodak Portra 800 v2 in each set, it wasn’t my top choice in any.

Now it’s your turn! From this test, which of these four Film Simulation Recipes did you like best? Which was your favorite for each set? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon  B&H  Moment

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Kodak Portra 800 v3 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) & X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

South Rim Sunrise – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

My wife recently challenged me to create a Film Simulation Recipe that mimics the aesthetic of Kodak Portra 800 film that Peter McKinnon has been sharing on Instagram and YouTube. I’m really drawn to his analog photography—I think they’re some of his best photographs. While there were plenty of examples of his Portra 800 to examine, I found it to be a difficult endeavor to replicate on my Fujifilm cameras.

As I’ve said many times, one film can produce many different looks based on a whole host of factors: how shot (film format, lens, exposure, filters, light, etc.), how developed (push/pull, brand of chemicals, freshness of chemicals, timing, temperature and pH of the water, etc.), how printed (paper, chemicals, timing, filters, etc.) and/or how scanned (brand of scanner, correction profiles, post-editing, etc.). Even within one photographer’s collection of one specific emulsion, there can be some noticeable variances. In the specific case of Peter McKinnon and his Kodak Portra 800, there is indeed significant divergences in the exact look of different pictures.

Mineral Stains on a Dry Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

Before I get any deeper into this, let me give a brief history of Kodak Portra 800 and my Film Simulation Recipes that mimic this film. Kodak introduced Portra 800 in 1998 at the same time as Portra 160 and Portra 400. Portra 160 and Portra 400 both originally came in a “VC” (vivid color) and “NC” (neutral color) versions, which were later merged into in-between emulsions that still exists today; however, Portra 800 only ever came in one variety. I don’t know if it is true, but I read that Portra 800 was based on the older Vericolor/Vision2 technology, while Portra 160 and Portra 400 were based on T-Grain/Vision3 advancements. In any event, all of these films have been tweaked and updated by Kodak several times over the years. While it has become increasingly expensive, all three ISO versions of Portra are still being manufactured today by Kodak. In fact, the current version of Lomography 800 is supposedly repacked Portra 800 (although it might be a run that didn’t pass quality control).

My original Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe was a joint venture between myself and Thomas Schwab based on “memory color” (as Fujifilm likes to put it) of the film. The next version, Kodak Portra 800 v2, was created entirely by Thomas Schwab after he shot a roll of the film and his Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera side-by-side. This new third version was created by me after carefully examining Peter McKinnon’s pictures of Kodak Portra 800 film.

Pink Girl on a Green Slide – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

I divided Peter’s Portra 800 pictures into seven groups. Each group contained photos that seemed similar in overall aesthetics to each other. The commonality within each group tended to be (for the most part) the lighting condition that the film was shot in (although it was not universally so). I picked one group, and tried to replicate the look of it as closely as possible using the options available on my Fujifilm X-T5 (or should I say my Kodak Retina camera?), choosing similar light and colors for my pictures. Once I was satisfied that I was close, I used those settings to create images similar to the photographs in the other groups; however, this is where it fell apart. One Recipe was not able to replicate multiple aesthetics from the same film, which is not surprising. I made a bunch of small modifications until I had one Film Simulation Recipe that was a fairly faithful facsimile to multiple groups of Peter’s Portra 800 pictures. I say “fairly faithful” because compromises had to be made in order to match multiple groups. These settings are in the ballpark of four of the seven groups (and most similar to just two), and not especially close to the other three, unfortunately. This is not a 100% faithful recreation of any of his picture aesthetics, but in being less faithful to one specific look, I was better able to replicate the film examples overall.

This new Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe is intended for fifth-generation Fujifilm X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20 (yes, the X-S20), and the upcoming X100VI. To make this Recipe compatible with some X-Trans IV models—specifically, the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—I simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Off, since X-Trans V cameras render blue more deeply on some film simulations. For those with the X-Pro3 or X100V, consider setting Shadow to 0 instead of 0.5. I do think that the original Kodak Portra 800 Recipe, as well as Kodak Portra 400 v2, are not very far off from Peter’s pictures, and could be good alternatives.

Minolta – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

The Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe is great for both golden-hour and midday light. While it is intended for sunny daylight conditions, it does pretty well in shade, too. It’s alright for overcast days, depending on the specific cloud cover conditions. It’s great for natural-light indoors, and surprisingly decent for nighttime photography, but I’d avoid it for artificial light scenarios with warm bulbs. This Recipe is fairly versatile, despite it’s warm Kodak-like colors. In the right light, it can look pretty darn close to some of the Kodak Portra 800 scans that Peter McKinnon has been sharing on his social media channels. Interestingly, there’s also similarities to some of the Kodak Portra 400 images in Kyle McDougall’s An American Mile series. I have a feeling that this will quickly become a favorite option for many of you—personally, I really love this one!

Film Simulation: Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off (X-Trans V); Weak (X-Trans IV)
White Balance: 6600K, -1 Red & -3 Blue
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -0.5
Color: +3
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

Morning Lightbulbs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Read Leaves on a Block Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Rounded Light on an Circular Table – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Orange Tables and Leaf – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Main Street Market – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sunny Suburbia – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Ready for an Adventure – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Rainy Day Rose Blossom – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Sunrise Beyond Grandeur Point – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dead Tree at the Rim’s Edge – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Golden Sunset inside the Grand Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Morning at the Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Maricopa Point at Midday – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Canyon Ridge in Golden Light – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunrise over icy South Rim Trail – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bright Angel Trail from Above – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Too Close to the Icy Ledge – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Lookout Studio – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Grand Canyon Railway 237 – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Williams Flyer – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
American Painted Horse – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Swift Trailer – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Blue Barrel, Red Bricks – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Raindrop on a Lightbulb – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Raindrops of Fall Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hanging Lightbulbs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fingers as Carrots – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sitting Siblings – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Minolta & Film Book – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Camera, Books – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Busy Parking Lot – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Window Paperclip – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Window Light – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hanging Plastic Golfballs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Blossoming Trumpet Flower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hazy Tree Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Desert Spring – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hill behind Yellow – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Go Right – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison:

Kodak Portra 800 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 800 v2 Film Simulation Recipe
This new Kodak Portra 800 v3 Film Simulation Recipe
Kodak Portra 400 v2 Film Simulation Recipe

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon  B&H  Moment

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes in January 2024

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Icy Morning at the Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor C200 v2

I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular. For me, this is a fascinating topic, but it’s definitely hard to know definitively. While I get a glimpse on social media, my best gauge is the Fuji X Weekly website statistics; specifically, which Recipe articles are viewed the most. I don’t collect any data on the Fuji X Weekly App, so that’s no help—although, if I did, it would likely offer the most accurate picture; however, it would still be impossible to know which Recipes people programmed into their Fujifilm cameras, or how often they used each. Perhaps a survey would be particularly useful, yet even it has its limitations. While certainly a flawed method, page-view website statics offer the best glimpse at which Film Simulation Recipes are the most popular, so that’s what I’m using for this article. These are simply the Top 25 most-viewed Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly website last month (January 2024).

Most of the time these lists are pretty predictable. Those with Kodak brand names in the title—Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, Tri-X, etc., etc.—are the most popular. Classic Chrome is the king of film simulations, as the majority of the most-viewed Recipes are based on that film simulation. X-Trans IV Recipes, especially for the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras, tend to be the most popular.

This time, however, I was a surprised by many of the rankings. The top two—Kodachrome 64 and Kodak Portra 400 v2—did not surprise me at all. Those particular Recipes are far-and-away the most popular. Third place, which made this list despite being so new (released towards the end of the month), is a good deal behind the top two. Reala Ace is now the most popular Classic Negative Recipe, edging out Pacific Blues. Kodak Vision3 250D is the only Recipe that uses Eterna, and Kodak Vision3 250D v2 is the only one that uses Nostalgic Neg.. There’s also only one PRO Neg. Std Recipe and one Acros, while five use Classic Negative and 16 (of the 25) use Classic Chrome. By far the most popular X-Trans II Recipe is Classic Kodak Chrome, which ranks 21st. Fujicolor C200 v2 is the only App Patron Early-Access Recipe that I’ve ever seen make it into one of these lists.

Without any further delay, below are the most popular Recipes of last month!

Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of January 2024

#1:

Kodachrome 64

#2:

Kodak Portra 400 v2

#3:

McCurry Kodachrome

#4:

Reggie’s Portra

#5:

Kodak Portra 400

#6:

Vibrant Arizona

#7:

Vintage Kodachrome

#8:

Reala Ace

#9:

Pacific Blues

#10:

Kodak Tri-X 400

#11:

Kodak Gold 200

#12:

Kodak Portra 400

#13:

Kodak Portra 160

#14:

Classic Chrome

#15:

CineStill 800T

#16:

Kodachrome II

#17:

Kodak Vision3 250D v2

#18:

Kodak Portra 400 v2

#19:

Kodak Ultramax 400

#20:

Kodak Max 800

#21:

Classic Kodak Chrome

#22:

Fujicolor C200 v2

#23:

Kodak Vision3 250D

#24:

Kodachrome 64

#25:

Fujicolor Super HG v2

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App!

Vintage Eterna — Fujifilm X-Trans V, X-Trans IV, & X-H1 Film Simulation Recipes

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Cactus Spikes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Eterna Recipe

The premise of this Film Simulation Recipe was simple: what would my Vintage Kodachrome Recipe look like if I used Eterna instead of Classic Chrome? As it turns out, it looks alright; however, after I made a few more modifications, it looks much better!

The Vintage Eterna Film Simulation Recipe is actually three Recipes: one for the X-H1, X-T3, and X-T30, another for the other X-Trans IV models (X-Pro3 and newer), and one for X-Trans V cameras. I initially created this on my Fujifilm X-E4, but then I wanted a version for my X-H1, so I made a recipe compatible with that camera, and also used it on my X-T30. Later, I made a small modification for use on my X-T5, since X-Trans V cameras render blue more deeply on some film simulations. If you have an X-H1 or any X-Trans IV or V camera, you can use the Vintage Eterna Recipe—just find the version below that’s compatible with your model.

Bougainville Branch Blossom – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1 – Vintage Eterna Recipe

While this Recipe wasn’t modeled after any specific emulsion, it definitely has a vintage film vibe. It’s vaguely reminiscent of color photographs from the 1950’s or ’60’s shot on Kodak film. It also has a bit of a cinematic quality to it. I don’t think this will be anyone’s favorite Recipe for everyday photography, but I suspect that some of you will love it for occasional use when retro results are desired. It pairs well with vintage glass or cheap third-party lenses with character.

This was a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, but it has been replaced by a different Early-Access Recipe, so now everyone can use it! One perk of being an App Patron subscriber is that you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes, including the one that replaced this Recipe.

Rainy Day in the Neighborhood – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Eterna Recipe

Vintage Eterna for the Fujifilm X-H1, X-T3, & X-T30

Film Simulation: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect: Off or N/A
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & -5 Blue
Highlight: +3
Shadow: -1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -2/3 to 0 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Vintage Eterna Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-H1 and Fujifilm X-T30:

Cloud Above Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Summer Blossoms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Sky Vines – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Backlit Leaves of Summer – Fujifilm X-H1
Hummingbird Feeder – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Golden Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Yellow Trumpet Flower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Red Trumpet Flower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-H1
Garden Wall Light – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

Vintage Eterna for Fujifilm X-Trans IV

Film Simulation: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & -5 Blue
Highlight: +3
Shadow: -1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -2/3 to 0 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Vintage Eterna Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

Labyrinth – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sky Dome – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Little Desert Berries – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Saguaro & Storm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Birdie Footprints – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Distant Downtown – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sky Rays – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Saguaro Silhouette – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Purple Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

Vintage Eterna for Fujifilm X-Trans V

Film Simulation: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & -5 Blue
Highlight: +3
Shadow: -1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -2/3 to 0 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Vintage Eterna Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Sunset Light on the North Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Covered Horse – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
See Fingers as Carrots – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Buckets – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Wet Bougainvillea Flower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Wet Lightbulb – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunlit Yellow Bloom – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and over 300 more in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

1971 Kodak — A Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) FXW App Patron Early-Access Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

View of the North Rim from the South – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1971 Kodak

I was flipping through the pages of a photo album that my grandma had put together a long time ago, when I saw something interesting. Most of the pictures in this book were captured before I was born, and some when I was very young. I came across a group of color prints that all looked similar. They were warm—very yellowish—with fairly subdued colors, kind of flat-looking, yet with a decent amount of contrast. Blown-out highlights was a commonality among many (but not all) of the prints. A month and year were printed on the border, along with a red fox. Kodak is faintly visible on the back of the paper.

I was very intrigued by the aesthetic of these photographs. There was an obvious resemblance to my 1970’s Summer Film Simulation Recipe, although not quite identical. So I set out to recreate it with my Fujifilm X-T5.

Grand Dome – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1971 Kodak

From the clues, I determined that the film was most likely Kodacolor-X, which was a popular color negative film from that era. It required the C-22 development process, which was a predecessor to C-41. The prints likely are a bit discolored and faded due to age, and probably looked slightly different when they were newly made. Many of them were square, and those were likely shot on a Kodak Instamatic camera and on 126 format film; the rectangular pictures are from 35mm film. Most of the prints were developed in 1971, although some had dates in 1972 printed on the border. The red fox indicates that it was developed at Fox Photo, which at the time was a popular one-hour photo lab. Interestingly, in the iconic mall scene in Back to the Future, it’s a Fox Photo that get’s destroyed by the VW van.

I made a scan of one of the prints, and it really messed up the look. I did my best to correct it to closely match the print, and I did get pretty close; however, it’s not 100% identical. I didn’t use this scan, but the prints themselves, to create the 1971 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe. I think you can still get a pretty good idea of what the prints look like from the scan.

A scan of one of the prints from 1971.
The kid on the right with the trombone is my dad when he was 15.

The aesthetic that the 1971 Kodak Recipe produces is very similar to Kodacolor-X film printed on Kodak paper in the early-1970’s, and viewed today after aging. The most similar Recipe to this is 1970’s Summer, and I’ve included a comparison at the bottom so that you can see the difference. This Recipe is compatible with fifth-generation X-Trans cameras from Fujifilm, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, and X-S20 (yes, the X-S20), as well as the upcoming X100VI. I’m sure that you can use it on the latest GFX models, too; however, I don’t have any personal experience with that, and it’s likely to render slightly different (try it anyway). This Recipe pairs very well with vintage glass (or inexpensive third-party lenses with character), and is best for sunny daylight scenarios.

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These 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 an App Patron, be sure to look for this new Recipe in the App!

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this 1971 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

BM&LP RR 6001 – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Standing at the edge of the Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Four Kids at the Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Golden Sunlight in the Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Garden Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Last of Autumn – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Backlit Backyard Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Leaf Pile – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Autumn Tree and Grey Sky – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Construction – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Old Saguaro Reaching High – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pinyon Pine at the South Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Lookout Store Sign – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Swift – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
No Teasing the Horses – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison:

1970’s Summer Film Simulation Recipe
1971 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe
1970’s Summer Film Simulation Recipe
1971 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

McCurry Kodachrome — A Fujifilm X-Trans IV Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Morning at the South Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – McCurry Kodachrome

I received an email from Anders Lindborg back in November, and the subject line read, “The Last Roll.” Anders explained to me that himself and John Sevigny had co-created a Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe based on Steve McCurry’s last roll of Kodachrome film, which was (as you likely know) famously developed on July 12, 2010, at Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas.

Over the last several years, Anders has made a number of Film Simulation Recipes that have been published on Fuji X Weekly, including Kodak Tri-X 400, Ilford FP4 Plus 125, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, Ilford Pan F Plus 50, Kodak Gold v2, seven Fujicolor Pro 160NS Recipes, and seven Fujicolor Pro 400H Recipes. Anders and John collaboratively made the Kodak T-Max P3200 Recipe. They had intended to share this new Recipe with everyone, but were waiting until after the finishing touches were complete on a book that John was intending to publish. Sadly, before that happened, John Sevigny died on November 9th, after suffering a massive stroke.

Writing this article has been difficult for me, because of John’s passing. But I hope that this is somehow honoring to him. He was an extraordinarily knowledgable photographer who was always eager to help. It’s a humble privilege for me to share with all of you this Recipe that Anders and John co-created.

Orange Pot, Tables & Leaf – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30 – McCurry Kodachrome

“The goal was to create a recipe that both looked and behaved like Kodachrome 64,” Anders wrote. “It should also be based on science, not just trying to look like the real thing during very special conditions. Our starting reference were the photos taken by Steve McCurry on the quite-famous last roll of Kodachrome project. We also studied every little detail of the documentary to find out the exact conditions for how the photos were made. Even that was not enough, so we started to hunt down every single Kodachrome 64 photo we could possibly find. Luck was on our side, as we managed to locate a whole bunch that were actually developed by Dwayne’s Photo.”

Anders continued, “After about eight months of testing every single scenario we could come up with, using similar lighting equipment that was used for the last roll project, we started to feel like we had done all that was possible with the given tools. Everything matched our reference photos, and we both got stunning results with every test we made, but we still decided to test it for just a bit longer to make sure we actually had captured the true spirit of this film. John also travelled parts of the USA and South America, shooting nothing but this recipe for color work.”

Kodachrome was first introduced in 1935, and was discontinued in 2009. There are three distinct eras of the film, and Kodachrome 64, which was introduced in 1974, was in the third and final era. Kodachrome was actually a black-and-white film, and the color dyes were added during the development process. Because of this, it is probably the most difficult film to scan, and, if not properly color corrected, will often have a pronounced blue cast. Even a scan that is carefully corrected can lean slightly blue compared to the slide being projected or viewed on a light table. McCurry’s “last roll” slides were scanned by Richard Jackson, who was regarded as a leading expert on Kodachrome scanning.

Kodachrome 64 slides on a light table – Fujifilm X100V – McCurry Kodachrome

There are some differences between this McCurry Kodachrome Recipe and my Kodachrome 64 Recipe, but there are also a lot of similarities. My Recipe is more like Kodachrome as viewed via a slide projector or light table, while the McCurry Kodachrome Recipe is more like quality scans of the film. There’s a comparison of the two Recipes at the very bottom of this article.

Like the actual film, this McCurry Kodachrome Recipe has a narrow dynamic range, and must be carefully exposed. Pay extra attention to the highlights, because they can clip easily. Also, try to keep the ISO as low as practical. I used this Recipe with the ISO all the way to 6400, and it was fine, but for best results that better match the film, don’t go above ISO 1600. McCurry Kodachrome is fully compatible with all X-Trans IV models—including the X-T3 and X-T30; for X-Trans V, blues will render slightly more deeply, so the results will be just a tad different, but feel free to try anyway.

Film Simulation: Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Weak, Small — Weak for X-T3/X-T30
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off — N/A for X-T3/X-T30
White Balance: 5900K, -1 Red & +4 Blue
Highlight: 0
Shadow: 0
Color: +2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -2
Clarity: 0 — N/A for X-T3/X-T30
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 1600
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photos, all camera made JPEGs using this McCurry Kodachrome Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T30:

Siblings Playing Video Games – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Little Palms in a Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Promenade – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Broken Haircut Chair – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Bougainvillea Below Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Bougainvillea & Stucco – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Blossom Along Sidewalk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Sunny Day Along Suburban Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Palm Trunk & Palm Shadow – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Rainbows on Sunny Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Walkway Chair – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Block Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30
Primetime Vannin’ – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T30

Example photos, all camera made JPEGs using this McCurry Kodachrome Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:

Red Scion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Colorful Shoes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Jon Dressed Up – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
It’s a Dreary Day in the Neighborhood – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Old Chair Swing – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Glass Maker – Harmony, CA – Fujifilm X100V
Joshua Playing Air Hockey – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Red Blanket – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Winter Morning at the Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Canyon Behind Trees – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Tree & Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Cold Canyon – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
The Big, Giant Hole in the Ground – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Moon over Dilapidated Barn – Prefumo Canyon, CA – Fujifilm X100V
Roofline & Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Suburban Skies – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Growing Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Bougainvillea & Cinder Block Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Pops of Yellow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Golden Hour Girl – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Backyard Sunset – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Suburban Desert Sunset – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sunset Over Desert Brush – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Golden Coast Blossoms – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X100V

Comparison:

Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
McCurry Kodachrome Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
McCurry Kodachrome Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)

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White Balance & Film Simulation Recipe Versatility

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Fujifilm X-T5 — Reala Ace

Which Film Simulation Recipes are the most versatile? What makes a particular Recipe especially versatile, anyway? What does White Balance have to do with any of it? These are questions that I get asked pretty regularly, so I thought I would answer them today.

Let’s start with White Balance, including White Balance Shift. In the analog days, with a few exceptions, film was either Daylight-balanced or Tungsten-balanced. Daylight-balanced film, as you can imagine, was intended for use in sunny daytime scenarios, with a Kelvin temperature around 5500-5600K. Tungsten film was intended for artificial light scenarios, with a Kelvin temperature around 3200K. Because film was made for one of two specific light situations, you had three basic options for use outside of those scenarios: 1) accept the results for what they are, 2) use Color Correction Filters to adjust the Kelvin temperature to more closely match the light, or 3) use lighting equipment to artificially make the light match the film.

Fujifilm X100V — Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled

Digital cameras have a large number of White Balance options, which, when combined with WB fine-tuning (Fujifilm calls it WB Shift), can match the precise light that you are photographing in. If the White Balance is exactly correct for the light, things that are pure white in real life will appear pure white in the photograph, no color tint. But, just because the White Balance is technically correct, doesn’t mean that it is artistically correct. Nobody said that the White Balance must always be spot-on accurate—maybe you don’t want it to be, for aesthetic reasons. In fact, in the film days, it was quite common for the Kelvin temperature to be a mismatch for the light, at least a little. Kodak—the most popular film maker—was known for making emulsions with a warm color cast. In other words, achieving a perfectly accurate White Balance, which wasn’t particularly common until somewhat recently, might not be desirable. However, in the digital age with Auto White Balance, we’re often used to having a highly accurate White Balance in our photographs, and seeing it not spot-on accurate can perhaps be a bit unnerving, especially if it is pretty far off.

Many of the Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes are facsimiles of actual film stocks, and often that means using a fixed White Balance. Unless you have Color Correction Filters or are artificially lighting the scene to match the White Balance (both of which are unlikely), if the scene’s light is a mismatch for the Recipe, you can get undesirable results sometimes (just like with film). My best advice is to use a Film Simulation Recipe that is a match for the scene. For example, Fluorescent Night might be a better choice for nighttime photography than 1970’s Summer, since the former is more like Tungsten-balanced and the latter is more like Daylight-balanced. Sometimes the best Recipe for a particular light situation might be obvious, and other times it might not be, and trial-and-error is necessary to figure it out—my Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? series is intended to help out with this.

Fujifilm X-T5 — Fujicolor Super HG v2

Not all of the Recipes use a fixed White Balance; instead, some call for Auto White Balance. Newer Fujifilm cameras actually have three AWB options: Auto White Priority, Auto, and Auto Ambience Priority. White Priority leans cooler in artificial light than standard Auto, while Ambience Priority leans a little warmer in artificial light. All three AWB options are intended to produce reasonably accurate White Balances in all light situations. Because of this, Recipes that use AWB tend to be a lot more versatile than Recipes with a fixed White Balance, since you can use them in all sorts of light situations, and not just one. This is much less film-like, but perhaps can be equated to carrying a bunch of different Color Correction Filters with you all of the time. The easiest way to find my Film Simulation Recipes that use AWB is to Filter By White Balance (available to App Patrons) in the Fuji X Weekly App.

White Balance and WB Shift are probably the largest factor in determining the versatility of a particular Recipe, but it’s far from the only factor. Film Simulation, Dynamic Range, Highlight and Shadow, Color, etc., all play a role. One Recipe that uses AWB might be more versatile than another that also uses AWB, and some Recipes that use a fixed White Balance can be surprisingly versatile. However, what one person likes might be different from another, since each person has their own unique tastes. I might like a particular Recipe for a specific scenario, but you might dislike it for that exact same situation.

Fujifilm X100V — Timeless Negative

The pictures in this article were all captured with Film Simulation Recipes that use AWB and that I find to be especially versatile. Use them anytime of the day or night, in any light situation, and for any subject. If you want a versatile option to program into your Fujifilm camera, those are ones to consider. But they are far from the only versatile Recipes, and they might not be the best, either. If one of them stands out to you, I definitely invite you to try it.

See also: The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X100V in black:  Amazon   B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X100V in silver: Amazon   B&H  Moment

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Five Fun Film Simulation Recipes for Fujifilm Cameras

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Empty Diner – Reno, NV – Fujifilm X100V – Xpro ’62

There are certain Film Simulation Recipes that are great for regular use. Maybe they’re not completely versatile, and cannot be used effectively in all situations, but they’re good for a lot of photographs. There are other Recipes that are good only for certain instances, such as night photography. There are also some Film Simulation Recipes that I would categorize as fun. They’re not necessarily intended to be used often, they’re not necessarily versatile, and they’re not necessarily even meant for specific scenarios. They’re just for fun, when you want results that are a little different.

While I have included five of these fun Recipes below, I have published a lot more than just five of them. These are ones that I have personally used within the last couple of weeks. I thought if I used them and appreciated the results, perhaps you would like to try them, too. Overall, there are probably a couple dozen Recipes (maybe even more than that) that could be included in this category. Perhaps it’s unfair to say that these are the only fun ones, because in my opinion all of the Recipes are fun, but these are just for fun, if that makes sense.

The five fun Recipes below are not in any particular order. I invite you to try them today!

LomoChrome Metropolis

Polaroid II

1981 Kodak

Expired Velvia

Xpro ’62

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The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First — Part 6: X-Trans I

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Sunset Branch – Bountiful, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro1 – Color Analog

Part 1 — X-Trans V, Part 2 — X-Trans IV, Part 3 — X-T3/X-T30, Part 4 — X-Trans III, Part 5 — X-Trans II

I frequently get asked: which seven Film Simulation Recipes should I program into my camera first? I’ve published over 300 on this website and in the Fuji X Weekly App, and the choices can become overwhelming. I’ve attempted to help out with this dilemma several times, including the Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? series, Try These 3 Film Simulation Recipes No Matter Your Fujifilm Camera, The 10 Best Film Simulation Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly App, Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of 2023, and many others. My hope is that these types of articles help you to find some good Recipes to try, in case you’re not sure where to begin or what to use. This post is Part 6 of the series, and the final installment.

The list of Film Simulation Recipes below are my “Essential 7” for X-Trans I cameras, which are the X-Pro1, X-E1, and X-M1 (the X-M1 doesn’t have the PRO Neg. Hi and PRO Neg. Std film sims, so it is a bit more limited; it doesn’t have C1-C7, either). If you are not sure which Recipes to program into your C1-C7 Custom Presets, these are my suggestions for you to begin with. These are the ones that you must try, in my opinion. You might love all of them, you might only appreciate some of them, or you might not like any of them. Each person has their own styles and tastes, and there’s no one single Recipe that’s universally loved by everyone (although a few seem close). Still, give these seven a try—keep the ones you like, and replace the ones that you don’t.

Arched Window – Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro1 – Kodachrome I

A couple of important side notes here. First, this list isn’t necessarily made up of versatile Recipes. Like film, most Film Simulation Recipes have specific use cases—such as sunny daylight—so not all of these option will be good for night photography, for example, or perhaps other situations. Also, X-Trans I models cannot save a White Balance Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets. You can only save one WB Shift per White Balance type, which means you’ll have to remember to adjust the WB Shift each time you change Recipes. Since X-Trans I was excluded from the Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? series, I decided to take WB Shift into account for this article, and choose Recipes with a variety of WB types. This will make the user experience more enjoyable, but it does exclude some Recipes that might be preferable over others, since I’m avoiding multiple Recipes with the same WB type. For the 7th Recipe, use Daylight/Fine instead of Auto; by doing so, you’ll still get a similar result, and, since the two Daylight WB Recipes share the same WB Shift, you’ll be good to go.

The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to program into your X-Trans I camera first:

C1 — Kodachrome II — Auto WB

Kodachrome II

C2 — Punchy Velvia — Daylight/Fine WB

Punchy Velvia

C3 — Color Negative Film — Kelvin WB

Color Negative Film

C4 — Superia Xtra 400 — Shade WB

Superia Xtra 400

C5 — Vivid Color — Fluorescent 1 WB

Vivid Color

C6 — Provia — Incandescent WB

Provia

C7 — Sepia — *Use Daylight/Fine WB (instead of Auto)*

Sepia

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The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to Program Into Your Fujifilm Camera First — Part 5: X-Trans II

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Purple Mountains – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – Classic Kodak Chrome

Part 1 — X-Trans V, Part 2 — X-Trans IV, Part 3 — X-T3/X-T30, Part 4 — X-Trans III, Part 6 — X-Trans I

I frequently get asked: which seven Film Simulation Recipes should I program into my camera first? I’ve published over 300 on this website and in the Fuji X Weekly App, and the choices can become overwhelming. I’ve attempted to help out with this dilemma several times, including the Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? series, Try These 3 Film Simulation Recipes No Matter Your Fujifilm Camera, The 10 Best Film Simulation Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly App, Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of 2023, and many others. My hope is that these types of articles help you to find some good Recipes to try, in case you’re not sure where to begin or what to use. This post is Part 5 of the series.

The list of Film Simulation Recipes below are my “Essential 7” for X-Trans II cameras, which are the X100S, X100T, X-T1, X-T10, X-E2, X-E2s, X70, X20, X30, XQ1, and XQ2. A few of the older models—X100S, X20, and XQ1—don’t have Classic Chrome, so I have a set of Recipes at the bottom that exclude the Classic Chrome film simulation. To complicate it more, I don’t believe that either of the XQ models have PRO Neg. Hi or PRO Neg. Std (but they also don’t have C1-C7). If you are not sure which Recipes to program into your C1-C7 Custom Presets, these are my suggestions for you to begin with. These are the ones that you must try, in my opinion. You might love all of them, you might only appreciate some of them, or you might not like any of them. Each person has their own styles and tastes, and there’s no one single Recipe that’s universally loved by everyone (although a few seem close). Still, give these seven a try—keep the ones you like, and replace the ones that you don’t.

Indoor Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T1 – Provia Negative

A couple of important side notes here. First, this list isn’t necessarily made up of versatile Recipes. Like film, most Film Simulation Recipes have specific use cases—such as sunny daylight—so not all of these option will be good for night photography, for example, or perhaps other situations. Be sure to visit my Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? article for a more comprehensive group of options for various use cases. Also, X-Trans II models cannot save a White Balance Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets. You can only save one WB Shift per White Balance type, which means you’ll have to remember to adjust the WB Shift each time you change Recipes. The suggestions below do not take this into account; however, the Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? article does, so be sure to read it.

The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to program into your X-Trans II camera first:

C1 — Classic Kodak Chrome

Classic Kodak Chrome

C2 — Kodachrome II

Kodachrome II

C3 — Kodak Portra 160

Kodak Portra 160

C5 — Ektachrome 100SW

Ektachrome 100SW

C5 — Pro Film

Pro Film

C6 — CineStill 800T

CineStill 800T

C7 — Monochrome Red

Monochrome Red

The Essential 7 Film Simulation Recipes to program into your X-Trans II camera first (without Classic Chrome):

C1 — Porto 200

Porto 200

C2 — Color Negative Film

Color Negative Film

C3 — Astia

Astia

C4 — Eterna

Ektachrome 100SW

C5 — Pro Film

Pro Film

C6 — CineStill 800T

CineStill 800T

C7 — Monochrome Red

Monochrome Red

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.