Fujifilm Film Simulation

Reala Ace — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Luxury Among Palms – Laguna Hills, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Reala Ace Recipe

Fujifilm introduced a new film simulation with the GFX100 II called Reala Ace. Fujifilm says that it “combines faithful reproduction with hard tonality,” showing it with a little higher vibrancy than Classic Negative paired with a tonality more similar to Provia. Some have described it as being true-to-life. Photographs that I have found captured with the new film simulation have a Classic Negative look, but with an increase in color, a reduction in contrast, and significantly more blue. I think this new film sim could have been called Classic Negative v2, but Fujifilm named it Reala Ace instead.

Fujicolor Reala 100 was Fujifilm’s first Superia film, even though initially it did not have Superia in the name. Superia films shared Fuji’s “4th layer technology” and Reala was the first to have it, but Reala was marketed towards “pro” photographers while Superia was marketed towards “consumer” photographers. Eventually, though, Fujifilm added Superia to Reala’s name. There were several different versions of Reala manufactured, including a high-ISO Tungsten one made for motion pictures, but Reala 100 was the most popular. Reala was very similar to Superia, but Superia was intended for “general purpose” photography while Reala was intended for portrait and wedding photography. Colors are rendered a little differently between the two films, especially blue, which is deeper and more saturated on Reala, despite Reala being overall slightly less saturated than Superia 100. Fujifilm discontinued Reala in 2013. I have a Film Simulation Recipe that replicates Fujicolor Reala 100, which uses Classic Negative as the base, since Classic Negative is closely modeled after Superia film.

On occasion, Fujifilm named certain film stocks differently in Japan than the rest of the world, and there were several film stocks made available only in Japan. Fujicolor Reala Ace 100 was a color negative film sold only in Japan. Some speculated that it was the exact same thing as Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 just sold under a slightly different name, while others said that Fujicolor Reala Ace 100 was a unique film similar to the Reala sold worldwide except fine-tuned for Japanese skin tones. There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on which is correct, but I’d bet that the latter is true. It was said for decades that Fujifilm kept their best emulsions in Japan. For whatever reason, Fujifilm went with the name Reala Ace for their new film simulation, and not simply Reala. Not all film sims are accurate reproductions of the emulsions that they’re named after, but Reala Ace seems to have the right vibe for replicating actual Reala film.

Red Cliffs – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Reala Ace Recipe

I have never used the new Reala Ace film simulation. There aren’t a lot of examples of it, but there are some; however, it’s impossible to know if those images are straight-out-of-camera factory-default Reala Ace JPEGs, or if the photographer adjusted some parameters or post-edited the pictures in some way. Trying to emulate new film simulations when there’s not a lot known about it is tricky, and the results are often wrong. For example, my attempt at Classic Negative was way off, and I stated that it would likely be—I was hesitant to publish it for that reason. Nostalgic Negative was a near identical story, and I stated, “…this Recipe will likely turn out to be an inaccurate facsimile to the real Nostalgic Negative film simulation.” I was right about that. This time, though, is different, as I am confident that this Reala Ace film simulation is a close approximation of the real thing. It might not be perfect, but it is definitely in the ballpark. I bet that it is a 95% match—if not closer—but it’s impossible to know for certain until more samples come out, and (even better) it trickles out to other models and I have a chance to try it myself. It’s definitely close enough that I feel quite good calling it Reala Ace.

Fujifilm said of the new film sim, “As an approach to rich gradation expression, the new sensor for the GFX100 II is the best fit for it. Without this sensor, we are not able to realize the Reala film simulation in it.” They talked about silver halide and signal-to-noise ratios and stuff. You might think this means that Reala Ace won’t make its way to the X-series; however, Fujifilm said something very similar about Nostalgic Neg., yet it is now available for X-Trans V generation models, including the X-S20, which has an X-Trans IV sensor. I think this is just Fujifilm’s way of saying that it’s not coming to X-Trans right away. I, of course, believe that this is a big mistake, because the majority of GFX users don’t use Film Simulation Recipes and won’t really care about this new film sim, while a whole lot of X-series owners do use Recipes and do care a lot about new film simulations. Fujifilm is letting what could be a big promotional opportunity just slip through their fingers, which is exactly what they did with Nostalgic Negative. I hope someday they learn this lesson, and stop making the same mistake over and over. Fujifilm: seriously, and I cannot state this any louder or more clearly, you need to introduce new film simulations with significant X-Trans releases, and not GFX. We can all see through the bogus it-has-to-be-100mp excuse, because I did in three days (and with much more limited resources) what you said wasn’t possible, and made Reala Ace available to all those with X-Trans V cameras. Please don’t hate me for rectifying your mistake, as this Recipe will likely influence more people to buy an X-series camera than Reala Ace will cause people to buy the GXF100 II. For those looking for an excuse to upgrade to an X-Trans V model, this Reala Ace Film Simulation Recipe might just be it for you, because it is that good.

Dodge Van Steering Wheel – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Reala Ace Recipe

I love this new Reala Ace Film Simulation Recipe, and for me it’s an instant favorite! It is kind of like a cross between the Fujicolor Reala 100 and Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled Recipes—you could consider it a “v2” of either of those two, although it has a much stronger Reala vibe than NPS 160. The Recipe is soft yet colorful, highly versatile, and has a clear analog-like aesthetic. It’s just as Fujifilm put it: suitable for all subjects and situations. If you have a fifth-generation X-Trans camera, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, and X-S20 (yes, the X-S20!), I invite you to try this Reala Ace Recipe today! If you have a fourth-generation X-Trans camera with Classic Negative and half-point Highlight/Shadow adjustments, which are the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II, you can also use this Recipe, but know that blues will be render slightly less deeply (try it anyway). For the X-Pro3 and X100V, consider Highlight set to -1 in low contrast situations and -2 in high contrast situations.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: Auto, -1 Red & +1 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1.5
Shadow: -2
Color: +2
Sharpness: 0
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +1 (typically)

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

Amaricana Equestrian – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea Blooms & Blue Sky – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunlit Bougainvillea Blossom – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Twin Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Little Vibrant Blooms – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Fish Out of Water – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Fake Fern – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Potted Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Morning Johanna – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Flowing Fountain – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
China in America – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Hill Houses – Laguna Hills, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Setting Sun over the Pacific Ocean – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Young Surfer – Laguna Hills, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Golden Ocean – Laguna Hills, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Jon on the Gold Coast – Laguna Hills, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Rainbow & Palms – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Hazy Paifang – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Evening Hoop – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Evening Palms & Clouds – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rays from Behind a Big Cloud – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Clouds & Coaster – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Cup Ride – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Happily Anticipating the Thrill Ride – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Bumper Cars – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Blacksmith Working – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Faux Tree Branch – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Three Bathtub Ducks – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red Comb – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dog Resting in the Shade – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Paseo Avila – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Illuminated Dilapidation – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Permanently Opened Door – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hole in the Wall – Litchfield, Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sonoran Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Cholla Cactus – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Unlit Headlamp – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Tattoo & Turkish Pizza – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Thunderbird Tire – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Thunderbird Taillight – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Inside Dodge Travel Van – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Summer Season in the Suburbs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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.

Help Support Fuji X Weekly!

Nobody pays me to write the content found on the Fuji X Weekly blog. There’s a real cost to running this website. I also put a lot of my own time into writing the posts. If you’ve found something on Fuji X Weekly helpful to you and you’d like to give back, this is a good place to do it. You can donate to this blog using PayPal by clicking below. I appreciate it! Thank you for your support! Please do not feel obligated to give, but do so only if you want to.

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Let’s talk about 3 Killer Film Simulation Recipes… Tomorrow!

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Tomorrow, myself and Fujifilm X-Photographer Nathalie Boucry will be discussing live on YouTube three “killer” Film Simulation Recipes. This will be a special episode of SOOC Live, with a divergent format and on an abnormal date.

This season, our broadcasts have been (with a few exceptions) the first and last Thursday of each month—the first episode introduces a theme and the second finishes the discussion. So far, we’ve talked about Street Photography, Storytelling, AI, Travel Photography, and Black & White. This month there’s only one episode, and it’s right in the middle of the month, on September 14 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, 1:00 PM Eastern. I hope that you can join us. As always, it’s an interactive show, and your participation makes it better.

I’ve included the video below, so that you can easily locate it tomorrow. You can also find it on the SOOC Live YouTube channel. See you tomorrow!

New: Reala Ace Film Simulation

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Now that the X Summit is over and the GFX100 II has been officially announced, we have a little bit better idea of what exactly Fujifilm’s new film simulation is. First, the name is not Reala like was previously rumored, but Reala Ace. Not a huge difference, but different nonetheless.

Fujifilm has sometimes named certain film stocks differently in Japan than the rest of the world, and several film stocks were only made available in Japan. Fujicolor Reala Ace 100 was a color negative film sold only in Japan. Some speculated that it was the exact same thing as Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 (initially, Superia wasn’t in the emulsion name, but was added later) just sold under a slightly different name, while others said that Fujicolor Reala Ace 100 was a unique film similar to the Reala sold worldwide except fine-tuned for Japanese skin tones. For whatever reason, Fujifilm went with the name Reala Ace for their new film sim.

Prior to today’s announcement, I had speculated that “…the new film simulation will [not] be an accurate replication of Reala film, since Classic Negative is so close already; instead, I think Fujifilm is simply going to use the brand name for a film sim that has a neutral and natural rendering (true-to-life or real-like, yet leaning towards soft tonality and muted colors).” I also said, “I’m crossing my fingers that the Reala film simulation will be a tweak of Classic Negative that will more closely mimic Reala emulsions.”

I was half right and half wrong, but I’m quite happy to be half wrong. I was right that the film sim would lean towards soft tonality and have a true-to-life rendering. I was wrong that it wouldn’t look like Reala film or Classic Negative, because it does. You could call the new film sim Classic Negative v2, but Fujifilm named it Reala Ace.

Leaving the Water – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe

How accurate is the Reala Ace film simulation to Reala film? It definitely has the right vibe, from the small number of samples I’ve found online. It isn’t all that dissimilar to my Fujicolor Reala 100 Film Simulation Recipe, either—in fact, I think just a few small adjustments to my Recipe brings the results closer to the new film simulation. Of course, I have no idea if those Reala Ace examples are unedited, and what parameter adjustments the photographer might have done, or if they’re all factory defaults.

Fujifilm has a graph demonstrating how the different film simulations fit on a tonality and saturation scale. It should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, there’s no way that Nostalgic Neg. is the second most vibrant film sim, because it’s not. PRO Neg. Hi has a little more saturation than PRO Neg. Std, yet they’re the same on the chart. Still, we can extrapolate that Reala Ace has softer tonality yet a tad higher vibrancy than Classic Negative.

Even though Reala Ace is essentially Classic Negative, I’m quite thrilled that this new film sim has an obvious analog aesthetic. Classic Negative is one of my favorite film simulations, and I’m sure Reala Ace will be, too, once I get a chance to use it someday in the future. My guess is that the upcoming Fujifilm X100Z (or whatever Fujifilm calls it… maybe they’ll name it X100Ace?) will be the first X-series camera to get Reala Ace. I won’t buy the GFX100 II (it’s way outside of my budget), so it might be awhile before I get to try it. From what I can tell, the new film sim will be found right below Classic Chrome and right above PRO Neg. Hi in the camera’s film simulation list.

Interestingly enough, there seems to be a lot of interest in this new film sim, but not necessarily by folks who will buy the GFX camera. The ones most excited seem to be those who anticipate that it will trickle to the X-series. Most of those who have reviewed the camera (who received a pre-production model from Fujifilm) barely mentioned it, and mainly as a passing thought. One did talk a little more about it (and right at the beginning), but otherwise the enthusiasm for Reala Ace seems to be much stronger from the X crowd than the GFX, despite it only found (for now) on GFX. This makes a lot of sense to me because most of those who shoot GFX cameras don’t use Film Simulation Recipes (yet there are some); however, many who have X-Trans cameras do use Recipes. Fujifilm should introduce new film sims on X-series models where they can better capitalize on that excitement, and not on GFX where it’s unimportant (generally speaking) to those buyers, essentially wasting the opportunity (hey, maybe Fujifilm should consult with me??!!).

I modified the Fujicolor Reala 100 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5, reprocessing in-camera some recent pictures on the SD Card, to more closely resemble the Reala Ace film simulation. You can find the Reala Recipe on this website (here) and on the Fuji X Weekly App. The modifications I made to the Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe are: White Balance Shift set to 0 Red & +1 Blue (using Daylight WB… I also tried Auto White Balance with that same shift), Color Chrome FX Blue Strong, Color +1, Highlight -1.5, Sharpness 0, and Clarity -2. There are only a small number of examples of the new film sim, and it’s impossible to know if they’re 100% default Reala Ace or if they have been modified or edited in some way, but I think I’m in the ballpark with these settings. It’s pretty close. Below are some examples.

Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5
Faux Reala Ace on my X-T5

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 GFX100 II:  B&H

Comparing 6 Kodak Portra Film Simulation Recipes

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Sunset Photography – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Portra 400 v2

Some of the absolute most popular Film Simulation Recipes for Fujifilm cameras are those that mimic Kodak Portra film. I have a number of Recipes that are modeled after Portra, and with so many choices it can be difficult to know which ones to program into your camera. I thought I’d take this opportunity to compare six of them, with the hopes that it will help you decide. There are actually several more Portra-inspired Recipes than the six here, but I chose to compare these because they’re all X-Trans IV Recipes compatible with my Fujifilm X100V, the camera I used to capture them on a recent trip to the California coast.

Kodak introduced the Portra line in 1998, with two ISO 160 versions, two ISO 400 versions, and an ISO 800 emulsion (plus a short-lived ISO 100 Tungsten film, for those keeping score). Portra saw a couple of updates by Kodak, and in 2010 the two ISO 160 versions were merged into one, as well as the two ISO 400 versions. The film has become iconic, with its warm yet natural colors. As the name implies, it was meant for portrait photography, but is popular for many genres.

Laguna Coast – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Portra 400 v2

One film can produce all sorts of various looks, depending on a host of factors, including how it was shot, developed, printed and/or scanned. The Kodak Portra 400 and the Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipes are very similar, but they were modeled after two different photographer’s Portra film pictures, and so their rendering varies just a little. Kodak Portra 400 leans a little more towards red-orange, while Kodak Portra 400 v2 leans a little more towards yellow-green. Kodak Portra 400 Warm, which is a modification of both Kodak Portra 400 Recipes, is intended to better replicate the results of Alex MacDougall’s Portra-Style presets. To create Reggie’s Portra, Reggie Ballesteros modified my Kodak Portra 400 Recipe to better suit his style. Because it uses Auto White Balance and a slightly more neutral WB Shift, it is much better than the others in artificial light situations; also, because it has Clarity set to 0, it is the best option for fast photography (Clarity set to anything other than 0 causes a short “storing” pause). Kodak Portra 800 is the grainiest of these Recipes. To create Kodak Portra 800 v2, which is the least vivid of these six, Thomas Schwab captured side-by-side images with a Fujifilm X-Pro3 and an analog camera loaded with Portra 800 film.

While each of these Portra-inspired Film Simulations Recipes are different—some only slightly so, others more significantly so—they all produce a distinct Portra-like aesthetic. Looking at the results, it’s easy to understand why these are popular options! Because they are a little different from each other, you can find the one that most closely matches your style. Or you can choose different ones for various scenarios. Perhaps you prefer something like Kodak Portra 400 for sunsets, Kodak Portra 400 Warm for midday light, Kodak Portra 800 v2 for soft portraits, and Reggie’s Portra for indoor pictures. If you’ve never tried any of these Recipes, be sure to pick at least one to program into your camera today!

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.

Kodak Portra 400

Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400

Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2
Kodak Portra 400 v2
Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 Warm

Kodak Portra 400 Warm
Kodak Portra 400 Warm
Kodak Portra 400 Warm

Reggie’s Portra

Reggie’s Portra
Reggie’s Portra
Reggie’s Portra

Kodak Portra 800

Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Portra 800

Kodak Portra 800 v2

Kodak Portra 800 v2
Kodak Portra 800 v2
Kodak Portra 800 v2

Fujicolor Reala 100 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Houses on the Hill – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe

Since the next Fujifilm film simulation will be called Reala, I thought it would be a good time to update the X-Trans IV Fujicolor Reala 100 Film Simulation Recipe for X-Trans V cameras. Since blue is rendered more deeply on some film sims on X-Trans V models, a small tweak to Color Chrome FX Blue is needed in order to make it compatible, but otherwise the Recipe is unchanged.

I don’t believe that the new film simulation will be an accurate replication of Reala film, since Classic Negative is so close already; instead, I think Fujifilm is simply going to use the brand name for a film sim that has a neutral and natural rendering (true-to-life or real-like, yet leaning towards soft tonality and muted colors). I don’t know for certain what the new Reala film simulation will look like, this is only a guess based on something Fujifilm said a few weeks ago. We’ll know for sure next week. But I do know that if you want a Reala aesthetic from your Fujifilm X-Trans V camera, this Recipe will produce that!

Fujicolor Reala 100 was Fujifilm’s first Superia film, even though initially it did not have Superia in the name. Superia films shared Fuji’s “4th layer technology” and Reala was the first to have it, but Reala was marketed towards “pro” photographers while Superia was marketed towards “consumer” photographers. Eventually Fujifilm added Superia to Reala’s name. There were several different versions of Reala manufactured, including a high-ISO Tungsten one made for motion pictures, but Reala 100 was the most popular. Reala was very similar to Superia, but Superia was intended for “general purpose” photography while Reala was intended for portrait and wedding photography. Colors are rendered a little differently between the two films, especially blue, which is deeper and more saturated on Reala, despite Reala being overall slightly less saturated than Superia 100. Fujifilm discontinued Reala in 2013.

China in California – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe

If you have a fifth-generation Fujifilm X camera, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2, X-H2S, X-T5, and X-S20, I invite you to try this Fujicolor Reala 100 Film Simulation Recipe. If you have a Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, or X-T30 II, use the X-Trans IV version instead. If you have a newer GFX model, I’m not certain which of the two versions will be most accurate on your camera, so maybe try both and see which you like better.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Daylight, 0 Red & 0 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1
Shadow: -1
Color: 0
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor Reala 100 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Luxurious Living – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Mission Inn – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Pawlished Fountain – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Fishing by Hand – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Urban Structure Abstract – Riverside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
I Spy with my Little Eye – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
9205 – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Market Building – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Suburban Shrub – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Dodge Van – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Dodge Steering Wheel – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Blacksmith – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Cowboy – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Wagon Wheel & Cacti – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Sun Fountain – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Strength over Thrill – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Tied up in Knotts – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Flight – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Rainbows & Palms – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Treasure Island Beach – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Eek! – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Pacific Surf Rider – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Leaving the Water – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Happiness – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Golden Glow – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Setting Sun – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Night Light – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Amanda using RitchieCam – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Waving – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Night Truck Driver – Buena Park, CA. -Fujifilm X-T5
Don’t Text & Drive – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Road – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5

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 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.

Help Support Fuji X Weekly!

Nobody pays me to write the content found on the Fuji X Weekly blog. There’s a real cost to running this website. I also put a lot of my own time into writing the posts. If you’ve found something on Fuji X Weekly helpful to you and you’d like to give back, this is a good place to do it. You can donate to this blog using PayPal by clicking below. I appreciate it! Thank you for your support! Please do not feel obligated to give, but do so only if you want to.

$5.00

The new Film Simulation will be…

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

On Top of the World – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe

Fujirumors is reporting that the new film simulation that will be announced—along with the GFX100 II camera—on September 12 will be called Reala.

Fujicolor Reala 100 was Fujifilm’s first Superia film, even though initially it did not have Superia in the name. Superia films shared Fuji’s “4th layer technology” and Reala was the first to have it, but Reala was marketed towards “pro” photographers while Superia was marketed towards “consumer” photographers. Eventually Fujifilm added Superia to Reala’s name. There were several different versions of Reala manufactured, including a high-ISO Tungsten one made for motion pictures, but Reala 100 was the most popular. Reala was very similar to Superia, but Superia was intended for “general purpose” photography while Reala was intended for portrait and wedding photography. Colors are rendered a little differently between the two films, especially blue, which is deeper and more saturated on Reala, despite Reala being overall slightly less saturated than Superia 100. Fujifilm discontinued Reala in 2013.

When I read that Reala would be the name of the new film sim, I wondered how Fujifilm would differentiate the rendering of it from Classic Negative, which is closely modeled after Superia emulsions. Would it be a slight tweak with deeper blues and slightly lower vibrancy? After given it some thought, I believe that the Reala film simulation won’t be an accurate facsimile of Reala film, but something else entirely.

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

Some film sims are meant to be somewhat accurate reproductions of specific emulsions, such as Classic Negative and Acros. Some are meant to be general representations of certain groups of films but not accurate to any specific, such as Classic Chrome (Kodak slide film) and Eterna (motion picture emulsions). Others are just brand names, and aren’t meant to accurately replicate the films they’re named after, such as Provia and Astia; in the case of Astia, Fujifilm says it renders the ideal of the emulsion—what the film would have looked like if they could have done it—but not the actual aesthetic. In the case of Nostalgic Neg., it’s meant to replicate an era of American film, and not any specific stock. Eterna Bleach Bypass emulates a darkroom process.

I have zero inside knowledge, so I can only speculate what the new Reala film simulation will look like. Come September 12th, we’ll have a much better idea. What I think you can expect is a neutral rendering. I believe that it will be low-contrast with accurate-yet-muted colors.

Almost – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe

A few weeks ago, a Fujifilm manager stated, “…it’s important for us that we have an image that is very clean. Because of course for editing in post-production, you can do anything, right? As long as the original image is very clean and has the best image quality.” The interviewer responded, “I guess my ideal would be if the camera could even save, say, an ‘undisturbed’ JPEG. It’s kind of funny thinking of a JPEG as some sort of a RAW format.”

That’s what I think the new Reala film sim will be: a very clean, “undisturbed” look as a foundation for editing. Maybe Eterna-like low-contrast toning with PRO Neg. Std-like colors, and maybe even more muted than that. From there, you can manipulate the file however you wish using your software of choice. I know there are people who want that, but probably most of those who read this website regularly will be disappointed if it’s true. I’ll hold out judgement until I see it, but I’m crossing my fingers that the Reala film simulation will be a tweak of Classic Negative that will more closely mimic Reala emulsions. If it does not end up replicating the film, I’m sure I will still be able to make some interesting Film Simulation Recipes with it, no matter how it looks. But… I’m sure it won’t be given to any currently existing cameras, only those models that come after September 12th, so it will likely be awhile before I get a chance to try it.

Report: Fujifilm will Introduce a New Film Simulation on September 12

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

According to Fujirumors, Fujifilm plans to introduce a new film simulation on September 12, the same day they will announce the upcoming GFX100 II camera. It’s assumed that the new film sim will be found on the new GFX camera, although the rumor doesn’t state that outright.

I’m always excited when Fujifilm introduces a new film simulation, which should be pretty obvious. But I do wonder why Fujifilm has decided to introduce new film simulations on GFX models. Let me explain.

From the data I have, only a small number of people shoot Film Simulation Recipes on GFX cameras. The vast, vast majority do so on Fujifilm X-Trans cameras, not Bayer (GFX or APS-C). Most do so on X-Trans III or newer models, with the majority on X-Trans IV. While some people use film simulations on GFX cameras, most keep it in Provia/STD and adjust the color profiles in Lightroom to whatever they want. The film simulations are mostly for JPEG photographers (yes, Lightroom, Capture One, etc., have their own versions of them), and most GFX owners are not shooting straight-out-of-camera JPEGs, but instead are RAW editing.

Fujifilm introduced the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, which is the latest film sim, on the GFX 50S II, and Fujifilm used it to promote that camera. Nostalgia Neg. didn’t become available on X-series models until the X-H2S, which was released a whole year later, and it wasn’t even mentioned in any of the promotional material for that camera or the one that followed. It was barely mentioned in the promotions for the X-T5, but at least they talked about it a little. By far, most of those using Nostalgic Neg. are doing so on the X-T5, X-H2, X-H2S, and X-S20, and only some are using it on the GFX 50S II and GFX100S.

Stop for the Sunset – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86 Recipe – Nostalgic Neg.

Even though Fujifilm didn’t really use the new film sim to promote the X-Trans V models, I know that it was a significant reason why many have purchased and love the new cameras. Obviously it’s not the only reason or probably even the main reason for many, but an important reason nonetheless. The new film sim—despite Fujifilm doing so very little to get the word out about it—has been a fairly significant selling point for those buying X-Trans V cameras. Similarly, Classic Negative was a big selling point for many X-Trans IV models.

The lesson here is that new film simulations don’t do a whole lot to promote GFX camera sales because, for the most part, GFX owners don’t care about them. Obviously not all, but definitely the majority. On the flip side, new film sims are an important aspect of X-Trans buying decisions, as many X-series photographers use them regularly, yet Fujifilm ignores this potential opportunity. It just makes no sense to me, and I think it’s a pretty significant mistake by Fujifilm.

I don’t know what this new film simulation will be. I have many ideas on what it could be, but I have zero inside information on what it will be. It could be PRO Neg. Z, based on the Fujicolor Pro 800Z film stock. Another idea is PRO 400H, based on Fujicolor Pro 400H, which should produce pastel colors when overexposed like the film does. How about a super vibrant option based on Fortia 50? Or a film sim that replicates IR? Cross process? Instax? There are a lot of potential options.

I do hope that Fujifilm will give this new film simulation, whatever it is, to the current X-Trans V lineup via firmware updates, but I don’t think they will. They absolutely should, though. My guess is that the X100Z (or whatever they will call it) or X-Pro4—whichever model comes next—will be the first X-series camera to get it.

What do you hope the new film simulation will be based on? What are some good ideas for future film sims? Let me know in the comments!

The First 7 Film Simulation Recipes to try on your Fujifilm X-Trans V camera

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

I get asked somewhat regularly which Film Simulation Recipes one should try first. Perhaps you just purchased your first Fujifilm camera, or maybe you’ve had one for awhile but have never tried Recipes before—with so many to choose from (there are now 300 Film Simulation Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly App!), it can be hard to know where to start. Which Recipes are essential to program into your camera right away?

Everyone has their own tastes and style, so what one person might love another might not. That’s why it’s great to have such a wide variety to choose from—there’s bound to be at least a few that you’ll appreciate. Options are good up until the point where there are too many, and it becomes difficult to decide. I don’t want you to be paralyzed by choices, so let me suggest seven to program into your C1-C7 Custom Presets first. You might love all of them, or you might find that only one or two suit you well. Either way, these are ones that you should definitely try.

This will be a series of articles. The first one, which you are reading now, is for X-Trans V models, and I’ll work my way through the other sensors in the parts to come. If you have a Fujifilm X-H2, X-H2s, X-T5, or X-S20, I invite you to program the Film Simulation Recipes below into your camera.

There are a couple of special notes about the X-S20. First, it has an X-Trans IV sensor but an X-Trans V processor, so it’s a bit iffy if it should be included in this list or with the X-Trans IV cameras; however, reports I have received indicate that, due to its rendering and options, it best fits in the X-Trans V category. Second, the X-S20 has only four custom presets and not seven, so pick the four below that are the most intriguing to you, and once you’ve had a chance to try those, then replace your least favorite with another from this list.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at seven Film Simulation Recipes to program into your Fujifilm X-Trans V camera first!

Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome 64 was a classic slide film, and it’s become a classic Film Simulation Recipe. It’s very popular, and it would be a shame to not include it—in fact, I put it first for a reason. This is one of those Recipes that everyone should try! It produces a retro 1970’s through 1990’s slide film aesthetic reminiscent of the pictures found on the pages of magazines like National Geographic. For best results use in sunny daylight; however, it can be decent in other situations, too, like overcast, shade, and blue hour.

Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2

This Recipe mimics the aesthetic of one of Kodak’s most-loved color negative film stocks: Portra 400. As the name implies, it’s especially well suited for portraits, but it is also good for many genres of photography. Kodak Portra 400 v2 is another Film Simulation Recipe intended for use in sunny daylight situations, and it’s my favorite option for golden hour images.

Fujicolor Super HG v2

Fujicolor Super HG v2

Fujicolor Super HG v2 produces a 1980’s Fujifilm color negative film vibe, which is notably divergent from the aesthetic of the first two suggested options. Perhaps more importantly, this Recipe is highly versatile, and can be used for almost any subject or light—including overcast, indoor artificial light, and nighttime cityscapes—where some other Recipes might be less than ideal. If you are after one option that can do it all, take a look at this one.

Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues

The Pacific Blues Film Simulation Recipe is specifically intended for a sunny summer day at the beach, which it is absolutely incredible for, but it’s surprisingly good for other situations, too. I’ve had great success with it on dreary overcast and foggy days. I’ve used it for portraits. I’ve used it for natural light indoors. It’s definitely not always the best Recipe for a given situation, but it often does quite well, and sometimes the pictures it produces are just stunning.

1970’s Summer

1970’s Summer

If you want a vintage vibe from your photographs, 1970’s Summer is for you! It produces a New American Color aesthetic that will transport you back in time 50 or so years. For best results, use in sunny daylight—this is a great option for when the sun is high in-between the two golden hour periods. This Recipe isn’t particularly versatile, but when it works it’s absolutely incredible.

Vibrant Arizona

Vibrant Arizona

Vibrant Arizona mimics the Wes Anderson look that’s in-style right now. It’s bright, warm, and colorful. This Recipe is intended for use in sunny daylight, especially harsh midday light. It’s not always the best option, but in the right situations it’s wonderful.

Kodak T-Max P3200

Kodak T-Max P3200

It would be a shame not to include a black-and-white Recipe in this list, so we’ll conclude with Kodak T-Max P3200, which is not only a great monochrome option, but is also excellent for high-ISO photography. If the light is getting dim and you need to bump the ISO up a bit, this is a great one to use. Or if you want classic B&W pictures with grain and good contrast, the Kodak T-Max P3200 Film Simulation Recipe will produce that for you.

Coming soon: the next installment in this series!

See also:
Which Film Simulation Recipe, When?
8 Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes for Those Hot Summer Nights
The 10 Best Film Simulation Recipes on the Fuji X Weekly App

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.

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 X-H2:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-H2S:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-S20:  Amazon  B&H  Moment

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Magenta Negative — Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Flag & Dome – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4 – Magenta Negative

This Magenta Negative Film Simulation Recipe is intended to mimic the use of a Magenta Color Correction Filter, such as the Tiffen CC30M, which reduces the intensity of green, and is used to combat green color casts. Back in the film days, using Color Correction Filters was common, but it is much less so now, since you can dial in very precise white balance adjustments for whatever the light is; however, you can still use these filters if you want to. Instead of using a magenta filter, you can simply shoot with this Film Simulation Recipe.

Because this recipe uses Classic Negative, it has a generic Fujicolor Superia aesthetic; however, it is not meant to precisely mimic any specific Superia emulsion. The inspiration actually came from a YouTube video by Cammackey, entitled Fujifilm X100V Recipes / Old Film Tricks. A couple of Fuji X Weekly readers requested a Recipe similar to his, but without the need for extra gear. While Magenta Negative is a little different than his, it is intended to produce similar results, just without the need of a Color Correction Filter, which his Recipe requires. I want be sure that credit is given where it is due: Cammackey was the original influence for Magenta Negative.

Abandoned Porch Seats – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4 – Magenta Negative

This Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. For X-Trans V, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong. Magenta Negative was published in June of 2022 as a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, but it’s been replaced by a different Early-Access Recipe, so now it’s available to everyone!

Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -1
Color: 0
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -4
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Strong
White Balance: 5100K, +4 Red & +2 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Magenta Negative Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

Overcast Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Wet Red Rose – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Flowers by a Rock Wall – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Birdcage Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Waterfall in the Ozarks – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Staircase Waterfall – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Unexpected Canyon – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Chapel & Cannon – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Pine Above Rooftop – Ridgedale, MO – Fujifilm X-E4
Magnolia Flag – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Ozark – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Little Cloud – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Plaza – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Window View – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Spiderweb on a Window – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Tree Prism – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Ford & Tree Shadows – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4
Steampunk Art – Hot Springs, AR – Fujifilm X-E4

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and nearly 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.

Help Support Fuji X Weekly!

Nobody pays me to write the content found on the Fuji X Weekly blog. There’s a real cost to running this website. I also put a lot of my own time into writing the posts. If you’ve found something on Fuji X Weekly helpful to you and you’d like to give back, this is a good place to do it. You can donate to this blog using PayPal by clicking below. I appreciate it! Thank you for your support! Please do not feel obligated to give, but do so only if you want to.

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Kodachrome Blue — Fujifilm X-E4 (X-Trans IV) FXW App Patron Early-Access Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

American Paint Horse – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodachrome Blue

Kodak made Kodachrome color-reversal (slide) film from 1935 through 2009. There are three era’s of Kodachrome: 1935-1960, 1961-1973, and 1974-2009. Each era has its own look; the second and third eras are probably the most similar. Kodachrome is actually a B&W film, with color dyes added during development. It was a unique and complicated process. Because of how the film works, it’s the most difficult emulsion to scan, often producing a blue cast that doesn’t exist when viewing the slides through a projector or on a light table.

Professional labs will have a profile to color correct Kodachrome scans, but even that’s not usually a 100% match. As it used to be said, “There’s nothing like projected Kodachrome!” If the scans aren’t carefully corrected, the results are often significantly more blue than the slides. The feeling that all the world’s a sunny day (as Paul Simon sang) is completely gone. Once you know what to look for, it’s easy to spot these incorrectly color corrected Kodachrome images, and they’re prevalent.

Rebels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Kodachrome Blue

Over the last few weeks I’ve stumbled across several sets of these incorrectly color corrected Kodachromes while perusing the web, mostly from the second era of the film. I thought that the look was interesting, so I set out to recreate it on my Fujifilm X-E4; however, the process was more challenging than I had anticipated. I had assumed that Classic Chrome would be the best film simulation to base this new Film Simulation Recipe on—it was the obvious choice, right?—but I couldn’t get it to look right. It was actually the fifth film sim I tried before I decided that I was finally on the right track.

After four different modifications, I felt I got it as close as I could, and had a reasonable facsimile of the film when not appropriately color corrected. Interestingly, I compared my Recipe to some incorrectly colored Kodachrome 64 film scans in my collection—some frames I captured on a Canon AE-1 back in 1999 that (when I later had them scanned) the lab rendered too blue—and the resemblance was striking. I made one more small change to the Recipe to get it even closer, and called it good. One thing that I wish was possible is a little more color saturation, but +4 is the highest option; if +5 or maybe +6 were available, I’d have bumped Color just a tad higher.

Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan
Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan
Actual Kodachrome 64 film — improperly color-corrected scan

This Kodachrome Blue Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. For X-Trans V models, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak. You can use it on newer GFX cameras, but it will render slightly differently, and I recommend setting Shadow to +1. This isn’t a Recipe that I suspect will be anyone’s go-to for everyday use—I’d look at Kodachrome 64 or Kodachrome II for general photography—but it’s a fun one that I think some of you will really appreciate in certain circumstances. I personally like the retro feelings that Kodachrome Blue produces.

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, such as this one. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time. 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!

Find Kodachrome Blue in the Fuji X Weekly App! If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron, it’s available to you right now.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Kodachrome Blue Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:

Play Garden Tools on a Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Stormy Day Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Growing Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Bougainvillea Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Bougainvillea Blue – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Building Storm over Street Lamp – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Three Palms over Building – Buckeye, AZ. -Fujifilm X-E4
Palm Lights – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Corner Tower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Neighborhood Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Concrete Roof Tiles – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Sunlight From Above – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Little Blue Rainbow – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Red Umbrella on a Sunny Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Water Angels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Shoda – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Fake Flowers on a Table – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Potted Palm Plant – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Fresh Flowers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Two Way Stop – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Underpass – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Taillight – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Two Shoes – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Unexpected Portrait – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Guitarist – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Peace – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Attic Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Yellow Honeysuckle Trumpet – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4

Provia/STD — Fujifilm XF1 (EXR-CMOS) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

A Film Simulation Recipe for the Fujifilm XF1, X100, X10 & X-S1 cameras.

Tower Above the Trees – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1 – Provia/STD Recipe

This Film Simulation Recipe was simply an attempt to improve the factory default Provia film sim, with the goal of creating a more analog-like rendering. On the XF1, Provia doesn’t look half bad out-of-the-box, but I thought with some adjustments, I could make it better. I think it turned out pretty well—I’m quite happy with the results I’m getting from this Recipe.

The Fujifilm EXR-CMOS sensor generation quality reminds me of analog half-frame, which are cameras that only expose half of a 35mm frame, allowing you to get twice as many pictures on one roll of film, but at the expense of image quality. For smaller prints it’s no big deal, but if you want to enlarge bigger than 8″x10″, the difference is noticeable, particularly the larger you print. For internet viewing and prints up to 8″x10″, the image quality from the Fujifilm XF1 is great, but I wouldn’t want to print large or crop deeply, because it would begin to fall apart. With that said, I do like the rendering from this camera—it’s a bit different from the other sensor generations.

Lamps & Neon – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1 – Provia/STD Recipe

This “Provia/STD” Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm XF1, X100, X10, and X-S1 cameras. You can use it on X-Trans I, X-Trans II, and Bayer models, too, but it will look slightly different (feel free to try, though)—at the bottom of this article is one picture captured on my Fujifilm X70, which is an X-Trans II model, using this Recipe.

Provia/STD
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Shadow: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Color: +1 (Medium-High)
Sharpness: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: 5600K, -3 Red (R/CY) & -1 Blue (B/Ye)
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 1600
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Provia/STD Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm XF1:

Potted Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
TK ’24 – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Five-Story Tower – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Block Wall Vines – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Singular Bulb – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Yellow Trumpet Blossoms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Bunch of Blossomed Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Roof Design – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Street Lofts – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Multicolored Water in Mason Jars – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Moose Antlers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Fuji X Weekly – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1

Comparison

Factory default Provia, not a Recipe
This Provia/STD Recipe
Golden Negative Recipe
Captured using this Provia/STD Recipe on a Fujifilm X70

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and nearly 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.

Help Support Fuji X Weekly!

Nobody pays me to write the content found on the Fuji X Weekly blog. There’s a real cost to running this website. I also put a lot of my own time into writing the posts. If you’ve found something on Fuji X Weekly helpful to you and you’d like to give back, this is a good place to do it. You can donate to this blog using PayPal by clicking below. I appreciate it! Thank you for your support! Please do not feel obligated to give, but do so only if you want to.

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10 Vintage Film Simulation Recipes You Should Try!

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

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

A lot of people are interested right now in achieving a vintage aesthetic with their Fujifilm cameras. Retro renderings are in-style, but with about 300 Film Simulation Recipes to choose from on the Fuji X Weekly website (and App), it can be difficult to know which ones to use. If you are after a vintage look, let me suggest 10 Recipes to you. They all have “vintage” in the name, and each will deliver a retro analog-like rendering.

Some of the Film Simulation Recipes below are quite popular (especially the first one), and maybe you’ve even used a few of them yourself. Many of them are less popular and are often overlooked; maybe you’ve seen them, but never programmed them into your camera. Perhaps this is the very first time you’re seeing a couple of these Recipes. Whatever the case, if you are after a vintage look, pick a couple of these to try today!

The first three Recipes below are compatible with X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3 & X-T30; to use them on newer X-Trans IV models, set Color Chrome Effect and Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, Clarity to 0, and choose a Grain size (either Small or Large). The next five are compatible with “newer” X-Trans IV models (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II); to use them on X-Trans V, set Color Chrome FX Blue one step lower (Weak instead of Strong, Off instead of Weak). The last two are compatible with X-Trans V cameras; the second-to-last Recipe can be used on some X-Trans IV models (X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II) by setting Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Off.

Take a look at the 10 Vintage Film Simulation Recipes below. If one or two or three of them stand out to you as especially interesting, go ahead and give them a try!

Vintage Kodachrome

Onaqui Horses – Dugway, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Vintage Kodachrome Recipe
Building For Sale – Coalville, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – Vintage Kodachrome Recipe
Old Log in Kolob Canyon – Zion NP, UT – Fujifilm X100F – Vintage Kodak Recipe

Vintage Agfacolor

Always Moving Ahead – Rawlins, WY – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Vintage Agfacolor Recipe
Clouds Over Mountain Green – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Vintage Agfacolor Recipe
Palms & Canopy – Pismo Beach, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Agfacolor Recipe

Vintage Kodacolor

Fishing Boat 939678 – Morro Bay, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Kodacolor Recipe
Don’t Approach the Great Blue Heron – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – Vintage Kodacolor Recipe
Large Stone & Tall Grass – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-H1 – Vintage Kodacolor Recipe

Vintage Negative

Vintage Berries – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Negative Recipe
Christmas Star – Kaysville, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Negative
Suburban Reed Evening – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Negative Recipe

Vintage Vibes

Autumn Aspen – Big Arm, MT – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Vibes Recipe
Summer Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Vibes Recipe
Playing in a Dirty Kitchen – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Vibes Recipe

Vintage Color

The Captain – Yosemite NP, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Color Recipe
Green Bush – Prefumo Canyon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Color Recipe
Elephant Seal Beach – San Simeon, CA – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Color Recipe

Vintage Color v2

Winter Bloom Remnants – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro3 – Vintage Color v2 Recipe
February Reaching – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro3 – Vintage Color v2 Recipe
Boy With Nerf Gun – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X-Pro3 – Vintage Color v2 Recipe

Vintage Analog

Waterfront Homes – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Analog Recipe
Dock Post – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Analog Recipe
Arch Over Bell Tower – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – Vintage Analog Recipe

Vintage Bronze

Autumn Rainbow – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Bronze Recipe
Paperflowers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Bronze Recipe
Rudolph – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Bronze Recipe

Vintage Cinema

Glimpse of a Fleeting Memory – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Cinema Recipe
Side Gate Cracked Open – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Cinema Recipe
Ball on a Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Cinema Recipe

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Fujifilm Film Simulation Patches!

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Fujifilm just introduced a new product: film simulation patches!

These 2″x2″ embroidered iron-on patches are a great way to share your love of film sims to those around you. Put them on your camera bag, backpack, jean jacket, etc.. There are 11 of them: Provia, Velvia, Astia, Classic Chrome, PRO Neg. Hi, PRO Neg. Std, Classic Negative, Eterna, Monochrome, Acros, and Sepia. Find them on Fujifilm’s online store. Not sure why Eterna Bleach Bypass and Nostalgic Neg. didn’t make the cut, other than these patches resemble the small “box-top” screen on the back of the Fujifilm X-Pro3, and those two film sims aren’t available on that model.

I think they’re really cool. I ordered a couple, and plan to iron them onto my travel camera bag. They’re not exactly cheap at $10 per patch (or all 11 for $79.50, which is actually a significant bulk discount), but I think it’s a fun way to show your love of film simulations. I also think it’s fascinating that film sims are now so prominent—in large part due to the popularity of Film Simulation Recipes—that Fujifilm is merchandising them. I’d love to see them do more of this type of thing.

Exciting: Fujifilm Film Simulations just got real with these embroidered applique patches, in 11 different designs. Digitally recreated, based on historic film stocks, our Film Simulations are now available in all-new physical form. These quality, machine-embroidered patches can be heat-applied to fabric surfaces, from clothing to backpacks. Are you a bold Velvia fan, or an admirer of the timeless Acros? Grab either one separately, or the both of them if you can’t make up your mind. Love them all? We don’t blame you! Get ’em while the iron’s hot!

—Fujifilm

Pro Film — Fujifilm X70 (X-Trans II) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Sunny Afternoon Blooms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Pro Film Recipe

For this Film Simulation Recipe, I was attempting to accomplish two different things: create a Recipe that uses Underwater White Balance and produce results with an analog-like color negative film aesthetic. To the second point, this Recipe does produce that in generic terms. It’s not intended to mimic any specific film emulsion, although there might be some unintended resemblance to Fujicolor Pro 160C, or—to a lesser extent—Kodak Portra 160VC.

The reason I chose the Underwater White Balance type is because I’ve yet to use it with any X-Trans II Recipe; since your camera will remember one White Balance Shift per White Balance type, this can be another option to consider for your C1-C7. If each of the seven Film Simulation Recipes programmed into your Custom Presets has a different White Balance type, you won’t have to worry about changing the WB Shift when switching between your C1-C7 Custom Preset.

Red Bicycle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Pro Film Recipe – Photo by Jon Roesch

This “Pro Film” Recipe is compatible with all Fujifilm X-Trans II cameras (except the XQ1 and XQ2, which don’t have the PRO Neg. Hi film simulation). You can use this Recipe on the X-Pro1 and X-E1 (as well as many of the Bayer models), although the results will be slightly different.

PRO Neg. Hi
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Shadow: -2 (Soft)
Color: +2 (High)
Sharpness: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: Underwater, 0 Red & -2 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 3200
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Pro Film” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X70:

No Turning Back – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Yellow Truck – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Sunset Ford – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Red Car – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Van Accessible – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Walkway Bicycle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Window in the Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Locked Up Bike – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Enjoy – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Corner Table – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Clouds over Rooftop – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Sunlight Behind Pavilion – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Joy Roesch
School – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Backlit Tree & Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Electric Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Backyard Jo – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70
Backlit Water Fountain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Green Field – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Jon Roesch
Park View – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Joshua Roesch
Photographing the Photographer – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Joshua Roesch
Arizona Green – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70 – Photo by Joy Roesch
Early Morning Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X70

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and nearly 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.

Golden Negative — Fujifilm XF1 (EXR-CMOS) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

A Film Simulation Recipe for the Fujifilm XF1, X100, X10 & X-S1 cameras.

Los Angeles – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm XF1 – Golden Negative

Right at the very beginning of the X-series, but before X-Trans, Fujifilm briefly used a different sensor called EXR-CMOS. It was a 12-megapixel Sony CMOS sensor with an array similar to Bayer, except tilted at 45° (Fujifilm had previously used this tilted pattern on their Super-CCD sensors). The advantage to this unusual arrangement was that two of each color pixels sat near each other on the sensor, allowing for pixel-binning. Of course we’re familiar with pixel-binning now, as many cellphone sensors do this, but it was pretty revolutionary when Fujifilm did it roughly 15 years ago. It didn’t really catch on because 1) Fujifilm was only binning two pixels (not the more common four that we see today) and 2) the already somewhat low-resolution sensor was cut in half in order to do it. Basically, the advantages were fairly small while the disadvantage was somewhat significant.

The advantages of EXR was an increase in dynamic range and high-ISO performance. In order to achieve that, the camera had to be switched to EXR mode, which basically took the place of the DR options. Within the EXR mode, one of the settings was called D-Range Priority. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, to unlock D-Range Priority (and the other EXR options), one had to sacrifice half of the resolution and the ability to save a RAW file. My guess is that EXR was infrequently utilized on these cameras, but I really don’t know, as I only purchased one—a Fujifilm XF1—just recently.

Of the four X-series cameras that used an EXR-CMOS sensor, only the X100 was APS-C, and the other three were 2/3″, which was much smaller. I’ve never used the original X100, and only recently the XF1 with its tiny 2/3″ EXR-CMOS. The color rendering should be pretty identical, but the dynamic range and high-ISO noise performance is likely slightly different. I know this because I have used both an APS-C and 2/3″ X-Trans II sensor, and that’s what I observed. I don’t expect a significant difference in output between the four EXR-CMOS cameras, but the X100 will be a little superior to the other three.

Empty Restaurant Chair – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm XF1 – Golden Negative

The JPEG options on EXR-CMOS are very similar to X-Trans I, but the rendering is slightly different. You can use X-Trans I, X-Trans II, and Bayer Film Simulation Recipes that use Provia, Velvia, Astia, Monochrome, or Sepia film simulations; however, they will look a bit different on the XF1, X100, X10, or X-S1 cameras. Likewise, you can use this Golden Negative Recipe on X-Trans I, X-Trans II, or Bayer models, but it will render just a tad different. This isn’t to discourage you from trying, but to simply say that results will vary. I call this Film Simulation Recipe “Golden Negative” because I was attempting to achieve an aesthetic similar to the Golden Negative Recipe for Bayer cameras that have Classic Chrome; EXR-CMOS cameras don’t have Classic Chrome, so I used Provia instead. It’s definitely not identical, but this Film Simulation Recipe looks really good, and I think, if you have an EXR-CMOS sensor camera, you’ll truly enjoy this one.

Provia/STD
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Shadow: 0 (Standard)
Color: +1 (Medium-High)
Sharpness: 0 (Standard)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: Auto, +1 Red (R/CY) & -3 Blue (B/Ye)
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 1600
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Golden Negative Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm XF1:

Pink Bloom in Blue Sky – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Bougainvillea & Building Storm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Block Wall & Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Garden Gate – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Bougainvillea in Summer – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Yellow Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Vines on a Cinderblock Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Attic Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Cirrocumulus behind Tree Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Ball Field & Distant Storm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Overcast Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Dry Grass in the Park – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Shade Maker – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Duel – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Young Photographer – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Right – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Car Window Boy – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Dead Flowers in a Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Hanging Bulbs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Tile Rooflines – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Illuminated Window – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Breakfast Served Backwards – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm XF1
Vines over Birdcage – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm XF1

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1976 Kodak — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

All the World’s a Summer Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1976 Kodak

The 1976 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe began as an attempt to recreate the aesthetic of legendary photographer Joel Meyerowitz, an American New Color photographer first known for serendipitous street photos of New York City. Meyerowitz has had one of the most prolific careers of any photographer, and he’s still active today at 85 years old! His look has been one of the most requested to replicate on Fujifilm cameras, so I eagerly delved into what exactly that is and how to mimic it.

One of the first roadblocks I encountered is that Joel Meyerowitz doesn’t have one unique style. His aesthetics vary significantly through the years. That shouldn’t be surprising because he’s on his seventh decade of photography. It’s well known that Meyerowitz used a lot of Kodachrome—in fact, he shot with all three eras of the film. In his early days it was the original ISO 10 Kodachrome, but very quickly that was replaced by Kodachome II and X; a significant chunk of his iconic street photography was captured during this time. Then Kodachrome 25 and 64 came along. All of those emulsions, while very similar, had their unique characteristics. I have a number of Film Simulation Recipes that can produce a Meyerowitz look because they replicate a film that he frequently used, including Vintage Kodachrome, Kodachrome 1, Kodachrome II (here, too), Kodachrome 25 (here, too), and Kodachrome 64 (here and here, too).

While Meyerowitz was known for Kodachrome, many of his most famous photographs were not captured on that film. He used Ektachrome sometimes for his 35mm work, and he used it extensively for his 8×10 large format photography. There have been over 40 different emulsions that carried the Ektachrome brand name, so it’s hard to know which specific ones he used. Some Ektachrome Film Simulation Recipes are Old Ektachrome, Kodak Ektachrome 100SW, Kodak Ektachrome E100VS, Ektachrome E100GX, Ektachrome, Ektachrome 320T, and Thommy’s Ektachrome. Some of these can probably be used to replicate a Meyerowitz look, too.

Closed Red Umbrella – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1976 Kodak

He didn’t just shoot with Kodachrome and Ektachrome, but also Anscochrome sometimes. He might have used other emulsions, too, it’s not real clear. One thing is for sure: whichever film he used, the emulsion wasn’t the finished picture, the print was (or the replication of the print in a book). Today, film is often scanned, and that’s how we see the photos captured with it, but for much of Meyerowitz’s career, the print (and not the scan) was what we saw. The printing process—the chemicals, the paper, and a host of other factors—could significantly affect the end result. That process changed and evolved over the decades. All of this is to say that no one Film Simulation Recipe will ever be able to replicate all of Joel’s various aesthetics. Probably not even ten Recipes. Aside from the ones already mentioned, 1970’s Summer and especially Summer of 1960 are a couple that could potentially produce a Meyerowitz look.

I studied about fifty of Joel’s photographs, mostly from the 1970’s. Some of them were urban street pictures, some were suburban or small-town images, and others were coastal photos. I looked for commonalities between the various pictures. I paid close attention to the lighting. I focused in on about two dozen that seemed similar enough, and tried to replicate the look with my Fujifilm X-T5. This 1976 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe was my sixth iteration. It’s not perfect, because, even within those 20+ similar Meyerowitz photographs, there are still some subtle differences. Aside from that, Fujifilm’s options, which are much more robust than they used to be, are still limited, and you can only do so much. Still, sometimes the resemblance between some of Joel’s pictures and the images captured with this Recipe are remarkable!

This Film Simulation Recipe got its name because the majority of the pictures that it is based on were captured in 1976. Some were 35mm and likely Kodachrome 25 and Kodachrome 64, but could also be Ektachrome-X and/or Ektachrome Pro 64, or even Anscochrome 64. Some were large format and likely Ektachrome Pro 64, Ektachrome 6118 Tungsten, and/or Ektachrome 160 Daylight, or even possibly Aschochrome 32. 1976 was a pivotal and transitional year for Joel Meyerowitz, as he began to explore landscapes and small-town life, particularly along the Massachusetts coast. He also began shooting with a large format Deardorff view camera. Since this was such an important year in Meyerowitz’s photographic journey, since many of the pictures that this Recipe was modeled after were captured in 1976, and because the vast majority of his photos were shot on Kodak film, I call this Recipe 1976 Kodak.

Two Birds – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1976 Kodak

The 1976 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe is quite versatile, and works well in many lighting situations and for many genres of photography. You might find it to be slightly overly warm in artificial light, but otherwise use it anytime. It’s compatible with Fujifilm X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s, and X-S20. Those with newer GFX cameras can use it, too, although it will likely render slightly different (use it anyway!). Try this Recipe with a vintage lens to further replicate a retro aesthetic.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Auto, -2 Red & -4 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +1.5
Shadow: +3
Color: +4
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this 1976 Kodak Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Country Truck – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Truck being Photographed – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tonka Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Nissan Nature – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pro4X – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Campus – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Street Glimpse – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Leaf & Treats – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Evening Reflected in Glass – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dead Decorative Flowers – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Old Tricycle – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Two Red Chairs – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Locked Bike – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Circles of Life – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fountain Not Flowing – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Orange Pot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Mineral Discoloring – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Covered Promenade – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Curious Closed Curtain – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Office Abstract – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Plastic Green – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Joshua Waiting in a Blue Chair – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Photography is Life – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Guitar Practice – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Happy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Green Leaves Hiding Behind Gate – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Park Bench – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rainbow & Trumpets – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Ceramic Tile Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Suburban Home – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Date Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea Garden – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Distant Thunderstorm Building – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Uptown Snake – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Red Bell – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Green Soccer Field – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Scootering – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rooftop at Dusk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Distant Sunset – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Pastel Sunset over Ball Field – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Foul Pole & Full Moon – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Saguaro at Sundown – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Dramatic Sunset behind Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Purple Sky – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunset over School – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunset Lit Cloud – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fast Scooter at Night – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Basketball Moon – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Moon Through the Hoop – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Moonshot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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 nearly 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.

Pushed CineStill 800T — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

July Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Pushed CineStill 800T

CineStill 800T is a Kodak Tungsten-balanced motion picture film (specifically, Vision3 500T) that has had the Remjet layer removed so that it can be processed in C41 chemistry. It’s intended for use in indoor artificial light and at night (but could be used anytime with the appropriate color correction filter). Awhile back I found some examples of CineStill 800T that had been shot during the day in overcast conditions and had been push-processed. I liked the picture aesthetics, so I set out to recreate it.

While this Film Simulation Recipe is intended for daytime photography (particularly on overcast days), it does really well at night, too. For the after-dark pictures in this article, I used a 5% CineBloom diffusion filter, but a 10% or 20% might have been more appropriate for replicating the emulsion. I do recommend the use of a diffusion filter for nighttime photography when shooting with this Recipe.

Mellow Mushroom – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Pushed CineStill 800T

This Pushed CineStill 800T 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 tweak to Color Chrome FX Blue—selecting Weak instead of Strong—was necessary for my Fujifilm X-T5. This Film Simulation Recipe isn’t for everyone or every situation, but some of you will really appreciate it for certain pictures.

Film Simulation: Eterna Bleach Bypass
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: 7700K, -9 Red & +5 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -0.5
Shadow: +1.5
Color: +3
Sharpness: 0
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Pushed CineStill 800T Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Flower Stems in Colored Water – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Playing Video Games – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Yellow Flowers on a Dreary Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Birdcage Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Cage – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Green Tree on a Blue Day – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Suburban Grey – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Street Train – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hand Signal – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Spin – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Ice – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hair Chairs – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Mellow Mushroom Pizza – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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 nearly 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.

8 Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes for Those Hot Summer Nights

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Tattoo & Turkish Pizza – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Xpro ’62

It’s summer and it’s hot. I live in Arizona, so when I say it’s hot, I mean that it feels like someone opened an oven door! Nobody wants to be outside during the day right now, so (like vampires) everyone comes out at night. Not that it’s all that much cooler at dusk—it’s still triple digits—but at least it’s more bearable. While it’s easy to look at the negative side of things, the positive aspect to the excessive heat is that opportunities for night photography are plentiful.

A few days ago I took my Fujifilm X-T5 to downtown Tempe for some after-dark photography. Attached to the camera was a Meike 35mm f/1.7 lens, and I had a 5% CineBloom diffusion filter screwed onto it. I like the Meike lens for its vintage-like character. I chose the 5% CineBloom because its effect is subtle. While the 10% or 20% might have been more appropriate for a couple of the Film Simulation Recipes, overall I appreciate what the 5% CineBloom does to the photographs, which is not much yet oftentimes just enough.

I programmed into my Fujifilm X-T5 eight different Film Simulation Recipes, and shot with all of them. How was I able to program eight? Well, obviously, there’s C1-C7. On the X-T5 (as well as my X-E4 and a few other newer models), you can program an additional Recipe into the IQ menu. As you scroll through C1-C7, when you’re in-between C7 and C1, the camera will display the shooting mode (either P, A, S, or M, depending on the configuration of your dials), and it will select the settings programmed into the IQ menu, giving you a bonus eighth custom preset.

I didn’t walk all that far with my camera—going down a few blocks on one side of the road, and then back up on the other side. It was dark, but still blazing hot. I did manage to capture a whole bunch of pictures, making sure that I had at least six decent exposures with each Recipe. Afterwards I cooled off with an ice cream shake at In-N-Out, a nice treat to beat the heat.

If you are searching for some Film Simulation Recipes to try out on a hot summer night, take a look at the eight below. They’re certainly not the only ones that are good for after-dark photography, but they are all excellent options, and have their own unique aesthetics. These eight Recipes are the ones that I used, and I invite you to try them, too, the next time you go out for some night photography.

Fujicolor Super HG v2

Boat Shack at Sunset – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Super HG v2

Fujicolor Super HG v2 is a highly versatile Film Simulation Recipe that—because it uses the Auto White Priority white balance—you can use anytime of the day or night. This is a Recipe that makes a lot of sense to always have programmed into your camera, since, no matter the light scenario, it’s going to give you good results. There’s an X-Trans V version of Fujicolor Super HG v2 (for those with an X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s, or X-S20), and an X-Trans IV version of this Recipe (for those with an X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, or X-T30 II).

Ektachrome 320T

Three Empty Seats – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Ektachrome 320T

While the previous Recipe used Auto White Priority, Ektachrome 320T uses Auto Ambiance Priority, but don’t let that fool you: this Recipe is intended for use at night or indoors under artificial light, where it works very well. Ektachrome 320T is compatible with some X-Trans IV models that have the Eterna Bleach Bypass film simulation (X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II); to use it on X-Trans V, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong, since X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on some film simulations.

Expired ECN-2 100T

Bokeh Behind Chainlink – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Expired ECN-2 100T

Expired ECN-2 100T is currently a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe. If you are a subscriber on the App, you have access to this Film Simulation Recipe; otherwise, you’ll have to wait a little while for it to become available to everyone. This particular Recipe produces a green or yellow cast (depending on the light) when used at night, and a teal-ish cast when used in daylight. Like the previous Recipe, this one is compatible with the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras; to use it on X-Trans V models, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled

Daily Jam at Night – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled

Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled isn’t intended specifically as a Film Simulation Recipe for nighttime photography, but because it is so versatile it works really well for this. It has a low-contrast, low-saturation rendering with an earthy cast. It’s really good for toning down a scene when you’d prefer a softer picture. Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled is compatible with most X-Trans IV cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II, but not the X-T3 or X-T30); to use it on X-Trans V, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

Xpro ’62

Low Key Photo – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Xpro ’62

When I first learned that Xpro ’62 was great for after-dark photography, I was actually a little surprised, because this is intended as a daylight Recipe, and on paper it doesn’t seem versatile enough to be a good nighttime option. But it’s absolutely wonderful for night images! If you’ve never tried Xpro ’62 for post-sunset pictures, be sure to do so. It’s compatible with most X-Trans IV cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II, but not the X-T3 or X-T30); to use it on X-Trans V, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

CineStill 800T

Quiet Corner – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – CineStill 800T

The CineStill 800T Film Simulation Recipe is specifically intended for night photography, so it should be no surprise that it does well for after-dark pictures. If you want to even more closely mimic the film, try it with a 10% or 20% CineBloom diffusion filter. Like the previous two Recipes, CineStill 800T is compatible with most X-Trans IV cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II, but not the X-T3 or X-T30); to use it on X-Trans V, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong. There is a version for X-Trans III cameras plus the X-T3 and X-T30, and a version for X-Trans II models.

Pushed CineStill 800T

Mellow Mushroom – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Pushed CineStill 800T

The Pushed CineStill 800T Recipe is actually modeled after some pictures of the film that were captured in daylight on an overcast day. This Recipe wasn’t necessarily purposefully intended for night photography, but it shouldn’t be surprising that it does well for it. It also shouldn’t be too surprising that it renders noticeably different than the CineStill 800T Recipe above. Pushed CineStill 800T is compatible with X-Trans IV cameras that have Eterna Bleach Bypass (X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II; however, there is a version for the X-Pro3 and X100V); to use it on X-Trans V cameras, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

Serr’s 500T

Neon Red – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Serr’s 500T

Last but far from least is Serr’s 500T, which is one of my absolute favorite nighttime Film Simulation Recipes. Due to its strong blue cast, this one is especially great for countering warm artificial light. Serr’s 500T is compatible with most X-Trans IV cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II); to use it on X-Trans V, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

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.

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
Meike 35mm f/1.7:  Amazon   B&H

Fujicolor Super HG v2 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Boat Shack at Sunset – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Super HG v2

Fujifilm introduced the Super HG line in 1986, with ISO versions between 100 and 1600. It saw several iterations and improvements before Fujifilm replaced it with the Superia line is 1998. This Fujicolor Super HG v2 recipe produces results similar to Super HG 100 or Super HG 200 film. One film can have many different looks depending on how it was shot, developed, and printed or scanned, so this Recipe won’t match every image from the emulsion, but it is definitely in the general ballpark of the film.

This isn’t a new Recipe, but rather a slight modification of an X-Trans IV Recipe for use on X-Trans V cameras. The X-Trans IV version of Fujicolor Super HG v2 was a collaboration between myself and Thomas Schwab, but he did most of the work on it, and I only contributed a little. Because X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on some film simulations, a tweak to Color Chrome FX Blue—selecting Weak instead of Strong—was necessary for my Fujifilm X-T5.

Bridge to Nowhere – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Super HG v2

Because this Recipe uses the Auto White Priority white balance, it is extremely versatile. It would be like having a whole case full of various color correction filters for your film back in the day, except now you don’t need to carry around a bunch of filters. Use this Recipe anytime of the day or night! As of this writing, this version of Fujicolor Super HG v2 is compatible with the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s, and X-S20 cameras. The X-Trans IV version is compatible with the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II models. If you have a newer GFX model, you can try this or the original iteration—I’m not certain which is most appropriate, so maybe try both and see which one you like better.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Grain Effect: Weak, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Weak
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto White Priority, -3 Red & -1 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1
Shadow: +1
Color: +2
Sharpness: 0
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor Super HG v2 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Bougainvillea Arm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bored Boy Tossing Football – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Potted Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Water Angels – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Zenefits – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bow – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sidewalk – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Resting Cat – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Stone Fencepost – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Adirondack – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sunset over Black Ridge – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Birds not of a Feather – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Double-Double – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Corner of 6th – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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 nearly 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.

Fujicolor Superia 100 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on by Ritchie Roesch

Small Windmill – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Superia 100

Fujicolor Superia 100 was a daylight-balanced color negative film produced by Fujifilm between 1998 and 2009. It replaced Fujicolor Super G Plus 100, which, honestly, didn’t look all that much different. Superia 100 had improved grain, sharpness, and more accurate color under florescent light; under normal conditions, and without a very close inspection, the two films looked nearly identical. Superia 100 was a “consumer” film that was widely found in drug and convenient stores. It was regularly used for family snapshots, but was also popular among photojournalists, as well as portrait and wedding photographers. Superia 100 was marketed as a “general use” low-ISO color film. Like the film, this Fujicolor Superia 100 Film Simulation Recipe could serve as a general-use option.

This isn’t a new Recipe, but an adaption of the X-Trans IV version of Fujicolor Superia 100 for use on X-Trans V cameras. Because X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on Classic Negative (and some other film sims), a slight tweak is needed for my X-T5; specifically, Color Chrome FX Blue should be set to Off instead of Weak. That’s the only difference between the X-Trans IV and V versions of Fujicolor Superia 100.

Purple Patina – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Superia 100

This Film Simulation Recipe has fairly low contrast—but not too low—and produces very nice colors. It has a nostalgic quality to it, since the film that it’s based on was widely used for family snapshots in the 1990’s and 2000’s. You can use it for portraits or street photography or landscapes—really, it’s good for most situations. Like the film, in indoor artificial light it will render especially warm, which you might or might not appreciate. This Recipe is compatible with X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s, and X-S20. For newer GFX models, you can use either version, but I’m sure it will look slightly different than an the X series.

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

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor Superia 100 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Red Bike – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Taillight – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Snooze – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Jon with a Camera – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Water & Light – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Spiderweb Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Greens of Summer – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Birdcage Light – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Americana Girl – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Backlit Girl in the Garden – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bougainvillea Blooms of Summer – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Blooms Above Blocks – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tiny Purple Backyard Blossoms – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Flowerpot – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Love Lost – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Concentration – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hanging Lamps – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Yellow Coffee – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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 nearly 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.