X-Trans V | FUJI X WEEKLY

Reggie’s Portra in X-Trans V Cameras

*A Girl and Her Horse* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 – Reggie’s Portra

It’s been interesting to watch Reggie’s Portra Recipe grow in popularity over the years. It was created by Reggie Ballesteros (website, YouTube, Instagram), and I published it in the summer of 2022 with his permission. I’m not sure where it ranked in 2022, but it didn’t crack the Top 10. In 2023 it was the 9th most popular. It climbed to #3 in 2024. This year, Reggie’s Portra is the number one most popular Film Simulation Recipe on Fuji X Weekly, just edging out Kodachrome 64, which was the long-time reigning champion.

A few days ago, Reggie posted a video on YouTube explaining what changes, if any, he has made to the Recipe for use in 2025. When it was made, Reggie’s Portra was for X-Trans IV cameras, but now we’re well into the fifth-generation. So what adjustments did he make? I’ve included the video below, so that you can watch it for yourself.

Not trying to give away the answer, but the short of it is that Reggie doesn’t adjust anything. He uses the same exact Reggie’s Portra settings on fifth-generation models as he did on fourth-generation X-series cameras. He doesn’t make any adjustments whatsoever. The only change is the diffusion filter that he often uses.

On the Fuji X Weekly App, I’ve only included Reggie’s Portra as compatible with X-Trans IV models, specifically the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II (as well as the GFX100S). I didn’t include fifth-generation cameras (X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III, as well as GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF) because, on those cameras, there are some aesthetic differences—the largest being how deeply the color blue is rendered on certain film simulations, including Classic Chrome. It’s quite similar, but not identical; however, there is a simple fix to get them to be more similar: reduce Color Chrome FX Blue by one.

*Jon Dressed Up* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T4 – Reggie’s Portra – by Amanda Roesch

The difference between Color Chrome FX Blue Weak and Off is pretty subtle. If you’re not comparing photos side-by-side, you probably won’t even notice (even when directly comparing, you still might not see the difference immediately). It’s honestly not a big deal, but, if you’re trying to get Reggie’s Portra to most closely match the X-Trans IV results on a fifth-generation camera, then adjusting Color Chrome FX Blue from Weak to Off will do that. This is an adjustment that I make personally, and one that I recommend; however, there’s nothing wrong with not making that small change. Feel free to set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak (as called for in the Recipe and as Reggie himself does it) or Off (as I do) on the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III cameras, as well as the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. Either way works.

People have asked me why I haven’t updated Reggie’s Portra in the App for X-Trans V cameras, and the answer is simple: it’s not my Recipe to make a change to. It belongs to Reggie Ballesteros, and I certainly didn’t want to step on his toes by modifying it. Now that he has clarified how he uses it on fifth-generation cameras, I have updated the App to reflect that. It now shows in the Fuji X Weekly App as compatible with the latest cameras. It won’t render exactly the same as on X-Trans IV, but pretty similar—not enough of a difference to be concerned about (only very subtly divergent). I want to close this out by giving a shoutout to Reggie. His Recipe is great—both my wife and I use it ourselves. It’s a real honor to have it available to you on Fuji X Weekly. If you’ve never tried it, well, it’s almost a right of passage at this point, so be sure to program it into your camera today.

*Dodge* – Boulder, CO – Fujifilm X100VI – Reggie’s Portra

Which Film Simulation Recipes, When? — Part 1: X-Trans V (2024 Edition)

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Dumbo Crowd* – Brooklyn, New York City, NY – Fujifilm X-T50 – Reala Ace Recipe

Part 2 (X-Trans IV) – Part 3 (X-T3/X-T30)

I get asked all of the time when to use which Film Simulation Recipe. With over 350 in the Fuji X Weekly App to choose from, it can be difficult to know when each Recipe should be chosen, especially since many of them are specifically intended for sunny daylight conditions. With only seven Custom Presets on your Fujifilm camera (for most of you, anyway), which ones should you have programed? When should you select them?

The problem with trying to answer this question is that it’s a highly subjective endeavor. While I might like a certain Recipe for a particular situation, you might not. There’s not a right or wrong answer, just what works for you and what doesn’t—and I cannot say whether any particular Recipe will work for you or not. Only you can answer that for yourself, and you have to try a Recipe to know. With that said, I do attempt to give good advice. I’ve written many articles related to this topic, including the series Which Film Simulation Recipes, When? While that has likely been the most helpful, it’s nearly two-years-old now, and a lot of new Recipes have been published since. I think it’s time to update the series for 2024.

*Red Rock at Sundown* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50 – Reala Ace Recipe

The premise of the original series is that Jason Kummerfeldt of Grainydays, a YouTube channel about film photography, gave some advice on when to use which film emulsion in a video entitled Which Film Stock, When? Since film choice is such a personal thing, how do you say when to use which? It’s the same thing for Film Simulation Recipes. His solution was simply to demonstrate what he uses and state what he likes, and maybe you’ll like it too. In my series, I copied that approach for Recipes—I told you my preferences, and invited you to try them too. We’re going to follow that same formula for this update with just a small twist, which I think makes a little more sense.

Below are seven Recipe suggestions for you to program into C1-C7 on your Fujifilm camera, with advice on when to use each. Since Recipes are (for the most part) generationally specific, each article will cover a different group of cameras. Part 1 is X-Trans V models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50. You can use these Recipes on the latest GFX cameras; however, they will render slightly differently (try them anyway).

C1 — Kodak Portra 400 v2 — Sunny Daylight #1

*Motor Hotel* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2 does well anytime during daylight hours, but especially for “golden hour” near sunrise and sunset. As the name suggests it is a good option for portrait photography, but is excellent for many genres. This really could be your primary use-all-of-the-time Recipe, and that’s why I suggest placing it in C1. Personally, I use this one frequently.

Some alternatives to consider:
Kodachrome 64
Kodak Gold 200
Classic Kodak
Kodak Negative
Nostalgic Americana

C2 — Vibrant Arizona — Sunny Daylight #2

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

I like to reserve C2 for bright midday photography. The old rule of thumb was once the sun was high in the sky, it’s time to put the camera away. While Vibrant Arizona can be used anytime the sun is out (also, try it at dusk and dawn), it is my favorite option for middle-of-the-day situations, and proves the old adage wrong.

Some alternatives to consider:
1970’s Summer
California Summer
Kodak Portra 800 v3
Kodak Portra 160 v2
Kodak Vericolor Warm

C3 — Fujicolor Film — Sunny Daylight #3

*Rainbows over Philly* – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor Film

This is a good spot to have an alternative aesthetic compared to C1 and C2—as I don’t think you’d want to have all three up to this point to be essentially similar—and the Fujicolor Film Recipe provides exactly that. With the ones I’ve suggested, you’ve got a good set for all sorts of daylight situations no matter your subject.

Some alternatives to consider:
Fujicolor Reala 100
Fujicolor Superia 100
Fujicolor Natura 1600
Pushed Analog
Kodak Vision3 250D v2

C4 — Pacific Blues — Overcast

*Wet Leaves* – Tannersville, NY – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pacific Blues Recipe

Pacific Blues is excellent for sunny daylight photography—it was specifically designed for a summer day at the beach—but I have fallen in love with it for overcast and foggy days. For dreary conditions, this Recipe is hard to beat.

Some alternatives to consider:
Kodak Ultramax 400
PRO Negative 160C
Emulsion ’86
Thommy’s Ektachrome
Superia Xtra 400

C5 — Reala Ace — Versatility

*Mountain Pines at Sunset* – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Reala Ace

I like to have at least one Recipe programmed into my camera that’s highly versatile and can be used no matter the situation. There are several excellent options, but my personal favorite is the Reala Ace Recipe (which, incidentally, uses Classic Negative and not the new Reala Ace film sim).

Some alternatives to consider:
Fujicolor Super HG v2
Nostalgia Negative
Timeless Negative
Easy Reala Ace
1976 Kodak

C6 — CineStill 800T — Nighttime

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

Most Recipes are intended for sunny daylight; while some can still do well at night, and the versatile options above are definitely good for after-dark, there are some Recipes that are specifically intended for night photography. Of those, CineStill 800T is my top recommendation.

Some alternatives to consider:
Pushed CineStill 800T
Fluorescent Night
Expired ECN-2 100T
Agfa Ultra 100 v2
Kodak Ektachrome E100VS v1

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400 — B&W

*Frank* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50 – Kodak Tri-X 400

I love black-and-white photography. As far as Recipes go, the monochrome options tend to be less popular than color; however, my favorite Recipe—and the one that I choose if I could only ever photograph with one—is Kodak Tri-X 400.

Some alternatives to consider:
Kodak T-Max P3200
Ilford FP4 Plus 125
Ilford HP5 Plus 400
Monochrome Negative
Kentmere Pan 400

IQ — X-T50 Film Dial — Bonus

*Oysters & Seafood* – Denver, CO – Fujifilm X-T50 – Film Dial “Cinematic Film”

Whether or not you have a Fujifilm X-T50, you can program the universal Film Dial Recipe into your IQ Menu as a bonus option (explained here). With the X-T50, the Film Dial allows you to achieve up to 12 different looks (essentially 12 bonus Recipes); with other cameras, program one of the FN buttons to activate the Film Simulation submenu, and you can achieve up to 14 different looks (14 bonus Recipes). This adds a ton of versatility to your camera.

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

Part 2 (X-Trans IV)

10 Must Try X-Trans V Recipes for Nighttime Photography

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Travel by Train* – Denver, CO – Fujifilm X-T50 – Cinematic Film Recipe

Like film, the majority of Film Simulation Recipes are intended for daylight photography, and it can be difficult to know which ones are good for nighttime use. Once the sun goes down and the street lamps begin to glow, some of the Recipes that are great for sunny conditions won’t produce particularly good results. Which ones should you use instead? Well, I’ve got you covered!

In this article I have 10 Recipe suggestions for nighttime photography. Each exact lighting scenario is different, and everyone has their own unique style, so not all of these will necessarily be for everyone; however, if it’s after-dark, at least one of these 10 should work quite well for you. Also, there are a lot of other Recipes not in this list that could potentially give you good results—in other words, this is not comprehensive in the least; mostly, I just wanted to include a variety of options. Don’t be afraid to try a Recipe not in this list for night pictures, but, if you are at a loss for which one to use after-dark, try one of the options below.

Specifically, these are X-Trans V Recipes for the latest generation of Fujifilm X-series cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50 cameras. Some have versions for older sensors. I would also like to point you to 10 Must Try Film Simulation Recipes for Night Photography, 8 Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes for Those Hot Summer Nights, and Which Film Simulation Recipes, When? If you don’t have a fifth-generation X-Trans camera, you are likely to find a good option in those articles. If you do have an X-Trans V model, check out the 10 Recipes in this list.

Cinematic Film

This is one of the 14 Film Dial Recipes made for the Fujifilm X-T50, but it’s not limited to use on that camera. It’s compatible with all fifth-generation models; for the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, or X-T30 II, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off. This is such an excellent Recipe for after-dark photography, and is at the top of my suggestion list for a reason. Also, many of the other Film Dial Recipes also do quite well at night, so don’t be afraid to try those, too.

CineStill 800T

This is another personal favorite for nighttime photography—in fact, it’s specifically intended for this purpose. There are also versions for X-Trans IV, X-Trans III, and X-Trans II cameras. This Recipe pairs especially well with a weak diffusion filter, such as a 5% or 10% CineBloom or 1/8 or 1/4 Pro Mist.

Pushed CineStill 800T

This version of CineStill 800T was actually intended for daytime photography, but works particularly well at night. It’s more of an alternative-process type rendering, but can be a lot of fun. There are also two versions for X-Trans IV cameras (here and here).

Fluorescent Night

Under the right lighting situation, this Recipe can look really good; however, it’s not necessarily a versatile nighttime option. It definitely needs artificial light, preferably some fluorescent tubes. You might love it, or you might not, but you won’t know until you try.

Agfa Ultra 100 v2

This Recipe is for sunny daylight, but I was quite surprised at some of my nighttime results. I don’t think it will be good for every after-dark situation, but it is certainly good for some, particularly blue-hour light.

Fujicolor Super HG v2

This is a versatile Recipe that works really well for nighttime photography. This is a great one just to always have programmed into your camera. There’s a version for X-Trans IV.

Reala Ace

This Recipe uses Classic Negative (not the new Reala Ace film sim). It’s very versatile, and as such works well for nighttime photography. It’s another Recipe that you can just always have programmed into your camera.

Easy Reala Ace

This Recipe uses the new Reala Ace film simulation. It’s not specifically intended for nighttime photography, but is versatile, and works quite well for it.

PRO Negative 160C

Another Reala Ace-based Recipe, and another that is great for night simply due to its versatility. As Fujifilm put it, Reala Ace is the “Negative for the new era.”

Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

Like Cinematic Film at the top, this is one of the 14 Film Dial Recipes. Many of the Film Dial Recipes are great for nighttime photography—not just the two in this list—but some are better than others, and Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm is one of my personal favorites.

Bonus: Astia Azure

*Salt River & Mountain Reflection* – Mesa, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Astia Azure Recipe

Since I included two of the Film Dial Recipes in the Top 10, I thought that it would be more fair to add an 11th Recipe. Astia Azure is intended for sunny daylight photography, but I’ve had good luck with it after-dark, particularly in blue-hour light. This is currently a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, and is only available to App subscribers at this time; however, it will eventually be made available to everyone. It’s compatible with X-Trans V cameras, and some X-Trans IV models.

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-T50 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in charcoal:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex
Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and over 350 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 Analog — Fujifilm X-T50 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Rainbow over Hoboken* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pushed Analog Recipe

I created this new Film Simulation Recipe while on my four-city photowalk tour. I didn’t have any specific film in mind, but wanted something contrasty, colorful, and warm—perhaps vaguely reminiscent of a push-processed Kodak emulsion without mimicking anything specific. In fact, I didn’t even reference any photographs when I created this (which is unusual for me), just used my experience making Recipes to achieve the aesthetic that I was after. Since it is only similar to pushed film in a very generic way, I named this Recipe very simply Pushed Analog.

Pushing film is where you purposefully underexpose, and then increase the time in the developer to compensate. This Recipe might be more similar to ISO 100 film pushed one stop or maybe two at most (but probably not two stops). Pushing film increases the contrast and grain, and makes the images more punchy and gritty. The more you push, the stronger the effect. The warmth in this Recipe is similar to using a warming filter, such as an 81A or something similar, with daylight balanced film, which used to be common in the film era.

*Ciao & Church* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pushed Analog Recipe

This Pushed Analog Film Simulation Recipe isn’t for every subject or situation, and not everyone is going to like it. Some of you will love it, I’m certain; however, this is not an everyday option that everyone will appreciate. I found that it works best in sunny daylight, and can also be a good option for dusk or dawn. It’s so-so for overcast days, and not good for artificial light. You can get dramatic results, but you might not find every image to be striking. This Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation X-series cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50.

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

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Pushed Analog Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-T50:

*Upper Manhatten* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Richie’s Lemon Ice* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Yellow Umbrellas* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

*P is for Parking* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Chimney between the Trees* – Salem, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Vines on the Building* – Salem, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Maria Pepe* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Two Motorcycles* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Lost Shoes* – Salem, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Apartment Reflections* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Lego Brick*s – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Troupe* – Braintree, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Back Door* – Braintree, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Green Cans* – Nashville, TN – Fujifilm X-T50

*Church Parking* – Salem, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*St Stephen’s* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*W.B. Mason* – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X-T50

*Bova’s Bakery* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*Paul Revere’s House* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*John P. Felt House* – Salem, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*St. Anthony’s Feast Parade* – Boston, MA – Fujifilm X-T50

*New York from New Jersey* – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50

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

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 350 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

CineStill 800T — Fujifilm X-Trans V Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on April 16, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

CineStill 800T is a motion picture color negative film with the Remjet layer removed so that it can be developed in standard C41 chemistry. It’s actually repackaged Kodak Vision3 500T, which requires the ECN-2 development process. The “T” in the name means that it’s Tungsten-balanced, and is intended for use in artificial light; in daylight, it has a strong blue cast (unless you pair it with a color correction filter, such as Type 85), so most people use it at night. Because the Remjet layer has been removed, it’s prone to a blooming effect around bright light sources, such as streetlights.

It’s really difficult to accurately replicate a CineStill 800T aesthetic because there’s only so much that can be done to approximate certain aspects of it on Fujifilm cameras. As with any film, it can produce a lot of different looks depending on a host of factors, including how shot, developed, and scanned and/or printed. I feel that this Recipe does a pretty good job considering those factors, but I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not perfect. This isn’t a new Film Simulation Recipe, but a slight modification of the X-Trans IV CineStill 800T Recipe for use on X-Trans V models. The only change is that Color Chrome FX Blue has been adjusted from Strong to Weak, since X-Trans V renders blue more deeply on certain film simulations.

*Ports Grill* – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – CineStill 800T

This CineStill 800T Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which, as of this writing, are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI. I’m sure that it can also be used on newer GFX models, but I’ve not personally done so, and most likely it will render slightly different (try it anyway). This Recipe is a great option for after-dark photography, and it can sometimes produce interesting results in daylight situations, too.

Film Simulation: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Fluorescent 3, -6 Red & -4 Blue
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +2
Color: +4
Sharpness: -3
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -5
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this CineStill 800T Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5 & X100VI:

*Nightwalker* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*GMC Van* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Street Lamp & Trees* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Corner Lamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Red Pill* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Lamplit Passage* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Arches in the Dark* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Red Means Stop* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Neighborhood Streetlamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Blue Water* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Lit Clocktower* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Misty Sidewalk* – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sunrise Night* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*White Building, Dark Night* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Mainstreet* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Hall Bench* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Shadow* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Photo by Joy Roesch

*Bricks & Powerlines* – Bisbee, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Twisted Flag* – Bisbee, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Unexpected Prayer Flags* – Bisbee, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Lake Grass* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

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

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and nearly 350 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

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

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

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

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

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

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

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

C1 — Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome 64

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

C2 — Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2

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

C3 — Kodak Portra 800 v3

Kodak Portra 800 v3

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

C4 — Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues

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

C5 — Reala Ace

Reala Ace

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

C6 — Fluorescent Night

Fluorescent Night

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

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400

Kodak Tri-X 400

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

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

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

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Senna Shrub Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Superia 1600

Fujifilm introduced Superia 1600 in 2000. It was the highest ISO version of Superia, and was one of the best ultra-high ISO color negative films ever made. There are some reports that both Natura 1600 and Press 1600 were the same emulsion as Superia 1600, but they might be slightly varied; Fujifilm was known for keeping their “best” emulsions in Japan, sometimes tweaking the film to best reproduce Japanese skin tones. Whatever the case, there were plenty of photographers who were disappointed by its discontinuation in 2016.

This is a quick update to the X-Trans IV Fujicolor Superia 1600 Film Simulation Recipe for compatibility for fifth-generation X-Trans cameras. Because X-Trans V cameras render blue more deeply on some film simulations, including Classic Negative, a small tweak to Color Chrome FX Blue is necessary. Aside from that small change, this Recipe is identical to the X-Trans IV version. If you have a fifth-generation X-Trans camera, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI, use this version of Fujicolor Superia 1600.

*Desert Sunset 1* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fujicolor Superia 1600

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Daylight, +3 Red & +1 Blue
Highlight:0
Shadow: +2
Color: -3
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400 — for best results: 1600 to 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)

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

*Standing Saguaro* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Senna Along Fence* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Vines on Cinderblock Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Window into the Abandoned* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Bench & Trashcan* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Photo by Jon Roesch

*Light on a Tree Trunk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Photo by Jon Roesch

*Unlit Light* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Crawling Thru* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*iMaGiNe* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Desert Sunset 2* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Palm Trees at Night* – Goodyear, 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, Wex
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

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

Agfa Ultra 100 v2 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Yellow Blossoms Along a Fence* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Agfa Ultra 100 v2

Ultra 100 was a short lived color negative film made by Agfa from 2003 to 2005. After its discontinuation it gained a cult-like following; unsurprisingly, I’ve been asked many times to replicate the aesthetic for Fujifilm cameras. The supply of this emulsion has been getting smaller and smaller, and before long it will likely be completely gone. Nowadays, a digital approximation will be your best bet to achieve an Agfa Ultra 100 look.

Two years ago I published an Agfa Ultra 100 Film Simulation Recipe, using Classic Negative as the base. I said of it, “I’m actually not fully satisfied with this Recipe. I think sometimes it’s pretty spot-on, and I think other times it is significantly off.” Two years later, having just re-reviewed a lot of Agfa Ultra 100 photographs in preparation for this article, I completely agree with that assessment: some of the pictures captured with my Agfa Ultra 100 Recipe look extremely similar to some pictures I found captured with the film stock, while others don’t look especially alike. That shouldn’t be too surprising because one film can produce many different looks based on a host of factors, including how shot, developed, printed and/or scanned.

*Vibrant Spring* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Agfa Ultra 100 v2

I recently received an email from a film photographer who has been shooting with Agfa Ultra 100 for many years. He purchased a large supply of the film back in 2007, and has kept it in his freezer ever since. With his supply now running low, he began to look for alternatives, and in the process stumbled upon Fuji X Weekly. Unfortunately, my Agfa Ultra 100 Film Simulation Recipe wasn’t a good match for his pictures, so he reached out to me to see if it would be possible to better replicate his photographs. He sent me some samples, and I noticed right away that it was dissimilar from my Recipe. His pictures had a distinct Nostalgic Neg. vibe, so I thought I could probably recreate the aesthetic using that film simulation.

His Agfa Ultra 100 pictures were captured with Pantax MZ-S 35mm SLR, overexposed slightly to compensate for the film being expired, developed by MPix, and scanned on a Noritsu. No post-processing was done, other than whatever corrections the lab may have made while scanning. The resulting pictures looked different than my Recipe, and also different from most of the photographs captured with the film that I found online. In particular, his photographs were significantly warmer and a tad more vibrant than my original Recipe. After a few days of tweaking, I feel like I got really close to the specific aesthetic of his pictures. He only sent me a handful of images to examine, so it’s based on a small sampling; however, this new Recipe seems like a pretty good match overall.

*Maricopa Trail* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Agfa Ultra 100 v2

My new Agfa Ultra 100 v2 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with fifth-generation X-Trans cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI cameras. Those with newer GFX cameras that have the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation can use it, too; however, it will render slightly different (try it anyway). While this Recipe is intended for sunny daylight situations, it does surprisingly well in a variety of light scenarios.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Weak, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Weak
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: 5800K, -3 Red & -3 Blue
Highlight:+1.5
Shadow: +1
Color: +3
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Agfa Ultra 100 v2 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Empty Shell Station* – Glendale, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Dusk Lamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Corner House at Dusk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Groceries & Meat* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Joshua in Window Light* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Fake Orchid* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Curtains & Blinds* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Bright Buzz People Happen* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sunset from a Parking Garage* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sunset Reflected in a Pond* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Golden Suburbia* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Roofline & Lens Flare* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Bougainvillea Green* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Yellow Desert Flowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sharp Spikes* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*American* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Red Stripe* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Repurposed Fire Hydrant* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Bell Tower* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Fish Fan* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Girl on the Green Grass* – Goodyear, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Pavement, Grass & Shadows* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Roofscape* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Open Window* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Broken Home* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Home in Ruins* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Mitsubishi* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Monroe Ave Sidewalk* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison:

*Original Agfa Ultra 100 Film Simulation Recipe*

*New Agfa Ultra 100 v2 Film Simulation Recipe*

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

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

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

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

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Fuji X Weekly App is free, yet becoming a Fuji X Weekly Patron unlocks the best App experience! One benefit of being a Patron is you get early access to some new Film Simulation Recipes. These Early-Access Recipes will eventually become available free to everyone in time, including this new one. Patrons help support Fuji X Weekly and, really, without them there would be no App. So I want to give a special “thank you” to all of the Patrons! If you are an App Patron, be sure to look for this new Recipe in the App!

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

*BM&LP RR 6001* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Standing at the edge of the Canyon* – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Four Kids at the Canyon* – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Golden Sunlight in the Canyon* – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Garden Wall* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Last of Autumn* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Backlit Backyard Leaves* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Leaf Pile* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Autumn Tree and Grey Sky* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Construction* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Old Saguaro Reaching High* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Pinyon Pine at the South Rim* – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Lookout Store Sign* – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Swift* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*No Teasing the Horses* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Comparison:

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

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

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

*Golden Aspen* – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Gold 200

Part 2 — X-Trans IV, Part 3 — X-T3 & X-T30, Part 4 — X-Trans III, Part 5 — X-Trans II, Part 6 — X-Trans I

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

This is Part 1 of what will be a series of articles on this topic. I actually attempted to do this back in the summer, but got sidetracked, and never made it beyond the first post. So those with an X-Trans V camera get a little bonus. My hope is to make it all the way through X-Trans I, so if you have an older model, don’t worry—we’ll get to your camera soon.

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

*Left the Lights On* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Fluorescent Night

An important side note here: this list isn’t necessarily made up of versatile Recipes. Like film, most Film Simulation Recipes have specific use cases, such as sunny daylight, so not all of these option will be good for night photography, for example, or perhaps other situations. Be sure to visit my Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? for a more comprehensive list of options for various use cases.

This list is specifically for X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, and X-S20. The X-S20 is a bit controversial to be included here because it has an X-Trans IV sensor paired with the X-Trans V processor, but since it seems to render more similar to X-Trans V than X-Trans IV, and has the X-Trans V JPEG options, it is included in this list. Also, use this list for the upcoming X100V successor, once it comes out (in February or March, most likely). Next up in this series is X-Trans IV.

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

C1 — Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome 64

C2 — Kodak Portra 400 v2

Kodak Portra 400 v2

C3 — Vibrant Arizona

Vibrant Arizona

C4 — Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues

C5 — 1970’s Summer

1970’s Summer

C6 — Reala Ace

Reala Ace

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400

Kodak Tri-X 400

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

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

Posted on September 15, 2023 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

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

Posted on August 24, 2023 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!

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Is the Fujifilm X-S20 X-Trans IV or X-Trans V?

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

Is the new Fujifilm X-S20 X-Trans IV or X-Trans V? I’ve been asked this question a handful of times, so I thought it would be worthwhile to answer on the Fuji X Weekly blog.

The nearly three-year-old Fujifilm X-S10 is an X-Trans IV model, and we’re over one year deep into the X-Trans V generation, so surely the X-S20 is X-Trans V, right? It’s not that simple. You see, Fujifilm is using the X-Trans IV sensor inside the X-S20. Does that then makes it an X-Trans IV model? Well, the X-S20 has the new X-Processor 5 chip. So is the camera X-Trans IV or V? The answer is yes! The X-S20 is both X-Trans IV and X-Trans V at the same time.

This isn’t the first time that Fujifilm has done this. The often-overlooked X-M1 had an X-Trans I sensor paired with the X-Trans II processor. Still, this is an unusual arrangement in the Fujifilm lineup. It’s a rare exception to the norm. The X-Trans IV sensor is “old” now, but it is still quite excellent, so I don’t think it was a bad move by Fujifilm whatsoever to keep using it. Personally, I really like the X-Trans IV sensor.

The question is whether you should use X-Trans IV Film Simulation Recipes or X-Trans V Recipes on the X-S20? The differences between the aesthetic output of these two sensor generations are pretty minor. The biggest distinction is how deeply blue is rendered on some film simulations; most notably, on X-Trans V cameras, Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, Eterna, and Eterna Bleach Bypass render blue more deeply than on X-Trans IV models.

*More Than Double Wide* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1970’s Summer Recipe

I’ve never used a Fujifilm X-S20 (and probably never will, unless Fujifilm sends one to me …hint, hint Fujifilm), so I have no firsthand experience on how exactly blue behaves on it. Is it more like X-Trans IV or V? I don’t have a definitive answer. But, two people have reported to me that they believe the X-S20 output looks the same as other X-Trans V cameras, so I’m inclined to believe that the programming makes pictures captured with it look like X-Trans V despite the X-Trans IV sensor. With that said, I don’t believe it matters a whole lot since the output is so similar, and I think it’s ok to use either X-Trans IV or X-Trans V Film Simulation Recipes. My recommendation is to use X-Trans V Recipes, as well as X-Trans IV Recipes that use Provia, Velvia, Astia, PRO Neg. Hi, PRO Neg. Std, Acros, Monochrome, and Sepia; for X-Trans IV Recipes that use Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, Eterna, and Eterna Bleach Bypass, reduce Color Chrome FX Blue by one notch (Weak instead of Strong, Off instead of Weak) when possible. That’s simply a recommendation, as I’m not certain what the right answer is.

Do you like the results that a particular Film Simulation Recipe produces? If a certain Recipe gives you the look you want—whether it’s an X-Trans V, X-Trans IV, or even X-Trans III Recipe—that’s what’s important, and it’s great that you found it. Whether or not you’re “supposed to” use that one on your camera is irrelevant. I have the Fujifilm X-S20 categorized as an X-Trans V model for Film Simulation Recipe purposes, but don’t let that stop you from using X-Trans IV Recipes on it.

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

Posted on August 3, 2023 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

*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

*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

*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

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Top 7 Best Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation Recipes for Fujifilm X-Trans V Cameras

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

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

The new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation found only on the latest Fujifilm cameras is becoming quite popular! A lot of people really seem to love the aesthetic of it. All X-Trans V models, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2, X-H2s, X-T5, and X-S20, have Nostalgic Neg., as well as a couple of GFX cameras (GFX100S and GFX50S II). Classic Chrome is the most-used film sim by a large margin, followed distantly by Classic Negative and Acros, but currently there’s a lot of interest in the new option.

According to Fujifilm, Nostalgic Neg. is based on “American New Color” photography of the 1970’s. They studied photographs by William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Joel Sternfeld, and Richard Misrach in order to create it. Eggleston and Sternfeld largely shot on Kodachrome—II and X in the early 1970’s, 25 and 64 in the late ’70’s—while Shore shot mostly Kodacolor, and Misrach shot a lot of Vericolor. All of those are Kodak emulsions, but with different aesthetics. These four photographers had different styles and different darkroom processes, and they each had a unique look; the commonality that Fujifilm found was an “overall atmosphere based on amber.” That’s a basic explanation of what the new film simulation is. While not mentioned by Fujifilm, I think Nostalgic Neg. also has some similarities to photographs by Saul Leiter and Joel Meyerowitz. Leiter used a whole bunch of different films over the years, including Kodachrome and Anscochrome, but apparently he didn’t mind using generic drug store brands, either. Meyerowitz mostly shot a mix of Kodachrome and Ektachrome for his color work. Nostalgic Negative is a divergent approach for Fujifilm, I think, in that it is not intended to mimic a certain emulsion (or the “memory color” of a specific film stock), but instead tries to mimic the “memory color” of a certain decade (the 1970’s), or perhaps simply elicit a nostalgic emotional response.

A lot of various looks can be made using the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation. Because it is largely intended to mimic a retro Kodak aesthetic, it’s a good starting point for Kodak-esque Film Simulation Recipes. While some of my Recipes that use Nostalgic Neg. are intended to replicate a specific stock, most of them are not, and instead are more reminiscent of a certain time or era instead of a specific emulsion; however, some of those were made from studying pictures captured on specific films, so they do tend to resemble actual film stocks to an extent.

I get asked which Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation Recipe one should try first on their X-Trans V camera. There are plenty to choose from, and the list is growing. Since your camera has seven custom presets (with the exception of the X-S20, which only has four), I would like to suggest the seven Nostalgic Neg. Recipes below. Choose one or two or even all seven to program into your camera, and give it a try! I bet at least one of them will become a new favorite Film Simulation Recipe that you find yourself using often.

1970’s Summer

The 1970’s Summer Film Simulation Recipe very much has a nostalgic Kodak “memory color” (as Fujifilm likes to say) that is reminiscent of old color photographs from the 1970’s. You might notice some similarities to William Eggleston’s Election Eve and 2 1/4 series and some of his other work from the late-1960’s through the mid-1970’s—not every picture, but certainly several. You might spot some similarities between this look and some of Stephen Shore’s photographs from the early-to-mid 1970’s. I think there are some similarities to a few of Joel Sternfeld’s American Prospects pictures. There’s a noticeable likeness to several of Richard Misrach’s desert photographs. In other words, 1970’s Summer produces a distinct American New Color aesthetic with a clear 1970’s vibe. This recipe works best in sunny daylight, and is excellent for midday photography.

*Going Out of Business* – Prescott, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1970’s Summer

*Short Train* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1970’s Summer

*More Than Double Wide* – Arlington, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1970’s Summer

Summer of 1960

I found the December 1960 issue of Arizona Highways in a used bookstore. It has page after page of amazing photography! I really love the look of the pictures in this particular issue—while not every image looks alike, there is definitely a commonality to the photo aesthetic. For those who don’t know, Arizona Highways is a magazine with an important history. It began in 1925, and in 1946 published the world’s first all-color publication. From the beginning, Arizona Highways has been dedicated to the art of photography. Ansel Adams was a regular contributor. Barry Goldwater, Ray Manley, Chuck Abbott, David and Josef Muench, Ed Ellinger, Esther Henderson, and many other talented photographers were often featured. The publication is full of wonderful images even to this day. While it is not purely a photography magazine, Arizona Highways is a publication that photographers love due to their passion for the medium.

The vast majority of the pictures in the December 1960 issue were captured on Ektachrome, and fair number were shot on Kodachrome. While it was the December issue, most of the photographs had been captured that previous summer. The Summer of 1960 Film Simulation Recipe mimics the aesthetic of the those images, including the magazine photo below, made by Chuck Abbott in July 1960 using Kodachrome.

*Agaves in 1960* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960

*Saguaro Spines* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960

*Agua Caliente Pond* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960

Emulsion ’86

When I was six-years-old, my family and I went to Expo ’86 World’s Fair in Vancouver, Canada. Not long ago I found many old pictures of that event—personal, in books, and online. The Emulsion ’86 Film Simulation Recipe is highly reminiscent of some of those photographs, producing a nostalgic analog aesthetic that is similar to some pictures from the mid-1980’s (presumably primarily Kodak emulsions). While it is a good option for sunny daylight photography, I especially like how this one looks on dreary overcast days.

*Old California Architecture* – San Diego, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86

*Don’t Climb on the Bikes* – Oceanside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86

*Pink Blossom Bush* – San Diego, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86

Kodak Negative

The Kodak Negative Film Simulation Recipe isn’t intended to mimic any specific emulsions; instead it has a “memory color” similar to some Kodak films, like Royal Gold, Gold 100, and Ektar 100. It’s not an exact match to any of those, but just in the general ballpark with a warm and vibrant Kodak color negative film palette. Because it uses Auto White Balance, the Kodak Negative Recipe is fairly versatile and can be used for many subjects and lighting situations.

*Three Oranges* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Negative

Lake Lamp – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Negative

*Water & Reflection* – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Negative

Thommy’s Ektachrome

Thommy’s Ektachrome was made by Thomas Schwab, who was simply trying to make a Recipe using the Nostalgic Neg. film sim that would be good for portraits. The Recipe he created has a distinctive Ektachrome aesthetic, especially similar to National Geographic photographs prior to Ektachrome’s discontinuation by 2013 (prior to the revival in 2018). That was, of course, by chance and not intentional, but there certainly are some similarities. This Recipe is not only good for portraits, but also landscapes and I’m sure many genres of photography. Thommy’s Ektachrome does particularly well in sunny daylight, but is good for overcast, shade, and natural-light indoors, too.

*Way Over That Way* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Thommy’s Ektachrome

*Wildflower Spring* – Sun City, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Thommy’s Ektachrome

*Historic Ranch House* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Thommy’s Ektachrome

Nostalgia Negative

I wasn’t trying to emulate any specific film or process when I created the Nostalgia Negative Film Simulation Recipe, I just wanted something that looked good. This was my very first X-Trans V Recipe, and it was simply an attempt to create a better Nostalgic Neg. than just using the default settings. I hoped that perhaps it would even evoke feelings of nostalgia with a vintage analog-like aesthetic.

*Two Ducks* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Nostalgia Negative

*311* – Lynx Lake, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Nostalgia Negative

*Don’t Shoot* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Nostalgia Negative

Timeless Negative

The creators of the Nostalgic Neg. film simulation stated, “Nostalgic Negative is tuned for the best allrounder settings, but if you want to tweak it to get that classic American New Color look from the ’70’s, there are some adjustments you should make.” This Timeless Negative Film Simulation Recipe is a tweak to Fujifilm’s recommended settings, bringing it closer to a ’70’s vibe. This particular Recipe is especially versatile, and can be used for many different genres of photography and in various light conditions—it’s good for anytime of the day or night.

*Dark Coffee* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Timeless Negative

*Evening Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Timeless Negative

*UnAmerican Experience* – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Timeless Negative

Comparison

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

Posted on July 22, 2023 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

*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.

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

Posted on July 20, 2023 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

*Water Angels* – Buckeye, 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

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Which Film Simulation Recipe, When? Part 5 — Fujifilm X-Trans V (X-T5, X-H2, X-H2s)

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

*Way Over That Way* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Thommy’s Ektachrome Recipe

Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 — Part 4

I get asked all of the time when to use which Film Simulation Recipe. With nearly 300 on the Fuji X Weekly App to choose from, it can be difficult to know when each Recipe should be chosen. Besides, you only have C1-C7 Custom Presets on your Fujifilm camera (most of you, anyway). Which seven Recipes should you have programed? When should you select them?

To understand the idea behind this post, it’s important to go back to Part 1, which explains it all. Definitely review the earlier articles in this series if you never saw them or if it’s been awhile. When I started, the Fujifilm X-T5 wasn’t even announced yet, and I had zero X-Trans V Film Simulation Recipes. By the time I published Part 4, I had a couple of Recipes for the X-T5, but only a couple. This followup had to wait awhile.

I still don’t have a ton of X-Trans V Recipes, but I do have just enough that I could complete this Part 5. I do want this to be an ongoing series, but new posts will likely be few and far between, so don’t expect a Part 6 anytime soon.

Below I will suggest to you seven Film Simulation Recipes (one for each C1-C7 Custom Preset) for you to program into your Fujifilm X-Trans V camera, and state when to use each. If you have a Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, or X-H2S (or any other X-Trans V camera that is released after this is published), I invite you to try these Recipes for the situations that I recommend.

C1 — Kodak Portra 400 v2 — Golden Hour

*Flock of Cranes* – Gilbert, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe

Kodak Portra 400 v2 is a Recipe that does well at anytime during daylight hours, and as the name suggests it is a good option for portrait photography, but I’m going to recommend it specifically for “golden hour” near sunrise and sunset. This really could be your primary use-all-of-the-time Recipe, and that’s why I suggest placing it in C1, but when the sun is low to the horizon, make sure that this is the one you’re shooting with. I personally use this Recipe frequently.

Alternatives for “golden hour” photography:

Nostalgia Negative
Kodak Negative

C2 — 1970’s Summer — Midday

You might be surprised that Kodachrome 64 didn’t make it to the top-spot on this category. I love that Recipe and think it’s a wonderful choice—don’t be afraid to choose it over this… or even over Kodak Portra 400 v2 for “golden hour” photography. Yet, for midday—which I’m defining as daylight that’s in-between the “golden hour” light of sunrise and sunset—I think 1970’s Summer is tough to beat. It’s not the most versatile Recipe, but if the sun is out, it’s an excellent option.

Alternatives for “midday” photography:

Kodachrome 64
Kodachrome 25

C3 — Kodak Ultramax 400 — Overcast

*Rainy Day Window* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Ultramax 400 Recipe

For dreary overcast, Kodak Ultramax 400 is my favorite option. It is a versatile Recipe, so it’s not just good for rainy days, but many other situations, too, including golden hour, midday, shade, indoor, nighttime and more. This could be your go-to Film Simulation Recipe. Emulsion ’86 and Thommy’s Ektachrome are very good runners up, and could also be alternatives for C2.

Alternatives for “overcast” photography:

Emulsion ’86
Thommy’s Ektachrome

C4 — Timeless Negative — Indoor

*Dark Coffee* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Timeless Negative Recipe

For natural light indoor photography, my top choice is the Timeless Negative Recipe (although any of the Recipes listed above this could work well, too). Timeless Negative is an all-rounder that could be used in most situations and produce excellent results, but specifically I’m recommending it for natural light indoor pictures. For artificial-light indoor images, use the recipes for nighttime photography below.

Alternative for “indoor” photography:

Standard Provia
Nostalgic Print

C5 — Superia Xtra 400 — Nighttime

*Night Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Superia Xtra 400 Recipe

I don’t yet have a “Tungsten” Film Simulation Recipe for X-Trans V, but that doesn’t mean you are out of luck. I’ve gotten good results at night with both Kodak Ultramax 400 and Timeless Negative, but Superia Xtra 400 is my favorite for after-dark photography. Superia Xtra 400 is also good for any of the C1-C4 situations mentioned above, as it’s a versatile Recipe—it’s another that could be your go-to for any situation. The two alternatives mentioned below are great options for golden hour or midday photography—I prefer both for that, and Pacific Blues is one of my absolute favorites—but I have also had decent results with those two Recipes at night, so they are worth your consideration (either in C5, or in C1 or C2).

Alternatives for “nighttime” photography:

Pacific Blues
CineStill 400D v2

C6 — Vintage Bronze — Wildcard

*Paperflowers* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Vintage Bronze Recipe

In Parts 1-3, this category was called Alternative Process; however, for Part 4 and Part 5, since there is no Film Simulation Recipe that fits that category, it was renamed Wildcard. My top-option for it is Vintage Bronze, which produces vintage analog-like results in a variety of situations, including daylight and indoors. Alternatively, you could fill C6 with a favorite color Recipe that didn’t make it to C1-C5 above (such as Kodachrome 64 or Pacific Blues). Otherwise, the two options below are also great choices to program here.

Alternative “wildcard” Recipes:

Summer of 1960
CineStill 400D v1

C7 — Ilford FP4 Plus 125 — B&W

*Window Shade Pull* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Ilford FP4 Plus 125 Recipe

Technically speaking, Ilford FP4 Plus 125 is the only black-and-white Film Simulation Recipe made specifically for X-Trans V cameras—and it’s a very good Recipe! But, X-Trans IV B&W Recipes are also compatible with X-Trans V cameras, and of those Kodak Tri-X 400 is my all-time favorite. I definitely recommend that one, but Ilford FP4 Plus 125 is excellent, too.

Alternatives for “B&W” photography:

Kodak Tri-X 400
Ilford HP5 Plus 400

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

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Summer of 1960 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

*Ranch House* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960 Recipe

I love Arizona Highways magazine! When I was a kid, my grandparents, who lived in Arizona, would give me their old copies of the publication. The pictures were always amazing. I didn’t know it at the time, but that simple act had a profound impact on my life. Eventually I would become a photographer, and I would be significantly influenced by the pictures from that magazine.

For those who don’t know, Arizona Highways is a magazine with an important history. It began in 1925, and in 1946 published the world’s first all-color publication. From the beginning, Arizona Highways has been dedicated to the art of photography. Ansel Adams was a regular contributor. Barry Goldwater, Ray Manley, Chuck Abbott, David and Josef Muench, Ed Ellinger, Esther Henderson, and many other talented photographers were often featured. The publication is full of wonderful images even to this day. While it is not purely a photography magazine, Arizona Highways is a publication that photographers love due to their passion for the medium.

I recently found the December 1960 issue of Arizona Highways in a used bookstore. It has page after page of amazing photography! I really love the look of the pictures in this particular issue—while not every image looks alike, there is definitely a commonality to the photo aesthetic. I suppose that some of it is due to the printing process, which the magazine proudly claims is “Micro-Color Lithography” printed on “Glossette Offset Enamel 70-pound base” paper. I believe that the age of the magazine—now over 62-yeas-old!—has something to do with it, as color photographs and pages have a tendency to fade and discolor over time. What about the film? Well, there’s that, too.

*Agaves in 1960* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960 Recipe
Photo of a page in the December 1960 issue of *Arizona Highways* magazine.

In the back of the magazine is a page that provides detailed notes on all of the photographs. For example, the picture shown in the magazine above—entitled The Blossoming Agaves—was photographed by Chuck Abbott in July 1960 during midday using a 5×7 Deardorff View camera set to f/18 and 1/10 shutter on Kodachrome, which had an ISO of 10. You might note that this is the “Sunny 16 Rule” except underexposed by 1/3 stop (presumably to protect the highlights). The detailed notes that were provided are a real treasure trove!

The vast majority of the pictures in the December 1960 issue were captured on Ektachrome. Now Ektachrome prior to 1955 used the E1 development process and was ISO 10, from 1955 to 1958 used the E2 development process and was ISO 32, and from 1959 to 1965 used E3 and was ISO 50—this particular issue had a mix of all three of those Ektachromes. A few Ascochrome images were also published, and those have a look that’s noticeably different than the Ektachrome and Kodachrome pictures. One image was captured on Ektacolor negative film, and that’s the only picture in the issue that wasn’t shot on slide film. Many of the photographs printed in the December 1960 issue of Arizona Highways were captured during the spring, summer, or fall of 1960.

Inspired by the aesthetic of the pictures found in the magazine, I set out to mimic the look with my Fujifilm X-T5. After a little fiddling and trial-and-error, I was able to get surprisingly close—almost an exact match to some of the pictures! There are certainly some similarities to both the Ektachrome and Kodachrome photographs published in the December 1960 issue of Arizona Highways, some of which were captured in the summer of 1960, hence the name of this Film Simulation Recipe.

*Saguaro Spines* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960 Recipe

Because this Summer of 1960 Film Simulation Recipe uses the new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation, it is only compatible with the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S (as well as any other X-Trans V camera released after this article is published). Those with newer GFX cameras can likely use it, too, although it will probably render slightly different (but try it anyway!). This Recipe seems especially well suited for sunny daylight photography, and does alright in overcast, shade, and natural-light indoors, too.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: 5250K, -3 Red & -5 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +4
Shadow: +2
Color: +3
Sharpness: -4
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 Summer of 1960 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Green Growth Under Dormant Trees* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Falling Rain on Bougainvillea* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Bougainvillea on a Sunny Day* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Oleander and Palm Tree* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*March Palms* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Agua Caliente Pond* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Palm and Pond* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Manmade Pond* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Ham & Cheddar* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Jon by a Pond* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Ranch House & Palm* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Yellow Blossom by Blue Window* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Door Lamp* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Sunlight Pines* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Light Pouring Downhill* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Leftover Forest Snow* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Small Waterfall* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Evergreen Forest* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Icy Mountain Road* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Blue Sky & Green Pines* – Summerhaven, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Evening at an American Mountain* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Eastern Mountains at Sunset* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Rincon Peak at Sunset* – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

*Small Water Fountain at Sunset* – Tucson, 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

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Ilford FP4 Plus 125 — Fujifilm X-T5 (X-Trans V + X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*Gift Giving* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Ilford FP4 Plus 125”

Anders Lindborg is, in my opinion, the guru on Fujifilm black-and-white Film Simulation Recipes. After all, he invented the Kodak Tri-X 400, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, and Ilford Pan F Plus 50 recipes, and co-created the Kodak T-Max 400 recipe. These are some of my favorite monochrome options, and Kodak Tri-X 400 is my all-time favorite recipe, period. Anders also created the Kodak Gold v2 recipe, seven Fujicolor Pro 160NS recipes, seven Fujicolor Pro 400H recipes, and made an important D-Range Priority discovery. This Ilford FP4 Plus 125 recipe was invented by Anders Lindborg, too, so I know that you will love it! It’s a real honor to publish it on Fuji X Weekly, and I appreciate his willingness to share it with all of you.

The story doesn’t end there. Recently, Fuji X Weekly reader Dan Allen wanted to help create an Ilford FP4 Plus 125 recipe, and he purchased some rolls of the film to shoot side-by-side with his Fujifilm camera. When he told me this, I sent him Anders’ recipe to try. After he did his experiment, Dan shared with me the results, which were quite fascinating. It turns out that Dan’s Ilford frames and his Fujifilm digital pictures (using Anders’ recipe) looked similar, but the Ilford frames had less contrast, with softer highlights and shadows, so I made a few small modifications to Anders’ recipe to better match Dan’s pictures. Of course, one film can have many different looks, depending on how it was shot, developed, printed, and/or scanned. “This particular film stock,” Anders told me, “is highly tunable, ranging from super clean to ultra gritty.” No single recipe will ever recreate every possible aesthetic from the film.

“Just like the real thing,” Anders explained to me, “a slight underexposure protects the highlights and improves contrast. Centered around the upper half of the grayscale, this recipe ranges from soft and dreamy to sharp and almost graphic with pencil-like lines. It will almost never go entirely black and is great for shadow details.” Ilford originally introduced FP4 Plus 125 way back in 1968, and in 2014 they improved the emulsion, which is what’s currently available.

*Bougainvillea Grey* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – “Ilford FP4 Plus 125”

If you want to use Anders Lindborg’s recipe as he created it, set Dynamic Range to DR100, Highlight to 0, and Shadow to -1. He says that you can “really go crazy” with Clarity and Grain—try Clarity anywhere from -2 to +4, with Grain Weak/Small when using less Clarity (for a cleaner look) and Grain Strong/Large when using more Clarity (for a grittier look). Also, feel free to use the different faux filter options (+Ye, +R, +G) with this recipe.

The Ilford FP4 Plus 125 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with X-Trans V cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-T5, X-H2, and X-H2S, and newer X-Trans IV cameras: X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II. If you have an X100V or X-Pro3, you can use Anders’ unmodified version (explained above); for the X-T3, X-T30, plus X-Trans III, additionally ignore Clarity and Grain size. This recipe is especially well suited for mid-to-high contrast scenes, paying careful attention to the highlights so as to not clip them.

Film Simulation: Monochrome
Grain Effect: Weak, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Daylight, +6 Red & -8 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -0.5
Shadow: -1.5
Monochromatic Color: 0 WC & 0 MG
Sharpness: 0
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1 to -1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Ilford FP4 Plus 125” Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5: