Kodak Portra 160 - Film Review

Kodak Portra 160 is a C-41 color negative film and the finest-grain option in the Portra lineup. It is also the newest and most updated version of the Portra family, designed to deliver exceptional sharpness, smooth tonality, and outstanding scannability. With its low ISO of 160, Portra 160 is best suited for daylight photography or scenes with abundant light.

Portra 160 is widely regarded as one of the best all around color negative films available, especially when it comes to exposure latitude. It handles overexposure extremely well, maintaining highlight detail and smooth transitions, which makes it a favorite for portrait photographers. While it can tolerate some underexposure, we still recommend avoiding it when possible to achieve the cleanest results and most accurate color.

The film is known for its warm, natural skin tones, medium contrast, and low saturation. Colors are subtle and refined rather than bold, making Portra 160 a great choice for portraits, weddings, lifestyle photography, and landscapes where realism and smooth color transitions matter. Compared to Kodak Ektar 100, Portra 160 offers slightly less fine grain but significantly more latitude, lower contrast, and more forgiving exposure characteristics, making it far more suitable for portraits and mixed lighting situations.

Despite its strengths, Portra 160 is often overlooked in favor of Portra 400 and Portra 800, largely due to its lower ISO. However, if you primarily shoot in open daylight or controlled lighting, Portra 160 truly shines. It delivers incredible detail, excellent color accuracy, and a softness that works beautifully across a wide range of subjects, from people to landscapes.

Here at The Darkroom, we develop, scan, and print Portra 160 on a regular basis. While it doesn’t come through the lab quite as often as Portra 800 or Portra 400, the results we see from Portra 160 are consistently impressive. Clean scans, smooth tones, and beautifully rendered color are hallmarks of this film when properly exposed.

If you enjoy the look of Portra 400 or Portra 800, Portra 160 is absolutely worth trying. It is one of the best daylight color films available and a fantastic option for photographers who value latitude, subtle color, and a refined, professional look.