Kodak Portra 800 - Film Review

Kodak Portra 800 is a C-41 color negative film and the fastest option in the Portra lineup. It is also the oldest of the three Portra emulsions and, in our opinion, the one with the most character. While Portra 160 is the most refined and Portra 400 offers the best balance of versatility and cleanliness, Portra 800 stands out for its expressive grain structure and beautiful color, especially in challenging light.

With an ISO of 800, Portra 800 is ideal for low-light photography, indoor shooting, evening scenes, and situations where flash isn’t an option. Despite its higher speed, the grain is still very pleasant and well controlled, with a more organic, textured look compared to Portra 400. Contrast is slightly higher, and the film retains the warm, natural color palette Portra is known for, making it a strong choice for portraits.

Portra 800 has very good exposure latitude, particularly when it comes to overexposure. It holds highlights well and maintains usable shadow detail, making it forgiving in unpredictable lighting. While it can tolerate some underexposure, we generally recommend avoiding it when possible to preserve color accuracy and shadow detail.

One of the standout qualities of Portra 800 is its image character. The slightly more visible grain adds depth and texture, especially in 35mm, which works beautifully for subject matter close to the camera. For scenes with distant, fine detail, lower-ISO films may be a better choice, but for portraits, lifestyle photography, and documentary work, Portra 800’s grain enhances the overall feel of the image rather than distracting from it.

In 120 format, Portra 800 truly shines. The larger negative significantly reduces the appearance of grain, resulting in incredibly rich, clean images with beautiful color and depth. It is easily one of our favorite color films to shoot in medium format and delivers consistently impressive results.

Portra 800 is the most expensive film in the Portra family, which makes it a film many photographers save for specific shoots or special occasions. That said, it’s a film we strongly recommend shooting at least once. The combination of speed, latitude, and character makes it a standout in the color negative world.

Here at The Darkroom, we develop, scan, and print Portra 800 on a daily basis, and it continues to impress us with just how good it looks across a wide range of lighting conditions. If you’re looking for a high-ISO color film with beautiful tones, pleasing grain, and professional-level results, Kodak Portra 800 is an excellent choice.

Buy this film online – 35mm | 120