Favorite color film simulation
p.1 #1Favorite color film simulation
Just curious, which color film simulation is your favorite? What are the characteristics of that simulation that you like over other film simulations? TIA
Aug 19, 2026 at 03:26 PM
p.1 #2Favorite color film simulation
I shoot raw with Velvia or Acros selected as a film simulation then edit to taste in Lightroom. I do not do recipes. I shot film back in the 70's as a kid and in college in the 80's on until I moved to digital in 2005. I lived though those eras and don't need to see images with colors that look like cheep prints from film that were left in the sun for 20 years to fade.
Aug 19, 2026 at 05:02 PM
p.1 #3Favorite color film simulation
Astia and Provia mostly. Got a couple of B&W recipes I like but for color I kind of like accuracy instead of tone of the month.
Aug 19, 2026 at 05:11 PM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #4Favorite color film simulation
Velvia and Reala usually.
Aug 19, 2026 at 05:34 PM
p.1 #5Favorite color film simulation
Classic Chrome, Velvia and Arcos. Velvia slide film was my favorite back in the 1990's for a couple of decades.
For an upcoming cruise ship trip in September to Mexican Pacific ports, I have loaded the Pacific Blue simulation to try out. Our small group of photogs and models has 3 half-day beach shoot scheduled.
For an upcoming cruise ship trip in September to Mexican Pacific ports, I have loaded the Pacific Blue simulation to try out. Our small group of photogs and models has 3 half-day beach shoot scheduled.
Aug 20, 2026 at 06:51 AM
p.1 #6Favorite color film simulation
Most of the time I shoot raw only and process using darktable. Since that gives me a more neutral starting point, I tend to use Pro Neg Hi, Reala Ace, or Provia to get a rough idea of what my starting point will look like. Some of the other film sims (e.g., Classic Neg) can be fun but they aren't exactly neutral.
You didn't ask about black and white, but I'll answer anyway: Acros with yellow filter. I always shoot that with raw + JPG and usually just keep the JPG without doing any editing.
You didn't ask about black and white, but I'll answer anyway: Acros with yellow filter. I always shoot that with raw + JPG and usually just keep the JPG without doing any editing.
Aug 20, 2026 at 09:35 AM
p.1 #7Favorite color film simulation
I do a lot of portraits. So my fave film sim is Astia. IMHO, it produces the loveliest of skin tones.
Aug 20, 2026 at 09:42 AM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #8Favorite color film simulation
I know a lot of people dunk on Velvia for being oversaturated to the point of inaccuracy, but I love it for landscapes, particularly on the GFX cameras.
Aug 20, 2026 at 09:46 AM
p.1 #9Favorite color film simulation
So happy to see many using Velvia compared to the endless classic chrome on Reddit, etc., keep rich colors alive that actually look like film!
For me it’s velvia for color and acros + ye for b&w, shooting raw and editing in Lightroom, s curves, hsl, color grading, etc. My only complaint with velvia is sometimes the greens are too green and can’t be corrected.
For me it’s velvia for color and acros + ye for b&w, shooting raw and editing in Lightroom, s curves, hsl, color grading, etc. My only complaint with velvia is sometimes the greens are too green and can’t be corrected.
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:23 AM
p.1 #10Favorite color film simulation
For me it is Nostalgic Negative, Pro Neg Hi, or Classic Chrome... but none without some tweaks. They are simply a base layer, or a crumb layer on a cake.
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:28 AM
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p.1 #11Favorite color film simulation
SpecPhoto, looking forward to seeing photos from your trip….
Edited on Aug 20, 2026 at 11:04 AM · View previous versions
Edited on Aug 20, 2026 at 11:04 AM · View previous versions
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:29 AM
p.1 #12Favorite color film simulation
mividep, thanks for sharing your B&W favorite...
Edited on Aug 20, 2026 at 11:06 AM · View previous versions
Edited on Aug 20, 2026 at 11:06 AM · View previous versions
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:31 AM
p.1 #13Favorite color film simulation
RomingScott, your photos are outstanding! Thanks for sharing!
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:32 AM
p.1 #14Favorite color film simulation
Might I add a theory that one should match the film simulation to their climate, ex. live in the tropics a more saturated velvia might be better, in the desert, more muted film sim classic chrome potentially
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:37 AM
p.1 #15Favorite color film simulation
I dislike all of them, but I use Nostalgic negative as a base where I then shift blues away from the awful cyan/green cast (that is in all the simulations) towards purple. It's also the only simulation where in-camera auto WB is useful, since the simulation is overly "warm" and the GFX auto WB is ice cold (4500 K in daylight, which is 1000 K too low).
No matter what I do, I can't see any similarities to film though.
JPG's are actually a little less bad when it comes to colors, but it gets useless because of inaccurate WB that is all over the place but mostly extremely cold (and if you correct for that, you will occasionally get random super warm WB instead). I'd love to be able to shoot JPG, but I can't without functioning auto WB.
No matter what I do, I can't see any similarities to film though.
JPG's are actually a little less bad when it comes to colors, but it gets useless because of inaccurate WB that is all over the place but mostly extremely cold (and if you correct for that, you will occasionally get random super warm WB instead). I'd love to be able to shoot JPG, but I can't without functioning auto WB.
Aug 20, 2026 at 10:54 AM
RoamingScott
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p.1 #16Favorite color film simulation
FramesPerSecond wrote:
Might I add a theory that one should match the film simulation to their climate, ex. live in the tropics a more saturated velvia might be better, in the desert, more muted film sim classic chrome potentially
Yes, that is a good point. I definitely preferred Classic Neg when out in the desert, though even that leans a bit too pink in the whites.
Might I add a theory that one should match the film simulation to their climate, ex. live in the tropics a more saturated velvia might be better, in the desert, more muted film sim classic chrome potentially
Yes, that is a good point. I definitely preferred Classic Neg when out in the desert, though even that leans a bit too pink in the whites.
Aug 20, 2026 at 11:11 AM
p.1 #17Favorite color film simulation
These are poorly compressed online because I just learned about the 1.4 MB limit but you get the idea
Canon 1N Ektar 100 EF 50mm f1.2L
Fujifilm X100F @f11 velvia edited LR (curves, hsl, color grading)
Canon 1N Ektar 100 EF 50mm f1.2L
Fujifilm X100F @f11 velvia edited LR (curves, hsl, color grading)
Aug 20, 2026 at 01:08 PM
p.1 #18Favorite color film simulation
gaopa wrote:
SpecPhoto, looking forward to seeing photos from your trip….
Pre Cruise warmup with one of the models here:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1097477/281#17086589
X-T5, Sigma 56 f1.4 with Classic Chrome film sim.
SpecPhoto, looking forward to seeing photos from your trip….
Pre Cruise warmup with one of the models here:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1097477/281#17086589
X-T5, Sigma 56 f1.4 with Classic Chrome film sim.
Aug 20, 2026 at 05:13 PM
p.1 #19Favorite color film simulation
My favorites are Classic Chrome, Classic Negative, Velvia, and Acros. I find they are the most unique and difficult to replicate with LR presets.
Agree with @RoamingScott, Velvia works great on GFX.
Shot recently with Acros:
With Classic Negative:
Agree with @RoamingScott, Velvia works great on GFX.
Shot recently with Acros:
With Classic Negative:
Aug 20, 2026 at 05:37 PM
p.1 #20Favorite color film simulation
great photos of a beautiful mode! looking forward to seeing more....
Aug 20, 2026 at 06:45 PM