Film Simulations – Velvia vs. Provia - Fujifilm X100 Discussions on Fuji X Series Camera Forum - Fujifilm X-Pro1 X-E1 X100S X100 X20 X10 XF1 X-S1

john_pa

I usually shoot RAW and process through a number of software products on a large and regularly calibrated monitor with controlled ambient light in the room. When I’m in my office (goofing around) I don’t have a RAW converter however, so I do an in-camera JPG conversion and then pull the JPG into an ancient copy of Photoshop Elements that I have there. The PP in this case was just sharpening and a little “levels” adjustment to brighten it up a bit.

I was fooling around today with this and did a RAW shot of an iris flower and converted it with the default Provia and then the Velvia. I then tried as best as I could to keep the PS-Elements processing the same. I have two different computers and (uncalibrated) monitors at my desk, and the results were very different. On a laptop screen the Velvia looked great, but on a stand-alone desk-computer monitor it was WAY over-saturated. On the other hand, the Provia version was the opposite; looking real good on the desk monitor and gray and washed-out on the laptop. I’ll have to check this tonight on my home (calibrated) monitor, but here are the samples for your interest.

Which “film simulation” do you use if/when you have occasion to do in-camera JPG?

Fujifilm X100; ISO-200(auto); f2.8; 1/340-sec; -1ev

VELVIA

PROVIA

Christopher

Since I shoot RAW I haven't had a chance to try out the other film simulation colors, but from all the photos I've seen on Flickr, I've always felt VELVIA was extremely over-saturated. Not to say that they don't look nice in certain settings, I just find it a bit too surreal for my tastes.

In the example above, the VELVIA looks over-saturated, almost too bold and unnatural, but when I scroll down to PROVIA it feels bland by comparison. I bet if I didn't see them side by side, the PROVIA looks more true-to-life.

I am curious to try ASTIA with some portraits, I've always liked the examples I've seen on Flickr. It would be nice if someone would release an action/profile/script for Lightroom or Photoshop that could mimic the film modes' processing for RAW files.

john_pa

I use NIK software modules a lot (These are GREAT by the way, but maybe for a different discussion). Anyway, the NIK module called "Color Efex-Pro" has literally dozens of film simulations available for Fuji, Kodak, Agfa and others, including built-in grain characteristics as well as saturation and color tones.

Christopher

Oh wow that sounds awesome! I've noticed a lot of people use NIK for their black and white conversions. I wonder now the X100's simulations would compare to NIK's interpretations...

AC5

If you've ever used (standby...FILM...) Astia/Provia/Velia/Fortia in the various speed incarnations,I think you'd more easily be able to accept these variations.
Just choose what you like!

Hello Photographer!

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