Fujicolor Pro 400H Review

Published: August 29, 2009Posted in: Photography, reviewTags: fuji, fujicolor, fujifilm, review

Score:9/10

Pros:Realistic color, wide exposure latitude, excellent performance under string mixed lighting

Cons:Pricey compared with consumer film flavors, may be difficult to source locally.

Although it’s more known for its performance as a wedding film, I’ve found that Fujicolor Pro 400H makes a wonderful street photography color film on those rare occasions when I want to do something different then my normal B&W. Why does it make such a good street film? In large part, it’s due to the things that have made it a lagend as a wedding photography film.

It’s a true 400-speed film with excellent sharpness and grain.
Especially good performance under indoor, especially fluorescent, lighting.
Neutral, realistic colors and very good skin tone rendition.
It’s ability to handle extremes of color contrast (such as…say…a white wedding dress and black tux).

Besides these attributes, there are a few more characteristics about Fuji H that make me love it as a street film:

Amazing exposure latitude. Daytime street photography is often a mix of direct sunlight and heavy shade. Nighttime street photography is a combination of bright, high-key lights and black shadows. The broad exposure range of Fuji 400H will get you workable detail in both extremes.
Finally, one of the most wonderful aspects of Fujifilm 400H, likely due to a combination of it’s contrast and color palette characteristics, is it’s ability to reign in and “restrain” dominant colors. Here’s what I mean. Say you have a night scene with a strong, bright neon green sign in it. With many films, especially the more saturated flavors, the entire frame would take a greenish tinge as the green emultion layer “overreacts” to the overpowering green element in the scene. God forbid there is someone with pale skin in the same scene. One word: sickly. Fuji H doesn’t do this. Strong primary colors stay contained and don’t “leak” into the rest of the image. A green plant will stay green even with a red neon halo surrounding it.