October 2025 — Film of the Month
Kodak Portra 800 is a high-speed color negative film that combines speed with the signature Portra look. It’s designed for low-light shooting, fast-moving subjects, and situations where flash isn’t an option but quality still matters. With its beautiful skin tones, fine grain for its speed, and wide exposure latitude, Portra 800 is a go-to for photographers who need flexibility without sacrificing aesthetics.
Overview of Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Portra 800 is a daylight-balanced, ISO 800 color negative film. While it shares the same color science as the rest of the Portra family, it stands apart for its ability to perform in lower light conditions while still delivering smooth tones and natural color. It’s a favorite for wedding photographers, street shooters, and anyone who needs high ISO performance on film.
Key Features of Kodak Portra 800
ISO 800 Speed: Ideal for indoor settings, golden hour, nighttime shooting, and fast subjects
Natural Skin Tones: Maintains the warm, soft look Portra is known for, even in tricky lighting
Fine Grain for a High-Speed Film: Clean detail with just enough texture to feel like film
Wide Exposure Latitude: Handles overexposure gracefully and allows for confident metering
C-41 Processing: Easily developed at labs like Perfect Image with standard color film processing
Why Choose Kodak Portra 800
Portra 800 shines in situations where most color negative films start to struggle. Whether you’re shooting handheld indoors, chasing light at dusk, or trying to capture a moment without a flash, this film lets you keep rolling when others would have to pack it in.
It’s especially useful for portrait work in natural light and wedding photography where conditions change quickly. While it has a touch more contrast and grain than Portra 400, it still delivers that classic Portra softness and realism. If you need the extra speed and still want your colors to look beautiful, Portra 800 gets the job done.
Ideal Uses for Kodak Portra 800
Expose Slightly Over: Rating it at 640 or even 400 can soften contrast and reduce visible grain
Use Natural Light: It excels in window light, late evening, and other ambient conditions
Meter for the Shadows: Helps retain highlight detail and take advantage of Portra’s latitude
Expect Slightly More Contrast: Compared to Portra 400, 800 has deeper blacks and punchier mids
Scan for Mood: A quality scan will pull out subtle tones and keep the color balanced, even in mixed lighting
Tips for Shooting with Kodak Portra 800
Use Indoors for True Color: Shoot under tungsten bulbs or incandescent lighting for natural results
Try Without Filters Outdoors: The blue shift in daylight can be striking and creative
Expose Carefully: ISO 200 gives a bit less latitude than faster films, so proper metering helps
Consider Mixed Light Sources: Play with tungsten and natural light together for surreal color effects
Kodak Portra 800 is your solution for low light without the compromise. If you want the same warm tones and reliable color of Portra 400 but with more speed and flexibility, this film is an easy pick. It’s fast, flattering, and ready for anything.