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Kodak Portra 160 vs Portra 400

Writer's picture: Gilbert CarosinGilbert Carosin

Updated: Jan 31

While Kodak Portra 400 enjoys a very high reputation among film photographers, we don't hear much about its little brother, the Portra 160 film. Let's do a direct comparison with outdoor shots so that you can decide which one you prefer.





Color-wise, both films are quite similar. They offer a rich tonal palette, very smooth skin tones and gradation, and are very accurate. They are the ideal films for portraiture and work well with every skin tone and complexion. Even the grain is very similar, hardly noticeable even on the 400 series.



A child in a red shirt examines something in their hands, standing in a lush, green outdoor setting, appearing focused and curious.
kodak portra 400 with 2 stop overexposure

I often hear people say the 400 has more saturation. While this is true to some extent, consider this: most people overexpose Portra 400 by one or two stops, thus increasing its saturation. Your scanner might also affect saturation; a Frontier scanner will saturate the Portra picture more, while a Noritsu will keep a more neutral picture.


Woman in a white lace top, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and jewelry, gazes to the side by a soft-focus urban waterfront. Calm and poised.
kodak portra 400 nikon f5 and nikkor 135mm f3.5 Ai

The real difference between Kodak Portra 160 and Kodak Portra 400 lies in the dynamic range. Portra 400 has a 14-stop dynamic range, while Portra 160 has only 7 stops. This makes Portra 160 a more challenging film to shoot. The other issue with the 160 is the limitation with overexposure. While Portra 400 handles overexposure well, the 160 has dramatic color shifts when overexposed. The 160 works amazingly well at box speed, and that's my personal recommendation. Do not overexpose it, especially if your model has a dark skin complexion.



Woman with long hair smiles, wearing a yellow flower in her hair and large earrings. Blurred green and white background suggests outdoors.
portra 160 shot box speed, noritsu scanner, nikon f5 and 135mm f3.5 Ai

That said, my personal preference goes to the Portra 160. It has a slightly smoother tone, slightly less saturation, and has this very soft film look. All these small details contribute to its unique charm, this little something that we cannot quite describe. In my experience, Portra 160 works extremely well with a Noritsu scanner; avoid the Frontier for this film. The Noritsu will also recover more highlights, which is a blessing as the film's dynamic range is limited compared to the 400.






Portra 160 is also a cheaper film than the 400. If you can work with its limitations and use a Noritsu scanner, you will be rewarded with amazing pictures with unique charm, very natural and lovely skin tones, and the beautiful color palette that the Portra series is known for.



Woman in a lavender top smiles outdoors, with a pink flower in her hair. Background is leafy and blurred, creating a serene atmosphere.
kodak portra 160 nikon f5 135mm f3.5 Ai, noritsu scan

If you are traveling to Mauritius Island and would like your holidays to be captured on 35mm film, you can book a session on my webpage. Prices are reasonable, and your session will be professionally arranged for the best experience possible.

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