FIG. 3.9 — KODAK PORTRA 800 DOSSIER
Kodak Portra 800
"Portra after dark."
The fast member of the Portra family. Portra 800 carries Portra's flattering, natural skin tones into low light, trading a little grain for the speed to shoot receptions, interiors, and dusk without losing the warmth.
FIG. 3.4 — DIGITAL → FILM SCAN
Input — Digital
Output — PORTRA 800
Film Chemistry Profile
- Catalog Code
- PT8-01
- Grain
- medium
- Bias
- warm
- Contrast
- standard
- Halation
- off
- Overscan Default
- OFF
Recommended Use Cases
Film Stock History
Year Introduced
1998
Manufacturer
Eastman Kodak
Origin
USA
Film Type
Color Negative
Kodak launched the Portra line in 1998 as a professional portrait family, built around accurate, flattering skin across lighting conditions. Portra 800 is the fast member: the speed to keep shooting as the light falls.
The line was reformulated in 2010 for finer grain and cleaner scanning, and Portra became the default professional portrait and wedding film. The 800 is the version photographers reach for at candlelit receptions and in dim interiors, where slower films stall and digital can turn skin ruddy or noisy.
Technical Innovation
Portra's emulsion was engineered for accurate, flattering skin tones across mixed lighting; the 800 speed extended that into low light while keeping grain controlled.
Cultural Impact
Portra is the professional portrait and wedding standard. Portra 800 is the part of that family that lets the look survive into low light, which is where weddings actually happen.
Original Film Chemistry
- Film Type
- Color Negative
- ISO Speed
- 800
- Process
- C-41
Film Stock Trivia
- •Portra 800 is the fastest film in Kodak's professional Portra line.
- •It holds natural skin tones in light where many films turn ruddy or noisy.
- •The Portra line was reformulated in 2010 for finer grain and better scanning.
- •A favorite for wedding receptions and available-light interiors.
Recommended For
Photographers
- •Reception and evening coverage
- •Natural-light portraits in dim rooms
Creators
- •Low-light lifestyle content
- •Warm indoor sets
Agencies
- •Editorial with available-light realism
- •Premium lifestyle in interiors
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