Kodak Portra 400 is one of the most popular color negative films in the world—and for good reason. With an excellent balance of speed, grain, and color rendition, it’s trusted by photographers across genres, from portraiture to street, landscape to travel. Its ability to deliver soft, natural tones under a wide range of lighting conditions makes it a top choice for both professionals and film enthusiasts.
Kodak Portra 400 Technical Specifications
- Film Type: Color Negative (C-41 process)
- ISO Rating: 400
- Format Availability: 35mm, 120, 220, and sheet film (4×5, 8×10)
- Grain Structure: T-Grain (tabular grain technology)
- Color Palette: Natural and slightly warm
- Contrast: Low to medium
- Latitude: Very wide (arguably the widest in any color negative film)
- Resolution: High, with very fine grain for ISO 400
Key Characteristics:
- Excellent underexposure tolerance
- Soft, warm color tones—especially in skin
- Fine grain for a high-speed film
- Superb for scanning and hybrid workflows
Portra 400 is your go-anywhere, shoot-anything film—it’s incredibly forgiving and consistently beautiful.
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When to Use Portra 400 vs. Portra 160
While both Portra 160 and Portra 400 share the same color science, they are optimized for different types of photography.
Portra 400
- Best For: Travel, street, weddings, lifestyle, handheld work
- Strengths: Speed, flexibility, wide dynamic range
- Use Case: Unpredictable lighting, mobile shoots, natural light portraiture
- Look: Slightly warmer and more saturated than Portra 160
Portra 160
- Best For: Studio portraits, still life, landscapes in bright light
- Strengths: Soft pastel tones, ultra-fine grain, subtlety
- Use Case: Controlled lighting situations and tripod-based work
- Look: More neutral and refined than Portra 400
Choose Portra 400 when you need speed and versatility. Choose Portra 160 when you want maximum subtlety and fine grain.
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Practical Tips for Shooting & Processing
Exposure Tips
- Portra 400 can be shot from ISO 100 to 800 with minimal change in quality.
- Many photographers rate it at ISO 200 or 250 to gain slightly lighter tones and minimize grain.
- Overexposes beautifully by up to 2 stops—great for highlight retention.
- Underexposure tends to increase contrast and saturation but holds detail well.
Development Tips
- Standard C-41 processing at any lab.
- Easily pushable to ISO 800 or 1600 with solid results (expect more contrast and grain).
- No special handling required—labs know it well due to popularity.
Tip: For best results when pushing, communicate clearly with your lab and ask about any preferences they have for pushed Portra.
Scanning Tips
- One of the best color negative films for hybrid workflows.
- Scans well on Noritsu, Frontier, Epson V800/V850, Pakon, and DSLR setups.
- Use Negative Lab Pro for rich, natural conversions in Lightroom.
- Handles backlighting, golden hour, and mixed lighting extremely well.
Tip: Batch scan Portra 400 to build a color profile or preset for consistent rendering across multiple rolls.
Final Thoughts
Kodak Portra 400 is the Swiss Army knife of color negative film. Its flexibility, speed, and tonal quality make it the best all-around choice for those who want just one color film in their bag. Whether you’re shooting portraits, street scenes, landscapes, or casual moments, this film delivers classic, timeless results with modern performance.
Explore the “Guides” menu above to discover in-depth film and camera guides designed to help you get the most out of your photography—whether you’re just starting out or refining your craft.
Ready to Go Deeper?
Explore the full Ultimate Guide Series to master film, development, scanning, and digital darkroom editing—featuring downloadable books, charts, and detailed 4K videos.
👉 timlaytonfineart.com/ULTIMATE
