comparison
Kodak Portra 400 vs Kodak Portra 800
How much speed do you actually need?
The same photograph, same exposure, both looks at full strength. See the untouched original.
The difference
Portra 800 is not simply Portra 400 pushed a stop — it is a denser, contrastier emulsion designed to be shot in poor light at box speed. Shadows sit heavier, reds come forward, and grain is clearly present. In good light Portra 400 is the better film by every measure. After sunset, 800 stops being a compromise and starts being the only one of the two that works.
Which to use
Portra 400
Daylight, shade, anything you can shoot at 1/125.
Portra 800
Receptions, interiors, dusk — and when you want more contrast from the Portra palette.
Side by side
| Kodak Portra 400 | Kodak Portra 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | colour negative | colour negative |
| Maker | Kodak | Kodak |
| Speed | ISO 400 | ISO 800 |
| Produced | 1998–present | 1998–present |
| Renderings here | 16 | 5 |
| Download | .cube | .cube |
Try Kodak Portra 400 on your photo → Try Kodak Portra 800
A comparison on somebody else's reference photograph only tells you so much. Both of these render on your image in the tool, alongside the other 294.