Why Kodak Portra 160 Deserves More Attention

Why Portra 160 Might Be the Most Underrated Film in the Portra Line-up

When people think of Kodak’s Portra line-up, the spotlight almost always falls on Portra 400 or Portra 800. They’re popular for good reason—versatile, reliable, and absolutely gorgeous. But here’s the thing: Portra 160 deserves just as much attention, if not more.

It’s the quiet one in the family, the film that’s often overlooked, but in the right light and conditions, it absolutely shines. In this post, I’m diving into why Portra 160 is such a gem, a bit of history behind the Portra line-up, and why you might want to give this film stock a try.

A Quick History of the Portra Line-up

Kodak Portra was first introduced in 1998, designed specifically for professional photographers looking for natural skin tones and beautiful colour reproduction. Originally, the Portra range was split into two distinct looks:

• Portra NC (Natural Color) – Softer tones and muted colours, ideal for portraits.

• Portra VC (Vivid Color) – A punchier, more saturated look for those wanting a little extra pop.

However, with the shift towards digital scanning and modern printing methods, the need for separate NC and VC versions faded. In 2010, Kodak merged the two into what we now know as Portra 160, 400, and 800—each film designed to balance natural tones with a pleasing level of saturation and contrast.

Portra 160 was created for those who love finer grain, natural colour reproduction, and incredible detail, making it especially well-suited for bright conditions, portraits, and controlled lighting situations.

The Benefits of Portra 160

So, what makes Portra 160 special compared to 400 or 800?

• Finer Grain: With its lower ISO rating, Portra 160 produces the finest grain in the Portra family. This means you get beautifully clean and detailed negatives—perfect for enlargements or high-resolution scans.

• Dreamy Depth of Field: Shooting at ISO 160 gives you the freedom to use wider apertures in bright light, which means creamy bokeh and that soft, dreamy look we all love.

• Professional Latitude: Portra 160 is incredibly forgiving. It handles both overexposure and underexposure beautifully, with consistent, professional-grade results.

• Natural Colours: While Portra 400 is slightly warmer and more flexible in lower light, Portra 160 offers incredibly accurate skin tones and soft, subtle colours—perfect for portraits and street photography on sunny days.

Real-World Examples

I’ve been shooting Portra 160 on and off for a while now, and the results never disappoint. Some of my favourite shots have come from bright afternoons where I’ve been able to shoot at wide apertures without overexposing, resulting in a shallow depth of field and a painterly, almost cinematic feel.

The grain is gorgeous—soft but with character—and the colours are just beautiful. You get that classic Kodak warmth, but with a slightly more muted, timeless palette compared to Portra 400.

Why You Should Give Portra 160 a Go

If you’ve only ever shot Portra 400 or 800, I genuinely think Portra 160 will surprise you. It’s almost always cheaper than its siblings, offers finer grain, stunning colours, and fantastic latitude, and in good light, it’s hard to beat.

If you want to see this film stock in action, I’ve made a full YouTube video exploring why Portra 160 might be the most overlooked film in Kodak’s line-up. Check it out here for a deeper dive and to see some of my favourite images shot on this stock.

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