I admit, this isn’t much of a test of Fujifilm’s Superia X-tra 800 and Superia Venus 800. But I shot one photograph at the end of one roll, and the other at the beginning, in the time it took to rewind and reload. The conditions were as alike as it gets.

Riveting
Riveting

The X-tra is above, the Venus below. I post-processed both images similarly in Photoshop. It’s interesting to me how the two films rendered brown differently. I’m not sure which I like better. Looking through all of the photos on both rolls, the X-tra gave more pronounced grain, and seemed less tolerant of underexposure. But in these two photos, except for the brown tone, it’s hard to tell them apart.

There has been some speculation that these are the same film branded based on distribution, the X-tra 800 offered worldwide and the Venus 800 only in Japan. The spec sheets lay waste to that claim (the X-tra here, the Venus here) — these are different, although similar, films. Check out the curves on page 4 of each spec sheet.

It’s all academic, as Fujifilm discontinued Superia X-tra 800 in 2016, and Superia Venus 800 last year. If you buy either of these films, it’s leftover or expired stock. That was my last roll of X-tra 800, which I kept on hand for indoor candid shots at church. I guess I’ll switch to Kodak Portra 800 for that now.

Analogue Wonderland gave me the roll of Venus 800 in exchange for this mention. They appear to be out of stock (click here to check) — but no worries, they carry more than 200 other films to satisfy any need you can think of. Check out their selection here.

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Comments

6 responses to “Fujifilm Superia X-tra 800 vs. Fujifilm Superia Venus 800”

  1. Joe shoots resurrected cameras Avatar

    You’re better off shooting Portra 400 and pushing it a stop, from what I’ve read.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I should try that.

  2. M.B. Henry Avatar

    Wow that’s a really cool shot!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Thanks! I love this kind of perspective.

  3. fishyfisharcade Avatar

    The X-tra has a redder tone to my eyes, with the red band to the left of the photo slightly more pronounced, and the paint on the girders edging towards burgundy.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Good eye. I agree. I wish I had more Venus to try, as I think (after one roll) I like it better than the X-tra.

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