Lab Scans vs Home Scans + Portra 160 vs Ektar 100 vs Lomo 100

[@okyeabuddyguy]

Thanks for this, I'm actually so impressed by lomo. Handles a variety of conditions well, skin tones are great and more affordable than portra.

[@joshmcdzz6925]

From the photos you showed, I prefer the lab scans.. the home scan look digital, you might as well just shoot digital if that's what you're looking for. The lab scans look retro and pastel.. love them..

[@RonEMarks]

I have 1 simple tip for approaching strangers. Take your sunglasses off when you say hello. People feel much more comfortable when they can see your eyes. You can even let them see you take them off as a subtle cue that you are making the effort to be friendly and not threatening in any way. It really helps. Cheers!

[@Tom-Humble]

Great tip thanks!

[@mianouioui]

Thank you for sharing. Recently Lomography offered a big price reduction on 120 film, bringing the price back to 25 euros. Through your videos I decided to switch to lomo's negatives. Thanks!

[@PeteEdmunds]

Enjoyed this. Lovely pic of your family. The album cover on steps was a great angle - amazing how they held their poses as you switched backs. Great comparison of the stocks.

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks!

[@michaelatlas8072]

Love it! Been working my way thru a box of Portra 160 in my Nikon F4 ❤

[@pabragal]

such a great video and super useful. Thanks for making it and sharing :)

[@Tom-Humble]

No worries 😉

[@TROYCERATOPS808]

Great work and great video!

[@olihollis]

Mate, what a great video! You handled those interactions so well. Really impressed by the tact and charm you employed. Really beautiful photos throughout the video.

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks man! Appreciate you saying

[@Mackenzie_L]

Really, Really informative. Thank you.

[@Dahrenhorst]

The Ektar is great when color is the theme of the picture. For that I always have camera loaded with Ektar with me. I hadn't Lomo on the screen yet (I'm always a bit skeptical when something is labeled Lomo), but the pictures you showed actually looked nice.

[@williamclintonogbebor387]

This video came just at the right time. So well done mate! I know it takes a ton of courage to do ask strangers for photos. Thank you for doing these tests so I don’t have to do them 😅

[@Tom-Humble]

Haha you’re welcome!

[@ohjajohh]

Great vid! really informative

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks!

[@NunoAlmeidaPhotography]

Literally watching this while I'm scanning old negatives and comparing lab scans to my own home scans 😅 I think I'll start scanning at home whenever I'm working on something that doesn't need to be rushed and I'll still keep going to my lab whenever I'm a bit tight on time or busy with work.

[@Tom-Humble]

It was interesting to see the results

[@baladino]

Coming down to brass tacks, your home scans probably look superior due to the software but goes to show lab scans aren't all they're made out to be. Thank you for your generosity in sharing this. For new film shooters like me reliant on labs, it's comforting to know that home processing isn't as daunting as I thought it was. Portra seems to triumph when it comes to portraits. Ektar seems to give a ruddy appearance to your subjects but landscapes and the sky look awesome with it. Talking to strangers isn't hard Tom. They could only say no. And most times they say yes. Perhaps you could give out your card for them to contact you after you've taken their portraits.

[@Tom-Humble]

Agree portra is best for skin tones and Ektar for landscapes. I found that the lomo was a happy medium between the 2. I’m getting better at approaching strangers. I wasn’t very confident growing up but photography has certainly improved my confidence through various paid work and connecting with fellow photographers. I like the care idea. I’ve been taking peoples details to send them the photos but a card might be easier

[@philhasacamera]

Great video Tom and not boring at all!! Actually really Interesting to see the comparison but also the breakdown of costs because let's face it that's important too as film is expensive! I agree I really like lomo as that balance between price and more muted colours but end up shooting Ektar just because of price but maybe I'll think twice after seeing this. Thanks.

[@Tom-Humble]

Thank you man! Words of encouragement like that make me want to keep making videos.

[@angelponz5391]

Thanks for the video! Will try the Lomo 100 35mm version.

[@garymaunder1657]

Very informative and so useful Tom, really enjoyed this Vid mate.

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks man!

[@baxtermarrison5361]

As I may have mentioned before, I think that Lomography film stock is often dismissed or overlooked just because it is branded Lomo, with people opting for the more 'professional' Portra or Pro 400H. I love the range of Lomo emulsions, both in variety of looks and formats. As mostly a 120 shooter it is nice to have such a wide range, particularly when it comes to colour film. 135 seems better catered for in this regard. With regard to developing and scanning, I have a pro-lab on my doorstep, so I use them for both developing and scanning. I have the ability to scan my own, but rarely need to re-scan for a final image. Over the years I have built up a relationship with the guys there and they are a good source of information and support, particularly when working with a new film stock.

[@Tom-Humble]

100% agree lomo films often get overlooked. I’ve always had great results with their colour negative films and I’m looking forward to building a collection of photos that show off lomo colours. You’re lucky to have such a close relationship with your lab. Something I need to perhaps build upon myself.

[@baxtermarrison5361]

@@Tom-Humble It's always handy to be able to walk in to the lab to drop off/pick up as well as to be able to chat. That and the fact it speeds up turn-round as they have set days in the week when they process. I look forward to seeing the results of the Southend-on-Sea project.

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

A nice comparison thanks for the effort! There are some differences that are but I find so strongly negligible that you can just buy the cheapest roll of film in the end. 🤷‍♂️

[@Tom-Humble]

That’s what I went for anyway, the cheapest of the 3 and actually it’s what I preferred in terms of colours. Seemed to be a happy medium between the other 2.

[@buggingtheshutter]

Mate this is a lovely video. I was wondering if you would still be able to get a better result compared to a lab scan when using something like an epson flatbed (v600 etc.) Keep it up man!

[@Praet0ri4n]

Tom, in case you didn't know there's interesting channel here on KZbin is called Analogue Insights. I strongly recommend.

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks I’ve followed it for a while. Great channel!

[@julesc5571]

Great stuff...def agree re the Lomo!

[@Tom-Humble]

Thanks

[@domsphotography]

Have you thought about using Cini Still 50D? It produces very natural colours and is daylight rated but it’s a bit more expensive.

[@Tom-Humble]

I have only shot one roll and didn’t really like it. May be worth a re-visit.

[@domsphotography]

@@Tom-Humble being rated at 50 iso it works best it works best on bright sunny days so for the summer part, if summer continues here in the U.K. it might be a good choice.

[@devispesaresi9069]

Ektar 100 top...

[@erichstocker8358]

Really don't like the lomo the colors appear "dirty" (more to brown) than the porta 160. Perhaps that is an artifact of the monitor but the porta and ektar look good. Given the price that you list Ektar is 7.80 per roll and Lomo is 7.67 per roll not really that great a difference.

[@Tom-Humble]

If Ektar wasn't too red/pink for skin colours I would have opted for that but I'll be taking a lot of portraits too and for Caucasian skin tones it's too vibrant.

[@vitaliyturovskyy9122]

Not impressed with take a easy lab at all. Normally using Carmencita in Spain. Was trying some UK labs and quality is really poor compare to Carmencuta or some US labs.

[@Tom-Humble]

They’re a great team and are doing good things for the film community in the UK. But I must admit they have become extremely busy and the past few times I used them the scans seem lower quality to when I first started using them. US labs and Carmencita are on another level though. Costs more too.