Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 Review: Color Science, Performance & Lightroom Tips

Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 is a high-speed color negative film that punches well above its ISO rating. It gives you fine grain and genuinely vibrant color, rich reds, natural greens, and a slightly cooler shadow character, in conditions where most consumer films start falling apart.

It’s discontinued, yes, but that doesn’t make it irrelevant. If you shoot film, understanding what Superia 800 does differently tells you a lot about why Fujifilm’s color science has such a loyal following. And if you shoot digital, it’s one of the most interesting film stocks to emulate in Lightroom.

I’ve worked with Superia 800 across weddings, street shoots, and low-light documentary work. It has a distinct personality, different from Pro 400H, different from Natura 1600, and it’s one that translates surprisingly well to digital presets.

Key Takeaways

• ISO 800, fine grain: Fujifilm’s Sigma Grain Technology keeps the grain structure tighter than you’d expect at this speed
• Rate it at ISO 640: Most film shooters get cleaner color and sharper detail by pulling it one-third of a stop
• Distinctive color signature: Punchy reds and greens, slightly cool in the shadows, warmer and more saturated than Pro 400H
• Discontinued since 2024: No new stock; digital emulation via Lightroom presets is the practical alternative
• Best in mixed or low light: Winter afternoons, indoor events, overcast days, this is where it shines
• Push to ISO 1600 with care: Works for documentary-style shots; expect more grain and a slight color shift toward orange in artificial light
  

  01.

  What is Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800?

  Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 is a color negative film rated at ISO 800, launched in the late 1990s as part of Fujifilm’s consumer Superia line. It was positioned between the casual Superia 400 and the professional Natura 1600, fast enough for low light, fine-grained enough for enlargements.

  

  Two technologies set it apart from typical consumer film at the time. First, a fourth color layer that Fujifilm added to improve color accuracy across mixed lighting, where three-layer films often drift orange or green. Second, the Nano-structured Σ (Sigma) Grain Technology borrowed from their Pro line, which is why the grain on Superia 800 looks more controlled than its ISO rating suggests.

  In 2003, Fujifilm upgraded the emulsion with ‘Super’ Fine-Σ Grain Technology. In 2006, they revised it again for better shelf life. Fujifilm discontinued Superia 1600 globally in 2016, and by 2024 Superia X-TRA 800 had reached the end of its production run everywhere.

  If you shoot in natural light, Fuji stocks are worth exploring, browse the full Fuji film presets for Lightroom and find the emulsion that works with your light.

  Do you want Vibrant Outdoor & Daylight Shots?

  Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 Presets →

  02.

  What Are the Technical Specifications of Superia X-TRA 800?

  Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 is a versatile color negative film that caters to a wide range of photographic needs. Let’s break down its key technical aspects to help you understand why it’s a favorite among film enthusiasts.

  Film Type and Speed

  • General-Purpose Daylight Film: Perfect for various shooting conditions, especially when natural light is available.
  • High ISO Rating: With an ISO of 800, it excels in low-light environments and fast action photography.
  • Special Handling: The film is often refrigerated from manufacture to boost performance and extend its shelf life [1].

  Emulsion and Grain Technology

  • Advanced Emulsion: Features a fourth color layer that enhances color accuracy and detail.
  • Fine Grain Structure: Utilizes Fujifilm’s Nano-structured Σ (Sigma) Grain Technology from their Pro line.

  Updates Over Time:

  • 2003: Introduced ‘Super’ Fine-Σ Grain Technology for better grain quality.
  • 2006: Revised to improve shelf life and maintain a uniform fine grain structure.
  • High ISO Performance: Maintains fine grain even when pushed to higher ISOs, praised by photographers for its quality [5].

  

  Compatibility and Formats

  • Primary Format: Available mainly in the 135 format, which is widely used in consumer cameras.

  Discontinued Formats:

  • 120 Format: Stopped production in 2013.
  • Multipacks: Discontinued in 2017 for all regions except Japan and the US.
  • Single Rolls: 135-36 exp single rolls continued to be available until the global discontinuation set for 2024 [1].

  Performance and Characteristics

  • Low-Light Excellence: Performs exceptionally well in low-light, often yielding better results when rated at ISO 640 instead of 800.
  • Color Accuracy: Known for accurate color reproduction and vibrant images.
  • Grain Quality: Fine grain structure makes it suitable for both casual and professional photography.
  • Potential Downsides: Underexposing the film can lead to noticeable grain and color shifts [8].

  Technical Specifications at a Glance

  Specification	Details
  Film Type	Color Negative
  ISO Rating	800
  Formats Available	135 (primarily), 120 (discontinued in 2013)
  Emulsion Technology	4th Color Layer, Nano-structured Σ Grain
  Release Year	Late 1990s
  Discontinuation	Set for 2024 globally
  Special Features	Refrigerated handling, fine grain even when pushed

  03.

  Color Science: What Makes Superia 800 Look Like Superia 800

  This is the section most reviews skip, and it’s the most useful one.

  

  Superia X-TRA 800 has a specific color personality that separates it from other ISO 800 films. Here’s what it actually does:

  Reds and greens: Both push toward saturation more aggressively than neutral. On skin tones under warm light, the reds lean slightly ruddy. On foliage or outdoor scenes, greens are natural and deep without the yellow-green shift you see on some faster films.

  Shadows: Cooler than the midtones. This is the fourth color layer doing its job, keeping the shadows from going orange under mixed light. Under pure artificial light, you may still see a slight warm cast, but it’s more restrained than Superia 400.

  Highlights: Rolls off smoothly. Superia 800 doesn’t clip as harshly as slide film, but it’s not as forgiving as Portra in the highlights either. Overexpose by a third to two-thirds of a stop and the highlights hold well.

  Grain: Visible but structured, the Sigma grain has a clumped, organic look rather than random digital noise. At small print sizes it’s practically invisible. At A3 and above it becomes part of the image character.

  How it differs from its siblings:

  • vs. Superia 400: more saturation, slightly coarser grain, cooler shadows
  • vs. Fujifilm Pro 400H: warmer overall, more consumer-punchy color, less neutral skin rendering
  • vs. Natura 1600: significantly finer grain, more controlled color; Natura 1600 has a distinctive amber-warm cast at night that Superia 800 doesn’t

  Superia shows up again in our best Lightroom presets for everyday photography roundup, where its color rendering does the work without over-editing.

  04.

  How to Get the Superia X-TRA 800 Look in Lightroom

  This is where Superia 800’s character translates directly to digital editing, and where most Lightroom emulations get it wrong.

  Most people try to recreate it by simply boosting ISO noise and adding grain. That misses the point. The look is really about the color relationships: the punchy reds and greens against cooler shadows, and the slightly compressed highlight rolloff.

  Here’s how I approach it in Lightroom:

  White Balance: Superia 800 sits around 5,400–5,600K in daylight. In Lightroom, pull Temp slightly cooler than your camera’s daylight preset, around -200 to -300 from auto. Add +5 to +8 on the Tint toward green to pull it away from magenta.

  Tone Curve: Add a subtle S-curve that lifts the shadows (not a full film-fade lift, keep shadows grounded). Pull the highlights point slightly left to compress the top of the range. This replicates the film’s smooth highlight rolloff without clipping.

  HSL – the key moves:

  • Red Hue: shift +5 to +8 (pushes reds slightly orange-warm, matching the film’s red rendering)
  • Red Saturation: +10 to +15
  • Green Hue: shift -5 (anchors greens toward a deeper, more natural tone)
  • Green Saturation: +8 to +12
  • Blue Saturation: -10 to -15 (desaturates the blues slightly, which is characteristic of the Superia palette)
  • Luminance on Blues: -5 (cools and deepens the sky)

  Grain: Add grain in Lightroom after you’ve set the tone curve, not before. Amount: 18–22. Size: 25–30. Roughness: 45–55. The Sigma grain is medium-clumped, so keeping Roughness on the higher end matters. If you set it below 40 it looks digital.

  Camera Calibration panel (Lightroom Classic): Push Red Primary Saturation +8 and shift Red Primary Hue slightly orange. This is an underused move that affects how reds render across the whole image, it’s what gives the Superia emulation that slightly ruddy warmth in skin tones and warm-lit scenes without making everything look filtered.

  The Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 presets at Legendary Presets have these calibration-panel differences already dialed in and adjusted for Canon, Sony, and Nikon RAW files separately, which matters more on this film than most, because the Red Primary Hue varies enough between camera brands to need a different starting point.

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  05.

  Performance in Real Shooting Conditions

  Overcast and winter light: Superia 800 is at its best here. The fourth color layer keeps whites clean and the cool-shadow bias works with overcast light rather than against it. Rate it at 640 and you’ll get images that look almost professional-grade for a consumer film.

  

  Indoor events: It handles indoor mixed lighting reasonably well, better than most ISO 800 consumer films. Under warm tungsten, expect a slight orange wash that’s actually flattering on skin in a candid way. Under fluorescent, it can go a bit flat; add a touch of green correction in the scan or in Lightroom.

  Direct sunlight: Fine, but this isn’t where Superia 800 earns its reputation. The saturation can push into overcooked territory in bright sun, especially on reds. If you’re shooting beach or midday outdoor, you’re better served by Superia 400 or Velvia 100.

  Pushed to ISO 1600: Workable for documentary and street. The grain opens up and the shadows go murkier, but there’s a gritty appeal to it. Color accuracy drops, reds start to bleed and greens flatten, but for black and white conversions, pushed Superia 800 has a lot of character.

  Lighting Condition	Performance	Recommended Setting
  Overcast/winter light	Excellent	ISO 640
  Indoor mixed light	Good	ISO 800
  Indoor tungsten	Good, slight orange cast	ISO 800
  Bright direct sun	Fair, watch reds	ISO 640
  Low light / night	Good	ISO 800–1600
  Pushed for documentary	Gritty, workable	ISO 1600

  06.

  How Superia X-TRA 800 Compares to Other Films

  Photographers most often compare Superia 800 to Kodak Portra 800 and Kodak UltraMax 400 pushed to 800.

  

  vs. Kodak Portra 800: Portra 800 is more neutral and professional, better skin tones under controlled light, better shadow detail in high-contrast situations. Superia 800 is punchier and warmer, with more visible color character. For wedding and portrait work, Portra 800 is the professional choice. For travel and documentary, Superia 800’s personality is part of the appeal.

  vs. Kodak UltraMax 400 pushed to 800: UltraMax pushed gives you more grain and a more obvious pushed look. Superia 800 at box speed is cleaner and more controlled. If you want a smooth image, Superia 800 wins.

  vs. Fujifilm Pro 400H: Pro 400H is a professional neutral film, designed to not have opinions about color. Superia 800 has opinions: it wants reds to pop, it wants greens to be rich, it wants shadows to stay cool. Completely different tools.

  07.

  Availability in 2026

  Fujifilm completed the global discontinuation of Superia X-TRA 800 in 2024. There is no new stock being produced.

  You can still find it in:

  • Online marketplaces (eBay, Japan Camera Hunter), expect to pay a premium, often $15–25 per roll
  • Specialty film retailers who bought bulk stock before discontinuation
  • Photography community groups and trading forums

  Cold storage is essential if you buy old stock. Refrigerate it; freeze it if you’re not shooting within a year. Expect some color shift on older rolls, particularly in the blues.

  The practical alternative for most photographers today is digital emulation. The Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 presets reproduce the film’s color science from RAW files without the scarcity or cost. For photographers who loved the Superia look, it’s also worth exploring the Fujifilm Pro 400H presets and Fujifilm Natura 1600 presets as the closest high-speed Fuji alternatives.

  08.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Is Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 still available to buy?

  As of 2026 it’s discontinued. Remaining stock circulates on secondary markets like eBay and specialty film retailers. Prices range from $15–25 per roll depending on condition and storage history.

  What ISO should I rate Superia X-TRA 800?

  Most experienced shooters rate it at ISO 640 rather than the box speed of 800. You get tighter grain, richer saturation, and better shadow detail. The difference is subtle but consistent across different cameras and light conditions.

  Can you push Superia X-TRA 800 to ISO 1600?

  Yes, and many documentary and street photographers do. You’ll see more grain and some color shift in the reds, but the results are usable and have a gritty character. It’s less predictable than shooting at box speed.

  How does Superia X-TRA 800 compare to Kodak Portra 800?

  Portra 800 is more neutral and controlled, the professional’s choice for portraits and weddings. Superia 800 is punchier and more opinionated in its color rendering, with warmer reds and cooler shadows. Neither is better universally; they serve different aesthetics.

  What’s the best Lightroom preset to emulate Superia X-TRA 800?

  The Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 800 presets at Legendary Presets are built specifically around this film’s color science, including separate calibrations for Canon, Sony, and Nikon RAW files.

  What films are similar to Superia X-TRA 800?

  The closest in character are Fujifilm Superia 400 (same family, slightly less saturation), Kodak UltraMax 400 pushed to 800, and for pure low-light shooting, Fujifilm Natura 1600. For a professional-neutral alternative, Kodak Portra 800.

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  The film emulation presets collection covers stocks that professional photographers trusted with their most important work, the same color science is now available for your digital files.

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