Like most travelers I like to take pictures . Often the end result does not match the reality or my memory of the scene.What kind of film do you use that has given you excellent photos ? I am just an amateur 'photographer' and usually use Kodak Gold 200. My camera is Minolta Elite (zoom), nothing fancy, and takes good pictures, except I think I need film with higher color saturation, or WHAT...?

The number on the film is an indicator of film speed. The lower the number, the more light is needed. The higher the number, the less light is needed. If you are just using a "point and shoot" camera, you might want to move up to a more general purpose speed of film like a 400 speed.

There are a lot of excellent photography websites out there that can give you more information than you can asimilate. Personally, I like the Fuji Superia.

I have the same problem one friend told me to use coda krohm (sp), does that make cents. Friend said that it brought out the colors in a picture.

one word.... digital!

I, TOO, HAVE A MINOLTA (FREEDOM FAMILY ZOOM) AND ONLY USE FUJI SUPERIA 400 FILM. PIX TURN OUT BETTER THAN I REMEMBER BUT WHO PROCESSES THE FILM ALSO MATTERS, I USUALLY USE WALMART 1 HR BUT LAST VACATION THEY LOST MY FILM, IT WAS FOUND AFTER A WEEK AND I GOT TRIPLE PRINTS AND FOUR ROLLS OF FILM FREE.

PIX GETTER---grow up and speak like an adult.

Eva, what you're using is probably the right stuff. The faster the film (the higher the speed number,) the more likely you are to see graininess if the picture is blown up.

Kodak Gold 200 is a good mid-range film for your kind of picture taking.

We're doing both right now. I use a 2M Nikon Coolpix 800, which gives an excellent picture. It can occasionally be blown up and printed as an 8x10, without readily-visible grainess. I've taken over 3,000 pix with it in the last 2+ years, and am very happy. And we won't even discuss how much I've saved on film! My wife uses a point-'n-click, either a Canon or Olympus, with your KG 200 film. Our picture results are mixed with that. We do use cheap processing. And sometimes the camera's been in the car too long on a hot day....

If you know most of your pictures are going to be outside, on sunny days, you could even go to a 100-speed film. Another thing that might help is forcing the flash on outside for people shots. If the folks are in the shade, a flash can often balance-out the lighting.

If you are travelling with a compact camera then I would use a minimum of 400 speed film. Someone mentioned coda krohm; I'm guessing they mean kodak's kodachrome, of which is slide film; yes slide film does give you more punchy colors but personally I wouldn't use it with a compact camera, and from reading your question you intend on using print film.
Fuji film 400 superia xtra is a good allround fim to use and is available everywhere; the 400 speed will allow you to obtain good results on sunny and overcast days with the advantage of extending your camera's flash range for night photo's. Because 400 speed film requires less light, your camera will use a faster shutter speed, which is advantagious in reducing blurry photos when using your camera at the long end of the zoom range(you may have noticed blurry photo's when using your zoom on a cloudy day with 100 speed film.
hope this is of assistance

One other thing, you may already know, but do not put any unprocessed film in your checkin luggage as there is a very good chance it will be affected by the new machines they are using at airports now.

I am an average vacation picture taker. I took 400 pictures in China recently with my Konica zoom and Gold 200. They were in the checked luggage twice, and carry-on 7 times. They were procecssed in my local super market. The pictures turned out beautifully.

I don't say that you should pack film in your checked luggage, but you shouldn't worry if it goes through once or twice.

Also, I think a major factor is the processing. I tried different places until I got good results.

If it's color saturation you're after the slower speed films will usually do better. Agfa Ultra, a professional film that can be hard to find and I'm not sure is even made any longer, produces unbelievably saturated colors - almost surrealistic when combined with a polarizing filter. Unfortunately it's only rated ASA 50 - most professionals I know think it's real speed is even less, around ASA 40 - so you need a pretty sunny day. But when conditions are right it's really something.

Another suggestion: try adjusting the f-stop (ie, aperature size) by one setting each way when taking the same photo. The electronics in both the camera and the developer are both making a reasonable guess on what would give the "best" photo, but both are only making a guess. If you adjust your aperature size, you might find the "guess" becomes a little more accurate. You'll have to do a little experimentation, and you may find it makes no difference. Grab a few rolls and check this out with photos you take around your home.

Having taken many lousy pictures over time, I found some troubleshooting tips that were helpful. With point and shoot cameras, Fuji 400 works well, but if you are in a very sunny location, use 200 or even 100 if it is mid day sun outside..100 won't give you enough in the shade though. If you photograph family or people, get very close to them. You always have more scenery than you think in the background, and by getting close, you won't fool the camera during the exposure giving you the color saturation you want. Too much bright sky will wash out your exposure.

Second, use a fill flash for faces or you will get shadows, and turn the flash off at night if you are more than 6 feet from your subject. The flash is useless further than 6 to 8 feet away on a point and shoot, or just don't take photos after sunset.

HI ! Thank you all for taking time to answer my question ! I got some very helpful advice and I will try it out.
Many thanks !!!

Simple rule is that the lower the speed the higher the picture quality. The trade-off is that the lower the speed the more light you need. One nice, sunny days shoot 100. For general purpose or cloudy days shoot 200 or 400. Indoors use 400 or 800.

I have found that the Fuji films are the best. The images are sharper, clearer and the colors brighter.

JC

Quite often and usually it is not the fault of the film. If your exposure is right, 100, 200 or 400 speed is fine. Try not to shoot in bright sunlight with shadows as it confuses the camera and leaves some overexposed areas. It is in the printing that the colors change. When you find a good printer, I have used Ritz where I can meet the person doing the printing on one hour, let them know you want nice warm saturated colors. So often they just run them through at an auto setting and they are greenish. I have done professional photography. I also have used Moto Photo. If you do not like the color, show it to them. If you send it out for cheap prints, you do not have any control. There are usually coupons for good prices on one hour. If you take the time and spend the money on film, it is worth getting a decent print.

With my SLR I use 200 speed Kodak; with my APS I usually use 400 speed Kodak. A pro told me that Kodak has a reputation for "warm" colors; Fuji with "cold" colors. (He uses either, depending on the setting.)

The best way to boost the quality of your photos is to use a good processor. Am very thankful to have one conveniently located.

Not all film is even good for all conditions, apart from the amount of lighting. For example, I use Kodak Supra 400 a lot, but it can be very bad in bright sun. My favorite film for travel is Fuji Reala 100. You can find it at some camera shops but not in general stores. If you order it from B&H photo in New York, you can get it for less than $3 for a roll of 36. It produces very fine-grained prints, silky even, with medium contrast. It generally produces very realistic colors, not highly saturated. Honestly, I have thought hard about finding a more saturated print film, but I haven't settled on one that pleases me overall like Reala. You do have to watch Reala though at the printer. I ask them to print so it is not too magenta because I find the skin tones too red on some occasions (in general, it is very good for portraits though). I haven't been thrilled with the way it scans when working on my Web site (it can be a little flat), but I remedied this by increasing the saturation before the final scan.

If you want great colors, you might want to give slide film a shot. There are several brilliant choices with Fuji and Kodak, but of course that doesn't help if you want prints. It costs a bit to get a high quality print from a slide.

I'm partial to Fuji Velvia. It's slide film though.

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