Kodak announced Ektar 100, a new fine-grained, high-contrast, high-saturation, "world’s sharpest" color negative film. It’s 35mm-only, and will replace the almost cartoonishly-saturated Portra Professional Ultra Color 100UC.
Availability: October 2008 in the US, beginning of November in Europe, ?? rest of the word.
More info on Kodak’s Ektar 100 Q&A and in the film data sheet (PDF).
Here are the relevant portions of Kodak’s press release:
New KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 Film Provides Photographers with the World’s Finest-Grain Colour Negative Film
LONDON, September 9, 2008 – Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) continues to champion professional photographers and set new standards in professional film with the new KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 (EKTAR 100) film. This new film, with ISO 100 speed, high saturation and ultra-vivid colour, offers the finest, smoothest grain of any colour negative film available today.
"Photography has always been about capturing a moment or story and sharing it, with just a few or with the world," said Mary Jane Hellyar, president, Film, Photofinishing & Entertainment Group and executive vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. "It is often the smallest details that mark the difference between a good photograph and one that stands out and becomes memorable. With our new EKTAR 100 film, we’ve created a film that helps the photographer capture unprecedented detail in remarkably vivid colour. This film continues a Kodak tradition of providing photographers with the highest quality films that expand the range over which they can create outstanding images."
EKTAR 100 Film is the ideal choice for commercial photographers and advanced amateurs for applications such as nature, travel, fashion and product photography where the emphasis is often on colour. The new film incorporates KODAK VISION Motion Picture Film Technology to achieve its unparalleled fine grain. It’s perfect for photographers who prefer the ease of working with 35mm, and who look for extraordinary enlargement capability when scanning and printing.
[…trade show stuff blah blah blah…]
The new KODAK EKTAR Films will be available throughout Europe from the beginning of November, 2008.