Tag: film

Fuji introduce Provia 400X slide film

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

Fuji Provia 400X 120 pro-pack

According to Fuji’s press release, the new Provia 400X Professional ISO 400 slide film features:

Brilliant color reproduction: Fujichrome Provia 400X Professional provides new levels of color saturation in ISO 400 class films.

Ultra-fine grain: Fujichrome Provia 400X Professional provides exceptionally fine grain for a 400 speed color reversal film (RMS: 11).

Rich tone reproduction: Fujichrome Provia 400X Professional produces smooth and continuous gradation from highlights to shadows, providing pleasing skin tone reproduction.

Improved color image stability: Fujichrome Provia 400X incorporates new-generation color couplers for significantly improved long-term color image stability (anti-fading characteristics) compared to current 400 speed color reversal films.

(end quote)

Also mentioned in the Provia 400X brochure (PDF) is "minimal change in color intensity and tonality throughout the -1/2 stop to +2 stop range (EI 280-1600), and extending even to +3 stops (EI 3200) in certain conditions." Nice!

I can’t wait to see what this stuff does when cross processed and pushed. I like to use crossed and pushed Provia 400F for pinhole work on overcast days, but it does get insanely grainy. Hopefully this will be a little less severe. (I actually like its grain-the-size-of-boulders characteristics, but it’s nice to have a choice.)

With all this strife for film companies and product lines of late, it’s nice to see new stuff coming out!

Provia 400X will be available in 135-36 and 120 formats. The film code appears to be RXP.

Fuji introduce T64 tungsten color print film

Nicolai Grossman Leave a comment

Roll of Fuji T64 in 120 format

According to Fuji’s press release, T64 Professional tungsten-balanced ISO 64 color print film features:

Smooth, natural gradation: T64 Professional has been optimized to yield natural tones and continuous gray balance for smooth, accurate reproduction of subtle gradation from highlights through shadows under delicate tungsten light.

Excellent color fidelity: In addition to optimizing spectral sensitivity, Multi-Color-Correcting-Layer technology achieves characteristics that closely mimic the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. Combined with new-generation color couplers, this gives T64 Professional one of the highest levels of hue fidelity, including delicate colors beyond the reach of existing films, making this film most suitable for the stringent color reproduction demands of commercial photography and the photographing of paintings and other artwork.

Color image performance: Incorporation of new-generation color couplers gives T64 Professional significantly improved color image stability and resistance to fading compared to prior generation color reversal films.

Ultra-fine grain: With the incorporation of Multi-Structured Sigma Crystal Technology, new T64 Professional achieves one of the highest levels of ultra-fine grain with an RMS granularity of 7, giving it an impressive ability to express the delicate textures, dimensions and subtle gradations that are required to achieve professional results under tungsten lighting.

Superb push/pull processing suitability: New T64 Professional exhibits minimum variation in color and gradation during push/pull processing over a range of -1/2 to +1 stop, providing an expanded range of photo taking opportunities, as well as facilitating fine adjustments in exposure and density during processing.

(end quote)

T64 is available in the following formats: 36 exposure 35mm, 100′ 35mm bulk roll, 120, 4×5, 4×5 QuickLoad, and 8×10.

Read the T64 brochure (PDF) at Fuji.

Kodak reduce static attraction of 35mm films

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From Kodak’s press release:

"Kodak has significantly reduced the static attraction of its processed professional and consumer 35mm capture films worldwide. Recent photofinishing tests indicate that the humidity-independent static protection of this new 35mm film support yields frames with nearly 65 percent less printing dirt or white spots – a common frustration among lab owners. This new support will produce cleaner images and, in turn, streamline consumer and professional lab workflows and cut production time.

"KODAK 35mm film with antistatic support will begin shipping to retailers this month."

Hopefully less static = less dust, and that is awesome!

Kodak Portra 800 film updated

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Kodak has updated the Portra 800 color print film emulsion. It "…now reproduces skin tones and colors with more accuracy under a variety of light sources. This high-speed film also features finer grain, improved sharpness and exceptional under-exposure latitude."

I hope this last bit is true, I’ve found that the existing version of the emulsion really doesn’t like it if you’re the slightest bit under. More tolerance would be excellent for use in toy cameras where you have little, if any, exposure control other than the ISO of the film.

Koday say that the updated version will start shipping later this month.

Read the complete press release at Kodak.

Washing soda film developer test drive: coffee and vitamin C

Nicolai Grossman 2 Comments

Justin Ouellette took two washing soda-based DIY film developers out for a test: coffee (aka caffeinol or folgernol) and vitamin C, with Rodinal as a reference.

I tried coffee once and got no development whatsoever. While this seems uncommon as I’ve never heard or read about this happening to anyone else, it does illustrate the [hopefully obvious] point that testing weird developers on rolls that you actually care about is a bad idea. Against that hope of obviousness, I tested it on a roll I was really excited about and learned the lesson the hard way. Dumbass. I haven’t tried it again, but Justin’s results are inspiring enough to make me want to give it another go.

Check out the comparison at chromogenic.net

Polaroid to discontinue 85 pos/neg film, 55 unaffected

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The 85 product info page at Polaroid says:

"Please be advised that Polaroid will be discontinuing 85 film within the first 3 months of 2006 due to the phasing out of components used in the production of this film.

"The discontinuation of 85 does not impact the supply or manufacture of 55 film, an alternative to 85. For information on 55 film and the equipment needed to use it, please click here."

(85 and 55 are unique peel-apart instant films in that you can get either a positive or a negative whereas other instant films only give you positives. 85 is a medium format version, perfect for use in the Holgaroid Polaroid film back for Holgas; 55 is 4×5.)