An investigation of the film in the new Ilfocolor Disposable cameras

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maevery

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Ilford has released a new disposable camera in the past few months, being the Ilfocolor Rapid Retro Edition
vJk5HLz.png

I figured it was just another Kodak filled disposable camera, but I then saw this video comparing it with Kodak and Fuji disposables. It seemed different from the others, especially Kodak. I chalked this up to perhaps differences in the lens, shutter timing, and such. Although it was at least different enough from Kodak that I assumed it wasn't an Ultramax stock.

It seemed quite similar to the Fuji disposable, still different, but close enough, But this didn't make much sense considering Fuji don't sell their film out to third parties anymore for rebranding purposes.

So I bought one of these myself, wound it back into the cartridge, and cracked it open.
D556GEc.jpg


I scanned the barcode and got the number which was written under it, handy. I looked this number up, and I found a flickr thread from almost a decade ago, which catalogues film stocks based on their barcode number. Two separate people listed this number, and both said it was "Ferrania Solaris 400". I don't know much about that stock but as far as I can see that wasn't a rebranded film, but made in house.
I highly doubt it's this film, considering Ferrania doesn't have capacity to even produce c41 film, let alone black and white currently. While I don't have any other disposable film on hand, maybe it's a generic number for disposable film? Although if it was there would probably be more results for it.

It also lacks any labeling or logos, Kodak disposable film has a serrated top to their rolls, as well as the Kodak name.
CKqBW5w.png


Fuji's disposable film lacks the serrated teeth, but is styled completely differently, showing the text in a different orientation.
XGBRzMv.png



So, what is this stuff?
Doing even more research I came across a dxcode searching tool, which said this was "likely" Kodak film, but it was discontinued.
I also feel like if this was long term cold stored film from over a decade ago, Ilford would have made a big deal about it, and press releases, to make hype over this.
There is also no way in hell they are coating their own film, we would have heard huge press releases over this also.

I am going to buy a 400 iso kodak disposable, as well as a fujifilm one, remove the film, then shoot some color test charts on my Nikon F4 with all three within the next two weeks. I'll send them all to the same lab instead of processing it myself to reduce any chance of mistake or variance. I will then post the un-converted scans when I do.

Feel free to share any thoughts below though, I'd love to know anything else about it
 

Nitroplait

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If it is cold stored Ferrania 400 from 10 years ago it is fairly easy to see the difference. I recall it as a boring ugly grainy film - although almost anything out of a disposable camera looks pretty bad - so the intended users probably wouldn't notice anyway.
 

pentaxuser

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So we don't know whose film it is except that we can be sure that it is not Ilford Ilfo Color which is what the previous words would seem to suggest and may have users believing that it is a new Ilford-made color or colour film.

It is eye catching but at best misleading or is in my opinion unless somewhere on the camera is information as to the film's origin. I am surprised that Ilford decided to put Ilford Ilfocolor on the front. It has a reputation for honesty but this kind of action chips away at this reputation.

These days honesty and transparency appears to be less important in several areas of life and we are all the poorer for it

pentaxuser
 

twelvetone12

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Ok but this is not made by Harman which makes Ilford film, it is from ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH, the other half of the company when old Ilford went bankrupt.
 
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Harman is not Ilford. It only has the right to the use of the Ilford name for certain long established products. Harman are not in any way being dishonest as the colour film camera has nothing to do with them.

Twevetone12 has it in a nutshel.
 

pentaxuser

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Ok but this is not made by Harman which makes Ilford film, it is from ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH, the other half of the company when old Ilford went bankrupt.
Thanks I wonder how many users of this disposable will know that it is not IlfordPhoto but Ilford Imaging. Pity in some ways that IlfordPhoto is stuck with this kind of confusion which is not of its own making

Anyway I am glad to see that it is not IlfordPhoto and I can direct my ire towards Ilford Imaging whom in my photography world I will not have to deal with

pentaxuser
 

Don_ih

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It looks very similar to a generic 27-shot disposable camera you can get on Aliexpress.
M2EC-27-Photos-Power-Flash-Single-Use-One-Time-Disposable-Film-Camera-Party-Gift.jpg_220x220xz.jpg_.webp

Same switch for the flash, viewfinder window, layout. The rounded hump around the lens may be buried under that cardboard. It's likely the same camera.
 

Nitroplait

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It is hard to think anyone are being mislead.
Anyone knowing Harman Ilford know they don't do color, and those who don't, wouldn't know what to expect and can't possibly be disappointed - especially not by something wrapped in a disposable camera.
The packaging is identical to AgfaPhoto LeBox disposable except for the plastic being black on the Ilford instead of grey on the Agfa - so I guess it is the same source.
https://www.amazon.com/Photo-LeBox-Disposable-Camera-Exposures/dp/B000L9PLE0
 

twelvetone12

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This is interesting, I thought that AgfaPhoto had no more color products after they stopped selling rebadged Fuji film.
 

Paul Howell

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It could be cold stored Fuji, had enough rolls to make it worth the cost of rebrand the basic camera. If you lab has an older mini lab they can read the code on the bottom of the film and tell you what brand film it is.
 

Nitroplait

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Is there as "Made In" designation on any of these? Is there a color film producer in China? I am thinking that could be the origin if no-name equivalents are floating around on Ali-express
 
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maevery

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Is there as "Made In" designation on any of these? Is there a color film producer in China?
The only thing that is said is on the bottom of the box, noting that it is made in China.
 

Don_ih

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Is there as "Made In" designation on any of these? Is there a color film producer in China? I am thinking that could be the origin if no-name equivalents are floating around on Ali-express

Lucky used to produce colour film in China but there's no reason a Chinese company couldn't get film from Fuji.
 

MattKing

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IlfordPhoto is just a brand - the license to use it for colour materials was probably picked up cheap from the bankruptcy Trustee for Ilford Imaging.
Ilford Photo - in the context of the black and white products that are manufactured and sold by Harman Technology Ltd. - is also just a brand, although that license, which was bought earlier out of another, earlier receivership has been nurtured and supported well by Harman.
And the film is probably something like the older technology emulsions that can be purchased under contract from the toll coaters like Eastman Kodak - who knows who is doing the confectioning.
 

mshchem

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One, Who Cares?

In the not to distant past I worked for Whirlpool. When you go into a place like Target or Walmart you can find dozens of products for the Kitchen labeled KitchenAid, spatulas, pans, all manner of things. This is " licensed product" some entity pays Whirlpool a fee to use the name. The product has to be safe, it's usually priced as a luxury item.

I have no idea what this camera is, but I'm sure it's a sourced item. Ilford name is worth something either as a license or as Ilford contracting someone to assemble it.

I don't know why people are so concerned with who made it.

Everything that's truly important we all know the source, Kodak, Ilford, Foma mainstream products.

If you are really interested, buy every brand of disposable out there and do a examination of all the internal parts. Most of the time brands are differentiated with minor changes, ie module variants.
 

MattKing

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For clarity, there is no longer an entity named Ilford which manufactures anything. There are manufacturing entities with different names that are entitled to add the name Ilford to some of their products.
 

faberryman

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I don't know why people are so concerned with who made it.
I believe people are interested in what film the camera uses, and are interested in who made the camera only to the extent it may indicate who made the film.
 

mshchem

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I believe people are interested in what film the camera uses, and are interested in who made the camera only to the extent it may indicate who made the film.
It's either old film or new film. If it's new it's either Fuji or Kodak. If it's old could be anything.
 

Huss

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Just looked up the specs of the camera. 1/125 and F11. So with the loaded 400 film Sunny f16 = 1/500 @f16. This will over expose by 3 stops on a sunny day - which is in the latitude of the film.
But that also means it should take nice pics on an overcast day.
 

Don_ih

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I don't know why people are so concerned with who made it.

The simple answer: Ilford (whatever things call their products Ilford) makes no colour film.

The other answer: this is a discussion forum. It's something to discuss.
 

pentaxuser

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It is hard to think anyone are being mislead.
Anyone knowing Harman Ilford know they don't do color, and those who don't, wouldn't know what to expect and can't possibly be disappointed
It may not be hard for you or even most of the members here but I confess it had me wondering and the best that can be said IMO is that most buyers may not care but I doubt if most know that IlfordPhoto does not do colour.

It simply struck me as being less than honest and to that extent devious but as I said above in an earlier post, this may only matter to me

pentaxuser
 

MattKing

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It simply struck me as being less than honest and to that extent devious but as I said above in an earlier post, this may only matter to me
But that would have applied back in the day to everything made by Ilford Imaging in Switzerland - all the Ilfochrome and other related products - which quite rightly bore the Ilford name.
 
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