CatLABS X FILM 320 Pro now available in 35mm and 120

CatLABS

Member
Joined
May 20, 2011
Messages
1,576
Location
MA, USA
Format
Large Format
4 years in the making, this film is an all new BW emulsion with a unique grain and tonal range, unlike anything you have seen before.
This is a unique emulsion, not available from another maker in another packaging.
Made with the highest quality control, this film is on par with other major film makers along with superb image quality and unique characteristics sure to make this a hit.

In stock and available for ordering right now on the CatLABS website: http://www.catlabs.info/product/catlabs-x-film-320
This film is already making its way to many retailers across the world - please tell us about your local camera store, we would love to offer them our film.

Some tech specs and highlights:

• Panchromatic film, coated on a polyester base
• CatLABS X FILM 320 is a classic, medium-speed film, designed for a wide array of shooting conditions available in 35mm and 120 roll film
• An ideal “street film”, offering versatility and unique characteristics
• Following in the footsteps of some classic historic films, CatLABS X FILM 320 is characterized by its distinct grain quality, contrast and tonal range, not found with other currently available films
• Produces unique deep grey tones with an almost silvery/metallic look
• Suitable for low light or available light conditions
• Exhibits a wide exposure latitude under various lighting conditions
• For best results rate it at 200 ISO when shooting outdoors under bright sunlight. Push it as high as 1600 when shooting under artificial/low light conditions

Processing Instructions (at 20° C) EI 320 :
D76 stock 6 min
D76 1+1 10 min
ID-11 1+1 10 min
BERSPEED 1+1 8.5 min
DDX 1+4 13 min
Pyro 510 1+100 20 min
Rodinal 1+50 19 min
Rodinal 1+25 9 min
Xtol Stock 11 min
Tmax DEV 1+4 9.5 min
Alternative processing options for contrast control, increased exposure latitude, finer grain, increased acutance:
Superfine 1+4 10 min (Notes: Temp 24° C EI 100)
Benefits: Increased exposure latitude, finest grain, moderate highlights
DDX 1+4 8 min (Notes: EI 200)
Benefits: Finer grain, increased exposure latitude
Xtol 1+1 15 min (Notes: EI 200)
Benefits: Highest acutance, moderate contrast, fine grain
HC110 1+49 10.5 min (Notes: EI 200)
Benefits: High acutance, fine grain, low contrast
Ilfosol 3 1+9 8.5 min (Notes: EI 200)
Benefits: lower contrast
Rodinal 1+25 - 17 min (Notes: EI 1600)
Benefits: Maximum speed, results unpredictable


Photos above: Rodolfo Rivera (@drtunaking)



Photos above: Scott Marlin (@dscottmartin)
 

albada

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
2,172
Location
Escondido, C
Format
35mm RF
The 35mm cartridges in the picture in their website have "36" printed on them, so presumably these are 36-shot rolls, though this is not stated anywhere. Based on the low price, I was wondering if they were 24. Nope; 36.
 

Tomro

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2022
Messages
112
Location
Italy
Format
Medium Format
Any more sample fotos? And do you have retailers in Europe, yet?
 

albada

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
2,172
Location
Escondido, C
Format
35mm RF
The first two scans have color fringes, indicating a problem with the scanner.
The second two scans have somewhat fine grain, and the grain has high contrast. Hmm, that could work well for a number of things...
 

Tomro

Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2022
Messages
112
Location
Italy
Format
Medium Format
I also thought that the second to last picture has burned highlights…
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,945
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
CatLABS, as it has 320 in its name is this film an ISO of 320? With its unique emulsion is this an emulsion of your devising that you have contracted out to another film maker to make for you

I looked up CatLABS but while there was a lot of retail info and where you are I couldn't find out enough to work out if you have film making resources there or simply a small R&D team with the resources to devise a new emulsion but for which you need one of the big film makers to make it?

While it has unique properties is/are there any film(s) that it resembles by way of characteristics?

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,595
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
You really need some better examples, especially for web presentation. They seem too contrasty, one of them the focus is soft.
 

jnk

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
90
Location
here
Format
Hybrid
thank you cat labs of jamaica plains for your tireless support of people who use cameras and film.
 

Huss

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2016
Messages
9,058
Location
Hermosa Beach, CA
Format
Multi Format

Looks excellent! I do not see any developing directions using Cinestill DF96 Monobath - a developer that I use exclusively and is very popular with the ‘kids’. I’d be happy to test a few rolls for you and report back.
There is a big DF 96 thread here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/cinestill-df96-monobath.174699/page-30
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,293
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
I got pushed an article on my phone this morning about a new film product from CatLabs -- an ISO 320 ("shoot at 200 in bright light, push up to 1600 for low light") B&W film that they claim is a new, unique emulsion, not available from any other source. Example photos (which, being on the web, mean nearly nothing) look very nice, development times appear very normal. It's available now direct from CatLabs in 135 and 120 for under $7/roll plus shipping.

Assuming their claim about "unique, not available elsewhere" isn't just "fluffery" (like Papa John's was forced to admit a while back about their claim of "better ingredients, better pizza"), this would have to be toll production, since I'm pretty sure we'd have heard about a new coating facility starting production (and I'm also fairly sure CatLabs don't have the capital to set one up that would produce, at a minimum, tens of times their total sales). So, who's doing toll production these days? Foma, Ilford, and Kodak are the obvious suspects, Fuji seems to have trouble producing their own films at the moment, and there are Adox and ORWO in the mix.

Also, has anyone actually tried this stuff yet? At this price, I'm probably going to order a 10-pack of 120 when I'm home...
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,293
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,293
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
@Huss Given the times they posted in the other article I saw for developers like D-76 and Xtol stock, it should work in Df96 with the same temperature/agitation tradeoffs as other conventional films like Foma 400, Tri-X, and HP5+. That would surely be a starting point for testing, anyway.
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,758
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
I appreciate the fact that they provide a starting time for XTOL 1+1, as well as some guidance about why you might want to use one developer/dilution rather than another. This kind of supporting information is a notch above some others (Arista, for example), but I would still like to see something like a Data Sheet in PDF downloadable format, where I can find all available information about the film in one convenient document.

The price is very tempting if bought as a 10-pack, but I am afraid to buy 10 rolls until I know more about how grainy it is. The examples provided look like they are a little bit on the gritty side for my taste, but I would like to see more examples before making a decision.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,525
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
When you order, would you let us know what the $10 box is all about.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,293
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
@BrianShaw I've been presuming it's a hard plastic box to protect the ten rolls -- given presumed toll coating and confectioning, there's a good likelihood they don't include plastic/foil seal envelopes like Kodak/Fuji/Ilford/Foma.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,945
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm

As CATLABS has not yet replied to the above can anyone else throw some light on answers to my questions

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,905
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Threads combined.
Thanks to Donald for giving us a heads up that they needed to be combined.
One moderator's request though: if you think a thread should be combined with another one, a link to that other thread is very, very helpful!
 
OP
OP

CatLABS

Member
Joined
May 20, 2011
Messages
1,576
Location
MA, USA
Format
Large Format
pentaxuser said:
CatLABS, as it has 320 in its name is this film an ISO of 320? With its unique emulsion is this an emulsion of your devising that you have contracted out to another film maker to make for you
Click to expand...
Yes.
The best example to compare to is pre 2000's TXP 320, though the spectral sensitivity is not quite the same, so perhaps this is more of a feel than anything scientific.
 

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
11,969
Location
Coquitlam,BC Canada
Format
Multi Format
CatLABS said:
Unfortunately this film will not be cut into sheets.
Click to expand...

Okay... How about some characteristic curves, and a spectral sensitivity response graph?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…