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

[Roger Cole]

Your are likely correct, I should said the majority of folks who have posted here seem to shoot at a lower ISO, outside of PhotoTrio most likely shoot at box speed. And again true, old TriX shot at 1600 and developed in Diafine while a little soft had very good shadow details. The newer version of TriX with a thinner emulsion cannnot absorb as part A developer as the new thicker emulsion version.

When I finish my new darkroom build out I plan to experiment with modern Tri-X doing two passes through Diafine, with a thorough water rinse after the first part B, of course, and keeping the "second pass Diafine" solutions separate (though there's almost certainly no need to do that for part B, which is just alkaline accelerator, I think.) We shall see. But it may be more than that, with more dye sensitization as well. I do miss the old stuff, both for that and for its look at 400.

 

[Huss]

This pic has a combination of lively shadows with dead to the soul shadows all in one.

Not sure which is which though.

 

[Roger Cole]

The fact that Mary Ellen Mark liked to shoot Tri-X at EI 250 does not mean that Tri-X was not an ISO 400 film. Kodak claimed it was an ISO 400 film because they tested the film according to the ISO rubric for determining film speed and determined that it was ISO 400.

CatLABS claims that its new film has an "EI ISO" film speed of 320. I do not know 1) what "EI ISO" is supposed to mean, 2) whether CatLABS determined that its new film has a film speed of 320 according to the ISO rubric, or 3) if the film does have an ISO film speed of 320, why they nevertheless recommend that it be shot at EI 200. Maybe they just think their new film looks better overexposed.

"EI ISO" probably means that their testing shows 320 in the usual ways, but lacks the full rigor required to actually call it ISO, while they recommend shooting it at 200 for best results. That does make sense - downrating film a little is really common with most black and white films benefiting from being given at least a little more exposure than the ISO index would call for. It's just not that common in marketing for the company to say so, so I found it a bit odd. No problem, just unusual.

 

[Huss]

Aren't zombies at least half alive?

The right side. That’s why they walk funny. You got a living leg trying to coordinate with a dead leg.

 

[Roger Cole]

Kodak has been the best sales person for Harman products. Panatomic X gone, use Pan F. Plus X gone use FP-4. Improve Tri X, use HP-5. Drop Tmax 3200, use Delta 3200.

All true. Add to that, price sheet film in the stratosphere - change to Ilford. I have some cold stored TMY2 4x5 but when it's gone it's going to be HP5+ for me. I kind of get along better with more older tech films anyway.

 

[Huss]

"EI ISO" probably means that their testing shows 320 in the usual ways, but lacks the full rigor required to actually call it ISO, while they recommend shooting it at 200 for best results. That does make sense - downrating film a little is really common with most black and white films benefiting from being given at least a little more exposure than the ISO index would call for. It's just not that common in marketing for the company to say so, so I found it a bit odd. No problem, just unusual.

i’m just gonna shoot it at 200, like their site says.
Similar to Kodak Portra 400. Everyone and their mom acknowledges it is an iso 400 film, but has to shoot it at 200.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I suppose Catlabs should be happy about the film publicity it got from this thread; I mean, it is already 12 pages!!

 

[faberryman]

"EI ISO" probably means that their testing shows 320 in the usual ways, but lacks the full rigor required to actually call it ISO, while they recommend shooting it at 200 for best results. That does make sense - downrating film a little is really common with most black and white films benefiting from being given at least a little more exposure than the ISO index would call for. It's just not that common in marketing for the company to say so, so I found it a bit odd. No problem, just unusual.

Thank you for attempting to explain the inexplicable. Your explanation makes no sense, but I'll award you an A for effort.

 

[Don_ih]

What is this thread about?
Isn't it:
CatLabs offering a film rated iso320.
Buy it or don't.
???

 

[Paul Howell]

Paul, when you open your cassettes, assuming it is 35mm, can I ask that you tell us if they have the electrical tape like aparat reported and what the code underneath the tape says. If it's 120 roll film does it say what the speed is on the backing paper?

Thanks

pentaxuser

My 5 rolls have a non DX coded white label, there is bar code and the CatLabs logo, list the ISO as 320. Once I shoot the roll I will peel the label back to see what is underneath.

 

[faberryman]

i’m just gonna shoot it at 200, like their site says.

Probably a good choice if you don’t look at the box. Fortunately, there is no data sheet to sow confusion,

Similar to Kodak Portra 400. Everyone and their mom acknowledges it is an iso 400 film, but has to shoot it at 200.

I’d say most Portra 400 is shot at box speed, except for people who hang around sites like Photrio, which may or may not include a lot of moms.

 

[pentaxuser]

My 5 rolls have a non DX coded white label, there is bar code and the CatLabs logo, list the ISO as 320. Once I shoot the roll I will peel the label back to see what is underneath.

Thanks On aparat's cassettes it was black electrical tape so maybe it's just a matter of using whatever material is at hand to obliterate the code of whatever is underneath. I await your findings

pentaxuser

 

[Digital Wendy]

Can you provide a link. I didn't see this on their website, or Facebook or Instagram pages.

It's at the bottom of this page https://www.catlabs.info/about-us under 'Gender-Pay-Gap Discount:'.

 

[faberryman]

It's at the bottom of this page https://www.catlabs.info/about-us under 'Gender-Pay-Gap Discount:'.

Thanks. Odd place to put it, but I am glad they offer women the discount.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Funniest post in this thread. If not of the year on PHOTRIO. Whether intentional or not.

I suppose Catlabs should be happy about the film publicity it got from this thread; I mean, it is already 12 pages!!

OK, you win. That one's funnier.

 

[Moose22]

Thanks. Odd place to put it, but I am glad they offer women the discount.

I'm not.

Think it's about time to mute this thread.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

They are not lively shadows! They are zombie shadows!

Of course they are. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men ?

 

[faberryman]

I'm not.

Wow. That’s pretty grumpy.

Think it's about time to mute this thread.

I still am waiting for everyone’s sample images and film speed tests, so let's give it a few days.

 

[Huss]

OK, you win. That one's funnier.

Yeah but 12 pages on photrio means it may have hit an audience of three.

 

[Huss]

I’d say most Portra 400 is shot at box speed, except for people who hang around sites like Photrio, which may or may not include a lot of moms.

Not according to insta/youtube/tiktok/FB/myspace…

 

[MattKing]

Not according to insta/youtube/tiktok/FB/myspace…

I wonder how the volumes compare with Portra in particular.
Most of the small number of working photographers who still use film, the remaining commercial labs, and most likely an EI of 400.
As compared to the majority of those on insta/youtube/tiktok/FB/myspace…

 

[faberryman]

Not according to insta/youtube/tiktok/FB/myspace…

Duh. You may be right. I forgot all about MySpace.

 

[mshchem]

Of course they are. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men ?

The Weed of Crime Bears Bitter Fruit. Crime Does Not Pay!!!

 

[mshchem]

Wow. That’s pretty grumpy.


I still am waiting for everyone’s sample images and film speed tests, so let's give it a few days.

This has been one of the best threads in a while. Humorous and informative.

 

[mshchem]

DIY Film DX Code Labels

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