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

[Arthurwg]

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.

A rational man.

 

[BrianShaw]

Do you get a certificate for being the first kid on the block to use it?

I got a really cool cat sticker when I bout CatLabs80 sheet film.

 

[Don_ih]

What's the hurry to buy CatLABS' new film? Any reason not to wait and see what other people say? Do you get a certificate for being the first kid on the block to use it? I didn't use TMax 100 or Delta 100 the first day they came out. Obviously not supporting the film industry again.

Why not buy it? I understand if you're not interested in a bit of experimenting or if you need the film for an actual work product (as in, you don't screw around with unknowns when it comes to work). But, at the level of a hobbyist, what on earth does it matter? That's not a matter of not supporting the film industry (let's assume you buy established film). But if everyone waited for someone else to buy and prove the film, no one would buy it.

 

[MattKing]

Why not buy it?

Because my film buying dollars are finite, and ISO compliance helps me decide whether or not to use a film, and helps me start out with it.
The examples say "under-exposed" to me.

 

[pentaxuser]

The examples say "under-exposed" to me.

Unfortunately everything about it says "under-explained" to me

pentaxuser

 

[faberryman]

b

I got a really cool cat sticker when I bout CatLabs80 sheet film.

I remember getting some stickers in a breakfast cereal one time. I don't think they were cats though. Probably magic stars or something.

 

[faberryman]

Why not buy it?

A roll of CatLABS film is $15.53 including shipping. I have bulk rolled my film for 50 years and even at current prices a roll of my preferred film runs less than the $6.99 CatLABS is nominally asking. It is not really about the money though. I mean $15.53 is probably less than you'd spend on coffee at Starbucks for a week, not that I buy coffee at Starbucks. I generally use fine grain film. CatLABS film is a medium grain film. My preferred film is tabular grain. CatLABS new film is classic grain. I have my processes dialed in and am happy with what I have been using for years. If I read that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, I may give it a try, but I am in no hurry. I am also put off by the arrogance, condescension, and deflection exhibited by CatLABS in this thread. I'd hate to get into a return situation with them. Other people almost certainly have different opinions. No problem there.

But if everyone waited for someone else to buy and prove the film, no one would buy it.

That is neither my problem nor my responsibility. It's CatLABS job to get people to buy its film.

 

[Don_ih]

Because my film buying dollars are finite, and ISO compliance helps me decide whether or not to use a film, and helps me start out with it.
The examples say "under-exposed" to me.

Then add a stop of exposure. Or don't buy it. My point is why go on and on about it when all anyone has to go by are some example photos made to appeal to their target market. Furthermore, why purposely try to damage someone's effort to supply a product? And why try to insist that they break what is likely corporate confidence by saying who made the film?

I am also put off the arrogance, condescension, and deflection exhibited by CatLABS

From what I've read, Catlabs has been attacked throughout this thread.

Do you people give lectures about the deficiencies of particular brands of cheese you may not like? Or rather, that you refuse to try because you don't know what cow the milk came from? Or maybe you will try it but only to vindicate your presumption of its inferiority?

I'm not going to the grocery store with any of you.

 

[BrianShaw]

Furthermore, why purposely try to damage someone's effort to supply a product?

… can’t wait to hear the answer(s) to this question!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...why go on and on about it when all anyone has to go by are some example photos made to appeal to their target market...

Because PHOTRIO members aren't the target market and it annoys them.

...From what I've read, Catlabs has been attacked throughout this thread...

As are other manufacturers (hey, let's get into another long thread about what degree of vertical integration is necessary to qualify as one of those!) that don't cater to the desires of irrelevant PHOTRIO niche-within-a-niche members.

 

[BrianShaw]

Perhaps a poll is in order: who’s buying and who’s not and who’s waiting for

Seems like about a split to me based on reading this thread. It’s just that one population might be louder and more expressive than the other. I’ll bet CatLabs is processing enough orders to make the effort worthwhile despite the hesitation of some in this thread. I really doubt that the most vocal group really reflects the nature of Photrio membership as a whole. I could be wrong, though.

Real data (or even real information) beats assumptions most of the time.

 

[faberryman]

CatLABS has said they have 1000s of customers who have purchased, shot, and processed their film. Maybe they are on another forum or Facebook or wherever.

 

[brbo]

From what I've read, Catlabs has been attacked throughout this thread.

Really? Throughout this whole thread?

Ok, maybe some posts were hard on them (like asking questions they don't/can't answer), but none were as insulting as Catlabs comments directed to some users. So, why would they purposely try to damage someone's effort to supply information, that at least Photrio members might find useful, about this film?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

CatLABS has said they have 1000s of customers who have purchased, shot, and processed their film. Maybe they are on another forum or Facebook or wherever.

Ya think?

 

[pentaxuser]

Then add a stop of exposure. Or don't buy it.

I thought Matt King was responding to a specific question you had asked and had given you his reasons for not buying it

pentaxuser

 

[faberryman]

Ya think?

I don't have any idea how many rolls of its new film CatLABS has sold. Maybe you have some inside information? They have, what, a half a dozen customers here?

If you do have inside information, maybe you can also find out if the dog ate their technical documentation.

 

[BrianShaw]

I thought Matt King was responding to a specific question you had asked and had given you his reasons for not buying it

pentaxuser

He did, but perhaps the rest of Don's comment should also be in the quotation to avoid the appearance of dismissiveness:

"My point is why go on and on about it when all anyone has to go by are some example photos made to appeal to their target market. Furthermore, why purposely try to damage someone's effort to supply a product? And why try to insist that they break what is likely corporate confidence by saying who made the film?"

 

[BrianShaw]

I don't have any idea how many rolls of its new film CatLABS has sold.

A quick google search shows numerous film vendors offering this new film for sale (if I read the results correctly). So actual sales figures might take some efforts to audit. What I wonder is how many rolls were produced in total that are available for sale; How big was the production run?? And how was it shipped, by air or boat?

None of this really matters. Some folks will buy and others won't and in both cases, CatLabs seems to be a rather viable business no matter. As my wife says, "... probably laughing their way all the way to the bank."

It seem that we all have way too much spare time on our hands if this is what we are concerned about.

 

[Oldwino]

CatLABS has said they have 1000s of customers who have purchased, shot, and processed their film. Maybe they are on another forum or Facebook or wherever.

Hate to break this to you, but Photo isn't the first place film shooters go for info. It's not even the second.

 

[faberryman]

Hate to break this to you, but Photo isn't the first place film shooters go for info. It's not even the second.

I wouldn't know. Instagram?

 

[Don_ih]

I wouldn't know. Instagram?

Youtube and Reddit - that's my guess.

 

[faberryman]

Do you people give lectures about the deficiencies of particular brands of cheese you may not like?

Been on any cheese forums lately?

 

[Don_ih]

Been on any cheese forums lately?

Just this one...

 

[mshchem]

True. I followed another legend (10% reduction) and ended up with overdeveloped film. So I developed with 20% reduction next time.

With all the trolling that Catlabs runs here, it's not clear whether Catlabs thinks that 8min in Jobo is too much or too little. One might get the feeling that they are not here to provide information that some could use, but to shame those who seek information and only want to build support from the opposition to the "old farts with densitometers that don't know how to take a cool film shot". "Cool film shot" = one with every possible technical flaw, of course.



Some take this even further. They would only buy film that comes from a real manufacturer, not just some found aerial/surveillance film. Anyway, people will do what they want and I genuinely think that even films like this one can help build a film community that will eventually bring more demand for excellent films from established manufacturers. Those indeed have ability to keep film alive, Catlabs unfortunately doesn't.



Thermometer needs to be nice, but for film anything will do?

For film I shoot Ilford and Kodak (and Fujichrome). Paper, Ilford and Foma, color paper Fuji cut sheets.

I have purchased a CPP3 Jobo from Omer, and all manner of parts to keep older machines going. Excellent service.

Jobo has seen a resurgence, top quality and smart ownership.

If you want to buy this film, buy it, if not, don't

Please continue to contribute, this is much more interesting than most posts here

 

[mshchem]

I wonder if more than 50 people have looked at this thread???

I think it's the same old fools talking to each other