Kamerastore of Finland launches crowdfunding to sell Kodak Aerocolor 125 as SantaColor 100 after its B&W films got discontinued for being Russian

[MattKing]

Maco were the first to introduce aerial colour film in a bigger style to the market. For their unmasked CN version their sale arguments were:

-) better for scanning (actually the argument by Agfa themselves)

The lack of a mask doesn't make scanning any easier. The colours are still inverted.

 

[AgX]

The lack of a mask doesn't make scanning any easier. The colours are still inverted.

Keep in mind that these films were specially designed to having no mask, and to counter the lack of such in emulsion design.


Agfa gave a variety of reasons for doing so, including several concernin scanning. I would like to add that without mask the typical "useless" density is omitted so that better use can be done with the scanner esposure range (though density ranges of CN fikms are rather law anyway.

Another issue I want to add is that a maskless negative can be easily evaluated in direct vision. Something which in times of scanning seemingly is overlooked.

 

[mshchem]

To me all of the, not Kodak or Fuji, is a bit of a "if you can't make it, fake it". There's an under supply situation with conventional high quality color negative films. Alternatives are being offered, that will fill the needs of some photographers, that's great.

Similar to using alcohol as a substitute for gasoline in a car. It works in many cases. Not sure if it makes good sense, but IT happens.

I look forward to seeing if Adox (and others) can figure out a way to make a product that I find suitable. (I would be surprised)

Even in the days of several huge companies producing color negative film I was loyal to Eastman Kodak. I grew up with Ektacolor S, VPS, etc and now and have been loyal to Portra 160, and occasionally Portra 400. Last few years have come to enjoy Ektar.
If I had to choose just one color negative film, it would be Portra 160.

 

[AgX]

Well, Maco, Astrum, Silberra already came up with maskless aerial films from Agfa and Kodak in consumer conversions.

None of them asked for a 125,000 prepay. (And legally it is not even a prepay but a contribution with unknown outcome.)


That Kodak not necessarily is eager to indirectly compete with Alaris may be*, we discussed in the past why or why not manufacturers employ rebranding of one kind or another.


But the story told is so weird...



*Though think of the current Kodak / Fuji cooperation.

 

[mshchem]

These are all good points. I can understand a company wanting to minimize risk. I'm simply not interested in this type of film.

Now Kodak HIE, impossible to produce (well nearly impossible) that would be amazing!

 

[Moose22]

Box of Santacolor 100 just landed on my doorstep.

That was fun. I had Amazonesia -- when you order something and then forget about it for a while, then the DHL notification comes and you're wracking your brain trying to remember what you ordered.

Cameras are freshly loaded with other film, so it'll be a while before I shoot it. But this will be fun to experiment with.