Kodak Ektar 100 .... I think I'm in love again!

[EASmithV]

Wait, this is print film?

 

[AutumnJazz]

Yes, it is print film.

 

[Tim Gray]

I shot two rolls of this film. I like it. It worked well in the late fall in PA, and in the late fall in the Dallas sunlight. I rated it at EI 50.

I put up a couple of the images here, but am uploading a couple more everyday.

I didn't do that scanning, whatever Photoworks SF uses did it. I think an AGFA minilab or something.

I'll probably stock a couple rolls of Portra 160 NC for people photos in addition to Ektar, but I think Ektar will be my sunny day color film for when I'm out and about. Not that I shoot much color.

 

[accozzaglia]

Stupid question, but there is frequent mention of the old Ektar 25. I apparently shot a roll of Ektar 125 in 1991. I've never heard anyone mention the 125 variety. Was it an inferior emulsion? Or too grainy for grain-haters (don't be . . . )?

Well anyway, I made a couple of scans. Some had emulsion affected by the plastic sleeves in which they were stored (from a pharmacy lab), but some appeared quite fine. Despite its age, I did not need to adjust colours at all. This isn't about the new stuff and is probably not related at all in lineage save the brand name, but this seems like as good a place as any to ask the question. Cheers.

 

[bob100684]

I had a role of Ektar 100 processed by Rite Aid yesterday late afternoon... I had the same problem you described. I won't be using them again.

you know, if you go into rite aid for processing, chances are you aren't even getting chemically made prints. They are making a switch over to DNP(formerly pixel magic) dye sub minilabs. My former boss says they are a nightmare, print quality sucks, and the on board film scanner is worse than a flat bed.

 

[nickandre]

you know, if you go into rite aid for processing, chances are you aren't even getting chemically made prints. They are making a switch over to DNP(formerly pixel magic) dye sub minilabs. My former boss says they are a nightmare, print quality sucks, and the on board film scanner is worse than a flat bed.

Not all are. The scanner is independent of the printer and I've seen some amazing dye sub prints.

It's still easy to find RA-4 printers.

 

[AMBYSTOMA]

processed and printed a few rolls of Ektar 100 all in my own darkroom and felt that the 8.5"x11" prints were comparable to 6x7 medium format negative enlargements in this size. This film can definitely increase the versatility of 35mm format and substitute for medium format in certain situations where enlargement past 11x14 is not required.

 

[Ektagraphic]

This is a great film! It is one of the best print films I have ever used!!! Just goes to show you more of the great things Kodak cam turn out. Long live KODAK film!! As great as it is, it will never compair to a shot on Kodachrome!

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Stupid question, but there is frequent mention of the old Ektar 25. I apparently shot a roll of Ektar 125 in 1991. I've never heard anyone mention the 125 variety. Was it an inferior emulsion? Or too grainy for grain-haters (don't be . . . )?

There WAS an Ektar 125. It was a good film for its day. The older Ektars were very difficult to manufacture and were somewhat unstable in storage according to PE. The NEW Ektar 100 has the "good" points of the old films with more goodness due to new technologies. (to put it simply)

 

[accozzaglia]

This is good to learn. A few frames were problematic (emulsion "lumpiniess" where it might have made constant contact with the plastic sleeve, and one scan which seemed to have the blue sky looking greenish in tiny clumps), but they colourwise they seemed as accurate as the day they were shot 18 years ago.

Thanks for clearing it up.

There WAS an Ektar 125. It was a good film for its day. The older Ektars were very difficult to manufacture and were somewhat unstable in storage according to PE. The NEW Ektar 100 has the "good" points of the old films with more goodness due to new technologies. (to put it simply)

 

[furcafe]

Soon To Be Offered in 120

FYI:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Kodak-Now-Offers-its-New-prnews-14378734.html

 

[Neal]

And there's a $5 rebate.

http://www.kodak.com/global/plugins/acrobat/en/professional/products/films/ektar/ektarRebate.pdf

Neal Wydra

 

[Chazzy]

I hope that Kodak will honor both the black and white and Ektar 100 rebates from the same person.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Needs to be merged with Ektar in 120 film thread.

Steve

 

[Tom Duffy]

Medium format sales are essentially dead. We are lucky to have any MF film at all. As much as I would like to see Ektar 100 produced in MF, it just ain't gonna happen.

Nostrodomus you ain't.

 

[accozzaglia]

To all Canadian provinces and territories (Québec, je veux dire, vous aussi):

Other than your local pro camera shop, are you seeing Ektar appearing anywhere else? For example, it is not in any pharmacy or supermarket I've found so far, and even two nearby independent camera shops (both which still sell a variety of C-41, E-6 and b/w film) hadn't heard about it. Twice, I heard: "Ektar? Oh, they don't make that anymore." Even a place prominently branded with Kodak banners and "the ColorWatch system" seal right on the store signage hadn't heard of it: in fact, they didn't sell film at all.

 

[Toffle]

I picked some up at Henry's in Windsor. (bought their entire stock of eight rolls ) I don't think I'd call them professional, but they are reasonably well stocked for a consumer photographic store. I went in again this last week for some chems and asked if they were getting any more in soon. Their response, "I don't think they've made that film for years." :rolleyes: My guess is the people at the counter don't have anything to do with ordering. Head office in Toronto probably sent out a small brick to their satelite stores without telling them what they were getting. I'm optimistic that then inventory time rolls around they will notice that their stock has sold and order more.

Cheers,

 

[accozzaglia]

I picked some up at Henry's in Windsor. (bought their entire stock of eight rolls ) I don't think I'd call them professional,

Hehehehee. After last week's experience with Mr. Dome-headed Digital Boy (ok, he was probably 50 years old) in the Ottawa store trying to tell me (like a dumb little girl who knew no better) that film just ain't the way to go and that a Nikon D3 is da bomb, I laughed at your assessment just now. But another guy, Sebastien, who helped me in December with answering my questions on tripods, was wonderful to work with by comparison. I guess it all depends on the person you run into.

When I have the time, I'll stop by the Henry's in town and see if they have a roll or two Ektar for me to buy and try. If I can drop off my Kodachrome there, then even better.