Kodak film archeology

[Raphael]

Hi all,

Attending my last photo fair, I was given (almost for free) a bundle of old films, apparently coming from stock of a photography shop closed long ago.

Among others, I got this :

If some Google and APUG searches gathered a few infos about Recordak 5786 microfilm, notably here :
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
rating it around 10 or 20 ISO, I got almost nothing about 5303 "positive" film.
What is it ? Cine film ? Copy film ? Both ?

And what to do with it ? Sacrifying it in random test session, or keeping it as collector items, as witness from a long-gone era ?

Thanks for reading.

 

[AgX]

"release film" means cine print film.

Likely in its 100' roll it was intended to make slides from negatives.

 

[Murray Kelly]

Hi Raphael, I was given a couple of films like that years ago by the hospital photographic unit. They had used it to copy X-rays as everyone is used to looking at negatives and they wanted to keep the same for storage. The advent of digital saw it to be of no value.
I recall processing it as normal and it had an approximate ISO of 25. I was quite surprised with the result as I had expected to see negatives and not positives. PE indicated it was pre-flashed to get the effect. OK if you want to make transparencies. I presumed it was like techpan but it wasn't.

 

[AgX]

Murray, are you sure that is a "direct-reversal" film, and not a fine-grain negative film just called "positive", due to its intended use?

The problem with cine films is their designation, with a terminolgy typically puzzling for still photographers.

 

[Murray Kelly]

AgX - no I am not at all. I didn't see your first post and now I look I am sure you are correct. OK - I admit it - I'm not always right just ask my kids.

 

[MattKing]

The 5303 can be used to make great slides. It may have lasted well too.
I see you have the French version, and it is actually a 10 metre roll, not 100 feet.

 

[Kino]

If you are going to make slides, try processing it in Dektol, rather than D-76 and shoot for 2.40 gamma; that should be about right for slides from a .65 gamma "Normal" negative.

You need a high-energy developer to hit the proper contrast...

See this:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[AgX]

I see you have the French version, and it is actually a 10 metre roll, not 100 feet.

I overlooked that. Actually it is the first time I see a 10m bulk roll.

 

[thuggins]

See the Positive Results thread for details on the release film. You don't need a special developer.

 

[Raphael]

Hello all,

Murray, Agx, and all : thanks you for your answers !

@MattKing : That's very interesting ! I presume you mean an use with a classical B&W reversal process ?
Have you hints about ISO settings ?
@thuggins : many thanks for the pointer ! However, your experiments seem still in progress. Please let us know your results

Anybody know what's actually the difference between 5303 and 5302 Kodak code films ?

Regards,

Raphael

 

[MattKing]

@MattKing : That's very interesting ! I presume you mean an use with a classical B&W reversal process ?
Have you hints about ISO settings ?

Sorry - I was unclear.
The film is intended for making slides from negatives. Essentially, you contact print your negatives on to it, and end up with a projectable slide.
As a material designed for printing, it is quite slow.
I do know some people who have contact printed positives (slides) onto this, and then enlarged the resulting negative using an enlarger. IIRC, those results were very graphic - continuous tones would be difficult.