Kodak Gold Now Available in 120 - threads merged

[GarageBoy]

{Moderators Note - three threads (so far) merged into one)
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/kodak-launches-new-kodak-gold-200-film-in-120-format

 

[Lachlan Young]

Suggests they're selling as much Portra as they can make, but have noticed a gap in the market that they can fill. Gold 200 has a fraction less apparent granularity than Portra 800, not as sharp as Portra/ Ektar - but its aesthetic is quite popular.

 

[Dani]

Since when Kodak Gold is a professional film? It's really cool that Kodak introduced it in 120 but to call it professional is a bit of a stretch.

 

[Auer]

Sounds great!

Was there a release date or did I miss it?

 

[M-88]

All I can see is a total shortage of almost every 35 mm colour film stock, especially the cheap ones. Wouldn't it be reasonable to focus on increasing production numbers of those, instead of trying to "fill the gap" on the market by reintroducing same film in different format?

 

[Ernst-Jan]

All I can see is a total shortage of almost every 35 mm colour film stock, especially the cheap ones. Wouldn't it be reasonable to focus on increasing production numbers of those, instead of trying to "fill the gap" on the market by reintroducing same film in different format?

It is cheaper to make Gold in 120 than have a new 135 confectioning line.
The extra money made with Gold 120 can be used for this, though. The coating of the film is not a problem, putting it in camera ready cartridges is the bottleneck.

I don't shoot a lot of Kodak, but I am pretty sure I will for sure buy at least of box of this.

 

[foc]

Anything new or reintroduced in the film world is more than welcome, in my opinion.
I wouldn't lose too much sleep about Gold being called a professional film. If you are a professional, then you know, if not, does it matter?
Anything that will get more people shooting film should be encouraged.
Anything that expands the film format options should be embraced.
And it is good news from Kodak, what is there not to like?

 

[M-88]

It is cheaper to make Gold in 120 than have a new 135 confectioning line.
The extra money made with Gold 120 can be used for this, though. The coating of the film is not a problem, putting it in camera ready cartridges is the bottleneck.

Yes, that makes sense, thank you.

I don't shoot a lot of Kodak, but I am pretty sure I will for sure buy at least of box of this

Sounds like something I will do as well, cause buying Portra/Ektar at their current prices for amateur photography doesn't make much sense to me, but spending "25% less than Portra" for Gold 120 is already an affordable thing.

 

[Auer]

Since when Kodak Gold is a professional film? It's really cool that Kodak introduced it in 120 but to call it professional is a bit of a stretch.

 

[Photomultiplier]

Looks like something that will sell like hot cakes. While i am a hardcore slide user, i liked Gold when a friend of mine shot a project on it.
A moderately priced consumer emulsion in 120 format was a glaring hole in the market.

Regarding availability of 135: Think about it the other way. In 135 it is at least possible to get some rolls, while in 120 it was impossible up to this day. Why should the needs of 135mm shooters be more important than the 120 users?
I am happy that both are available now, even if the stuff is sometimes hard to get.

Despite my slide addiction, i will buy a box.

 

[Dani]

If only it was a matter of perception, then yeah. However I've shot enough Kodak Gold and Portra 160/400 in 35mm to have really seen the difference. Dynamic range, Vision3, colors. Calling it professional would mean that professionals are going to expect out of it what they get out of the Portra line. Kodak Gold is a consumer film, anyway semantics here play a part in revenue more than the product itself.

 

[Ernst-Jan]

If only it was a matter of perception, then yeah. However I've shot enough Kodak Gold and Portra 160/400 in 35mm to have really seen the difference. Dynamic range, Vision3, colors. Calling it professional would mean that professionals are going to expect out of it what they get out of the Portra line. Kodak Gold is a consumer film, anyway semantics here play a part in revenue more than the product itself.

If you know this all very well, then you probably also know that the "Kodak Professional" films are still being sold by the consumer branch of Kodak.
It's all Kodak, coated in Rochester. Quality won't be an issue.

 

[Nitroplait]

Since when Kodak Gold is a professional film? It's really cool that Kodak introduced it in 120 but to call it professional is a bit of a stretch.

It is not the film that is professional, but the price will be ;-)
After all, Kodak also put "Professional" on their 400TX black and white disposable cameras.

 

[Dani]

If you know this all very well, then you probably also know that the "Kodak Professional" films are still being sold by the consumer branch of Kodak.
It's all Kodak, coated in Rochester. Quality won't be an issue.

yes I know that, all Kodak Alaris/Moments whatever they call it and all gets coated by approved Kodak machines. I’m not talking at all about quality at all. I’m talking about a consumer film being labeled as professional now just because it’s being sold in 120.

It is not the film that is professional, but the price will be ;-)
After all, Kodak also put "Professional" on their 400TX black and white disposable cameras.

Good point!

I don’t want to get into arguments about something like that. So that last thing I’ll say… all hail Kodak! Wonderful news that we get new film!

 

[BrianShaw]

I’ve been holding my breath in the expectation that this would turn out to be a sad joke and, just now, saw Kodak Professionals announcement on Facebook. This is great news!

 

[Duceman]

Why should the needs of 135mm shooters be more important than the 120 users?

Because there are A LOT more of them?

 

[Photomultiplier]

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/ilford-photo-global-film-users-survey-the-results-are-in/

"Given the availability of 35mm film cameras as well as the ease of use, 135 is unsurprisingly the most popular format with 90.7% of respondents using it. However, 120 wasn’t far behind with 77.6% of responders shooting medium format."

 

[Duceman]

"...the most popular format with 90.7% of respondents using it. However, 120 wasn’t far behind with 77.6% of responders shooting medium format."

Interesting. But what does this mean in terms of sales? All this means is that there are a lot of shooters who shoot both formats; it doesn't break down how much each photographer shoots.

 

[Photomultiplier]

Good point!

However, i am sure that 120 and 135 are in the same order of magnitude. 135 vs 4x5"/8x10" would be a different story, of course.

 

[Duceman]

...i am sure that 120 and 135 are in the same order of magnitude.

Not that I'm necessarily representative, but when I think about it, I do shoot about the same amount of 135 as I do 120, so you may be correct.

 

[Dani]

Some samples here…

https://carmencitafilmlab.com/blog/new-film-kodak-gold-120-is-back/

 

[gone]

Thanks for that link Dani. I saw that first sample shot and laughed, yep, that surely is Kodak Gold. Wonderful. Haven't seen that for a while.

I suspect it's not the camera or the film that makes a professional. To me, that term describes someone who is doing professional work (and Kodak disposable cameras of course) , it doesn't mean commercial photography. Who shoots MF color commercially these days? Kodak is not my favorite company, but I'm going to try this when it's available. Kodak Gold in 120 would be just beautiful for a lot of subjects.

 

[BrianShaw]

Some samples here…

https://carmencitafilmlab.com/blog/new-film-kodak-gold-120-is-back/

This had me chuckling:

"We are eager to see how our friends at the Carmencita Drop Points in Dubai and Japan shoot it with all kinds of different skin tones "

It never dawned on me that ther aren't people of color in Switzerland. LOL

 

[braxus]

I just got notification from Kodak Proffessional that they are introducing Gold 200 in 120 format. Seems like our voices were heard. We all know this is aimed for the budget photographer like the Millenials shooting medium format.

 

[Ai Print]

This had me chuckling:

"We are eager to see how our friends at the Carmencita Drop Points in Dubai and Japan shoot it with all kinds of different skin tones "

It never dawned on me that ther aren't people of color in Switzerland. LOL

I am part of a private FB group of local pros and we had a great discussion last year about how to process images in post to faithfully render differing skin tones in a single image.

On topic, how awesome Kodak came out with a new 120 film! I heard it is a newer formulation with an improved backing paper.