Kodak Gold vs Colorplus

sagai · Mar 27, 2015

I was always wondering if it is only about packaging and pricing.
Can anyone tell based on packaging information any difference between these?
I am processing both however have not noticed any difference apart from Gold costs 3 times more.

BrianShaw · Mar 27, 2015

Kodak is not forthcoming with info on ColorPlus but it is very different from Gold. More muted color scheme that resembles 1980-era film. I hate it but some folks love it.

BrianShaw · Mar 27, 2015

PS. Google the catalog number and you'll find nothing

See this; I asked the same question when a big NYC retailer delivered ColorPlus in lieu of the Gold they had advertised:

http://photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/00Zovu

Also, see this if you haven't already:

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

p.s. I called 1-800 KODAK and they never returned they never returned the call. No surprise. An email message yielded a canned response about processing. An email to a Kodak insider didn't yielded a reply but not a very informative one.

I'm shocked that you didn't see a difference. I saw huge differences.

pentaxuser · Mar 27, 2015

sagai said:
I am processing both however have not noticed any difference apart from Gold costs 3 times more.

At that point and if it was an Euclidean geometry problem that you had solved you'd write "QED" If you see no difference then to all intents and purposes there is no difference except price.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

pentaxuser

sagai · Mar 27, 2015

I look suspiciously towards those cat numbers ... Is not the first couple of for emulsion type that is herein pretty much the same?

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 28, 2015

I've used Colourplus in the past and it is a version of Kodacolor VR 200. Different from Gold.
If you look at the cassettes there is a number around the DX code. That will tell you more.

BrianShaw · Mar 28, 2015

What do those numbers represent?

railwayman3 · Mar 28, 2015

I've noticed that the printing on the actual cartridges for Kodak color negative has been quite basic, black on yellow, for some time now, and very similar for the "different" films of the same speed. No longer the colourful (and no doubt more expensive printing) designs that you used to see on different makes of film packaging. But I'm not sure that this means that the films are necessarily identical.

OTOH, one of my own hobby-horses is that there are no bad films now from any of the main makes, but there is certainly a lot of poor processing and printing, particularly now that volumes of films passing through labs are much less than 10 or 20 years ago. I had an E6 film spoiled last year by a well-know pro lab in Leicester which showed all the symptoms of exhausted colour developer (checking against the Kodak processing guide). Another film (same emulsion no.), same camera, taken the same day, processed by Peak Imaging (Sheffield), was perfect.

There are, of course, differences in films, both in the emulsions themselves, and our own preferences for difference subjects and "looks", but I'm convinced that fresh product any major film brand will give very acceptable and usable results when properly handled in processing.

wblynch · Mar 29, 2015

Past is past and present is present. Even if there was a difference between them in the past, does anyone realistically think Kodak is producing two DIFFERENT 200 speed consumer color films today?

I mean, really?

zehner21 · Mar 29, 2015

wblynch said:
Past is past and present is present. Even if there was a difference between them in the past, does anyone realistically think Kodak is producing two DIFFERENT 200 speed consumer color films today?

I mean, really?

I think that Kodak has dropped the Gold series in favor of this cheap alternative.

trendland · Jan 2, 2019

zehner21 said:
I think that Kodak has dropped the Gold series in favor of this cheap alternative.

You should see it in oposite direction.. Kodak was dropping the " cheap alternate of Color Plus " and decided on the best emulsion ( Gold200 ). There is still no reason NOT to marketing one film under different names and difference in pricing. In the past they have done it without our knowing and that was the economic basis of retailers in general. ( retailers in concern of " Brand names " )

with regards

Agulliver · Jan 7, 2019

As far as I am aware, they are still two different films. Gold is Gold, Color Plus is Kodacolor VR 200.

Berri · Jan 9, 2019

trendland said:
You should see it in oposite direction.. Kodak was dropping the " cheap alternate of Color Plus " and decided on the best emulsion ( Gold200 ). There is still no reason NOT to marketing one film under different names and difference in pricing. In the past they have done it without our knowing and that was the economic basis of retailers in general. ( retailers in concern of " Brand names " )

with regards

You answered a four years old post! Anyway, I'm glad that both films are still being made

trendland · Feb 7, 2019

Berri said:
You answered a four years old post! Anyway, I'm glad that both films are still being made

Sorry for beeing a bit late ......

Yes both films are avaible today. But just one is actually in production (not permanently but from midt scales production runs - from time to time).
The other film is from produced masterrols.
We should be informed what "production of a film" today means !
From the term "production" it is often "assembling" ....in reality - because the scales are much too
small for permanent emulsion backing.
If you look at the portfolio of Fuji Film and the monthly anouncements of discontuniation it showes
quite clear where the problem is!
In fact the demand to different films isn't AS low that a film manufacturer decides : " We will stop the production next because it is too expensive"
This decision habe all manufacturers made to the most of their films years ago.
The assembling of films from masterolls isn't that expensive that a manufacturer will stop it (caused from smallest demand) - so you just have a look on price increasements to film.
With todays pricing the assembling is definitivly paid - and manufacturers have earnings for sure.

But at the moment when the stock of a reserve from masterols (produced to much lower costs in much bigger scales in the past) comes to an final end manufacturers anounce :

"We will stop the production - this film will be discontinued next"

In reality they stop the assembling - think about !

with regard

PS : The only one film wich is definitifly (for 100% sure) not from frozen masterolls today is Ektachrome. And when Kodaks stock of one of theese two films is exausted you will have a portfolio of two ISO 200 films from Kodak again (from reasons of a "smart marketing") but both films will come from the same production run then and are nearly identical (same Emulsion/same film like PE corrected).
From my experience this has happened (interims incidentical) in the past with Kodak VR.
But you may be right with your personal experience two - but the it is different in different markets.

And today it isn't cheaper anymore to produce a cheaper film. The fact is that it is a cheapest solution to " declare " a film to a cheaper film (so you will get the (better) gold film as VR!

Be sure that will come next.....,and if you want to have two films you should buy them today
(obviously you have the original VR and can order it again).

But pls. don't whimper about when you are too late next year.

Berri · Feb 7, 2019

trendland said:
Sorry for beeing a bit late ......

Yes both films are avaible today. But just one is actually in production (not permanently but from midt scales production runs - from time to time).
The other film is from produced masterrols.
We should be informed what "production of a film" today means !
From the term "production" it is often "assembling" ....in reality - because the scales are much too
small for permanent emulsion backing.
If you look at the portfolio of Fuji Film and the monthly anouncements of discontuniation it showes
quite clear where the problem is!
In fact the demand to different films isn't AS low that a film manufacturer decides : " We will stop the production next because it is too expensive"
This decision habe all manufacturers made to the most of their films years ago.
The assembling of films from masterolls isn't that expensive that a manufacturer will stop it (caused from smallest demand) - so you just have a look on price increasements to film.
With todays pricing the assembling is definitivly paid - and manufacturers have earnings for sure.

But at the moment when the stock of a reserve from masterols (produced to much lower costs in much bigger scales in the past) comes to an final end manufacturers anounce :

"We will stop the production - this film will be discontinued next"

In reality they stop the assembling - think about !

with regard

PS : The only one film wich is definitifly (for 100% sure) not from frozen masterolls today is Ektachrome. And when Kodaks stock of one of theese two films is exausted you will have a portfolio of two ISO 200 films from Kodak again (from reasons of a "smart marketing") but both films will come from the same production run then and are nearly identical (same Emulsion/same film like PE corrected).
From my experience this has happened (interims incidentical) in the past with Kodak VR.
But you may be right with your personal experience two - but the it is different in different markets.

And today it isn't cheaper anymore to produce a cheaper film. The fact is that it is a cheapest solution to " declare " a film to a cheaper film (so you will get the (better) gold film as VR!

Be sure that will come next.....,and if you want to have two films you should buy them today
(obviously you have the original VR and can order it again).

But pls. don't whimper about when you are too late next year.

And how do you know that o

trendland said:
Sorry for beeing a bit late ......

Yes both films are avaible today. But just one is actually in production (not permanently but from midt scales production runs - from time to time).
The other film is from produced masterrols.
We should be informed what "production of a film" today means !
From the term "production" it is often "assembling" ....in reality - because the scales are much too
small for permanent emulsion backing.
If you look at the portfolio of Fuji Film and the monthly anouncements of discontuniation it showes
quite clear where the problem is!
In fact the demand to different films isn't AS low that a film manufacturer decides : " We will stop the production next because it is too expensive"
This decision habe all manufacturers made to the most of their films years ago.
The assembling of films from masterolls isn't that expensive that a manufacturer will stop it (caused from smallest demand) - so you just have a look on price increasements to film.
With todays pricing the assembling is definitivly paid - and manufacturers have earnings for sure.

But at the moment when the stock of a reserve from masterols (produced to much lower costs in much bigger scales in the past) comes to an final end manufacturers anounce :

"We will stop the production - this film will be discontinued next"

In reality they stop the assembling - think about !

with regard

PS : The only one film wich is definitifly (for 100% sure) not from frozen masterolls today is Ektachrome. And when Kodaks stock of one of theese two films is exausted you will have a portfolio of two ISO 200 films from Kodak again (from reasons of a "smart marketing") but both films will come from the same production run then and are nearly identical (same Emulsion/same film like PE corrected).
From my experience this has happened (interims incidentical) in the past with Kodak VR.
But you may be right with your personal experience two - but the it is different in different markets.

And today it isn't cheaper anymore to produce a cheaper film. The fact is that it is a cheapest solution to " declare " a film to a cheaper film (so you will get the (better) gold film as VR!

Be sure that will come next.....,and if you want to have two films you should buy them today
(obviously you have the original VR and can order it again).

But pls. don't whimper about when you are too late next year.

How do you know that ColorPlus is not being manufactured anymore? How can you be so sure? How big is this master roll?!

lantau · Feb 7, 2019

Berri said:
How big is this master roll?!

I believe there is a satellite that is taking gravity maps of the Earth. Maybe it could find the elusive mega master roll...

Agulliver · Feb 8, 2019

I am sceptical....trendland does have a history of assuming films are not what they purport to be and of doubting statements made by manufacturers.

The supplies of both Gold 200 and Color Plus 200 seem stable, and they serve different people. I've never seen either out of stock. While I accept it is possible that one or both films is being supplied from some massive, frozen master roll....this seems unlikely given the ubiquitous nature of both. Everywhere I have been I see both available. Others report similar findings. I also find the idea that everything other than Ektachrome is somehow old frozen stock to be.....unlikely.

And finally...for people who use both Gold and Color Plus....there's really no room for doubt. They're not the same. Whether that is some minor tweak in a formula somewhere for one of the layers or whether it's more than that I do not know.....but they ain't the same.

trendland · Feb 8, 2019

Berri said:
And how do you know that o

How do you know that ColorPlus is not being manufactured anymore? How can you be so sure? How big is this master roll?!

Several master rolls - in a scale Kodak produced between 2003 - 2008 ! I am not so sure if Kodak
proceed with backing Colorplus emulsions after this period. But Gold should be in production
(interims runs).
The story in fact is the massive lost of demand - so the planned storage for about 1-2 years can't be sold after 2008. But in the next future it has to come to an end.
I don',t think Kodak will discontinue Gold - but (just in short) COLORPLUS isn',t from todays production.

with regards

trendland · Feb 8, 2019

Ricardo Miranda said:
I've used Colourplus in the past and it is a version of Kodacolor VR 200. Different from Gold.
If you look at the cassettes there is a number around the DX code. That will tell you more.

That should be correct (by the way) .....even if I come a bit Lage in this.
And Colorplus should be replaced from Gold.........

with regards

PS : Nearlly identical with latest sold VR200/VR400

Photo Engineer · Feb 8, 2019

Just FYI, no Kodak film is being stockpiled or cut from storage. It is all being coated, packaged and shipped. Demand is good enough for this cycle.

PE

Berri · Feb 8, 2019

Photo Engineer said:
Just FYI, no Kodak film is being stockpiled or cut from storage. It is all being coated, packaged and shipped. Demand is good enough for this cycle.

PE

I think this is the last word on this (old) thread.
I couldn't possibly immagine that the ColorPlus I just bought (expiry date 2020) was actually produced many years ago...this would be cheating.

Nodda Duma · Feb 8, 2019

Photo Engineer said:
Just FYI, no Kodak film is being stockpiled or cut from storage. It is all being coated, packaged and shipped. Demand is good enough for this cycle.

PE

That’s good to hear, Ron

trendland · Feb 9, 2019

Photo Engineer said:
Just FYI, no Kodak film is being stockpiled or cut from storage. It is all being coated, packaged and shipped. Demand is good enough for this cycle.

PE

Hi PE,

you will remember for sure all oft some following films :

.......!

The percentage of sales compared with others like this here :
.......in lowest scales.

Some special E6 films reached just 1,4 % or 3 % in sales of Kodaks full E6 portfolio.
In comparison with this bestselling films like :

...you will better know this amatheuric film with following package design :

by the way a gold example for different design and names of same films sold and produced for different markets / world regions.

Now the question : Do you perhaps remember the (short time) storage / practice of Kodak with
low demand films produced in large scales ? Large scales to serve the demand for a couple of quarters?
Freezing masterolls wasn't established from Agfa first (beginning from the month of bankroptcy...).

The todays sales of amatheuric color films have to be in a scale wich is lower than the scale of sales of thungsten films during the 90th.

To me there is now way to produce an ISO 200 today in low scale emulsion backing and have earnings from this business with a price you pay for Colorplus today.

But if Kodak is actually producing a film and make losses from selling this film remaining Kodak shareholders would hang up the todays management....?

So we should not further discuss this point.

To me the lowest pricing in todays sales is like we see with Kodak Gold and Ultramax 400.

From the same reason Fuji discontinued C200 (decision against New production run in low scale).

And from sales C200 wasn't so bad (remember the 2packs C200).

with greetings to you in Rochester

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2019

As always... this is a fascinating discussion to monitor.

Photo Engineer · Feb 9, 2019

It is very easy to produce 2 short run films and has been done often in the past. Ektachrome 200 and 100 were once the same film. We made 2x the amount of 200 and overcoated 1/2 of it with a 0.3 neutral density dye to reduce the speed by 1 stop.

Kodakchrome was the most recent example of a short runner that was coated once a year and stored. Current films are not stored for significant times.

PE

Kodak Gold vs Colorplus

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