Kodak revises Porta films

braxus · Sep 12, 2006

http://www.cameratown.com/news/news.cfm?id=3035

Interesting news as Kodak improves the Portra family with finer grain. New films will replace old ones this year as stock is rotated.

What I'm wondering is why Kodak won't make a new Portra 100 film with a PGI of 25 to 27 with medium contrast and medium saturation- but very fine grained. They haven't had a film as low as PGI 27 since Supra 100 left. Kodak needs a better Reala competitor and 100UC is not it.

Dave Parker · Sep 12, 2006

Have you sent them a note, or given them a call to find out Why?

Dave

braxus · Sep 13, 2006

I emailed them on this actually. Im waiting for their response. I suspect it will be because the market doesn't want slower films these days.

subtxt · Sep 15, 2006

Along with the revisions, though, they've discontinued 100T (as quoted from their Portra Q&A pdf):

"Due to declining volumes, KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA 100T Film will be dropped from the portfolio by year-end 2006 as supplies run out. For applications requiring tungsten balance, we suggest using one of the other PORTRA Films with appropriate filtration."

Also, Portra 160NC in 5x7 is also gone (as quoted from their email response to my inquiry):

"Thank you for contacting Eastman Kodak Company regarding availability of KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA 160NC Film in 5x7 sheets.

That is correct. Unfortunately, the 5x7 size of this film has been discontinued due to extremely low demand and low sales volume...We have no other film available in 5x7 size currently - that was the last and only one before it became discontinued."

And by that last statement, they meant "no other color film." I asked. B&W 5x7 is as before -- TMX and Tri-X.

ajuk · Sep 16, 2006

I love 160NC

I remember the 800 ISO version was updated earlier this year, I was looking at buying some the other day, but it was so expensive £4 a roll!!

Andy K · Sep 16, 2006

AJ, pretty good prices here.

ajuk · Sep 16, 2006

Yeah that where I looked

OK its £3.65 Bassed on an RRP of 5.95, Copare that to £2.70 for 800Z and £2.10 for Press 800

I'm not even sure that its the old or new version they have on that site.

It looks like that the old Portra 800 its self wasn't very old I found I review of it from Dead Link Removed

Edit - Also found this from 18 months ago Link It would seem that they don't take there time. Although I think that was just inprovements to coatings in MF and LF film.

Helen B · Sep 16, 2006

The way to tell between the late 2004 or the current (released Feb-March 2006) versions of Portra 800 is:

the 2004 version has a red oval on the box saying 'Now with finer grain', and

the current version has a white lozenge on the box with 'Better skin tones'.

The new boxes for all the revised Portra films are as on the Kodak website. Unfortunately both the 2004 and current Portra 800 has '800-2' as an edgemark.

Best,
Helen

Simon E · Sep 19, 2006

Andy K said:
AJ, pretty good prices here.

And rather poor service sometimes. Mathers of Lancashire stock the 160 and 400 films. Next day Recorded Delivery beats waiting several weeks. Mailshots have a comprehensive selection of films, Portra 800 is £3.48 inc VAT.

Simon.

Photo Engineer · Sep 19, 2006

AFAIK, at the present time, Kodak is upgrading all of its color negative films with the new 2 electron sensitization. Following this, or concurrent with this, B&W films will also be upgraded.

PE

Early Riser · Sep 19, 2006

PE, do you know for a fact that the B&W films will be upgraded? T-max 100? And if so what does the 2 electron sensitization actually mean in a practical sense?

Photo Engineer · Sep 19, 2006

Early Riser said:
PE, do you know for a fact that the B&W films will be upgraded? T-max 100? And if so what does the 2 electron sensitization actually mean in a practical sense?

I don't know it as a fact. I know that they had plans for it.

What it means is that a 200 speed film can be made with the same grain as a previous 100 speed film, or that the 100 speed film can be made with better grain.

Generally it means a better film all around for sharpness, speed and grain.

PE

braxus · Sep 19, 2006

Ron,

What does the new technology mean for old school emulsions like Plus X and Tri-X? Will they also be effected or will they leave them alone? I can see TMax changing.

Also for a film like 100UC- will there be a chance they can make it finer grained closer to the Supra 100 standard of PGI 27?

Photo Engineer · Sep 19, 2006

braxus said:
Ron,

What does the new technology mean for old school emulsions like Plus X and Tri-X? Will they also be effected or will they leave them alone? I can see TMax changing.

Also for a film like 100UC- will there be a chance they can make it finer grained closer to the Supra 100 standard of PGI 27?

I really don't know what EK will do overall.

I suspect what you say will be close to fact. The new Portra 800 film, AFAIK, is the first consumer film with the new sensitization. Vision 2 ECN for motion picture was the first to get this new technology.

PE

Photo Engineer · Sep 19, 2006

braxus said:
Ron,

What does the new technology mean for old school emulsions like Plus X and Tri-X? Will they also be effected or will they leave them alone? I can see TMax changing.

Also for a film like 100UC- will there be a chance they can make it finer grained closer to the Supra 100 standard of PGI 27?

I really don't know what EK will do overall.

I suspect what you say will be close to fact. The new Portra 800 film, AFAIK, is the first consumer film with the new sensitization. Vision 2 ECN for motion picture was the first to get this new technology.

PE

Black Dog · Sep 21, 2006

Portra films seem to change more often than David Beckham's haircut........

Matt5791 · Sep 21, 2006

Nice to see continued strong marketing and development of these professional products.

I have been using Portra film this summer for all the weddings I shot - apart from the most recent (last Saturday) - I used Fuji Pro400.

Why?

Well, whilst I think the skin tones are superior in the Kodak emulsions, I do like the general overall look of the Fuji emulsion and I wanted to give it a whirl having not used it for a few months.

The second reason is:

Kodak Portra 400NC pack of 5 135 films: £24.66
Fuji Pro400 pack of 5 135 films: £17.57
(source: calumet)

That is basically 40% more for Kodak - which is just absurd, and also rather disappointing.

Matt

Christiaan Phleger · Sep 22, 2006

I'm keen to try them, I used to use the NC 400 but switched to UC 400, and I'd like a better version of the VC 400 to fit in between those palette/contrasts. I just can't figure out when and where I can get them, major retailers are not posting them yet and Kodak says Q4 06 as stock turn-over. Yikes! Might be ages or do I have to keep buying the old stuff to get to the new stuff?

ajuk · Sep 23, 2006

Photo Engineer said:
AFAIK, at the present time, Kodak is upgrading all of its color negative films with the new 2 electron sensitization. Following this, or concurrent with this, B&W films will also be upgraded.

PE

Do you have a citation? Do you work for Kodak, you seem to know a lot of stuff?

Photo Engineer · Sep 23, 2006

ajuk said:
Do you have a citation? Do you work for Kodak, you seem to know a lot of stuff?

I spent 32 years working in the Kodak Research Labs.

The 2 electron sensitization was the topic of one of the talks at the ICIS (International Conference of Imaging Science) held in Rochester this year. I was present at the talk.

PE

Kodak revises Porta films

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