Konica Color SR 100 35mm film 1989: deciphering developed negative edge markings

Photo Student · Sep 16, 2015

RE: Konica Color SR 100 35mm film 1989: deciphering developed negative edge markings

Can anyone please tell me if they are familiar with this film and can interpret/decipher the letters and numbers in the edge markings on developed negative strips?
The film was shot and developed in 1989. Thank you.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 17, 2015

Hi

I'm not familiar with that film, apart having used it at that time.
The film rebate letters and numbers are normally only known to those who worked in emulsion making and quality control.
Unless you can track down some old Japanese technician, they have no meaning.
What I ask is why do you want to know?
They are irrelevant to most users.

AgX · Sep 17, 2015

In general an edge signing should indicate the type of film and the plant, emulsion batch, coating run and converting run.
The first information should be plain of course.

Photo Student · Sep 17, 2015

Hello Mr. Miranda,
Thank you for your considered reply. I work for a law firm. Being able to know exactly what the letters and numbers mean is relevant to a case. I am already pursuing an "old Japanese technician" as one tactic. It was bulk loaded, so no frame numbers. One negative strip's edge marking sequence is: Konica/G Y/Konica Color SR 100/4 7 8/Konica. Another strip is: Konica Color SR 100/4 80/Konica/V/Konica Color SR 100/4 80/Konica. We understand the Konica, and Konica Color SR 100. We do not know what the "G Y", or "4 7 8", or "V" or "4 80" mean. Do you have negatives from SR 100 film that you shot in 1989, and the box (which would show details about the film)? If so, what do the edge markings read on your negative strip? We could make some inferences, especially with the box correlation. Thanks very much.

AgX · Sep 17, 2015

I guess you made us all curious to what extent or rather what case such coding would legally be relevant.

The only thing that comes to my mind is to establish that a photograph could not be taken before a certain (manufacturing) date.

But no statement of us folks here would be legally relevant...

Photo Student · Sep 17, 2015

Hello AgX,
Thank you for your valuable information. I have already learned what you said the numbers and letters should indicate. Being able to know EXACTLY what the letters and numbers mean is what is essential for my purpose . I am already pursuing an "old Japanese technician" as one tactic. It was bulk loaded, so no frame numbers. One negative strip's edge marking sequence is: Konica/G Y/Konica Color SR 100/4 7 8/Konica. Another strip is: Konica Color SR 100/4 80/Konica/V/Konica Color SR 100/4 80/Konica. I understand the Konica, and Konica Color SR 100. I do not know what the "G Y", or "4 7 8", or "V" or "4 80" mean specifically. If either the letters or numbers can be matched to a batch and run, and then those matched to a date, then that information is what I am after. It has been presented to me that the letters are Coating Alley IDs, and the numbers are emulsion generational revision dates. Do you agree with this assessment? Thanks very much.

MattKing · Sep 17, 2015

The codes might reveal information about dates of manufacture and market into which the film was sold.

Just guessing, but I expect the OP wants evidence that a particular film was exposed after a certain date.

Photo Student · Sep 17, 2015

Well, there is relevant, and then there is relevant, yes?
My task is to simply compile facts and information. The utilization of such is left to others here.
Establishing exact manufacturing dates for the two strips is critical.
Being able to know those dates would just about get me the gold ring on the carousel.

Photo Student · Sep 17, 2015

Mr. King: thank you for your comments. Indeed, the date(s) of manufacture are key. The idea of the selling market adds a very interesting component.

MattKing · Sep 17, 2015

Photo Student said:
Well, there is relevant, and then there is relevant, yes?
My task is to simply compile facts and information. The utilization of such is left to others here.
Establishing exact manufacturing dates for the two strips is critical.
Being able to know those dates would just about get me the gold ring on the carousel.

I understand.

30 years ago, I was an articling student, followed by being a young lawyer.

Photo Student · Sep 17, 2015

...and now are you a photographer in the footsteps of Edward S. Curtis and Ansel Adams?
British Columbia brings to my mind Kwakiutl, killer whales, grizzlies, and Sasquatch.

pentaxpete · Sep 18, 2015

I HAVE some of that very film shot in 1989 when I went to Cyprus and a short trip to Israel with my ex-Wife ---- I used a pentax ME Super. I have the negatives in front of me and some prints done by 'Bonus Print' here in England -- I did a couple of 16x12" darkroom colour prints frmo teh negs for my Camera club competitions.It says :Konica Super SR 100,F, 0502 36 08 then 002 then on another set of negatives it says :Konica Super SR 100, 0904, 080 here is a scan from one of the negatives -----

Conversation Piece by Peter Elgar, on Flickr

Photo Student · Sep 18, 2015

Thank you Pentaxpete. Very close, but still different, I believe. My film is NOT Super. Your edge markings are substantially different, with more numbers. I understand the chronology to be approximately: Konica Color SR 100 available 1984, Konica Color SR-V 100 avail 1988, Konica Color SR-G 100 avail 1989, Konica Color Super SR 100 avail 1990. Do you have Konica Color SR 100 negatives shot in the late to mid 1980's?

cmacd123 · Sep 21, 2015

The coding is very likely an index into the factory records, which of course may not have been kept after the product line was sold.

Ilford for example uses a 4 digit number which rolls over from time to time, and the factory can use it to look up what Batches were made and the dates.

Konica merged with Minolta, and the film business was sold to Dia-Nippon Printing if my memory is still working. I believe that Dia-Nippon wanted the factory to produce other products, and although they did sell some film, it was purchased in. A contact in Japan may be able to inquire if they retained any records.

A further complication is that the Japanese firms often introduced a given product in different markets at different time, But Photographers are known to travel and pick up film from other markets.

Photo Student · Sep 22, 2015

Thank you for your comments. My research has already yielded information consistent with yours.

Konica Color SR 100 35mm film 1989: deciphering developed negative edge markings

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Konica Color SR 100 35mm film 1989: deciphering developed negative edge markings

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