Lomography releases a new formulation of Lomochrome Metropolis

Huss said:

Thanks for the nice comments. I love using traditional films - HP5, Portra, TriX etc. It's just pretty darn sweet that Lomography gives us these options for a different look.

Click to expand...

That's perfectly fair.

I try to keep an open mind about this stuff. But I do get why people bitch about the marketing hype. Like, I tried Cinestill 800t after everyone raving about the halos and the look -- I hate it. HATE it. Looks like crap to me. I mean, I just don't get it. Feels like I was sold on a special effect and it's like the worst thing ever.

But... a kid I took some photos for was digging through my photos a while back. Out of the blue he told me that and said "I really love the ones of the gas station! They look like an old movie!" Maybe I need to use it for something NOT lighty. Or kill my last roll next time I'm doing his potrtaits, just so he sees himself on the silver screen.

Sensibilities change. And they are different from person to person. I'll probably try some of the lomo Purple stuff at some point, too, even if their marketing is kind of over hyped. I don't expect it to be a regular use film. Some people might like what comes out, though.

Moose22 said:

I try to keep an open mind about this stuff. But I do get why people bitch about the marketing hype. Like, I tried Cinestill 800t after everyone raving about the halos and the look -- I hate it. HATE it. Looks like crap to me. I mean, I just don't get it. Feels like I was sold on a special effect and it's like the worst thing ever..

Click to expand...

I really like Cinestill 800T, but I stopped buying it after my last few rolls came to me with light leaks from the factory...

Cinestill 800 w/ Rollei QZ35W

With Leica M7

I'm not interested in most of the "special effect" films but Metropolis did pique my curiosity. I'd possibly use it again in the right circumstances. I do know people who use the Lomography and Dubble films and very much enjoy them. I'm all for them being on the market. They're just not my thing.

Lomography Tiger is an excellent C41 film in 110, if slightly too saturated for my tastes.

Old Gregg said:

Did you scan it yourself or used a lab? It's a tricky one for both labs and DIY...

Click to expand...

Lab. And as we've discussed before, the lab scans have been crap some of the time, other times obviously just.... leave the Noritsu at default and walk away. But the issue I had wasn't the lab's take, it was the halation that people all "loved" in online reviews. That's not scan, that's film. I haven't shot it in a while. I actually intend to do it in daylight and mixed lighting this time around and I'll scan it myself.

I like the "cinematic" part of it in daylight or indirect lighting much more than the special effect that people all raved about. The halos are a one trick pony, and it's not a good trick. Wears thin by the third shot. So the film needs to be approached differently than what I read in reviews to meet my tastes.

That leads to a philisophical question though. If I'm going to scan myself, and have to do futzing with colors, and hate halos, why not use Portra 800? I mean, I'm going to have to do work in the photo shops or whatever anyway.

But this isn't about cinestill. It's about differing tastes and Lomo's marketing hype. Metro is what it is, and if you enjoy the charms of getting whatever you get, as opposed to futzing in the digital realm, just ignore the hype and try it. Or don't. But either way ignore hype and just evaluate it on its merits. Like, I'm pretty sure I won't like Lomo's purple too much but I might be surprised. It's an oddball, and at the same time can see it might appeal to someone enough that they'll enjoy the results so I'll give it a go. I do find color IR intriguing, and other specialty color shifting stuff. So I'll ignore the hype and give it a try with no preconceptions. Just for fun.

Maybe I'll get some metro one day when I order film again. Probably have to burn a couple dozen rolls to make room in the fridge before I get around to it, but one day.

Huss said:

I really like Cinestill 800T, but I stopped buying it after my last few rolls came to me with light leaks from the factory...

Click to expand...

hah -- that's worse than halos.

I got two rolls for Ss and Gs. Shot one the way you're "supposed' to. The other is still there, waiting. I'm on a black and/or white kick, but when I return to color I'll give it a go. Hopefully it hasn't been pre-exposed like yours.

Metropolis

Lomo Purple 120

Moose22 said:

hah -- that's worse than halos.

Click to expand...

Halos and light leaks are considered a bonus with Lomography and Cinestill.

Or so they say...

Moose22 said:

hah -- that's worse than halos.
.

Click to expand...

Most definitely. A shame and why I stopped using Cinestill. Maybe I got a bad batch, but at $15+ a roll, I'm not going to risk it.

There are some films sold that intentionally have light leaks - not my thing - but obviously there is a market and so good for them.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/category/3-Film/Color-Negative-Film?mfg[]=349

Old Gregg said:

@pentaxuser IIRC Henning said that Metropolis is their own design, the only in-house developed and manufactured emulsion they sell.

Click to expand...

No, I have not said that.
I have explained that this specific film is not a repackaged product. It is a Lomography only product. They have decided to have made it only for them, they are financing it, they have the responsibility for that and are the only supplier.
So it is a very different situation compared to the cases of the Kentmere films, Fomapan films and Agfa Aviphot Pan 200, which are sold for many smaller / tiny brands or sometime only bloggers, who then sell the stuff under their own name (with often misleading marketing blaba and always at much higher price).

Lomography is a distribution and marketing specialist. They don't have any own film production capabilities.
This film (as well as the Lomography Purple and Tourquois) are made for them by InovisCoat. Mainly. As InovisCoat can only make emulsion and coating, but no confectioning / converting, Lomography is using another partner company for confectioning.

I am not a fan of Lomography's marketing. Not at all.
But:
They take the risk, they put their own money on the table to offer a unique product based on real production and not just repackaging. A product which no one else is offering. And it helps to keep InovisCoat running.
You don't like the product? Then just don't buy it.
If you like it, fine for you.

Best regards,
Henning

halfaman said:

Lomography just answered me that new Lomochrome Metropolis will be available in 120 somewhere between spring and summer of 2022.

Click to expand...

I might just buy a roll or two. It's not something I would use often, but it has an aesthetic that works for me in certain circumstances. And the 120 option gives me the chance to use it in a camera with 8 or 12 exposures which is probably the right quantity for me and Metropolis.

As for the other "special effect" films....actually I might try something like a redscale or other skewed colour palette in 120...again because I can see myself shooting a few frames in the right circumstances but not 24 or 36. And while I have lots of cameras, I don't like leaving a film loaded for months...thus putting that camera/body out of use for other applications. The other films with stars, streaks, smileys etc as sold by Lomography and Dubble don't do anything for me but I'm all for them existing for those who enjoy using them.

Agulliver said:

As for the other "special effect" films....actually I might try something like a redscale or other skewed colour palette in 120...again because I can see myself shooting a few frames in the right circumstances but not 24 or 36. And while I have lots of cameras, I don't like leaving a film loaded for months...thus putting that camera/body out of use for other applications. The other films with stars, streaks, smileys etc as sold by Lomography and Dubble don't do anything for me but I'm all for them existing for those who enjoy using them.

Click to expand...

Making a "redscale" 135 roll with arbitrary number of frames is the easiest thing to do. All you need is a roll of any regular C-41 film, a reloadable or used canister and two minutes in your darkroom/changing bag.

Patrick Robert James said:

Looks like Inoviscoat is getting closer to having a solid c-41 film. I almost choked when I saw the price though.

Click to expand...

Exactly. For me, this is the most important part of all the announcement.

flavio81 said:

Exactly. For me, this is the most important part of all the announcement.

Click to expand...

Judging by the properties of Metropolis, Inoviscoat will be able to make a decent C41 colour print film at some point....at least at 100 or 200 ISO.