More "new" colour films

[BrianShaw]

New CatLabs Color 120 Film

CatLabs is at it again, with a new C-41 film (right now in 120 only), that is advertised as having "distinct color coupler structure (AKA grain), contrast and tonal range, not found with other currently available films." Color me curious (sorry about the pun). Has a clear base, which implies no...

www.photrio.com

 

[koraks]

Thanks, @BrianShaw
Further discussion on the CatLabs offering should indeed go in the appropriate thread.

 

[Jamie Gray]

I received an email from Analogue Wonderland about "Candido" 800 ISO colour negative C41 film yesterday. Their price isn't bad, indeed the email was talking about how great it was to have an affordable high speed colour film. A bit of googling found the people who may be supplying it, where I was able to order some rolls for £2 less than AW offer it. Possibly UK based as the postage was very reasonably Royal Mail 1st class.

Colour me a little sceptical because the FAQ refers to "Ramjet" anti-halation and is very sketchy about where this film is made. They say it has a shelf life of two years after purchase. Sample shots on their website aren't stellar but I'm going to try it.

EDIT: I checked out the reviews on their site which have more sample pictures from customers and this is certainly some sort of motion picture film with the remjet removed. Has a load of cheap 500T hit the market recently? Some of the customer photos look very good. They also seem to offer a warmer (daylight balanced?) 400 ISO film with promises of another 400 ISO and a 200 ISO C41 film "coming soon"....all at competitive prices. Indeed the 800 is about as cheap as it's ever likely to get.

Has anyone else come across this?

Candido800 Colour Film

Introducing CANDIDO800 Colour Film 36 Shots BUY NOW! Experience the magic of Candido's ISO800 Colour Film, specially designed to excel in low-light conditions and fast-paced environments. Whether you're shooting under the stars, in dimly-lit rooms, or capturing action-packed scenes, this...

www.candidocollective.com

I've also been fed an ad via social media for "Poly Film Labs" who seem to offer a lot of very reasonably priced services and film. They are open about using large bulk rolls of film like Ektachrome and Vision 3 to sell 36 exposure cassettes at reasonable prices. I've ordered 3 of their Vison 3 500T too. They do explain this still has the remjet so I'll probably send it to them for processing as their prices are very reasonable. Of possible interest is that they offer quite frankly insanely low prices for cine film processing. I believe they also trade as Kerboros Productions Ltd...as that was the name on my payment. Poly Film Labs are on Facebook and Instagram, and they seem a friendly bunch.

Poly Film Labs

Suffolk Photo and Cine Film Lab

www.polyfilmlabs.co.uk

Please note I am not recommending these two companies yet, as I am yet to receive or use any products/services. I have ordered film from both, and will be sending some super 8 Tri-X to Poly Lab in August. This is more "Heads up, especially UK folk, you might want to try these people".

I recently found a portal back in time three years when I went onto Grays Of Westminster website, earlier this week. I was looking for gear but realised there was a section selling film. I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted Ektar 100 for £5 a roll! Amazingly it was in stock so I ordered two. When they arrived with long dates on them I rechecked the website and lo and behold the price was changed to a more modern level - £24!!!!!!!!
Only wish I'd exploited their mistake a bit harder and ordered 10 rolls!

 

[Twotone]

Hi folks,

I've used Candido, and the results have been good, for clarity though and to settle any confusion, all 3 versions they sell are infact Kodak Vision stocks, so nothing new to the market sadly.

However, they have the remjet removed as part of their respooling etc, so a colour film under £10 is something to rejoice in!

Candido 200 = 200T
Candido 400 = 250D
Candido 400C = believed to be ORWO (unlikely to be in stock for a while if that's the case!)
Candido 800 = 500T

Definitely worth supporting them as it represents good value for money when they products are in stock. I do struggle a bit with companies trying to pass off stocks as their own, but with Fuji now doing the same with Kodak products, I guess even the big players are at it!

Thanks

 

[Agulliver]

Thanks for the confirmation of what these films actually are. I'm certainly pleased with the results I've had from the Candido 800, and with the contact I've had with them on Instagram. Good price too.

Next to try the Poly Film Labs film, which they are open about being Kodak Vision 3 500T. They're also really nice folk on social media. I've got to say, both these companies are a joy to deal with and share enthusiasm for film.

 

[Agulliver]

I've just shot my second roll of Candido and coincidentally saw a post from them on Instagram this morning to the effect that after feedback from customers they are switching to DX coded metal cassettes. This should prevent the handful of incidents of fogging that have been reported by customers (first or last frame) and the DX coding is to be welcomed. It does add a pound to the cost of each film.

Good to note that they're listening to their customers.

I've also had dealings with Poly Film Labs which have been positive regarding processing of ECN-2 and B&W cine film. I still haven't shot the films I bought from them but they're also a fine, small company to deal with.

 

[pentaxuser]

I've just shot my second roll of Candido and coincidentally saw a post from them on Instagram this morning to the effect that after feedback from customers they are switching to DX coded metal cassettes. This should prevent the handful of incidents of fogging that have been reported by customers (first or last frame) and the DX coding is to be welcomed. It does add a pound to the cost of each film.

Good to note that they're listening to their customers.

What's the link between DX coded cassettes and the handful of fogging reported by customers? Is this connected solely to the customers not inputting the correct speed into the camera's speed dial i.e. there is no fogging if the correct speed is used? Presumably the switch to DX coded cassettes is an all or nothing move i.e you will not be able to opt for non DX coded cassettes at £1 cheaper any longer?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Agulliver]

@pentaxuser The fogging is suspected to be the plastic cassette. The DX code was something else that customers said they wanted in their feedback. They've also now got 36 exposure films when previously they offered only 24.

I read their post as meaning that they're not using the plastic cassettes at all any more, and have moved (or are moving) to metal cassettes which are also DX coded. This is seen as delivering what most of their customers want.

Personally i don't mind one way or the other about the DX coding but the one roll I shot did have the final frame partially fogged. Until I read that other customers reported this same issue I just assumed I got unlucky.

 

[pentaxuser]

@pentaxuser The fogging is suspected to be the plastic cassette.

I read their post as meaning that they're not using the plastic cassettes at all any more, and have moved (or are moving) to metal cassettes which are also DX coded.

Thanks. That's a new one on me I haven't used these films but assuming that there is not a specific link between plastic cassettes and the particular film in question then all I can say is that when I used the plastic re-usable cassettes from Jessops with a variety of b&w films I never noticed fogging. I wonder what the link can be?

Can I take that there is no choice any longer about opting for non DX coded at £1 less?


pentaxuser

 

[Agulliver]

I've never had fogging with reusable plastic cassettes and bulk rolling, except one time the cap came off one after a particularly bumpy car ride. But we don't know what equipment they're using to open, roll and seal these cassettes. They've identified the plastic cassettes as the cause of a problem several customers have reported and we shall see if the new metal cassettes work better in this respect.

There's no indication that they're offering non-DX cassettes in addition to the new ones. I would imagine they want to stick to one manufacturing/confectioning process. I don't know how much of this is done in-house and how much is outsourced. They have a lot of processing machinery, indeed they're raising funds to refurb an large amount of cine processing machinery, but I doubt they've got in-house film confectioning facilities. It makes sense to contract this out to only one company.

 

[lamerko]

Thanks. That's a new one on me I haven't used these films but assuming that there is not a specific link between plastic cassettes and the particular film in question then all I can say is that when I used the plastic re-usable cassettes from Jessops with a variety of b&w films I never noticed fogging. I wonder what the link can be?

Can I take that there is no choice any longer about opting for non DX coded at £1 less?


pentaxuser

As far as I can see, the new batch, in addition to DX cartridges, will also have 36 frames instead of 24 so far. That's 1/3 more...

 

[Agulliver]

Got my latest back, and the outdoor/natural light shots do have that blue cast expected with a tungsten balanced film. If I decide to use this outside much I'll need an 85 filter or three. But I mostly use this for gigs.

Anyway here's a selection including frame 1 which had some fogging. Nothing unexpected. I think we all know how this film will work under various light sources as it's well known. What it is also.....is available at a reasonable price, in the UK at least.

 

[Jamie Gray]

Candido also indicated that possibly an employee was to blame for some of the fogging and shortening the length of the rolls and they have been removed. I had a fogged last frame which was rather annoying. I shot on a Minolta Dynax 9, certainly it's not the cameras fault.

 

[Sonynolta User]

Probably doing 'daylight' loading of the cartridges, which inevitably gives you at least one (partly) fogged frame at the end.

 

[Agulliver]

They say they've made changes to avoid this after hearing from customers. They seem a professional bunch. I hope they can keep going.

Meanwhile I've got more cine film in with Poly Film Labs and will try their 500T respooled 35mm film soon. Not expecting any problems with the film or the lab. Poly Film Labs sometimes have bulk spooled Superia 400 too, albeit expired in 2019.

 

[lamerko]

I got a Superia 400 from them - I'm waiting for them to arrive. But it seems a bit strange to me. What exactly is this film? What is it intended for? Police traffic cameras? Probably not the one sold by Fuji for still photography. Poly Film Labs sells 100ft rolls rewound from some larger ones. But maybe it's not actually 100ft because their eBay listing has been corrected to a shorter length...

 

[Agulliver]

Fuji used to sell long rolls of Superia 400. If these expired in 2019 they probably date from 2016 or so which is when I last saw them in stock at other retailers.

 

[lamerko]

Today I finally received the ordered rolls of this Superia 400. I'm actually not too sure it has anything to do with the Superia. It is labeled as "35 survei color superia 400". The markings are odd - the first scrawled is "35mm/30.5M (100ft)", the second is "SIZE 35mm x 28m", the third is visible. In two places it is 100ft, in another - 91ft. (probably somewhere around 90ft). The price is £95.00 (excluding delivery) which works out to be around £6 for 36 frames.
Obviously, this is a film about surveillance cameras. I'll give it a try one of these days - it might be a good film.

 

[koraks]

Today I finally received the ordered rolls of this Superia 400.

Interesting; is that (supposedly) fresh film?

 

[lamerko]

No, expired in 2019 according to description, but shouldn't be a problem if stored properly. I hope Poly Film Labs has taken care of this. Bought two 90ft rolls (to combine UK delivery) - going to give them a go. If they're okay - I might take even more

 

[koraks]

I can imagine; nice stuff if it works ok!

 

[Steve@f8]

Comment above indicate Candido is a motion picture film having had the ramjet layer removed. If that’s the case does it mean the anti-halation has gone, meaning halation will be evident, and possibly light piping?

(Thought I’d tag my question here instead of starting a new thread.)

 

[koraks]

If that’s the case does it mean the anti-halation has gone, meaning halation will be evident, and possibly light piping?

Halation, yes. Light piping, no; the base Vision3 is on isn't very prone to that AFAIK.
It's basically Cinestill if this is cine film with the remjet removed (not ramjet; that's something entirely different).

 

[Steve@f8]

Halation, yes. Light piping, no; the base Vision3 is on isn't very prone to that AFAIK.
It's basically Cinestill if this is cine film with the remjet removed (not ramjet; that's something entirely different).

Typo there, I meant Remjet.
Thanks for confirming it’s basically Cinestill, so Candido 800 will come out a bit blue in daylight if used without a warming filter.

I read this from a U.K. supplier:

Candido 800 35mm Film 36 Exposures

Candido Collective are on a mission to make cheaper camera film so that analogue shooters on their travels "spend more on flights than film". The London based company keep costs low by being small and manufacturing in Asia using the same technology used in 35mm motion picture film. Candido 800...

bookshop.thephotographersgallery.org.uk

 

[koraks]

so Candido 800 will come out a bit blue in daylight if used without a warming filter.

Yes, that's to be expected. You could probably balance this out almost entirely in digital post processing, however.

Everyone seems to want a piece of the repurposed 'alternative' film these days. I admit, I also couldn't resist, but I just got a big roll of Vision3 250D, develop at home and remove the remjet after processing. Works a treat. Since you're in the UK, this may be attractive for you (check frame24.co.uk) if you are willing to commit to a whole 400ft (or even 1000ft) roll.