New CatLabs Color 120 Film

Oldwino · Jun 6, 2023

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 orange mask, so might this be Aerocolor IV? I guess they found someone to slit and package it?

Some details from the Cats themselves...

CatLABS

Large format cameras, lenses, film holders, darkroom equipment, Jobo sales and service. We carry large format cameras and lenses, Jobo machines,...

www.catlabs.info

MattKing · Jun 6, 2023

FWIW, I don't interpret "Produces a near clear base making for easy scanning" to necessarily mean no orange mask.
A negative film with no orange mask isn't going to be any easier to scan than one with an orange mask.

BrianShaw · Jun 6, 2023

Good for them… real support to film photography rather than just lip service!

pentaxuser · Jun 6, 2023

MattKing said:
FWIW, I don't interpret "Produces a near clear base making for easy scanning" to necessarily mean no orange mask.
A negative film with no orange mask isn't going to be any easier to scan than one with an orange mask.

Matt, so is Catlabs completely wrong in this claim and why does it make it? Not a challenge here just me looking for knowledge of why Catlabs is wrong and why it might believe this to be the case

My assumption Matt is that you have seen the Catlabs claim but just in case and for the benefit of others here's what it says;

" Produces a near clear base making for easy scanning"

Thanks

pentaxuser

faberryman · Jun 6, 2023

At least the CATLabs guy didn't say it was four years in the making.

Don_ih · Jun 6, 2023

MattKing said:
A negative film with no orange mask isn't going to be any easier to scan than one with an orange mask.

Sure it will, because it would be straight inversion. Most film scanning seems to be done with cameras and cell phones, now.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2023

It is relatively trivial to first negate the base - essentially by changing the white balance - then do the inversion. The tough part is actually getting the inversion correct.
And "clear" is different than "colourless".
Of course, Catlabs might have meant "colourless" - it wouldn't be the first time that the language used in their descriptions was "interesting".

Sirius Glass · Jun 6, 2023

I only use film that actually acts like film, not a one trick pony that only works for scanning. Also I have very little use for ISO 100 film, I use ISO 400 film primarily.

Don_ih · Jun 6, 2023

MattKing said:
It is relatively trivial to first negate the base

Have you tried that on a phone?

Anyway, I'm not sure where they'd get a colour negative film that's iso100 and has a colourless base.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2023

Don Heisz said:
Have you tried that on a phone?

No, but any photos I take on a phone I post-process on a desktop or a laptop.

faberryman · Jun 6, 2023

Don Heisz said:
Anyway, I'm not sure where they'd get a colour negative film that's iso100 and has a colourless base.

CATLabs claims it is a "near clear base", whatever that means.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2023

Don Heisz said:
Anyway, I'm not sure where they'd get a colour negative film that's iso100 and has a colourless base.

FWIW, the box says "Made in the U.S.A.
And ASA 100.
I guess "EI ISO" didn't work for them this time

MattKing · Jun 6, 2023

faberryman said:
CATLabs claims it is a "near clear base", whatever that means.

Yep - already quoted in two earlier places in the thread.
It is amazing how unclear "near clear" can be.

brbo · Jun 6, 2023

So, a clear base can be red or blue or pink…?

I’m not a native speaker so I’m genuinely interested.

Btw, Kodak Aerocolor IV does well at 100 and has almost colourless base.

foc · Jun 6, 2023

From their website:

"CatLABS X FILM 100 Color should be processed as a standard C41 film for superb color negatives.

It may also be processed in E6 chemistry for intense contrast "positive" slide film."

Basically two types of colour film in one.

Don_ih · Jun 6, 2023

brbo said:
I’m not a native speaker so I’m genuinely interested.

"Clear" means transparent. In normal use, it also means "non-coloured". But there's no necessity to that.

MattKing said:
No, but any photos I take on a phone I post-process on a desktop or a laptop.

Many people don't have anything more than a phone. Furthermore, many people don't want to do anything they can't easily do on a phone. That's probably especially true of the average CatLabs customer. Everyone here knows that CatLabs has nothing new to offer.

0x001688936CA08 · Jun 6, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
I only use film that actually acts like film, not a one trick pony that only works for scanning. Also I have very little use for ISO 100 film, I use ISO 400 film primarily.

This does act like film.

Sirius Glass · Jun 6, 2023

chrstphrknwtn said:
This does act like film.

Not as good as the products from Kodak, Fuji, and in the past Agfa. Without the orange background, correct color reproduction cannot be completely done. This has been known for decades, they are blowing smoke up your noses.

mshchem · Jun 6, 2023

Fascinating

cptrios · Jun 6, 2023

I live about a five minute drive from the actual Catlabs store. Maybe I’ll see if they have any in stock and go pick up a roll.

cmacd123 · Jun 6, 2023

Don Heisz said:
Anyway, I'm not sure where they'd get a colour negative film that's iso100 and has a colourless base.

perhaps the same place as the folks in Alberta get something like that....

Cine Film | Flic Film

flicfilm.ca

Elektra 100

Developer: C-41
This is Respooled KODAK Aerocolor IV color negative film. Kodak and Aerocolor IV are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.
Elektra 100 is a fine grained medium speed film with excellent acuity and true color rendition. It should be noted that this film has a tendency to light pipe, eg. the light will travel up the leader and into the first three frames. Load the film in very low light conditions.

Interesting that Flic claims "true color redition" although they talk about vivid reds in one of their videos.

Moose22 · Jun 6, 2023

brbo said:
Btw, Kodak Aerocolor IV does well at 100 and has almost colourless base.

I do not know what film cat labs is packaging.

However, I bought SantaColor film when it came out on an Indigogo deal. It is hand rolled off of a large, bulk roll of Aerocolor. Almost clear base, shoot it at iso 100, c41, so it was my first guess as to what Cat Labs is packaging here.

I'd say good for catlabs if that's what they're doing. I just shot a roll, and I like it. But the "easier to scan" is marketing/copywriter bull crap, nothing more.

I scanned it the same way, convert it the same way (I use NegativeLab Pro mostly) and it is no faster or slower a process.

So, I'll place a bet now. This is what the film is. I guess we'll find out when someone buys a roll and knows better, of course.

Romanko · Jun 7, 2023

foc said:
Basically two types of colour film in one.

Four! Black and White negative and positive. You don't need any other type of film. I am sure you can push it to EI 1600 as well.

foc · Jun 7, 2023

Romanko said:
Romanko said:

Four! Black and White negative and positive. You don't need any other type of film. I am sure you can push it to EI 1600 as well.

Click to expand...

Two colour & two B&W.
Sure what more would you need???

Don_ih · Jun 7, 2023

cmacd123 said:
perhaps the same place as the folks in Alberta get something like that

I'd forgotten about that film. That must be what it is. Wonder how "almost colourless base" translates in reversal.

New CatLabs Color 120 Film

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New CatLabs Color 120 Film

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