New CatLabs Color 120 Film

[Oldwino]

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]

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]

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

 

[pentaxuser]

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]

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

 

[Don_ih]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

Fascinating

 

[cptrios]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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

 

[Don_ih]

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.