New look to Kodak Ultramax

mshchem · Jun 13, 2023

MattKing said:
That is far from clear - other than the fact that they don't have competitors.
And much of the cine film production may be the intermediate films - not camera films.
They also have growing volumes in their non-photographic Estar sales.

If EK is making custom polyester films, (not photo films) that would be great.

And Matt I've made it clear I'm speculating as is everyone.

And in my defense I'm an idiot.

ArthurDodger · Jun 14, 2023

Great Comments on this thread. A couple of additions.
1) Motion Picture Origination film is Acetate (for the camera damage reasons stated above). Intermediate films for editing and print films for presentation are all on ESTAR and have been for years..
2) All of Kodak's Color SUCs (Funsavers) are on 800 ESTAR. So, it is highly likely it is the same emulsion as 135 Portra 800. There really is no reason for them to have more than one coating for 800.
3) I suspect that the BW TMAX in the SUC is also ESTAR. (So Tmax would be Estar) It makes sense to have all the film the "same" dimensionally for the factory automation.

But as noted above for all the reasons stated. Still Photo film will likely all migrate to ESTAR in the coming months, if it hasn't already. Thanks everyone for your input and comments!

mshchem · Jun 14, 2023

Estar will last forever that's a great thing.

MattKing · Jun 14, 2023

ArthurDodger said:
Great Comments on this thread. A couple of additions.
1) Motion Picture Origination film is Acetate (for the camera damage reasons stated above). Intermediate films for editing and print films for presentation are all on ESTAR and have been for years..
2) All of Kodak's Color SUCs (Funsavers) are on 800 ESTAR. So, it is highly likely it is the same emulsion as 135 Portra 800. There really is no reason for them to have more than one coating for 800.
3) I suspect that the BW TMAX in the SUC is also ESTAR. (So Tmax would be Estar) It makes sense to have all the film the "same" dimensionally for the factory automation.

But as noted above for all the reasons stated. Still Photo film will likely all migrate to ESTAR in the coming months, if it hasn't already. Thanks everyone for your input and comments!

I doubt they have the resources to migrate the emulsions all within a few months. Each change in substrate requires substantial amounts of $$$$$ and time.

Quiver2 · Jun 15, 2023

ArthurDodger said:
Great Comments on this thread. A couple of additions.
1) Motion Picture Origination film is Acetate (for the camera damage reasons stated above). Intermediate films for editing and print films for presentation are all on ESTAR and have been for years..
2) All of Kodak's Color SUCs (Funsavers) are on 800 ESTAR. So, it is highly likely it is the same emulsion as 135 Portra 800. There really is no reason for them to have more than one coating for 800.
3) I suspect that the BW TMAX in the SUC is also ESTAR. (So Tmax would be Estar) It makes sense to have all the film the "same" dimensionally for the factory automation.

But as noted above for all the reasons stated. Still Photo film will likely all migrate to ESTAR in the coming months, if it hasn't already. Thanks everyone for your input and comments!

I would have to differ on Kodak not having more than one 800 speed emulsion. Lomo CN 800 exists, and I'm sure that it isn't Fuji making it. I'm also fairly sure that all of the Lomo color negative line in 120 is polyester.

foc · Jun 15, 2023

Quiver2 said:
Lomo CN 800 exists,

My understanding is that the Lomo CN800 is the same as Kodak GT800-5 that is in the Single Use Cameras (disposables).

Quiver2 · Jun 16, 2023

foc said:
My understanding is that the Lomo CN800 is the same as Kodak GT800-5 that is in the Single Use Cameras (disposables).

Which was my understanding as well. I was addressing the silly comment that implied that Kodak was filling their one time use cameras with Portra 800. Also that they were going to full Estar on 120 based on my experience with what has essentially become an off brand line for them.

Agulliver · Jun 16, 2023

Lomography 800 and Portra 800 certainly behaved differently when I tried them. I like Lomography 800 for shooting in the jazz club. Have shot probably 8 rolls of it there, and another 4 on other occasions such as sunsets, bigger gigs (including at the O2 London). When I tried Portra 800 at the jazz club using my usual lab for dev and scan the results were very different including thin negs and too much green.

I am fully certain that Lomo 800 and Portra 800 are different. I am prepared to believe that the Lomo 800 is the same stuff that Kodak puts into single use/disposable cameras.

Arcadia4 · Jun 17, 2023

I'm fairly sure the Lomo 800/ Kodak Single Use Camera film has been previously identified as Ultramax 800 or derivative thereof.

The market for 800 speed film sold separately is probably only a fraction of that in 400, so it makes sense that Kodak only sells its premium portra product in that market.

Arcadia4 · Jul 1, 2023

135-36 Ultramax complete packaging

Helios 1984 · Jul 1, 2023

Oldwino said:
Looks like a bootleg.

If it were, it would say “Kopak” or “Kojak”

Agulliver · Jul 3, 2023

My local camera shop has had a good sized shipment of Gold 200 in the new boxes.

Prest_400 · Jul 3, 2023

I was looking at Tradera, a Swedish auction site and saw there is also a new design to Gold with the same features and in this case it was a tripack.

Photo merely copied from the listing:

ArthurDodger · Jul 5, 2023

Arcadia4 said:
135-36 Ultramax complete packaging

View attachment 342660 View attachment 342661 View attachment 342662 View attachment 342663

They Switched to ESTAR Base. They also soft launched Gold 200 in ESTAR with the Purple Instead of Blue Packaging.

Agulliver · Jul 6, 2023

For the record, the shop I referred to above has single boxes, not the 3-packs. The boxes don't have any extra card for attaching to a hanger. They're standard boxes, in the new purple and yellow design. I have to say, they caught my eye imiediately in the "wall of film" behind the counter. They are quite eye-catching. It was immediatley obvious that there was Kodak colour film in stock even from a distance. It stood out from the other stocks on offer at that shop.....Ilford HP5+, FP4+, XP2, Kodak TMAX 100.

Bronson Dugnutt · Jul 6, 2023

I presume both UltraMax and Gold are still in the original style yellow/black/white canisters?

Here's some old 35mm for comparison (plus a more recent & recognizably purple pack of 120 Gold 200).

Adrian Bacon · Jul 9, 2023

cmacd123 said:
Yes I would also love to see the fine print, and if that is just for the UK market?

No. It's here in the U.S. I just received a bunch of inventory and both UltraMax and Gold have new boxes. Ultramax is what you see in this thread, Gold is the same except purple instead of blue.

New look to Kodak Ultramax

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency