Photokina News: Kodak Prof. Ektar 100 Film

[Kevin Caulfield]

In many cases "pro" or "professional" indicates that the film has been "ripened", in that it is aged to some extent so that it is ready to use soon, as opposed to general consumer film which has a much longer potential storage time before use.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

It's good to see that Kodak brings out new film, but I'm afraid that digital is going strong.

Jeff

 

[railwayman3]

Great news. In your face, Ilford fanboys! Just kidding

Nick

That's a bit unkind to we Brits....when we (and, arguably, the French) invented this whole photography lark for you. (Just kidding too).

Seriously, it's great news.

Kodak for the best colour, Ilford with their top B&W (and paper, of course), Fuji with alternative choices, and the little players with their specialist and "old-fashioned" products. Let's enjoy the choice and support them all!

The day doesn't look too bad after all.

 

[Dan Henderson]

It's good to see that Kodak brings out new film, but I'm afraid that digital is going strong.

Jeff

No need to be afraid of anything. In my view, the proliferation of digital just makes high quality traditional, film based, darkroom printed photographs that much more unique and sought after. I am the only one left in the group of photographers that I went to school with who shoots analog, and it feels nice to be going in my own direction. They all envy my film cameras and darkroom, but continue to follow the herd. I just smile.

 

[gr82bart]

Directly fom the Kodak website: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/prof...ktar/ektarIndex.jhtml?id=0.2.26.14.5.14&lc=en

Regards, Art.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Threads merged and moved to Color: Film, Paper, Chemistry forum.

 

[Lee L]

So would Kodak consider taking the same 2 or 3 electron technology (as per TMAX 400 for example) and re-engineer Panatomic X to say a 100 speed film, but still using the traditional grains and curves of the old 32 ISO film?

Kodak already considered TMX to be the replacement for and reason for discontinuance of Panatomic-X. Granted the curve and grain are different, but that was their reasoning.

Lee

 

[IloveTLRs]

So what's going to replace UC 400 then?

 

[nostalgix]

Wow, to see Kodak giving us new material makes me hope the best for the future. Of course I will get some rolls of Ektar 100 when it's available.
Looking forward to the first pictures available at Photokina now.

 

[Lee L]

So what's going to replace UC 400 then?

See the quote from Kodak in post #4 of this thread.

Lee

 

[Barry S]

Very good news. I still have rolls of the late great Ektar 25 in my freezer--a comparison might be interesting. It'd be nice to see this in sheet film and rollfilm. I can only dream what wonders an 8x10 sheet of Ektar 100 would produce.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Barry;

Ektar 25 did not freeze well!

PE

 

[Barry S]

Barry;

Ektar 25 did not freeze well!

PE

Ahh well, all the better to use it soon. My guess is that even if I had fresh Ektar 25, the Ektar 100 would smoke it. Care to put any odds on the eventual sheet film availability?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Freezing Ektar 25 often made grain worse, due to crystallization of a component in the coating due to the cold.

The percent for sheet availability? I would say 0.00%. Ok?

Now, try this. Compare Portra 160VC and Ektar 100, both in 35mm. Then consider how much better both images would look at 4x5. I think you will end up using the 160VC as a good enough film at 4x5 compared to the Ektar 100.

PE

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

On the subject of comparison, features, contrast, &c, if you didn't bother clicking all the little links...

From http://www.kodak.com/global/en/prof.../ektar/qAndA.jhtml?id=0.2.26.14.5.14.14&lc=en

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The percent for sheet availability? I would say 0.00%. Ok?

Wanna lay odds on 120?

 

[braxus]

Ok. So contrast is the same as the VC films then. Good. I always thought the UC films were a bit much in contrast. This will make a good film for a Grand Canyon trip. They say it can be used for fashion photography. Does this mean it will take decent people pictures? I wonder since the saturation is so high that it might make peoples faces look fake. Anyway Im going to get my rolls as soon as it comes out. And again I'd still like to see this in 120.

 

[Skorzen]

What about portraiture?
Professional photographers will more likely prefer KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA Films for their consistently natural reproduction of the full range of skin tones.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Wanna lay odds on 120?

Mmmmmm. My guess is about 10% - 20% because they use the same support for all practical purposes, but they would have to get backing paper made for it. And, the market is tiny.

PE

 

[Skorzen]

I would certainly love to see it in 120, might be fun in 4X5 too, but then again I probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

 

[braxus]

Mmmmmm. My guess is about 10% - 20% because they use the same support for all practical purposes, but they would have to get backing paper made for it. And, the market is tiny.

PE

Well looks like my rolls of Ektar 25 in 120 aren't going anywhere then. That is assuming they haven't gone bad.

As for TMAX replacing Panatomic X- I know this is what Kodak was thinking. But we all also know the two don't look like each other other then grain size. I think a new Pan X would be a great emulsion to bring back. Make it a 100 speed with the same grain as the old film, or make it a 50 speed with even smaller grain size and have it compete with Ilford's Pan F+.

 

[Craig]

Ektar 25 did not freeze well!

PE

Oh dear, I've still got one roll of Ektar 25 in 120 in the freezer. I guess I better use it soon.

 

[isaacc7]

It's good to see that Kodak brings out new film, but I'm afraid that digital is going strong.

Jeff

Just to look at it a little differently... Think of digital as bringing many more people into photography, a certain percentage of them can appreciate what film brings to the table. In my mind, digital photography is a great tool to bring people that didn't take pictures before to get interested in film photography. But then, I like to be optimistic..

 

[Aurum]

Good news, now if they can see their way to bringing back the infra red films, without the hassle of people having to cut down rolls of Aerographic

 

[kodachrome64]

It will be nice to see this on the shelf!