Question about a new brand of color film

madgardener · Jul 1, 2014

On a whim, I did a google search for 35mm color film, and while browsing through the usual Kodak,Fuji, the occasional Lucky brand, etc. I came across this:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Leka...ilm-for-35mm-LOMO-camera-Black/790635029.html

First off, has anyone here bought from ali express and secondly, does anyone have an idea what film this may be?

Thanks.

AgX · Jul 1, 2014

Basically it could be any manufacturer.

But the explicit hint a Lomo seems like a hidden hint at lack of warranty.

Also the cutting of the leader is bad. A case for our conversion expert here at Apug.

Xmas · Jul 1, 2014

The cutting might be a crop on the photo, but I've not seen a cassette base like that?

Truzi · Jul 1, 2014

I'm going to guess it's meant for a single-use camera mostly because of 27 exposures. I got some empty cassettes from a drug store, and they are fairly generic like that, though the Kodak cassettes will say "Kodak. "

The base of the cassette does look odd to me, I'll have to double-check when I get home.

AgX · Jul 1, 2014

Xmas said:
The cutting might be a crop on the photo, but I've not seen a cassette base like that?

But at least one perforation is cut open at the curve.

AgX · Jul 1, 2014

That ad says:

Brand: LuckyFilm

cheny03 · Jul 1, 2014

madgardener said:
On a whim, I did a google search for 35mm color film, and while browsing through the usual Kodak,Fuji, the occasional Lucky brand, etc. I came across this:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Leka...ilm-for-35mm-LOMO-camera-Black/790635029.html

First off, has anyone here bought from ali express and secondly, does anyone have an idea what film this may be?

Thanks.

LeKai is the same as Lucky. Lucky is the English brand name and LeKai is the phonetic spelling of the Chinese brand name.

Xmas · Jul 1, 2014

AgX said:
But at least one perforation is cut open at the curve.

Yes looks worse on other photos.
But still might be C41?

bsdunek · Jul 1, 2014

It's a Chinese site also selling Lucky film, so I assume it is made in China. I use some of the Lomographic Color Tiger 110 film which is made in China, and have to admit, it looks pretty good.
Also, for most cameras, the leader doesn't need the long cut. When I load my own, I Just cut an angle and it works fine in my cameras. The long cut came about (I think) for the bottom loading Leicas, and became the standard.

Paul Howell · Jul 1, 2014

Xmas said:
Yes looks worse on other photos.
But still might be C41?

Lucky and Kodak had a partnership for many years, which is why Lucky did not had a strong marketing effort in the US. Kodak provided a old coating line and Lucky was making 1980s vintage Kodacolor. The Lucky web site lists color paper, but no color film. Lucky also lists 2 B&W films a 100 and 400, appears to new a new listing, along with B&W paper. This just might be an old stock that has been cut and packaged a 3rd party.

AgX · Jul 1, 2014

Bruce, the seller himself stated it to be Lucky film.

Yes, I do not care much for my self-cut leaders either. But in commercially cut leaders un-cut perforations seem to be standard.

Lucky only recently cancelled manufacture of colour films.

madgardener · Jul 1, 2014

Interesting that the Ad and under specs. it claims to be ISO 400 and the cartridge is listed as 200. That's most likely where the Lomo comes in.

If it ever makes it to Ebay, I might try a few rolls. I have a several cameras to test film.

As for the old Lucky brand color film, it wasn't that bad. The colors were a little washed out but it was ok for just general snapshots and me learning how to home develop C-41.

Kirks518 · Jul 8, 2014

In response to the OP's second part of his question, I have ordered from aliexpress, and have nothing but good things to say. Eveything I have ordered was as described, and didn't take too long to get to me (Florida) from China. Most of the sellers have sent me messages all throughout the shipping time asking if it arrived, etc. There was one item, a spanner wrench for lenses, that didn't get to me. It seems there was a customs problem with an 'all metal' item, but the seller was diligent about following up ith it, and refunded me my (whopping) $13 without question.

Aliexpress seems to be an outlet for Chinese manufacturers to sell what they manufacture at a retail price, but you can also buy in wholesale bulk quantities, or even special order (large) quantities of their items for huge discounts for reselling. Even with shipping, it's usually about 1/5 the cost versus buying the same thing from a domestic reseller.

Xmas · Jul 9, 2014

bsdunek said:
It's a Chinese site also selling Lucky film, so I assume it is made in China. I use some of the Lomographic Color Tiger 110 film which is made in China, and have to admit, it looks pretty good.
Also, for most cameras, the leader doesn't need the long cut. When I load my own, I Just cut an angle and it works fine in my cameras. The long cut came about (I think) for the bottom loading Leicas, and became the standard.

Yes for Leicas.

The factory cassettes were changed about 1970 to short leaders cause the 'Barnack' Leicas were such a small % of 35mm cameras by then.

The Barnacks and clones needed 22 or 23 perforation long leaders. Most other cameras only need a stub.

madgardener · Jul 9, 2014

Thank you for the vote of confidence in aliexpress. It might be worth getting a few rolls and see what the film is all about.

Question about a new brand of color film

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