Rounding up the C-41 Survivors

mjk · Mar 1, 2017

After having stepped away from film for a number of years due to rising costs, nostalgia and poor impulse control have led me to dig my old N90 out the closet and buy a roll of Ektar 100 for a good time. While I was at the photo store, I was struck by just how paltry the available choice of C-41 film had become. What I'm wondering is what's actually out there. I saw some products (like Kodak ColorPlus 200) that don't seem to be mentioned on the manufacturer page at all. Has anyone actually figured out what color films are available "in the wild" in 2017 and which are any good?

sir_mamiya · Mar 1, 2017

Kodak Portra 160 is my personal choice.

flavio81 · Mar 1, 2017

mjk said:
After having stepped away from film for a number of years due to rising costs, nostalgia and poor impulse control have led me to dig my old N90 out the closet and buy a roll of Ektar 100 for a good time. While I was at the photo store, I was struck by just how paltry the available choice of C-41 film had become. What I'm wondering is what's actually out there. I saw some products (like Kodak ColorPlus 200) that don't seem to be mentioned on the manufacturer page at all. Has anyone actually figured out what color films are available "in the wild" in 2017 and which are any good?

Kodak Colorplus 200
Kodak Gold 200 apparently is still available (not the same film)
Kodak Ultra (or "MAX") 400

Fuji C200
On japan it is available Superia 200, 400, 800 (also Press 800), and 1600 (as "Natura 1600")
Fuji Pro 400H

Kodak Ektar 100
Kodak Portra 160, 400, 800

Lomography 100,400,800 color negative (probably Ferrania stock, most likely outdated, still nice though)
Rollei Digbase CN200

Then the weird films:

Lomochrome Purple XR400 (special film custom made for them)
Adox Color Implosion 100 (special film made by Adox)
Rollei Redbird 400 Redscale (can be any of the above films but spooled in reverse)
Lomography Redscale XR 50-200 (probably one of the Ferrania or Kodak stocks reverse-spooled)

Then you have the Agfa Vista which is repackaged Fuji film.
And the latest lomography color negative which is old-stock outdated and repackaged Ferrania film.

Then the repackaged movie films:
CineStill pro 800T, 50D

flavio81 · Mar 1, 2017

PS: At B&H i see all sorts of "revolog" films. Who makes these? I haven't ready any discussion of them here!

PS: You can't go wrong with any of the Kodak or Fuji pro films!

mnemosyne · Mar 2, 2017

mjk said:
After having stepped away from film for a number of years due to rising costs, nostalgia and poor impulse control have led me to dig my old N90 out the closet and buy a roll of Ektar 100 for a good time. While I was at the photo store, I was struck by just how paltry the available choice of C-41 film had become. What I'm wondering is what's actually out there. I saw some products (like Kodak ColorPlus 200) that don't seem to be mentioned on the manufacturer page at all. Has anyone actually figured out what color films are available "in the wild" in 2017 and which are any good?

Kodak
Gold 200 (only 35mm)
ColorPlus 200 (budget film, "older technology", slightly grainier and more muted colors than Gold 200; only 35mm)
Kodak ProImage 100 (similar to Gold 200, slightly different colors?)
Ulta(max) 400 (400 version of Gold 200)
Ektar 100 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 160 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 400 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 800 (35mm, 120)

Fuji
Superia 200 (35mm only)
Fujicolor C200 (budget film, "older technology", 35mm only)
Superia X-tra 400 (35mm only)
Superia X-tra 800 (35mm only)
Superia 1600 (35mm only)
Pro 160 NS (120, LF)
Pro 400H (120, 35mm)

Agfaphoto Vista plus 200 (made by Fuji, similar to C200)
Agfaphoto Vista plus 400 (made by Fuji, similar to Superia Xtra 400)

and various other stuff from Rollei, Lomography, Cinestill ...

BMbikerider · Mar 2, 2017

The Agfa Vista 200 is the same film as Fuji CN200. If you look at the cassettes, below the edge of the felt light traps is a number which on both the Vista and CN200 is the same. The number for Fuji Superia is different. This is a 'common' identification number for most or all films be they Ilford, Kodak, Kentmere and as far as I know the others. So if you have two cassettes of film from different 'manufacturers' if they have the same number you can bet they are the same film.

Berri · Mar 2, 2017

why kodak proimage and colorplus are not on their website? I never saw proimage in any store but colorplus is available here in Italy. Also, inside kodak funtime single use cameras there is an iso 800 film, what is it?

RattyMouse · Mar 2, 2017

mnemosyne said:
Kodak
Gold 200 (only 35mm)
ColorPlus 200 (budget film, "older technology", slightly grainier and more muted colors than Gold 200; only 35mm)
Kodak ProImage 100 (similar to Gold 200, slightly different colors?)
Ulta(max) 400 (400 version of Gold 200)
Ektar 100 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 160 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 400 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 800 (35mm, 120)

Fuji
Superia 200 (35mm only)
Fujicolor C200 (budget film, "older technology", 35mm only)
Superia X-tra 400 (35mm only)
Superia X-tra 800 (35mm only)
Superia 1600 (35mm only)
Pro 160 NS (120, LF)
Pro 400H (35mm only)

Agfaphoto Vista plus 200 (made by Fuji, similar to Superia 200)
Agfaphoto Vista plus 400 (made by Fuji, similar to Superia Xtra 400)

and various other stuff from Rollei, Lomography, Cinestill ...

Fuji 400H is also available in 120 size.

RattyMouse · Mar 2, 2017

Ilford XP2 is also a C41 film.

Prest_400 · Mar 2, 2017

In Japan there are the Fujicolor Industrial 100 & 400 (superia?), Superia Venus.

Kodak Color Plus and Fuji C200 are the lowest end of esch manufacturer. I also wonder why there is not even a datasheet.

Fuji and Kodak Proimage, prowhatever seem to be versions of a mid ground film sold to select markets.

flavio81 said:
Lomography 100,400,800 color negative (probably Ferrania stock, most likely outdated, still nice though)

Actually quite probably Kodak. "made in USA" printed in the box and the plastic canister are Kodak (same as Portra). 120 says "made in china" but it may be just the finishing part and not the film.
A table Around the web shows them as Kodacolor VR, is that gold in disguise? That would be interesting because Gold 100 was discontinued.

BTW, Berri. Kodak did sell a MAX 800 but maybe now they only make it for the disposables? And Lomo...

mnemosyne · Mar 2, 2017

THX for the corrections on Agfaphoto Vista and Fuji 400H, I have updated my original post. Kodak ProImage is available in some none-European markets only. I have in the past bought it from Thailand.

bvy · Mar 2, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Fuji and Kodak Proimage, prowhatever seem to be versions of a mid ground film sold to select markets.

Kodak ProFoto XL 100 is/was a nice film. But I can find no evidence that it's still available or that it's been discontinued.

Berri · Mar 2, 2017

bvy said:
Kodak ProFoto XL 100 is/was a nice film. But I can find no evidence that it's still available or that it's been discontinued.

Perhaps not even Kodak knows that this film has ever existed!

Sirius Glass · Mar 2, 2017

Kodak
Gold 200 (only 35mm)
Ulta(max) 400 (400 version of Gold 200)
Ektar 100 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 160 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 400 (35mm, 120, LF)
Portra 800 (35mm, 120)

flavio81 · Mar 2, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Actually quite probably Kodak. "made in USA" printed in the box and the plastic canister are Kodak (same as Portra). 120 says "made in china" but it may be just the finishing part and not the film.
A table Around the web shows them as Kodacolor VR, is that gold in disguise? That would be interesting because Gold 100 was discontinued.

Some Lomography 120 film says "Made in Italy" (=Ferrania) on the box, some other says Made in the USA, even Made in China.

So the color negative sometimes is Ferrania, sometimes is Kodak (Lucky?)

flavio81 · Mar 2, 2017

bvy said:
Kodak ProFoto XL 100 is/was a nice film. But I can find no evidence that it's still available or that it's been discontinued.

ProImage 100 has been sold here until last year.

Moopheus · Mar 2, 2017

flavio81 said:
PS: At B&H i see all sorts of "revolog" films. Who makes these? I haven't ready any discussion of them here!

Their website is here:
http://www.revolog.net/en/

Looks like color film that has been pre-exposed with some overlay pattern.

For that matter, might as well include Cinestill on this list.

lovely_sausages · Mar 2, 2017

Fuji ProPlus II 100 and 200... nice stuff

Prest_400 · Mar 2, 2017

flavio81 said:
Some Lomography 120 film says "Made in Italy" (=Ferrania) on the box, some other says Made in the USA, even Made in China.

So the color negative sometimes is Ferrania, sometimes is Kodak (Lucky?)

Does it have an expiration date? I just purchased earlier today a 3xCN400 pack and it is 10/2018 made in USA. I recall reading that sometime ago lomo did not print any date on the packs. Old stuff? Ferrania went bust in 2011, and you make me wonder if the "carefully aged in checz republic Italain film" will say "made in Italy".
Limiting myself to the Color Negative 100, 400 & 800. The others are odd. OT: Read that one of the B&W's was TMax (Lady Gray).
The problem with tracking Lomo suppliers is that they switch often.

You give me a reason to visit the Barcelona Lomography store again and spend some time there. Well, not really, I just wanted to fondle a TLR that was on display but didn't. They did have CN100 and yes "made in china". Couldn't check most of the films they had there listed.

flavio81 said:
ProImage 100 has been sold here until last year.

lovely_sausages said:
Fuji ProPlus II 100 and 200... nice stuff

Those are the unlisted market specific films. It is interesting because they may be unavailable somewhere else (Fuji ProPlus 100, No Fujicolor 100 in EU)

flavio81 · Mar 2, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Those are the unlisted market specific films. It is interesting because they may be unavailable somewhere else (Fuji ProPlus 100, No Fujicolor 100 in EU)

But for what it's worth, back in the "good old days" (early 2000s), the Fuji stores had both Superia 100 (which is not Fujicolor 100 by the way) and Superia 200 alongside Proplus II 200 and Proplus II 100. And i am pretty sure they weren't the same film; Proplus II 200 from what i recall was more of a 'wedding photo' film (just like ProImage 100 was).

And of course i had Superia Reala 100...

ProImage 100 was different than Gold 100 as well. ProImage was a bit tamed and with more 'professional-looking' skintones.

Prest_400 · Mar 3, 2017

Yes indeed. I suppose they are getting culled or consolidated into the same kind of product.
It would be interesting to know if all the current flavours of mysterious CN like Fujicolor 100 are the same film with different packaging, which economically would make sense now. The problem with comparison is the interpretation of the negatives though.

flavio81 said:
And of course i had Superia Reala 100...

Alas, I didn't get to try it but it was highly regarded. Why Fuji, why? Then Reala in its rendition and not slightly crazy like Ektar.

RattyMouse · Mar 3, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Yes indeed. I suppose they are getting culled or consolidated into the same kind of product.
It would be interesting to know if all the current flavours of mysterious CN like Fujicolor 100 are the same film with different packaging, which economically would make sense now. The problem with comparison is the interpretation of the negatives though.

Alas, I didn't get to try it but it was highly regarded. Why Fuji, why? Then Reala in its rendition and not slightly crazy like Ektar.

Reala 100 was such an amazing film. I fell in love with it forever after the first roll I shot came back. Gorgeous colors, simply sublime, and incredibly sharp near grainless photos. To make it even better, it was one of THE cheapest films I could buy at my film store. I thought I'd shoot it forever. Less than one year later, Fujifilm cancelled this wonderful film and it shot up to $12 or more per roll. Why Fuji, why????

bvy · Mar 3, 2017

flavio81 said:
ProImage 100 was different than Gold 100 as well. ProImage was a bit tamed and with more 'professional-looking' skintones.

So was ProImage the same as ProFoto XL (neither of which was the same as Gold 100)? I remember reading that ProFoto was designed and marketed for warmer regions -- apparently not requiring (or benefiting from) cool keeping.

flavio81 · Mar 3, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Alas, I didn't get to try it but it was highly regarded. Why Fuji, why? Then Reala in its rendition and not slightly crazy like Ektar.

Don't worry, I think Portra 160 has better colors, and probably Ektar 100 has finer grain.
I did a lot of nice images with Superia Reala, though.

BTW "Reala" was a previous film, then came "Superia Reala". They were different.

bvy said:
So was ProImage the same as ProFoto XL (neither of which was the same as Gold 100)? I remember reading that ProFoto was designed and marketed for warmer regions -- apparently not requiring (or benefiting from) cool keeping.

Years ago i checked the datasheets of both films and they appeared to be the same stuff.

And no, it wasn't Gold 100; different emulsion codes. Gold 100 was GA-<emulsion number>, where GA-6 was the sharpest color negative film of all time, if one believes the MTF data published by Kodak. Remarkable. Also, a bit grainy for a 100 speed film.

One of my big mistakes in life was shooting Superia 100 instead of Gold 100. In hindsight, Gold 100 had much better colors. But of Superia 100 was smooth! It gave you smooth gradations... of rather fake colors , while Gold 100 gave you a grainier image, of really tasty colors.

bvy · Mar 3, 2017

flavio81 said:
One of my big mistakes in life was shooting Superia 100 instead of Gold 100. In hindsight, Gold 100 had much better colors. But of Superia 100 was smooth! It gave you smooth gradations... of rather fake colors , while Gold 100 gave you a grainier image, of really tasty colors.

I have still have Gold 100, expired 2004, in the fridge.

Rounding up the C-41 Survivors

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