fstoppers: Is CineStill 400D Film the New Natura?

Matt Murray at the fstoppers photography site writes, Is CineStill 400D Film the New Natura?  Like CineStill 800T, the new CineStill 400D stock comes with a cassette labelled for push processing.  So, as a dusk time shooter, Matt likes a fast film, around EI 1600.  Much like Fujifilm Natura was, when Fujifilm manufactured it.  Sure, you can still buy it as new old stock (NOS).  

But, CineStill 400D can be pushed two stops to EI 1600 and Matt feels it does so quite well.  It is also fresh, when available and offers a high dynamic range (the D in 400D stands for dynamic, not daylight).

Read on for the details and find out:  Is CineStill 400D Film the New Natura?

The Photography Professor: All About Instax Film

The Photography Professor has an article, All About Instax Film, that gives the history, cameras, options and more all about Fujifilm Instax film.  This is an integrated instant film, based on licensed Polaroid film technology, since the 1990s.  The Professor points out the the film is different from what Polaroid used to make.  Modern Polaroid is another history, arising from the ashes with the help of the Impossible Project.

There is an extensive table of contents in the article, if one wants to use it as a reference.  

The author of All About Instax Film, Lee, has this to say about shaking your instant film photograph:

Should You Shake Instax Film?

No, you should not shake your Instax film because you could ruin the image. You may think that shaking your Instax film may speed of the development process but according to Fujifilm, the manufacturer of Instax film, shaking Instax film while it is developing could damage the development chemicals on the image, causing it not to spread evenly over the image and prevents the photo from developing correctly.

In my experience, shaking the image after it comes out of the camera also may make the image blurry and/or cause feather-like patterns on the film. In addition, if you touch the image area while shaking it, you will cause spots on the image.

Grab an instant camera, and experience tangible photography today!

Halloween Already?!

The Film Photography Project has introduced a new Halloween themed film, so yes, Halloween already.  The film, called The Mummy, is on sale until August 15th for $7.99 a roll from the online FPP shop. 

Rated at ISO 400 and based on the FPP Cine16 stock, the film is a medium grain, medium contrast film.  It is available in 35mm, 120, 620, 4x5 and 8x10 formats.

The Mummy joins other Halloween themed films, such as Dracula 64, The WolfMan 100 and Frankenstein 200.

It feels like this blog has arisen from the dead, but not because there is any lack of news to report in still film photography.  The industry is alive and well, producing more films, more cameras and more options than ever.

Get out and shoot film!

Studio C-41: Kodak Carded 24-exposure Ultramax

Studio C-41 reported that Kodak discontinued 24-exposure carded Ultramax film packs.  The packaging most used in pharmacies and superstores is being phased out.  Regular boxed Ultramax film will continue to be sold.

The article also presented a leaked memo to Australian retailers noting that there is a more than half a million packs of film in backorder with Kodak which the distributor for that continent cannot fill.

The demand is there, but Kodak is having difficulty filling it.  This simplification of the variety film packaging methods might just be a step in fulfilling orders, one can only hope.

Kickstarter: Revival

Revival is a film about film.  PetaPixel has an article on the background for this Kickstarter.  Dean Ginsburg, the director of the Revival, became a believer in film once introduced to an analog camera, and noted that many others, too young to have handled a film camera before, became enthralled by the medium.

Now, given the past failures of Kickstarters making actual film, will a film about film make it?  Or should we contribute to the campaign, because we believe in the art?  You decide. 

The project will only get funds if it meets or exceeds its funding goal, so your money will be refunded if the campaign is not popular enough.

Check out the Kickstarter, Revival:

PopPhoto: 'Euphoria' Shot on Ektachrome

PopPhoto reports that season two of the HBO series, Euphoria, will be shot entirely on Ektachrome film.  Kodak even had to make adjustments to its production line to accomodate the request.  

The article answers the question, "But why switch from a digital format in season one to an analog one in season two?"  Check it out!

The article:  Season two of HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ shot entirely on Kodak Ektachrome film

Blog Note: Ground Hog Day!