One Roll Review - Reflx Lab Pro 100

I was in my local camera store and recently picked up a roll of Reflx Lab Pro 100 C-41 film.  I have previously shot with their 400 ISO C-41 film and it was early days for Reflx Lab at that time.  Now, with more experience, and more offerings, Reflx Lab is no longer some unknown little company based in China.  It’s obvious that their excellent packaging (love those aluminum canisters) and approach to offering what are normally ECN-2 films with the remjet removed, as well as other the films that they carry are reaching new customers.  Finding their films on the shelf at Ball Photo in Asheville was a pleasant surprise, and of course, I had to buy a few.  Full disclosure here - after I had purchased the film, about a week later I received a package in the mail from Reflx Lab with 3 rolls of the Pro 100 color film and a new light meter to review.  The light meter is still being evaluated, and I will have a review ready in another week or two.  So, this review is based on the film that I had already purchased.

What is Reflx Lab Pro 100?

Guess what?  It’s Kodak Aerocolor IV C-41 film.  Before testing the film, I had seen the images of the Reflx Lab 100 Daylight film, which is the Vision 3 5203 50D film.  My first thought was that the packaging had changed, but after development, it was obvious that it was the Aerocolor film because there is no information on the film rebate, and the sprocket holes are typical 35mm still sprocket holes. Side by side, with the Flic Film Elektra 100, it’s obvious that they are the same type of emulsion.  Better yet, the Pro 100 is available from my local photo store, and is reasonably priced at $11.99/roll.

Loaded into the Spotmatic SP - and look at that nice little
light meter from Reflx Labs 

I shot my first roll of the Pro 100 with my beautiful, black Pentax Spotmatic SP with an uncommon lens - the Vivitar 35-85mm f/2.8 zoom.  I chose colorful subjects, and the resulting negatives did not disappoint me.  The film was developed at Ball Photo, and I scanned it on my Epson V700 flatbed scanner.    Again, the resulting scans are wonderful, with the obvious excellent characteristics of the Aerocolor IV  providing vibrant images with low grain and excellent latitude.

What's not to like about the Reflx Lab Pro 100?  It's affordable, has excellent color rendition, it's a true C-41 film, and is available in my local store.  If you are looking for a good all-purpose medium speed color film, this is it.  See my previous post about the Aerocolor IV film for more information on it, and I am glad that Reflx Lab is packaging this excellent color film.   

One Roll Review - Elektra 100

One thing that’s really become apparent in the past few years is the rebranding of film stocks from various sellers. For example, you’ll find Fomapan 100 rebranded as no less than 8 different films.  In the color film world, it's generally been rebranding of Kodak ECN-2 films - some with the remjet removed, such as with Cinestill and Reflx Lab. However, some recent introductions have been a great surprise, and have introduced films that I did not previously know about.  Such is the case of Kodak’s Aerocolor IV, an aerial surveillance film that has a primary purpose in aerial mapping and photogrammetry applications, and the film’s low-grain, high color accuracy, and lack of an orange mask makes it a unique C-41 film that has been languishing in the shadows until very recently.

So, enter SantaColor 100, and Flic Film Elektra 100 - both of which are 35mm 36 exposure cassettes of the Aerocolor IV (NOT Aerochrome — that was a false-color IR film). Only the Flic Film tells us what the film actually is.  From what I have read, one can only buy the Aerocolor IV film in 5” x 500 ft lengths - which of course, is going to be quite pricey especially considering that one would likely have to have any film cut to 35mm and sprocketed afterwards.

From the Kodak Data Sheet (dated October 2009):

“KODAK AEROCOLOR IV Negative Film 2460 is a medium-speed, very fine-grain color negative aerial film. This film has a wide exposure latitude and is specifically designed for processing to a color negative only. Since this film does not have integral color masking, direct interpretation can be made from the negative. Objects are recorded in colors complementary to their natural colors.

The ESTAR Base provides flexibility, moisture resistance, high tear resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. KODAK AEROCOLOR IV Negative Film 2460 has an abrasion-resistant emulsion, an antihalation undercoat, and a dyed-gel backing.

The hardened emulsion permits high-temperature, rapid processing in roller-transport processors, such as the KODAK Aerial Color Processor, Model 1611, and the KODAK EKTACHROME RT Processor, Model 1811, with Quick-Change, using Process AN-6. This process consists of selected KODAK EA-5 Chemicals and AN-6 Chemicals. Processing can be easily tailored to optimize contrast for specific applications.

This film is also compatible with Process C-41. It can be processed in existing C-41 processors using either KODAK FLEXICOLOR Developer or KODAK Developer Replenisher, Process AN-6.”

Additionally, the film has an integral UV-absorbing layer so that UV filters are not needed.  However, since the film is on an Estar base, it should be loaded into the camera under dim conditions to avoid light-piping. 

Okay, what about the Elektra 100?

I bought my rolls from Ultrafine Online, one of my three favorite places to shop for film and developing chemistry.

The film comes in a black canister, so that it’s not going to be light-piping along the film base from the exposed leader.  Load the film into your camera indoors, if possible.  The ISO is set at 100 - leave it at 100 for the best results.  I loaded my film into my Nikon FM2N  and then went to Spruce Pine, NC for an afternoon of photography with my buddy, Graham Young.  Most of the time I used the 50mm f/2 Nikkor, though in a few instances, I used my 200mmm f/4 Nikkor to isolate a window scene.

I had the film developed at Ball Photo in Asheville, and scanned the negatives on my Epson V700 scanner.

I have to say, this is a fantastic film.  It has no curl, lies flat in the scanner, and the color rendition is excellent.  It’s supposed to be very low grain, and it certainly is.  There’s no orange mask, but the scanning was perfect.  Here are some samples from that roll.

mural, Haywood St, West Asheville

Tastee Diner, West Asheville

Spruce Pine, NC as are the rest that follow

It’s not an inexpensive film at 12.95/roll, but it’s also not as expensive as some other color emulsions.  At this price, and considering the quality of the images, I think it’s a bargain. I have another roll that I’m saving for some colorful subjects, and I now know what the film is capable of.  Kodak — you really ought to make this film available for 120 and 35mm cameras. 

For more information from Kodak:

Information on available sizes and minimum order quantities of this film is available on the web at www.kodak.com/go/aerial. You can also write or contact:

Aerial Imaging

Eastman Kodak Company

343 State Street Rochester,NewYork 14650-0505 aerial@kodak.com