Kodak Updates Portra Films

[Tom Westbrook]

Press release:
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060911005436&newsLang=en

General Info (PDF):
http://www.kodak.com/global/plugins/acrobat/en/professional/products/films/portra/qAndAUS.pdf?id=0.2.22.14.7.14.20&lc=en

Tech notes (PDF):
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/e4040/e4040US.pdf

[Ron Marshall]

Something to match the new films from Fuji.

If seems Kodak is still doing some R+D.

[Gordon Coale]

Now neither has tungsten film. That sucks.

[roteague]

Now neither has tungsten film. That sucks.

You mean like Fujichrome T64 Professional (http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/bin/Fujichrome_T64_Professional_Brochure.pdf) which was introduced earlier this year, or the existing Fujichrome 64T Professional?

[Gordon Coale]

OH, NO! Not transparencies!?

I'm a negative kind of guy, which is not a reflection on whether I'm optomistic or not. I was using Fuji NPL and then it went away with the new Fuji film. I switched to Portra films and now Portra 100T seems to be going away. Oh, woe is me!

[roteague]

OH, NO! Not transparencies!?

:p

[Bill_1856]

Portra was already a superb film. The fact that Kodak is bothering to upgrade it is a very good sign.

[clay harmon]

Another LF forum had a post alleging that Kodak is no longer going to make any color negative film in the 5x7 format. Is this right?

[Eric Leppanen]

Before rumors start flying, I just called Kodak Technical Support, and was preliminarily told that all Portra sheet film configurations currently sold in the U.S. will most likely remain available with new Portra (including 5x7 160NC). There will be a meeting within Kodak to discuss this and other matters on late Thursday, so my Kodak support rep will call me on Friday morning with a confirmed answer. Unless someone else has something definite from another source, let's hold off on further speculation until we hear what Kodak officially has to say.

[Gordon Coale]

Another LF forum had a post alleging that Kodak is no longer going to make any color negative film in the 5x7 format. Is this right?

OH, NO! Another reason I switched to Portra was that I wanted to start shooting 5x7 color. I eagerly await word from Kodak.

[Lazybones]

One thing that I a m particularly concerned about is the reciprocity performance. Kodak indicates up to 10 seconds for 160NC/VC and 400NC/VC, and 1 sec for 800 on the tech pub for the old/current Portra. I have worked out times for 160NC/VC to 4 minutes. The new stuff all says 1 second! I hope that it is an omission on Kodaks part to separate the data... I need that extra exposure time!

[Ted Harris]

Hmmmmmm....unless my tired eyes missed something it looks like they have discontinued 16)NC in 5x7. I also understand from the jungle drums that they hace discontinued 5x7 EPR. I will check with Kodak contacts in the am to see if this is the case.

[Frank Petronio]

My understanding from Edgar Praus is that Kodak isn't going to sell any color film, E6 or C41, in 5x7 format, unless you do the $20K special order thing.

[BrianShaw]

My understanding from Edgar Praus is that Kodak isn't going to sell any color film, E6 or C41, in 5x7 format, unless you do the $20K special order thing.
all of the sudden, 4x5 isn't looking so small, eh?

[Ted Harris]

I combed through the latest Kodak Tech Pubs on Portra and EPR and saw no mention of 5x7 in the latests editions. While that tends to support what the rumors say it is not definitive. I just sent an email to my Kodak contact and am awaiting a reply. I am also very interested in what this means (if anything) for any changes of production of 13x18 films from Koday Europe which are currently available in Portra 100T, E100G, E100VS, EPR, EPP and EPY.

[Joe_6286]

If Kodak does discontiue 5x7 color films, then I guess it's either Fuji Provia from Badger Graphic or Midwest, or cutting down 8x10 as some people do. Or, just bit the bullet (or canon ball) and go to 8x10 like I did. Yes, 4x5 IS too small :-)

[Tom Westbrook]

Just noticed a $20 rebate on Portra films: http://www.kodak.com/global/plugins/acrobat/en/professional/promotions/portra/portra20Rebate.pdf