Hey everybody! Looks like Kodak is introducing a new C-41 B&W film, called PORTA B&W in April 2001. I think it is balanced for RA-4 (color) printing, out of the box (prints not sepia toned like T400CN). Only downside is that it is not recommended for use with B&W enlarger printing (where you can do so with T400CN). Anyhow, here is some more info on the product:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/portraBW/main.shtml

Johnny

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), March 08, 2001

Answers

> balanced for RA-4 (color) printing, out of the box (prints not sepia toned like T400CN).

The only reason to get sepia-toned (or any other color) RA-4 prints from a chromogenic film is that the printer operator can't get a good neutral balance.

> not recommended for use with B&W enlarger printing

I'm curious about that. I'm just speculating, but I think the reason is that that the base is so yellow it'd make getting a normal-contrast print on VC paper very difficult. I can't think of any other good reason Kodak would make such a statement...other than marketing.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), March 08, 2001.

Yes. It sounds likely that it'll incorporate an orange masking layer to be more compatible with colour printers. This is obviously more for the processing lab's convenience than any improvement in image quality.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), March 09, 2001.

I presume the Yellow Peril is introducing a "Pro" version of its B+W Plus. It'll probably be a big seller in 120.

B+W Plus is not as easy to print onto VC B&W paper as XP2 or T400CN: I found I needed to go up 1 contrast grade for B+W Plus. It's also just plain not as sharp as the other two films, though I don't really see why it shouldn't be.

The new Portra film will only interest me if its ISO speed is 100-160 or 800. (And don't tell me about T400CN being 800 speed; I fell for that one ONCE.)

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), March 09, 2001.

John writes: > The only reason to get sepia-toned (or any other color) > RA-4 prints from a chromogenic film is that the printer > operator can't get a good neutral balance. > Agreed. Most operators don't know how to do it or they don't want to. They just want to load up the machine and let it crank. I wonder if this new film will be like Black and White+. I believe that comes pre-balanced for RA-4.

> I'm curious about that. I'm just speculating, but I think > the r eason is that that the base is so yellow it'd make getting a > normal-contrast print on VC paper very difficult. I can't think of > any other good reason Kodak would make such a statement...other > than marketing. > I've noticed that my T400CN prints are pretty contrasty. I wonder if they reduced the contrast for the PORTA film. It might be corrected for RA-4 but flat for regular enlarger printing.

John writes: > The new Portra film will only interest me if its ISO > speed is 100-160 or 800. (And don't tell me about >T400CN being 800 speed; I fell for that one ONCE.) > I believe it is rated at 400. Kodak claims that it will do 25-1600.

Johnny

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), March 09, 2001.

Good God, my formatting is horrible! Let's try it again:

> The only reason to get sepia-toned (or any other color) RA-4 prints from a chromogenic film is that the printer operator can't get a good neutral balance.

Agreed. Most operators don't know how to do it or they don't want to. They just want to load up the machine and let it crank. I wonder if this new film will be like Black and White+. I believe that comes pre- balanced for RA-4.

> I'm curious about that. I'm just speculating, but I think the r eason is that that the base is so yellow it'd make getting a normal- contrast print on VC paper very difficult. I can't think of any other good reason Kodak would make such a statement...other than marketing.

I've noticed that my T400CN prints are pretty contrasty. I wonder if they reduced the contrast for the PORTA film. It might be corrected for RA-4 but flat for regular enlarger printing.

> The new Portra film will only interest me if its ISO speed is 100- 160 or 800. (And don't tell me about T400CN being 800 speed; I fell for that one ONCE.)

I believe it is rated at 400. Kodak claims that it will do 25-1600.

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), March 09, 2001.