LLL's Film Project

[yossi]

LLL Film Project Announcement.

Not sure if it is reverse-engineering or ingenious product. Good to see a new B&W film and wish they pull it off successfully.

 

[Freakscene]

It might be good news for availability and variability if it comes off.

I am pretty sure that many of Kodak's intellectual property claims over the flat grain technology have now expired. I am certain, however, that they still own the "T grain" "TMax" and other associated names. This was a big problem in the 1990s when Foma marketed their 200 and 800 speed films in the US and other western markets as T200 and T800. I am not sure there is any realistic avenue for Kodak to pursue this, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

I will also be very interested to see if Kodak and of the other manufacturers, in their varied states of diminution, do anything, even in terms of a marketing response.

The scanning electron micrograph seems to show a multisize flat grain emulsion; it is interesting, because the mono size technology in TMax and Delta films makes a greater difference for many aspects of performance than the flat or epitaxial grains do. It will be interesting to see what the photos from these look like if they appear.

 

[jaredangle]

I’d like to see them reverse engineer Neopan 400. I prefer that film over Tri-X when I can get it.

 

[yossi]

It might be good news for availability and variability if it comes off.

I am pretty sure that many of Kodak's intellectual property claims over the flat grain technology have now expired. I am certain, however, that they still own the "T grain" "TMax" and other associated names. This was a big problem in the 1990s when Foma marketed their 200 and 800 speed films in the US and other western markets as T200 and T800. I am not sure there is any realistic avenue for Kodak to pursue this, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

I will also be very interested to see if Kodak and of the other manufacturers, in their varied states of diminution, do anything, even in terms of a marketing response.

The scanning electron micrograph seems to show a multisize flat grain emulsion; it is interesting, because the mono size technology in TMax and Delta films makes a greater difference for many aspects of performance than the flat or epitaxial grains do. It will be interesting to see what the photos from these look like if they appear.

You can see two test sample photos from their announcement link. Near the bottom of the page.

 

[Freakscene]

You can see two test sample photos from their announcement link. Near the bottom of the page.

They are from a test batch with no antihalation coating. It won't show much about what a final finished product will produce.

 

[Freakscene]

I’d like to see them reverse engineer Neopan 400. I prefer that film over Tri-X when I can get it.

I loved Neopan 400 but I think the chances of this film resembling that are low.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

This past Sunday, in the (never-ending) "film over digital" thread, Coldkennels had this to say:

"I really don't think we're ever going to get brand new film technologies - there's just not the budget for that sort of thing, and I'd imagine we're going to get "brand new" developers before we ever get "brand new" film - but revisiting old ideas and finding ways to modernise them and make them available (and/or relevant) in the modern era is, in itself, a form of progress and development."

Maybe this is exactly what he was talking about. I would certainly call what LLL is doing a form of progress! And if their press release is to be believed (major grain of salt here), they also plan on creating a new E-6 emulsion. I'm doing cartwheels!

 

[kram]

Rather LLL produce a M mout camera to go with their lenses, mor in line with their engineering area.

 

[boojum]

Rather LLL produce a M mout camera to go with their lenses, mor in line with their engineering area.

Pixii in France produces an M-mount, now in full frame format. They have had a hard slog but are doing better. They are currently trying to raise capital to expand operations for increased business. It would be nice to have a choice of M-mounts. PRC certainly has the technical ability to do it, too. And LLL has a demonstrated ability in precision goods. Does that translate to camera manufacture?

 

[BillBingham2]

I'm hoping they see the market in 127. It's great to see someone picking up and filling a growing niche. Fingers crossed they get the annihilation layer quickly. Kodak engineers weren't perfect. They were working on a new B&W film before T-Grain came out. It was as fast as Tri-X with a grain structure of Plus-X almost Panatomic-X. It was a kickass batch they could not recreate for the life of them.