yossi
Well-known
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.
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
Obscure member
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.
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.
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jaredangle
Photojournalist
I’d like to see them reverse engineer Neopan 400. I prefer that film over Tri-X when I can get it.
yossi
Well-known
You can see two test sample photos from their announcement link. Near the bottom of the page.
Freakscene
Obscure member
They are from a test batch with no antihalation coating. It won't show much about what a final finished product will produce.
Freakscene
Obscure member
I loved Neopan 400 but I think the chances of this film resembling that are low.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
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!
"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
Well-known
Rather LLL produce a M mout camera to go with their lenses, mor in line with their engineering area.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
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?
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BillBingham2
Registered User
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.