Kodak now selling Pro Image 100 in another market - but not where it is made!

[Dante_Stella]

https://www.dpreview.com/news/1785236641/kodak-alaris-brings-35mm-pro-image-100-film-to-europe

So now what's Kodak's explanation for why people in the United States have to buy Pro Image 100 on the grey market? Isn't this made in Rochester? Not like they have to ship this to a different continent.

Dante

 

[Skiff]

Thanks for the info, Dante.

I think concerning the North American market two cases are possible:
1. American distributers import the film from Europe.
2. If the film is a success in Europe, Kodak Alaris will also offer it officially in North America.

All in all, this is good news I think.

 

[gavinlg]

I love this film - a few years back it was all I was using. It's a little grainy (for 100 speed film), has a full but slightly subdued color palate, and is really easy to expose - under or overexposure are both fine.

Gotta grab some more methinks.

 

[retinax]

Michael Bialecki frequently posts great looking pictures in the ZM Distagon 35 1.4 thread that I think are all on this film. Michael, if you're reading this, or anyone really, could you please post some higher resolution scans and share how you post processed them? That would be very helpful in forming an opinion about this film for the many of us who can now finally buy it!

 

[Out to Lunch]

Good news! One thing I've noticed is that the price for this film varies widely: in Asia between USD 3 to 4 per roll and in Germany they charge more than USD 8.

 

[DKimg]

It's a cool film. Tried some while I was overseas... Seems to fall in-between a Gold 100 and Portra 160. It's like the poors man's portra film. haha. Worth a shot to try.

 

[stompyq]

They probably don't want portra sales to be affected

 

[Huss]

I have some rolls being developed now. Had to buy it from Thailand shipped to the US. Michael's work made me curious.

 

[Huss]

Leica M-A, 7Artisans 50 1.1, Kodak ProImage 100, D850 scan

"Olympio's Shoes"




Leica M-A. 7Artisans 50 1.1, Kodak ProImage 100, D850 scan




Leica M-A, 7Artisans 50 1.1, Kodak ProImage 100, D850 scan



Leica M-A, 7Artisans 50 1.1, Kodak ProImage 100, D850 scan.

 

[ForestCap]

My favourite consumer level neg. All of my ProImage 100s were bought from Thailand.


Pentax ME Auto-Reveunon 50/1.4



Olympus XA3 D.Zuiko 35/3.5

Lab scan made the colour palette a bit generic. Had to use the lab for my recent rolls since I shot too many rolls...

 

[Dante_Stella]

They probably don't want portra sales to be affected

I don't think the two films are in danger of being confused. It's probably Ektar that would be threatened - because why use a super-testy fine-grained film susceptible to ills from temperature and overexposure -- when you could use the technology of 100 speed film from the 80s? /sarcasm

D

 

[Dante_Stella]

Thanks for the info, Dante.

I think concerning the North American market two cases are possible:
1. American distributers import the film from Europe.
2. If the film is a success in Europe, Kodak Alaris will also offer it officially in North America.

All in all, this is good news I think.

Still, (1) is a waste of fuel and time and (2) this film was already a success as Gold 100 up to about 10 years ago. 🙂

Dante

 

[Huss]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Gold 100. But Pro-Image just sounds so much more professional!

 

[Prest_400]

I heard of it quite a bit and thought it was just Gold 100 by itself. In the current reduced market I wonder how similar (or same) Lomo CN100 may be to this. Similar thoughts for the CN400 & 800. I never tried Gold 100 myself unless it is the same as Lomo.
Recently there was the announcement about disposables, loaded with an 800 film (Ultramax/Gold line). They only market Portra stand alone but that 800 could be sold through Lomography as well.

Funny the quieter world of dPreview reports this. Comments, aside of the couple trolls that always arise, can have interesting information.

Am again a bit more of a poor man so I can see grabbing a bit of it

 

[ForestCap]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Gold 100. But Pro-Image just sounds so much more professional!

My observation is that ProImage 100 is rebranded/slightly downgraded Kodak ProFoto100(discontinued). The colour palettes of the two are very similar to my eyes. Both are labelled as Professional but dissed by some users.

Definitely not Gold to my eyes.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

A friend bought me some of this when he was overseas a long time ago. I used it all and really liked it. It would be nice if they brought it to the NA market.

 

[dourbalistar]

Fogdog Blog has some nice image samples from the Northern California coast. In the first post, he mentions that a friend brings it from Mexico:
http://www.fogdog-photography.com/f...ge-100and-a-much-needed-sunday-of-photography
http://www.fogdog-photography.com/fogdog-blog/2018/3/25/kodak-pro-image-100

 

[Swift1]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was Gold 100. But Pro-Image just sounds so much more professional!

I heard of it quite a bit and thought it was just Gold 100 by itself. In the current reduced market I wonder how similar (or same) Lomo CN100 may be to this. Similar thoughts for the CN400 & 800. I never tried Gold 100 myself unless it is the same as Lomo.
Recently there was the announcement about disposables, loaded with an 800 film (Ultramax/Gold line). They only market Portra stand alone but that 800 could be sold through Lomography as well.

Funny the quieter world of dPreview reports this. Comments, aside of the couple trolls that always arise, can have interesting information.

Am again a bit more of a poor man so I can see grabbing a bit of it

A few years ago there was a US based ebay seller that was selling fresh 5 packs of ProImage 100 for $15, so I bought 10 rolls of it. In my experience it is a very different film than Gold 100. The current 35mm Lomo Color 100 is very very similar and could be the same film as ProImage 100.
Personally, I didn't really like ProImage 100. I found it kinda grainy, with a somewhat dull color palette, but that is my personal preference.

Here are a few samples of mine. Shot with a Pentax ZX-5N with 43/1.9 and 35/2.4, scanned with my Nikon Coolscan V .

 

[GarageBoy]

I've always heard of it, but was hoping it was as good as the gold 100 of my childhood... Is it more similar to the colorplus stuff?

 

[xayraa33]

The colours this film produces looks so 1970s