The Vintage Color Look

[ClaremontPhoto]

Al Kaplan:


I should have phrased the question clearer. Sorry.

I'm looking to make color photos now which look like they were made fifty or so years ago, then faded over time.

Roger Hicks has recommended Rollei Scan Film which seems to do exactly what I'm looking for. I'll get it mail order; it's C41 process so a local place can do that for me easily.

I'll try the Rollei film with a modern single-coated lens as I'd much prefer to use the camera and the materials than to click on something in Photoshop. It seems more elegant somehow.

 

[Xax]

something like that also what you wanted?

 

[LeicaTom]

Well, I`m constantly shooting for a vintage look with my PinUp photos, BUT most of my paid shoots are all in Digital now and I shoot a special light setting to reproduce a "Kodachrome" effect......(Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar on Sony Digital)

Now ok it`s digital, I know, you are asking about film, but this is one way I do get the "look" also with forced overlays I can get that really faded out color look as well.

For film I use anything 100 speed ASA or lower - Fujicolor gives me pretty good results, I always shoot a touch more overexposed anyway, this shot`s with Fujicolor 100 and my 1956 Summarit lens
(which has 10% haze) but "minty" glass, shot indoors with 250watt GE floods in a motel room........

Almost all my Kodachrome 25 and 64 is gone, so those days will be over soon, I do like the sound of that Rollei 400 Scan Film for C-41, but at 2 Pounds a 12 exp roll, it`s really a bit expensive, doesn`t ANYONE in the USA carry it???????

I think expired AGFA color films will be interesting, I have to find some 100 or 200 speed film that`s old, the Kodak Royal Gold 25 and 100 ASA that was made in Germany in the 1990`s was also GREAT film to use to get a vintage look, especially with a "uncoated" 1939 Summitar, shooting color with a uncoated lens is still one of the best ways to go when you are looking to try to do it straight out of the camera......

Happy Shooting!

Tom

 

[jmilkins]

This is expired Konica SRG3200 rated at 1250. Shot in late 90's, but film expired in 1991, and has been in the freezer since. I still have 30 odd rolls - might be completely off now - dunno!

 

[LeicaTom]

This is expired Konica SRG3200 rated at 1250. Shot in late 90's, but film expired in 1991, and has been in the freezer since. I still have 30 odd rolls - might be completely off now - dunno!

That`s interesting looking film, would you sell a roll or two of it? Write me off the board at

winkermeister@aol.com

Tom

 

[jmilkins]

Couple of interesting groups:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/expired/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/fakevintage/

 

[jmilkins]

That`s interesting looking film, would you sell a roll or two of it? Write me off the board at

winkermeister@aol.com

Tom

Tom- sent you an email - couple of rolls coming your way gratis when I get your postal details- post the results here eh?

 

[LeicaTom]

I just scored 47 expired rolls of Kodak Gold 100.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320303583576&_trksid=p2759.l1259

So that will keep me in straight color film for a little while, it`s not a big deal or rare film, but I haven`t used Kodak film for my work, since the 1990`s (back in Germany)
I`ve been using Fujicolor for the best part of 10 years, so it`s back to Kodak with this stuff - I wish I could find some Kodak Gold 25 speed, now that was some film! Perfect for "uncoated" lenses and anytime on my M6........Kodak for me always went in a Yellow/Orange direction, so maybe I can pull off some 1940`s and 50`s looking colors with normal film again this time, my "uncoated" Xenon is going to get alot of use in the next few months!

I remember the Royal Gold 25 and 100 were really good , I hope this is similar, it`s a good price anyway at less than 90 CENTS a roll and I stretch all my films, so I`ll be getting 27/28 pics out of each roll 🙂

Tom

PS: I always use Kodak Silde Film doing my crossprocessing though, for some reason I always liked the kodak colors when they are all wild! 😀

 

[charjohncarter]

Jmilkin, thanks for the filckr site, I joined. Also, there is a thread going now about Ektar 100 (new) some of the photos in the opening post have vintage color look.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/885232@N23/

 

[wlewisiii]

Jon,
In my experiance, Fuji Reala and an uncoated Sonnar or, even better, Tessar will give a very good rendition of the look you're trying to achive. Another important aspect is to be shooting that uncoated lens as wide open as possible. It'll bring out the things that are technically abberations, but work to help achive the look you're after.

The other thing to consdier would be Kodachrome & some uncoated German glass.

Good luck!

William

 

[LeicaTom]

Ok I just ran a roll of that 9 year old expired Kodak Gold 100 from 2000 through my Leica M6 today, with a 1936 Leitz Xenon f1.5/50mm lens - and here`s some results, no photoshop straight out of the camera, the lens has maybe 15% haze but very nice glass, it is also uncoated.....

Sorry for all the "boring" tropical photos - (It looks like something out of Gilligan`s Island, with no Mary Ann or Ginger 🙁 )
......... none of my Florida PinUp Pretties had any time off today from work or college to shoot for test, so I had to got work with some Flowers and Palm Trees.......

I am impressed with the Xenon`s sharpness when stopped down, these photos are pretty small and they really are`nt a good measure of performance quality of the Xenon, I basically used the lens, while it`s my main "uncoated" lens that I have working at the moment, (my IIIC K`s Summitar needs CLA and the 1940 Elmar I thought was`nt coated is) -
the colors are somewhat vintage looking and with a gentle push in photoshop they could look like 1950`s Kodak Film, I think with no problem. 🙂

I`m still not sure, how I`m going to use this film, as an outdoor or an indoor film, or both? - My work always calls for vintage tones, so I have to see where this film works it`s best.

And as for the Xenon, I`m still not sure I`m going to clean that haze, while this lens does really great with black and white films just the way it is, I think I`m going to leave my "uncoated" color work to my "wartime" Summitar and when I get one of those "hacked" pre-war CZJ Sonnar`s from Brian someday, shooting "uncoated" color film is fun and it`s surely one way to come out with something interesting.

Tom

PS: I wish I could fild some expired Agfa color film 100 speed or lower, while I know how Kodak and Fuji films react to my work/style, But I haven`t used AGFA since the 1990`s in Germany.....I might not get the chance too anymore either the way things are looking now 🙁

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I've got some 1980's Kodak film loaded in a 1980's camera, and I'll open up the lens as far as I can.

Tomorrow is a public holiday to commemorate a revolution in 1918 or something. I'm hoping for gatherings of old men in peasant clothing in a timeless scene.

And hoping not to have a Toyota Prius in the photos to date them as as twenty-first century.

 

[charjohncarter]

This isn't color, but as with LeicaTom it was on a Leica and the lens had haze. I had it cleaned now I wish I hadn't. Nice shots Tom.

 

[LeicaTom]

This isn't color, but as with LeicaTom it was on a Leica and the lens had haze. I had it cleaned now I wish I hadn't. Nice shots Tom.

Thank You Sir!

Yes, I think I`m going to leave the Xenon alone and I`ll have the Summarit cleaned, while it`s coated and I need to pull 125% out of her on every photoshoot, thankfully she`s only got like 5 to 10% haze so it`s not a big issue, just with crossprocessing the uneven "glow" is distrubing......

I think haze works to an advantage with a uncoated lens in Black and White films 🙂

Tom

 

[MikeL]

Jon, have you seen the Canadian Club whiskey ads?

Damn right your dad drank it.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Thank you all for good ideas, and some examples.

I had hoped to do in camera without any photoshopping.

As others have stated: a vintage uncoated lens will do the trick.


Bessa R + 50mm f/2 Summar

Although, "uncoated" isn't an absolute requirement:


M3 + Contax-mount Zeiss-Opton 50mm f/1.5 Sonnar

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Jon, have you seen the Canadian Club whiskey ads?

Damn right your dad drank it.

I have now.

Thank you.

 

[ravid905]

Uncoated Lens?

Uncoated Lens?

Am I right to guess that the only uncoated lenses Leica made were the Summar, Xenon, Hektor, Thambar, early Summitars and the Elmars? As far as the Elmars and Summitars are concerned, is there a serial number range I should be looking for, or tips to ensuring one ends up with an uncoated lens? Also would one be more likely to find an uncoated Summitar without many marks on the front element, than with a Summar? I would like to end up with a 50mm and a 90mm if this helps.

 

[charjohncarter]

ravid905 and others, poor lenses are also a way to make things look vintage. I have a plastic lens on my Polaroid ColorPack II that gives every photo a vitage look. And I saw this on Fickr;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75222825@N00/2909770616/in/pool-vintagecameras

I think this guy spent more on the film and development than he did on the camera. But he sure got something different.