CineStill is best known for its 35mm motion picture films that it processes and repackages for use in still cameras, but it's only recently that they dove into medium format with a high-speed, 800T (tungsten-balanced) film. Right now, 50D, a fine-grain daylight film stock already available in 35mm is now also available for pre-order in 120. The official announcement will be up on their site tomorrow, but you can see image samples and already pre-order if you read on.
There's no question film is making a comeback in the way that vinyl records and other analog products have done in the last year or two, and CineStill is no small part of that movement. Removing the rem-jet backing from films made for motion picture cameras and repackaging them allows them to be used in still cameras and alongside standard C-41 processing techniques. Ultimately, this allows photographers to enjoy the same motion-picture look with their still photographs — and man are these gorgeous film stocks.
For $11.99, CineStill 50D 120 is immediately available for pre-order, sans crowd-funding project this time, for shipment "by August 31, 2017." There's no doubt that supplies will run out, at least for the short term. So we'd act fast (I already did!). Hint: Orders over $75 get free shipping. Check out the remaining sample images of 50D in 120 below and let us know what you think!
I've seen 800T used in XPan for some night big city street shots - man, it looks incredible - instant 80's movies look :O
Im so torn with stuff like this. On the one hand, I'm all for people coming up with new stocks, especially independent producers, but it's really hard for me to justify spending $12/roll when Portra 400 (arguably the best color stock ever made) is $6/roll. I get that volume is everything, but ouch.
Price is an issue, but when you consider what's going on (Kodak motion picture film being processed and repackaged, etc.), you realize there's some extra work there that needs to be recouped. So I get why it's so expensive. But it's still amazing film and it's more or less the only way to get it into your camera.
I'd be really interested to see a comparison between it an Portra 160 (just for grain comparison). I get why it's expensive, but as someone who will do entire shoots in medium format film, it's hard to justify a 100% increase in my film overhead. But, I have an open mind!
If they are the only ones with this film and process they can charge what they want until folks don't buy it. As far as doing a shoot with it, it's a billable expense or if it is self financed you decide if it's worth it. Maybe use 75:25 cheap film to expensive film ratio.