Kodak ColorPlus 200 35mm Film

Kodak Color

Plus 200 Film

Can one of the cheapest color C-41 films on the market actually be usable?  Yes it can, at least in my opinion.  Let me explain my point of view.  If bought in bulk, this film is can be less than $3.00 for a 36 exposure roll.  Combine that price with processing this film at home and you have a very economical option.

C-41 Home Processing

Don't worry, I won't start lamenting about home processing film.  If I sent every C-41 film out for processing the costs would add up.  I choose to process my own film so I can shoot more of it.  Home processing makes this hobby affordable, enough said.

Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware

What is Kodak Color Plus 200's greatest attribute?  Well, it looks like film of course.  That's why I shoot it.  Am I trying to emulate a digital photograph?  No, I am not.  Viewing these photos, one might think it has a soft color palette.  All of these photos were pretty much shot on bleary days in February.  The color represented is very true to life.

Woodland Beach, Delaware

Is 200 iso enough?  For general photography I think so.  Although I didn't try it, I am pretty sure this film could be pushed to 400 pretty easily.  Remember all those 64 and 50 iso slide films your grand parents used to shoot?  This 200 iso film is a virtual speed demon.

Camden, Delaware

Kodak Color Plus 200 is a general purpose film that will work for people pictures as well.  It isn't Portra but, it doesn't do to bad with skin tones either.  

Port Mahon, Delaware

Inevitably your film has to be digitized in this day and age.  How else would we be able to share our photos?  Well Kodak Color Plus 200 has you covered.  This film stock is scanner friendly.  I scan on an Epson V600, by no means a resolution monster.  This film lies completely flat making scanning so much easier.  Minimal post processing is required.

Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware

Bottom line, I like this film.  I think it is my go to color film stock for every day shooting.  Should you give it a try, sure why not.  You just might like it too.

Rescued Film

As reported in an earlier post, I was fortunate enough to find an old Kodak Duaflex II camera with an exposed roll of film.  I jumped at the chance to purchase the camera and was hoping I could rescue the film and process it.  I was not disappointed.

I identified the film as an old roll of Kodak Verichrome Pan black and white negative film.  I had developed plenty of 120 black and white film but, never film this old.  I could not find any developing information on it.  There were developing times for Kodak D-76 and Microdol - X on the films label but, I use HC-110 as a developer and I was not sure on how and if the HC-110 would work.

I turned to a resource that is readily available to everyone with an internet connection.  I posted on Photrio.com, formerly known as APUG.com.  This photography forum specializes in analog photography, all aspects of film photography.  Sure enough, within a few minutes a helpful member responded with a developing time of 8 minutes.  I used dilution B which is one part developer to 39 parts water.

Judging from the cars in the background, I estimate these photos to be from the late 50s to early 60s.  Whenever they were taken it looks like they had a great time at the beach!  I will always look for film to rescue in the future.  I hope I am as lucky to find something these images agian.

Developing Black and White Film at Home

Why not shoot film?  "I have to send it off to get developed and it takes to long for me to see my photos."  WRONG!!!  If you are taking the time to shoot film you might as well develop it.  It isn't that hard, in fact it is pretty easy.  There are a number of tutorials on the internet, including videos on YouTube and they do a much better job of teaching than I do.

All of the rumors are false.  The chemicals needed to develop black and white film are readily available, economical and safe to use.  I order my chemicals from B&H Photo or the Film Photography Project Store.  I find both sources to be reliable and economical.  You will need a developer, stop bath (some omit this step and just use water), fixer, fixer remover (some omit this step and wash their film longer) and a wetting agent.

The concerns about making a mess are also unfounded.  Readily available household items make the developing neat and orderly.  I use old iced tea containers as jugs for my chemicals.  You can purchase dedicated bottles but, why spend the extra money.  I purchased separate measuring cups at a local store for each chemical.  This keeps the process simple and easy to clean up.

The actual developing process occurs in a light sealed film tank.  This will probably be your most expensive purchase when entering the do it yourself world of developing.  I found several used tanks and purchased them at a substantial savings.  Loading the exposed film also requires practice and you will have to do this part in complete darkness.  It's not that hard a little bit of practice with some discarded film and it is easy to learn.

Trust me, when you pull your first developed film out of the developing tank, you will be amazed.  Every time I develop film I am awe struck.  This is something you cannot find in the digital world.  You will find yourself connected to the photographs in a way that is different that looking on the back of a digital camera.

Let the negatives dry and bring them into the modern world.  You can scan the negatives or make prints using an enlarger.  In this day and age it does not really matter.  

It's the process that makes this a great hobby for me.

The finished product after developing and scanning the negative. 

I can only hope someone sees this post and says, they will give it a try.  You will not be disappointed.  There are no "presets" that substitute for the real look of film.  None, that I have found anyways.  I do this for the love of it.  Hopefully you will too.  

Once you learn the techniques of Black and White film developing, you next hurdle is color C41 film processing.  It is truly as easy as Black and White.  In fact, the color photos in this post were shot on color film and I developed them.  If I can do it, anyone can.

Kodak Duaflex II

Once the king of film cameras in the United States, everyone took their snapshots with a Kodak.  If these snapshots were taken in the 50's or 60's they may very well have been taken using a Kodak Duaflex camera.  The Duaflex line of cameras had many variations and models.  I found this example in a local antique store.    

Description

Basically the Duaflex system is a box camera with an expanded view finder.  It does use a separate taking and viewing lens but they are not connected.  The taking lens (bottom) is a zone focus lens.  Focus cannot be seen in the viewfinder.  The viewfinder lens is fixed focus.  It is adjustable from 3.5 feet to Infinity.

The taking lens on this model is a KODAR 72mm/f8.  72mm is a fairly standard sized lens for medium format photography.  It equates to roughly 50mm on a 35mm film camera.

 Aperture on this example of the Duaflex II is adjustable.  Settings include f8, f11 and f16.  The shutter speed is fixed and my research shows the shutter speed to have originally been 1/40 second.  Due to age, shutter speeds on these older cameras may vary.  After working the shutter several times, these cameras must be film tested for the real results to be known.

Even with the viewfinder raised the camera is easily held with one hand, leaving the second hand free to actuate the shutter button.

The Duaflex II is compatible with an optional flash attachment.  This attachment mounts to the left side of the camera to the lugs shown in the photo. 

There is a shutter speed setting to use 'B' setting for Bulb mode.  The speed used for flash photography would depend on which type of flash bulb is used.

The camera back is the standard affair using a red lens film window to advance the film.  Corresponding frame numbers printed on the film backing paper are visible through the window.  

The window is also used when loading film in the camera.  Arrows will appear as the film is advanced using the winding knob on the camera's side.  

A roll of 620 film produced 12 exposures.  The exposures were 6mm X 6mm in size.  Even for a simple camera this is a large negative that could produce detailed images.

Added Bonus!  I purchased this camera with an exposed roll of film in it.  I was immediately intrigued. 

As you can see there are no felt light seals.  The design uses the shape of the rear film door and body to make it light tight.

This rescued film will be discussed in a later blog post.

Can this camera still be used today?  Yes, most definitely.  620 film is no longer readily available but, Kodak's film marketing plan helps us use these old cameras.  620 film is nothing other than 120 film on a different sized spool.  120 film can easily be re-rolled on 620 spools and used.  Even the backing paper numbers are the same. 

I would suggest using 100 speed film when attempting to use these older cameras, it more closely matches the film speed these cameras were originally designed for.

This camera was marked at $20 in a local antique store.  I have seen them cheaper than this but, when I noticed there was an exposed film inside I immediately bought it.  

All the photographs used in this post were taken on Kodak UltraMax 400 color film and are subject to copyright.