Kodak has released two new film stocks that incorporate the companys advanced VISION2 color negative film technology, adding 100- and 200-speed, ultra-fine grain color negative films to the product line.
Kodak chairman/ceo Daniel Carp said, "These exciting new products reinforce our strong commitment to film technology. Kodak is dedicated to developing a full range of products and services - both digital and traditional - to help bring the visions of filmmakers to the screen so that the viewing audience enjoys the richest experience that technology can provide."
According to Robert Mayson, gm of image capture and vice president of Kodaks Entertainment Imaging Division, "The new films provide extraordinary creative latitude for cinematographers, coupled with efficiencies designed to retain the integrity of the original images during postproduction. We are making considerable progress on a long journey to a future with unlimited possibilities."
KODAK VISION2 100T Color Negative Film 5212/7212 is rated for an exposure index of 100 in 3,200 degrees Kelvin tungsten light. KODAK VISION2 200T Color Negative Film 5217/7217 is rated for an exposure index of 200 in 3,200 degrees Kelvin tungsten light. Both new films offer significant advances in under- and over-exposure latitude, extremely fine grain and enhanced capacities for recording subtle details in highlights and shadows. They are available in 16, 35 and 65mm formats.
"Cinematographers who have tested the new films are finding they can probe deeper into both highlight and shadow areas and record nuances in details that are important to the stories they are telling," said Mayson. "They also like the truer colors, the fidelity of skin tones and the more subtle grain structure. The 200-speed film is ideal for such visual effects applications as blue and greenscreen photography, where well-defined edges and accuracy in color reproduction are crucial. There is built-in protection against unwanted light absorption, which helps visual effects practitioners make the clean separations needed for seamless compositing."
Mayson points out that the KODAK VISION2 family of films incorporates new sensitizing layers that provide important advantages during post-production. He explains that the exposed negatives are designed to retain the fidelity of the original images when they are converted to digital and optical formats for post-production.
"This provides more flexibility for manipulating images during post-production," he says. "Thats important, because with the advances being made in digital intermediate technologies, the role of cinematographers has extended deeper into post-production."
Kodaks Entertainment Imaging division is a leader in providing film, digital and hybrid motion imaging products, services, and technology for the television, feature film and new media industry. For more information, visit www.kodak.com/go/motion.
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