Due to the long history of multiple bath processes being the only ones available, many may wonder, "What are the compromises with a monobath?" Well, we can tell you that it is not compromised quality with Df96. We are standing on the shoulders of giants, and the reason monobaths weren't popular before is most likely because of economies of scale and cost, in addition to shorter shelf life. In the past, there was more profit in just producing the large volume photochemicals for film to be processed en masse. After all, back then everyone had to process film to capture a photo. Now that craft film manufacturing is being tooled for smaller batches, lower volume products can be more viable. Small batch, on demand, chemical manufacturing works just like craft beer. Fresher product with more characteristics. Thus the modern monobath was born, formulated to be produced at a craft scale.

Df96 is very forgiving for all film speeds and different emulsion types. This is partially because of the advanced developing agents used. But also as chemical development self-completes, archival fixation takes over breaking down silver and allowing physical development to redeposit it in thin areas of the film, while diffusing the grain to be finer and smoother. As you can see in the samples below, it renders somewhere between the Ilfotec DDX grain structure and Kodak Professional HC-110 tonality.

Detail crop of BwXX processed at ISO 250 in HC-110 liquid concentrate, Df96 monobath, and D-76 powder chemicals.

Detail crop of BwXX processed at ISO 250 in DD-X liquid concentrate, Df96 monobath, and ID-11 powder chemicals. 

Df96 also works well with tabular grain films, like Tmax, but to fully eliminate residual color dyes in the emulsion we double the recommended processing time. This does not affect the image since all films complete development within the first 3 minutes. Below you can see the smoothness and crisp contrast Df96 pulls out of TMax100...

Developing black and white film just got a whole lot simpler with the CineStill Df96 Monobath. The worries of too much development, dilution, time or agitation are gone. Stop bath? Fixer? Hardener? Gone the way of One-Hour-Photos and formaldehyde. Finally, foolproof at home film processing. 

Many of the pitfalls and hazards of a multi-bath process are eliminated with this ready-to-use single-step solution, such as improper dilution, over-agitation, bubble marks, surge marks, etc. Over-processing is impossible, because the fixing action overtakes chemical development while aiding physical development, creating better image uniformity and finer grain negatives.

Monobath solutions were first proposed as far back as 1889, but only recently have the difficulties associated with their formulation been possible to overcome. The main problem has been the loss of emulsion speed that results when the exposed silver halide is dissolved by the fixation process, before development can take place. Our monobath is unlike home concoctions or old technology that failed years ago. Df96 uses a more effective processing technology (akin to D96 motion picture developer) that buffers fixing, and archival fixing agents that are more solvent and aid in breaking down the silver and redepositing it, to achieve crisp uniform grain and wide development latitude...

With so many choices currently available, it helps to have some understanding of when a particular film excels. Looking at CineStill 800T, it is necessary to understand where this film comes from and what it was originally designed to achieve.

CineStill 800T is produced from a Kodak motion picture emulsion originally designed for shooting in limited artificial, continuous, incandescent light. This film is known in the motion picture industry as Kodak Vision 3 5219, the 3rd generation of tungsten balanced EI 500 color negative motion picture film, and is the standard for movies shot on film in Hollywood. 5219, or "19" as it is commonly referred to, is optimized for a hybrid workflow, ideal for scanning, with literally futuristic features (from a still photography perspective)...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. February 23, 2018 – After 5 years of "darkness" for high speed black and white film emulsions, Kodak has proclaimed the end of the "Dark Ages" and onward to the "Film Renaissance" with the rebirth of one of the most unique films on the market! 

Tmax P3200 35mm available to ship in March, 2018

KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Black & White Negative Film ⁄ 3200TMZ is a multi-speed continuous-tone panchromatic black-and-white negative film that combines high to ultra-high film speeds with finer grain than that of other fast black-and-white films. It is especially useful for very fast action; for dimly lighted scenes where you can’t use flash; for subjects that require good depth of field combined with fast shutter speeds; and for handholding telephoto lenses for fast action or in dim light. It is an excellent choice for nighttime photography.

Features and Benefits:

• KODAK T-GRAIN Emulsion
• High to Ultra High speed
• Fine grain
• Superior sharpness
• Maintains subject detail in prints higher degrees of magnification than conventional films

To preorder this reanimated film stock simply add it to your cart from our product page.

“It’s no secret that we’ve been looking for opportunities to expand our portfolio” said Dennis Olbrich, President – Kodak Alaris Paper, Photo Chemicals and Film. “Darkroom photography is making a comeback, and B&W Film sales are clearly on a positive trajectory. Given these very encouraging market trends, we believe P3200 TMZ will be a great addition to our lineup”.

Order through 11/24 for BLACK & WHITE FRIDAY special pricing!

THE TRADITION OF BLACK & WHITE

To celebrate the availability of CineStill BWXX, Double-X Negative film, all black and white film and chemicals from Kodak and CineStill are on sale for Black Friday. So get your stocking stuffers now or stock up for capturing the holidays on classic B&W film, at 10% to 33% off the lowest advertised prices. 

And if you’d like to mix in some color film while warming by the fireplace or in the bright snowy daylight, be sure to add some 800Tungsten and 50Daylight in 120 or 135 format to take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING on film orders $75 or more.

Happy Holidays!

Still Silver,
-CineStill

Order Through 11/24 for BLACK & WHITE FRIDAY Special Pricing!

Available now exclusively through our online shop, CineStill BWXX is back by popular demand!! BWXX is a high speed, classic black & white film emulsion, with an EI of 250 under daylight and 200 under tungsten lighting.

CineStill BWXX is professionally spooled into high quality 135 (Non Dx-Coded) 36 exposure cartridges. Though we plan to continue producing this film, our initial inventory of this beautiful emulsion will certainly sell out fast, so order yours now!

Originally created by Eastman Kodak in 1959, Eastman double-x 5222, has since became a most beloved film for cinema and still photographers alike.

This classic black and white film stock has been left relatively unchanged since it's first release. Though Kodak no longer offers this wonderful film to the analog still photography community, it is still available to cinematographers—and why should they get to have all the fun?

Some of the movies using the classic Eastman double-x film stock 5222 include: 

Raging Bull (1980), Schindler's List (1993), Stranger Than Paradise (1984), Memento (2000), Kafka (1991), Casino Royale (2006), I'm Not There (2007), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Manhattan (1979), Cinderella Man (2005), Aferim! (2015), Frantz (2016), American Horror Story (2011-2017) and many many more.

image by Sandy Phimester

CineStill BWXX is an excellent choice for those looking for a classic film stock to fill the void left by the discontinuation of it's wonderful sister films, Kodak Plus-x and TXP320.

Recommended development in any black and white film developers. An extensive list of developing times for this film may be found at ishootfilm.org & The Massive Dev Chart form DigitalTruth.com

Greetings fellow film makers and film shooters! It is with much excitement that we finally get to announce the Pre-Sale of CineStill 50D in medium format!

Throughout the crowdfunding campaign, it was amazing to see the support for 800T in medium format. After reaching our goal for 800T, we set our sights on bringing 50D to 120 as well. You made your support for it clear so we made it our mission to make it happen. Sadly, we fell slightly short of our stretch goal which could have secured enough funds for its own simultaneous medium format production run alongside 800T. But we remained determined to make it happen. 

We built a whole new production facility, encountered many challenges and wound up doubling down, dollar for dollar, to fulfill the dream that we shared with thousands of analogue Film Makers. Following the fulfillment of the 800T 120 Alpha and finally the full retail release, we continued honing our process to a point where we could further invest in our vision to make the world's finest grain color negative film for the world's finest format! 

So, without further ado, we are excited to announce that we're finally bringing 50D to the world of medium format! We’ve opened pre-orders on our store so you can be among the first to get your hands on 50D in 120 this summer!

We are continually thankful for all of the support and faith of this awesome community, and are immensely grateful that we get to bring such an exciting new film stock to the market. We’re going to love shooting it just as much as you, and we can’t wait to throw a roll in our cameras!

Click the link, preorder, and be the first to shoot Cinestill 50D in 120!

Stay golden film shooters, the renaissance is still silver! 

Your Film Family,
Cinestill Inc.