CineStill has made unique color films available for still photographers for over a decade now. Beginning with our small-batch beta films — making motion picture film compatible for standard photo lab processing and printing for the first time ever! Shortly followed up by the first factory finished versions of 800Tungsten & 50Daylight “Xpro C-41” — based on scaling our original “Premoval” process for expanded worldwide availability. And now to our further improved manufacturing of 800T, 400D and 50D — marrying advanced motion picture technology with professional photography components and specifications, in 135, 120 and 4x5 formats. We have always strived for consistency and technical excellence, while championing the unique characteristics and imperfections of film. But there still is a real difference between a predictable novel quality and a true deficiency. In this post-digital age, it is more important than ever for those who choose to shoot on film (whether amateur, professional, or anything in between) to get both their time and money’s worth. Ultimately, we encourage everyone to shoot more film, any film, and find what works best for you! However, it is our responsibility to manage what consumers can expect from CineStill film, and why their experiences may differ should they choose to go elsewhere.

Photo of a light table with some samples of imitation films processed together in the same tank with 800T as a control.

When searching for CineStill films have you come across any “brand new” color films “made by” random brands lately? Are their claims strikingly similar somehow? Have they cracked the CineStill code? No, they have not. We are not here to be nit-picky or point fingers and name names — which might get a little confusing — but some names may sound familiar to you by now. Those “800T” imitations and “400D” generics (repurposed from existing 500-speed or 250-speed motion picture film, respectively) are not representative of the original motion picture film’s quality nor the performance of CineStill films’ sensitivity and color fidelity. Although they may replicate the signature CineStill red halation glow, they are only somewhat comparable to expired film, in that they appear age fogged with shifted color-balance and exhibit a slower effective film-speed (200-400 ISO at best) resulting in a film not suitable for proposed use, let alone low-light photography; that is unless you like underexposed/expired film. For those looking for fresh film, even with the recent unavailability of 400H and C200, we are fortunate to still have several other excellent high-speed color films available today — from UltraMax and Portra 400 to Lomo 800 and Portra 800 — but 800T is still the only tungsten-balanced, true 800-speed film made for still photography. Anything else, isn’t…

After years of research and development, we’re are proud to release our reinterpretation of classic cinematic chemistry, the CineStill way. Following the lead of our other chemistry offerings, simplicity is key. As with Cs41 “Color Simplified” 2-Bath kit, the Df96 Monobath Single-Step solution, and the Cs6 “Creative Slide” 3-Bath process, we are making at-home processing modernized, simplified, and safe.

Introducing the CineStill Cs2 “Cine Simplified” ECN 2-Bath Kit. Low contrast, cinema style processing for all color film. A complete, easy-to-use, 2-bath process for photographers, which produces low-contrast color negatives synonymous with the motion picture workflow. A safe and foolproof process, without all of the troublesome byproducts of the original industrial method.

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)...

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.