Colour-negative film introduced

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 35

Colour-negative film introduced

A new colour-negative film, the Fujicolor Super HRIOO, is a product of the Fuji Photo Co, Ltd, of Japan. Recently I- tried the film at the invitation of the agent, Hanimex (New Zealand), Ltd. The film was exposed on a Ricoh KRIO camera with a Pentax lens. It was developed by the C4l process by Camera House, Ltd, who printed it using Fuji materials. A difficulty in testing any film is to get a true comparison. It really needs identical cameras with different films, photographing shot-for-shot. Even then, processors have to be relied on to develop the film correctly and provide comparable prints; while the development should be standard, the prints need a new channel to be set up on the equipment. Processors say they usually need several adjustments in the light of experience to adequately establish a new channel.

Camera House had not previously processed a Super HRIOO, so had to set up a channel in the limited time available. In these circumstances, the results may not have been the best possible. The resolution in my photographs was highly satisfactory, including with on-camera flash — a notoriously difficult test for a film; contrast was moderate except at considerable under-exposure.

While the detail was good at recommended exposure, it seemed better at a stop or two over-exposed. The colours were more saturated at a stop or so over-exposed than at 100 ISO. At two stops underexposed the film was only just printable, having a murky green bias, whereas passable results were obtained at several stops over-exposed. The divergence of about a stop increase on the recommended exposure was on the film rather than the prints. Laboratories have been known to vary film processing techniques for one reason or another, though I have no evidence that this was done by Camera House. Kodak and Agfa also are replacing their massproduction colour-nega-tive films, and many photographers will be interested to try all three brands. The Agfa Maxi 100 ISO will be reviewed on the photography page of “The Press” in the near future; an appreciation of Kodacolor Gold 100 ISO has already appeared. Fuji Super HRIOO is becoming available almost immediately in 110, 120 and 126 sizes as well as 35mm, and the 400 ISO version Super HR4OO will be available .at the same time but in the 35mm size only. —R.M.