Ektachrome

The successor to the now ceased film stock Kodachrome was the release of Ektachrome from Kodak. Like Kodachrome is available in many different formats which range from;

• 35mm 400ft Core
• 16mm 100ft Spool
• 16mm 400ft Core
• Super 8 50ft Cartridge

Ektachrome was first developed in the 1940's, intended to be a successor to Kodachrome so amateurs as well as professionals were able to process there own film stock. Kodachrome was a very intricate method to process so the introduction of the E-6 process would allow amateurs to purchase and develop their own film It would also make colour reversal film more practical in much more larger formats.

national geographic picture

Kodak announced in 2009 that Ektachrome 64T and 100 film would be discontinued. One of the last motion picture film known to of used Ektachrome was the 1999 release Three Kings; a film which used a cross processing process in C-41 colour neagtive chemistry to give the film its unique appearance.

Cross Processing - The process of deliberately editing/processing film for a different look to its original appearance.

In February of 2011Kodak announced the ceasing of production of Ektachrome 200. The only Ektachrome that is currently in production is Ektachrome 100D colour reversal film.

This example of Ektachrome 100D is one of my favorites. Although the footage is dated as being shot in May 2010 the aesthetics of the film make it look like something from 30 years back. The film as Kodak say themselves delivers intensely saturated colours, accurate skin tones and a neutral gray scale; attributes that can even be rare in modern digital camcorders. The film also captures the lighting of the environment beautifully. The colour palette is extremely warm with saturated yellows and oranges which juxtapose and contrast nicely with the deep blueness of the sky. Its colour representation is incredibly vivid.

Compared with Kodachrome the release of Ektachrome was more a successor of practicality than aesthetic improvement. The colour accuracy of Kodachrome was improved with the release of Ektachrome however is longevity is worse, with colours fading on film faster than the previous stock Kodachrome.