Amber D400

The color negative film “Amber D400” distributed by RETO Project is produced by Kodak and was originally developed for the analog production of cinema films. Kodak also offers the film material under the name “Kodak VISION3 250D”. However, it is also available under the Amber brand for analog photography.

Compared to digital photography, the use of film requires special films for daylight and tungsten light, as the white balance cannot be easily adjusted. This special film is suitable for daylight photography.

The sensitivity of the film is given by Amber as ISO 400, while according to Kodak’s data sheet, the values differ slightly. In daylight, the sensitivity is 250, while it is reduced to 64 in tungsten light.

Developing the film

To obtain the finished images when the film is full, it is necessary to develop the Amber D400 using the C-41 process, although Kodak’s material should normally be developed using the ECN-2 process. However, since the remjet coating has already been removed from the base material, the C-41 process is also possible.

Developing color film in the photo lab is straightforward because the C-41 process is standardized and can be done by yourself with the right chemistry. Unlike black-and-white films, the development process for color films follows a fixed standard. After the development is completed, the film strips with the captured images are returned.

It is possible, after the pictures have been taken, to make prints in various sizes or to digitize the pictures. In many photo labs you can have prints made. Alternatively, the film strips can be scanned to be digitized for further digital processing.

There are a variety of devices for digitizing negatives, offering different functions and qualities that can be selected taking into account the budget. After digitization, the photos are available in digital form for further processing or sharing on social media.

Formats

The Amber D400 is available in 35mm format only. It offers a normal image size of 24×36 mm and can store up to 27 photos on the color film. Alternatively, the film is also available preloaded in a disposable camera.

Unlike modern 35mm cameras, the Amber D400 cartridge does not feature DX encoding. DX encoding is used by modern cameras to automatically adjust film speed. Therefore, the use of the film in the camera is limited without manual adjustment capability. However, a DX sticker is included to allow the film to be used in such cameras.

Various manufacturers such as Lomography, Rollei, Olympus and Agfa have or had suitable photo cameras for the 35mm format in their range.

Storage

It is of importance to note that the quality of subsequent photographs may be affected by the storage conditions of the unexposed film stock. Optimal storage is in cool and dry environments, while places with high humidity or direct sunlight should be avoided.

It is recommended that exposed film be developed promptly to counteract potential quality loss. Kodak recommends that material, including Amber D400, be developed within six months.