Amber T800

The “Amber T800” film stock is distributed by RETO Project and manufactured by Kodak. It is a color negative film that was originally developed for the analog production of motion picture films. However, the material is also marketed under Kodak’s Amber brand for analog photography. The film material is available under the name “Kodak VISION3 500T”.

Unlike digital photography, the use of film requires special films for daylight and tungsten light, as the white balance cannot be easily adjusted.

This film is optimized for a light temperature of 3200 Kelvin and provides accurate color images under this condition. Note, however, that when used under daylight, a blue tint may appear in the images.

If you still want to use the film in daylight, an appropriate filter can be placed in front of the camera. Note, however, that this will reduce the sensitivity of the film and must be compensated for.

The sensitivity of the film is given by Amber as ISO 800. According to Kodak’s data sheet, the sensitivity is 500 when used under tungsten light (3200K) and drops to 125 when using a filter under daylight.

Developing the film

It is necessary to develop the film stock in the C-41 process to obtain the finished images when the film is full, although Kodak’s stock should normally be developed in the ECN-2 process. However, since the remjet coating on the base material has already been removed, the C-41 process is also possible.

Development in the photo lab is less complicated, although the C-41 process can also be done by yourself with the right chemistry. Unlike black-and-white film, the development process for color film is standardized. One option is to take the film to Rossmann or DM-Markt for development with the Amber T800. After development, one receives the film strips with the captured images.

There is an option to make prints in different sizes after taking the pictures or to digitize the pictures. Many photo labs offer the possibility to make prints. For digital processing, the film strips can be scanned to digitize them. There are various devices with different functions and quality for digitizing negatives, suitable for different budgets. The digitized photos can then be further processed in digital form or shared on social media.

Formats

The Amber T800 is available in 35mm format only, with room for 27 regular size (24x36mm) photos on the color film. The film is also offered pre-loaded in a disposable camera.

The film cartridge does not contain DX encoding, which is used by modern 35mm cameras for automatic film speed adjustment. Limited use of the film with the camera is possible, but a DX sticker is included to allow use in such cameras.

Manufacturers such as Lomography, Zenit and Agfa have/had suitable photo cameras for 35mm format in their range.

Storage

The storage conditions of unexposed film stock can affect the quality of subsequent photographs. Cool and dry conditions are ideal for storage, while places with high humidity or direct sunlight should be avoided.

To prevent possible loss of quality, it is advisable to have the exposed film developed promptly. Kodak recommends developing the material within six months, which also applies to the Amber T800.