Lucky GBR 100

The Lucky GBR 100 is a color negative film. It was produced by the China Lucky Film Corporation in China and used by many photographers there.

The GBR 100 is tuned to make color photographs. According to its data sheet, the film’s sensitivity is ISO 100, a value that shows how the film stock responds to different levels of brightness. A film with a higher sensitivity, expressed by a higher ISO value, achieves advantageous results when shooting under difficult lighting conditions. For everyday and recreational photography, an ISO of 100 is very suitable.

Exposure of expired color film

Since film is no longer produced, unexposed material can only be found that has already passed the expiration date printed on it. Unlike foodstuffs such as milk or bread, a film does not automatically become unusable once it has passed its expiration date. The expiration date merely indicates how long the manufacturer guarantees the quality.

Under-exposed images can occur if older film material is used that has also been stored under unfavorable storage conditions, as light sensitivity decreases. It may be advisable, depending on the prevailing conditions, to set the exposure settings to a lower ISO value to avoid underexposure of the photos. When using expired color film, there may be a reduction in color brilliance, changes in color tones, and increased film grain. There is a possible connection between the storage conditions of the unexposed film material and the subsequent quality of the photos.

Development of the Lucky GBR 100

The film is developed using the C-41 development process. To have the film developed, you can simply send it to a photo lab. The development process for color films is standardized, unlike black and white films, so many labs offer this service. In Germany, large drugstore chains can accept GBR 100 for development. The result of development is film strips with the photos taken.

After development, it is possible to make prints or digitize the images. Many photo labs offer the possibility of making prints in various sizes. Alternatively, the film strips can be quickly and easily digitized with a scanner to further process the images in digital form. There are a variety of scanners on the market, which differ in price and quality of results. After digitizing, you can either edit the photos digitally or get them in printed form.

Availability and alternatives

The Lucky GBR 100 was produced in 35mm format, which is the most widely used film format. There are a variety of cameras that use this format, and cameras are even still being manufactured for the 35mm format.

However, production of the GBR 100 color film has been discontinued. As a possible replacement in 35mm, the Kodak Gold 200* with a sensitivity of 200 ISO can be used.

However, it is important to note that this film does not give the identical results as the GBR 100. Each film has its own characteristic properties, including coloration, contrast, and grain. Therefore, the replacement film will produce a different aesthetic effect.