Kodak has quietly introduced a new color negative 35mm film called Kodacolor 100, expanding its existing lineup that includes popular stocks like Ektar 100, Gold 200, ColorPlus 200, Portra 400, UltraMax 400, and Portra 800. The film made its debut this week at select retailers, marking the company's first new photographic film release in years.
On October 1st, Kodak officially unveiled the new Kodacolor film, revealing it will also be available in an ISO 200 version. The daylight-balanced ISO 100 film is already in stock at Unique Photo, a retailer with locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. While online purchasing wasn't initially available, the company expected to launch web sales by October 1st, with physical stock already available at their Fairfield, New Jersey location.
Unique Photo is selling single rolls of 36 exposures for $9.50, positioning it competitively at just one dollar more than Kodak ColorPlus 200. According to the retailer's specifications, the film offers fine grain and high detail, featuring a natural color palette with pleasing skin tones and medium contrast. The company describes it as an ideal choice for analog landscape, portrait, and travel photography, particularly in bright daylight conditions that complement its ISO 100 speed rating.
Some photographers are speculating that Kodacolor 100 may be identical or similar to Kodak Pro Image 100, which remains available despite rumors of its discontinuation several years ago. As reported by Analog Cafe, if Kodacolor 100 performs similarly to Pro Image 100, it would be welcome news for many photographers. Dmitri, founder of Analog Cafe, expressed enthusiasm about this possibility, noting that Pro Image 100 is currently his favorite choice for both casual and product photography.
The film utilizes the standard C-41 color negative development process and offers the exposure latitude typical of C-41 emulsions. This allows photographers to slightly overexpose shots to achieve cleaner shadows and smoother tonal transitions. Compared to Kodak's highly popular Ektar 100 film, Kodacolor 100 promises a more natural appearance with restrained saturation, potentially making it better suited for applications where subdued tones are preferred over the vivid colors that characterize Ektar.
Two particularly noteworthy aspects make this release significant for the analog photography community. First, this represents Kodak's first new photographic film announcement in an extended period, excluding the company's Vision3 film structure launched in August. While the resurgence of analog photography has brought some new film stocks to market from smaller manufacturers, major players like Kodak and Fujifilm have remained relatively quiet regarding new stock releases. It remains unclear whether Kodacolor 100 is an entirely new emulsion or potentially a rebranded version of existing film.
Second, the packaging design for Kodacolor 100 represents a departure from Kodak's current aesthetic approach. Unlike the company's other films, which predominantly feature Kodak Professional branding under the Kodak Alaris umbrella, Kodacolor 100 showcases the classic Eastman Kodak logo and retro design elements. This nostalgic packaging approach appears more visually appealing than Kodak's other current film packaging and may appeal to photographers drawn to vintage aesthetics.
PetaPixel contacted Kodak for additional information about Kodacolor 100 but had not received detailed responses at the time of publication. The company has not conducted any formal press rollout for the new film, nor released extensive technical details about its exact specifications or whether it represents a rebranding of existing film stock.
Despite the limited official information available, any new film release generates excitement within the analog photography community. Kodacolor 100 is currently available for $9.49 from Unique Photo in physical stores, with online availability expected to begin October 1st. Other photography retailers are anticipated to stock the film soon, making it more widely accessible to film photographers seeking new options for their creative work.
