Being new to film photography and the wonderfully complicated world of film stocks, I decided, like any semi-sane human male would, to dive really deep into the thick of things and make a sort of project and resource out of it. I thought I’d try and find all the different kinds of 135 film stocks I can. (Which is a great deal easier & cheaper here in China than elsewhere I gather from others lamenting on film prices.) and share my results and findings for you and everyone else to laugh at, enjoy, find useful and anything else on Instant Gram and on here.
I have already shot a few rolls of Kodak Gold on a Vintage China-made Huaxia 822 and some Oriental Seagull 100 on a second-hand Yashica Diary, all of which I hope to share my images and thoughts on at some stage, however, currently I am far too mesmerised with the images I got back from the lab on Rene Selection 5207!
They are truly magical images, and they have very little to do with my ability, and a whole lot to do with the colours and overall feeling this fantastic film stock gives me. They have a minimal to fair contrast but with a very rich warmth that fills the image, white-balance does tend towards the yellow side because of the warmth of the stock, but seems easily corrected in post. Speaking of in post, I did very, and I mean Very Little correction and editing in post. I adjusted the exposure and contrast ever so slightly on the images and added a very little tweak to highlights and shadows when I felt they were needed.
This was my first time using, my now favourite camera: The wonderful Canon F1N or New Canon F1, so I struggled rather badly with getting used to it. I fully expected every shot to be complete rubbish from this roll, but to my joyous surprise, every single image was bursting with beauty.
What I take away from this first roll and with the knowledge that I knew absolutely zero of how to shoot the film stock or how to use the camera is, that this film stock has a great exposure latitude. I’m certain there were many shots on this roll that I underexposed because I didn’t know how to read the built-in light meter on the camera. There were also a few (too many to admit) shots that were accidental fires as I was too heavy-handed on the shutter trying to activate the exposure meter. Like this one, which actually turned out amazing.
The images have a certain character and quality to them that just speak to my soul and I enjoyed pouring over every single image. Even the images that were happy accidents left me with a sense of admiration and joy from this film stock. So far it is one of my favourite film stocks I’ve tested for my #filmstocktryouts project.
I’d like to point out quickly, that I am new to film photography and am still making my way on how to edit film photos and what to look for in film stocks, but what I’m bringing into film photography with me from my experience in digital photography and just creativity, in general, is that it matters more what I like and feel from my images. I create for myself first and to my own liking and tastes, after all, it is ‘my taste’.
I have noticed that Rene Selection Film stock does not seem to be available anywhere other than in China. It was not listed on any film database website such as Lomography or The Darkroom Lab, at least not that I could find until I added it. It is most likely very similiar if not identical to any other version of Kodak 5207 remjet layer removed and respooled film stock out there.
I am thinking of perhaps opening up an online shop to sell some mid-sized bulk boxes of the film stocks produced or found here in China as well as other amazing photography trinkets to those interested beyond the Great Wall. Let me know if that interests you.
Anyway, enough of my shameless self-promotion, (I do want to try and make some sort of living off of photography) and let me conclude by saying that Rene Selection 5207 film is a filmstock I would highly recommend anyone try and it is rather affordable (even the other versions found out west). It produces a wonderful colour palette and a warm tone with fair contrast and beautiful grain. It is currently at the time of writing my favourite filmstock so far, although I do have 8 other rolls of scans back from the lab to edit still. So perhaps I might find some other favourites within those.
For now, I’ll thank you for your time and end with a few more shots from this roll.
Adieu! And remember, Just Keep Making stuff!!
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Bill Brown on Rene Selection 5207 – Trying out an Incredible film for my #filmstocktryouts project
Comment posted: 22/12/2023
Comment posted: 22/12/2023
Comment posted: 22/12/2023
Bruno Chalifour on Rene Selection 5207 – Trying out an Incredible film for my #filmstocktryouts project
Comment posted: 22/12/2023
Saying, for instance, you are using "magical" film stock especially when all the images you are showing display a cyan/green cast, or when you, yourself, say that the film tends to go toward yellow, may sound paradoxical. At least, allow me to say this is not convincing "magic."
It would have also been informative to say that the film you are using is color negative (although, agreed color shows) and that it is in fact most probably reconditioned Kodak movie film Vision 3 5207 250D. [also reconditioned in the US by QWD and on final sale at freestylephoto.] Moreover your images have undergone two if not three treatments (with their potential consequences): 1-lab as you do not process it, and 2-scanning (plus 3-potential adjustments according to your color photography experience).
Now asserting that the film has "a great exposure latitude" may not mean much: "great latitude" compared to what? In what lighting conditions? Did you actually test the latitude of the film? [it does not sound so, if you did it would be interesting to know].
And let us face it, these days, saying that a lens or some film has "character" means it has flaws in terms of sharpness, or flare, or color rendition compared to more competent and recent lenses or film. The term "character" is usually used with poor technical performances that modify expectations that one could possibly have toward something they spent their money on. It is, which is understandable, mostly motivated by cost and limited budgets. So let us start with that and say the may advantage, for instance, of the camera and the film you used are financial. [although if I may add an advice from decades of practice and mistakes, mine may help you avoid some, instead of buying several cameras (or lenses) when you can try different ones, why not invest your budget in one that you really enjoy using and that is reliable [you will save both time and money, all the more if it is photography that motivates you and not just playing with gear. Again, playing with gear is also fine but let us call it for what it is and not speak of the photographic "character" of the result which is irrelevant as it is not the main point].
As for film, trying various brands and sort of film is, agreed, part of the learning process, experience, and fun, but it may end up being costly and with results that will only historically (your history) and sentimentally resist the assault of time, of your gradually acquired experience and taste. In other words this may end up in the garbage can a few years from now, and not be seen by anyone else but you (unless you post it in someone's blog or your own).
Do not misunderstand me, if all this (your trials) boost your interest and practice in photography, all the better for you, and I am glad. My comments here are just words of caution so that you do not join the cohort of YouTubers and bloggers from whom people rapidly turn away because their content is not reliable and based on too little analytical/critical tools, a shallow knowledge base, and scant practice. Do not become noise, just keep on photographing.
Comment posted: 22/12/2023
Geoff Chaplin on Rene Selection 5207 – Trying out an Incredible film for my #filmstocktryouts project
Comment posted: 26/12/2023
Comment posted: 26/12/2023
Jay on Rene Selection 5207 – Trying out an Incredible film for my #filmstocktryouts project
Comment posted: 01/01/2024
Comment posted: 01/01/2024