A few years ago I was gifted an XA2 via my local Buy/Nothing group after a bunch of people who were offered it first changed their minds when they realized it wasnt a digital camera! I shot a single roll with it before it jammed and stopped working. Using info from some forum posts, I managed to open it up and found a piece of the meter had come adrift and lodged in the focus mechanism! I retrieved it, straightened it out, and replaced it. Then I shot a roll that gave mixed results. I thought maybe the meter was now inconsistent/incorrectly calibrated, so I put it away for a few years.
During a recent discussion on BlueSky about the joys of small cameras, I pulled this out for the first time in a while and wondered if maybe I was wrong about the meter. After a quick investigation suggested the metering was in fact OK (utilizing the low-light warning LED as a guide for when the camera was reading 1/30 light conditions), I decided to test it again. It is also easier to test now that I am back to home processing and so per roll processing is less expensive!
The Film
For a while now the US chain store ‘5 Below’ has been selling low cost film alongside low cost cameras. Originally they carried only unbranded B+W film (that appears to be repackaged Foma). More recently some color film started also appearing in stores, branded as “WP-Tech 100”. As others have pointed out, while this film is cheap (~$5/roll) it is not really cost effective as it is only 10 frames per roll! So on a cost-per-frame basis it is actually quite expensive, especially if you are paying for per-roll lab processing. However, I bought a few rolls recently, as I was intrigued to find out what film stock it actually is, and I often find it convenient to shoot short rolls in experimental situations (like testing my XA2!).
Interestingly, there is no information given about what process this color film should be developed in, so I assumed it was C-41. Also, like the B+W film, there is a “Fake” dx code on the cartridge. The code is just printed in black and white on the sticker, so cannot actually be read by a camera. Which is good, because it is the same “code” as on the black and white film and indicates that it is 400 iso film, 24 exposures, and has +3,-1 exposure tolerance. None of which is true?
The Location
There is a small bit of woods, near my house, called Carpenter’s Woods where I often walk with my daughter. Wanting to test the XA2 was a perfect excuse to go for a stroll in the woods, especially on a sunny day in beautiful fall weather. I explored a small bit of foundation that Ive passed many times, and which contains a lot of graffiti. It turns out it is a small shrine to the memory of a lost friend.
The Processing
Although I am not new to a wide range of darkroom work, I had never developed color film at home until recently. I started with the FPP Super Color kit and have been getting good results. I also assumed the WP-Tech would be something like re-spooled Kodak Gold and would be straightforward to process in the same setup. But after I processed the roll, I was surprised to see that the film was still partially covered in black goo. Surprise!: WP-Tech 100 is actually cine film as confirmed by the edge markings. The edge marking includes the text “Eastman 5203” which confirms it as Vision 3 50D. After asking for some help online, I rewashed the film and rubbed the remaining remjet off with my fingers! I then DSLR scanned it and experimented with a new-to-me process for inverting and color correcting in PS.
The Photos
Conclusion
This was a fun excuse to try out some new respooled film from a chain store, test out my XA, and check out this interesting little graffiti shrine that I have walked past many times. The XA is a delight to shoot, with its simple controls and small size, and I think it is clear that it is working well and ready to be used more!
N.B.: It is extremely bad form for 5 Below to be selling cine film with remjet and not labeling it as such. I assume regular consumers will buy their $5 camera and this $5 film, shoot a roll, and send it off to a lab to process. This is going to be a nightmare for unsuspecting labs who, like me, unwittingly process the film without knowing what it actually is!
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Comments
Huss on 5 Frames with “WP-Tech 100” and a repaired XA2
Comment posted: 27/12/2023
As for this film from 5Below? I find it extremely dishonest of them to sell this product. First off - while is says '10' on it, for most people they would not understand the number 10 and an aperture symbol to mean 10 exposures. What the vast majority of people nowadays encounter as the shortest length of film is 24 exposures.
I assumed this was a 24 exp roll, because who on earth would sell 10 exposures for $5? Well, 5below. It also takes advantage of their clientele who tend to be kids - who really would not expect that.
And then we have the fact that it has remjet on it which can really mess things up for the lab who develops it if they are not informed of this. The fact that there is no marking on the canister stating this is just egregious.
5Below should be ashamed of themselves - but fat chance, right?
Bringing it back to the light, again, really nice pics!
Andy Karlson on 5 Frames with “WP-Tech 100” and a repaired XA2
Comment posted: 28/12/2023
Huss on 5 Frames with “WP-Tech 100” and a repaired XA2
Comment posted: 29/12/2023
You can get a roll of Fujifilm 400 36 exp for $7.49, or a roll of Portra 400 for $13.74
Alan Peres on 5 Frames with “WP-Tech 100” and a repaired XA2
Comment posted: 06/02/2024