9.5 camera film to be available soon

[Cliff Perriam]

At the recent 9.5 international in Calella, a meeting was held with Daniel Colland of Color Films Archives France, wherein he announced that the company proposes to recommence the production of 9.5mm camera film on Ektachrome stock. The project will depend on enough advance orders to justify a bulk order from Kodak of unperforated 35mm stock. I have attached the prospectus and price list.

[Simon Wyss]

I should very much like to use black-and-white stocks, for example Film Ferranias P 30. Is it not possible to think of a cheaper solution? € 115 does not meet my budget, half of it would be appropriate. I want to process 9,5 mm black-and-white films myself. Foma Bohemia might deliver unperforated 35 mm stocks as well.

[Dominique De Bast]

I should very much like to use black-and-white stocks, for example Film Ferranias P 30. Is it not possible to think of a cheaper solution? € 115 does not meet my budget, half of it would be appropriate. I want to process 9,5 mm black-and-white films myself. Foma Bohemia might deliver unperforated 35 mm stocks as well.

€ 115 is process paid. No, unfortunately, it's not possible with the price of the filmstock and the chemicals to get a cheaper option. It's already a miracle that in 2023 a company is considering bringing 9.5 caméras camerastock to the market.

[Maurice Leakey]

15m is around 50ft
So not suitable for any of the early cameras which take a cassette holding 30ft.

[Dominique De Bast]

15m is around 50ft
So not suitable for any of the early cameras which take a cassette holding 30ft.

That's correct, Maurice. 9.5 will be available on 30 m (100 ft) length and 3x8,20 m (about 27 ft) length.

An order form in English should be available, soon.

[Simon Wyss]

€ 115 is process paid.

I know and you haven’t reacted to the subject of black and white. It isn’t a miracle, the old Kodak-Pathé combined slitter-perforator sits around with M. Colland since years. The thing is that he can only think of colour film.

So I’ll return to the gentlemen who have built a perforator themselves and ask for a black-and-white raw stock, print film as well as a negative film.

[Dominique De Bast]

I know and you haven’t reacted to the subject of black and white. It isn’t a miracle, the old Kodak-Pathé combined slitter-perforator sits around with M. Colland since years. The thing is that he can only think of colour film.

So I’ll return to the gentlemen who have built a perforator themselves and ask for a black-and-white raw stock, print film as well as a negative film.

This thread is about the fantastic news of having the possibility to get 9.5 filmstock again. Sorry that you don't share our enthusiasm. The question of 9.5 black and white film has been discussed several times. The main problem is that no professional lab processes it. You can read the previous dedicated threads about that.

[Dominique De Bast]

Here is a translation of the letter from the president of the Ciné-club 9,5 de France :

Dear friend

The good news we announced to you is confirmed: Daniel COLLAND and Color Films Archives are ready to produce 9.5mm film with the excellent Kodak colour reversal emulsion Ektachrome 100D 7294.

The 35mm Kodak film to be cut is sold in very large quantities and the advance payment to buy it is too important to be supported by Daniel Colland alone. Color Fillm Archives is therefore proposing that you order the 9.5 film by subscription now so that the film can be made.

Color Films Archives would like you to purchase at least 3 x 30m rolls of 9.5mm film.
For those who use cameras with charger, it is also proposed to buy 3 sets of 3 rolls of 8.20m.

This subscription will make it possible to finance the operation and to relaunch the 9.5mm format.
To proceed to this purchase by subscription, you will find attached the order form of Color Films Archives.

Get your cameras ready !

The President of the Ciné-Club 9.5mm
Bernard Castella

[Simon Wyss]

This thread is about the fantastic news of having the possibility to get 9.5 filmstock again. Sorry that you don't share our enthusiasm. The question of 9.5 black and white film has been discussed several times. The main problem is that no professional lab princesses it.

The problem is that you have forgotten what I wrote or don’t want to accept it. I develop the films myself. I have run a laboratory specialised in black-and-white movie film from 1999 to 2008. We had a 35-mm. step contact printer, a 16-mm. step contact printer, processing equipment for any film width between 105 mm and 8 mm, and more.

I am not enthusiastic about paying 115 Euro for a 9.5 mm narrow strip of Ektachrome and its processing. That corresponds to about 0,29 square metre of film surface. In 16 mm you have 0,49 square metre on a 100-ft. roll. It is just too expensive.

[Dominique De Bast]

Then, don't buy it, Simon, if you think it's too expensive. What else can I say ?

[Lee Mannering]

Fantastic news Dom!!
The first REEL amateur film format continues one hundred years on.

[Cliff Perriam]

Here's the order forms for 9.5 Ektachrome with or without processing. If you want chargers without processing, it is necessary to buy 100ft and cut and load yourself.

[Ken Finch]

On the face of it, this sounds good news but I am rather sceptical about it. I am far too old to use and do not have the finances to afford it anyway. I would want to know more about its origins. Is it the same stock Kodak have recently introduced on super 8, which I understand is processed an returned as a negative together with a dvd, or is it a return of the old Ektachrome reversal film? I have just been going through and transferring my 9.5 mm cine films to dvd and the ektachrome footage that I purchased and used in the 1970s is starting to go slightly pink. This is despite having complied with all storage recommendations! All the Pathecolour, Ferrania colour film is fine, but as mentioned in another topic some Gevacolour I purchesed in Switzerland in 1962 has gone red and it has happened over the last 10 years or so. Ken Finch. 😏

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Ken, yes, it’s the same Ektachrome color reversal film that Kodak is selling as slide film, 35mm, 16mm and Super8 for years.

[Bren Jacques]

I am interested to see this but I may hold off purchasing for a while. One of my personal issues with such modern film stock is that the speed is too 'fast' and to use in most cameras often results in having to mess around with ND filters or refrain from using the camera on bright days. I have the same problem with shooting on 8mm and 16mm where I prefer a more simple point-and-shoot affair.

I do agree with Simon Wyss above that it would be nice to see some B&W stock available but my reasoning is for that stated above. The Film Photography Project currently sell 40iso B&W reversal film, I'm not too sure what the stock actually is however but such stock would be perfectly suited to 9.5 cameras.

A shame Fuji Velvia 50 is a bit hit and miss stock wise now, this would also be a good candidate for such cameras. I find it strange that kodak re-introduced Ektachrome with a speed of 100iso when they primarily released it with the re-introduction of super 8 as it is quite fast for amateur cine use.

Just my 2p worth, I still think it is amazing to see the format come back to life but I will probably wait for a short while before delving into it.