First Look: Kodak Vision 3 500T with New Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU)
First Look: Kodak Vision 3 500T with New Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU)
Analog Film Review
First Look: Kodak Vision 3 500T with New Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU)
The Kodak Vision 3 series, and especially the 250D and 500T, are definitely some of my top picks when it comes to film stocks. I’m pretty lucky to have access to some awesome film labs here in Hong Kong that can handle these beauties. A huge shout-out to Rex at Reflx Lab for hooking me up with a roll of the newest Kodak Vision 3 500T, which now comes with this nifty Anti-Halation Undercoat. What’s great about this? Well, no more dealing with that pesky remjet layer, which makes it a breeze to cross-process in C-41.
When I got my hands on this precious roll of respooled 500T, I went straight over to my dry cabinet where I keep all my cameras safe from Hong Kong’s sticky humidity. I was so pumped that I loaded it into my Leica MP right away, although picking the perfect lens was a bit tricky because I was too excited. Instead of sticking to my usual testing ground at Wah Fu Estate, I decided to switch things up and took this special roll to the cafe and work areas, and even did a nighttime shoot in Central just to see what magic it could capture.
Get Latest Update!
Stay up to date with my latest videos, photos, and news updates by following me on Instagram and YouTube. And don’t forget to subscribe to my website’s pop-up form or bottom of the page for exclusive updates and news. Head over to @tahusa on Instagram, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and stay in the loop!
Kodak Vision 3 500T (AHU)
Film photography always seems to be in the spotlight, doesn’t it? And Kodak really knows how to keep us on our toes. They’ve just dropped another bomb with the latest version of the Vision 3 500T film stock, now featuring this revolutionary Anti-Halation Undercoat, ditching the old remjet layer. This tweak isn’t just about making our lives easier; it’s a big boost for the film’s usability for photographers—though right now, it’s just available for the movie industry. Let’s look at what this change really means and why it’s potentially a game changer for us film buffs.
So, Kodak’s rolled out this new AHU layer in their Vision 3 500T film, and it’s pretty much a game-changer. Before this, the film had a carbon black remjet layer that was all about preventing those light halos, resisting static, and keeping your film from getting scratched up during all the high-speed action in cameras and projectors. The catch? You had to go through the hassle of removing this layer if you wanted to process the film in standard C-41 or ECN-2 chemicals, which was a bit of a headache for photographers.
The AHU layer isn’t just making our lives easier; it’s a gel-based layer tucked right beneath the emulsion layers, packed with silver and a few other secret ingredients, designed to tough it out through the processing stages. This layer does a ton: it cuts down on static, steps up scratch resistance, and keeps halation in check without needing that old remjet. Plus, it washes away during film processing, which means less mess and easier scanning and printing afterward.
Here’s something cool: according to what some folks are saying online, if your camera has a black backing, you might not even see any halation, which typically happens with reflective backings. But we need more people to try this out and share what they find.
Shot at ISO 640
Rex suggested I shoot this roll at ISO 640 instead of the standard box speed of ISO 500, and that advice was spot on. With the new AHU layer replacing the old remjet, the film definitely seems brighter, kind of like the previous Reflx Lab 800 and 400D (from the 500T and 250D film stocks without remjet). So, I went ahead and shot them all at ISO 640.
I ended up shooting all these pics with some of my favourite lenses: the Leica Summilux 35mm f/1.4 Steel Rim, Noctilux 50mm f/1 E58, Summilux 50mm f/1.4 V2, and the Tokyo Optical Co. Simlar 5cm f/1.5. I had everything processed and scanned over at HK Camera. I’ve got to say, I’m really digging the deep blue tones these shots picked up—they kind of throw Hong Kong back to those classic movie scenes we all love. And the softness from the Steel Rim? It’s just perfect for portraits. It adds a really nice touch if that’s your thing.
From what I’ve seen, the new Kodak Vision 3 500T with AHU holds up to the original 500T in terms of image quality and grain structure. This is super important because it means we can switch to the new film without losing any of that classic look we love.
On a personal note, having tried both ECN-2 and C-41 processing, I’m really digging the C-41 with the new 500T AHU. It tends to bring out more vibrant and saturated negatives, kind of like what you’d see with Kodak Portra, but a bit cooler. This means I can get the look I want with less fuss in post-processing, which is always a win in my book.
Final Thoughts
Kodak’s new Vision 3 500T with AHU really shows their dedication to innovation and meeting the needs of the filmmakers. By ditching the remjet layer and keeping up the high-quality standards of the Vision film line, Kodak’s not just keeping the spirit of film alive; they’re making it even better. For those of us who love the hands-on, detailed process of film photography, this new film is both a technical marvel and a creative treasure. As we keep testing and playing with it, I’m convinced the new 500T AHU is going to become a mainstay in our camera bags, perfectly blending the timeless appeal of film with the practicality of modern techniques. This blog post provides a lot of useful information if you want to learn more about this film stock.
All images have been resized to optimise webpage loading speed. For the highest resolution images, please refer to my Flickr account.
Gear & Photography Chat
Wherever you are, let's connect! Book a time with me for a casual GAS chat where we can swap stories and reviews. Struggling on what gear to buy next? You've got a friend in me!
New to Film Photography?
Support this Community
Recent Posts
Thypoch Simera 21mm f/1.4 Review — A Fast, Affordable 21mm for Environmental Portraits and Street
Read More »
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Interesting! Is there any way to get a roll or two of AHU 500T for testing? Can’t wait for its wider release.
I saw some online shops selling 250D AHU now. Hope to get some of those too!