The new Vision2 500T: 
Dec 1.2002
I have been busy, so I am sorry about not keeping up with you but I did recently get a look at Kodak's new Vision2 500T stock, 5218/7218.
As always, I am very Jazzed when I hear a new stock is coming out, makes me feel that film is not dead yet. Also, I love the thought of being able to try a new stock sometime in the future. Anyway, The test screening started with a music video shot in 35mm.
Something I should say, when I check out a new stock, I am not the biggest techno geek in the world, so I can't really tell you about 'reciprocity' or 'spectral sensitivity,' what I can tell you is, how I thought it looked and felt and if I feel the stock is an improvement. To me those are the real tests.
Clearly, you can see improved grain over vision 500T stock (sorry, I don't know the numbers) and the new Vision2 500T looks deeper into the shadows, which can come in really handy on lower budgets shoots. It's a nice addition to the DP's arsenal.
Some points I wanted to make. The new Vision2 500T is less color saturated and the skin tones are more natural. This is a really nice shift for those DP's that like to tinker in transfer, to my thinking it's more neutral, there by making it easier to shift your color around. However, I have to admit, I really did like the look of the older vision 500T stock they used as a comparison. Far more saturated and more to my liking. However, I could total see myself on a project where my first choice would be the new Vision2 500T, as with most things in this business, it's a matter of choice.
Another point, I didn't like the 16mm test that much. I don't know if there was a projector problem which they hinted at or if it just wasn't good. I was in good company, cause Vilmos Zsigmond was there and felt the same. My feeling is it was a projector problem because both the old vision and new Vision2 look equal in there 'not goodness.' I will hold off till I get another look. I will stick to talking about the 35mm test they showed.
Another thing, I didn't love the way the stock handled the exterior shots. Something about it was unappealing. Maybe it was the same reason I liked the new Vision2 during the night and lower level lighting shots. It's looks a bit too deep into the blacks and that of course is just a personal taste. It still had better grain during the day time shots.
All right, they did some under exposing but no over exposing. Now I didn't say anything about it there but the more I thought about it, the more I wish I had and the more I want to see how it handles over exposure.
One Last thing, Vilmos Zsigmond spoke up when someone mentioned that they wanted to get a DVD copy of the tests. Mr. Zsigmond said something to the effect of, 'Why would you want that? You can't tell anything that way.' Again, I didn't open my mouth but I should have. I feel that there is a reason to see it on DVD. With DVD's being as popular as they are and more people using them, it would be good to know what people will be seeing when they get a look at your film on DVD. However, I have to admit, Mr. Zsigmond was right, in that, DVD is no way to really get a look at the grain as well as other aspects of quality, because on DVD and on a small screen, it all looks really good.
Over all, I really like the new Vision2 500T and look forward to using it in the future. I feel that Kodak is going in the right direction here and I hope this is just the beginning.
Head Honco
Follow up: Sorry for the somewhat confused writing here, I will rewrite it to make it a bit more readable.
