When I go on vacations where I know that amazing landscapes are awaiting me, the decision of which film and camera to take with me always takes me a long time. I try to think as carefully as possible if the colors of the film match the scenery I expect to see, and the camera must be versatile, but also not too bulky and heavy.
In September this year, a road trip through Western Canada finally was happening for me which I had to postpone two times for obvious reasons. It was quite clear from the beginning of my preparations that I would take three rolls of the new CineStill 400D release with me which I received shortly before my departure through my participation in their Crowdfunding campaign.
As for the camera, the Lomography LC-A+ already proved to be a handy and reliable travel companion in the past, so after pondering way too long about other options, I was set.
Certainly, I didn’t exactly know what to expect with shooting a film variant new to the market, but the sample images looked promising and seemed fitting for the rugged mountains and blue lakes I photographed there – I was also hoping for the typical and beautiful red halos around different light sources.
After I picked up the negatives and scans from my local lab and looked at the results, my hopes were by far exceeded. Especially in difficult lighting situations, the film managed incredibly well. The overall character is beautifully warm and adds a vintage feel to it – but not as much to look tacky. The ISO 400 sensitivity makes it absolutely versatile, and CineStill even claims that it can be pushed to ISO 3200.
But beware everyone who isn’t a huge fan of CineStill’s signature halation effect, because, with this one, it seems to be even stronger than with their other film variants — I personally love it, as it gives the film a unique character.
Yes, the price point is relatively high, but in my opinion, it is totally worth it, and CineStill 400D might have become my favorite film I ever shot.
~ Julia
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