If you’re looking for a high performing film stock that performs well in low-light conditions, CineStill 800 might be just the film you’re looking for.
On a recent trip to Japan during the autumn, I packed a handful of films, including Lomo Metropolis, Portra 800 and CineStill 800.
I wanted something that would perform well with changeable weather, but would also deliver a cinematic element to it in the photos.
If you’re on the fence about trying this film stock, here’s my honest review of this popular film stock, along with sample images from my trip to Hokkaido, Japan.
CineStill 800 35mm Film Review
CineStill 800T 35mm film is a unique stock that is inspired by motion picture technology. 800T is brilliant for low light and produces a variety of fantastic, cinematic outputs under coloured lights.
This unique film stock, inspired by the same technology used in Hollywood, is designed to deliver stunning, cinematic results that will elevate your photography to new heights.
With its high ISO 800 speed, CineStill 800T is perfect for low-light situations. The pull of this film stock is that supposedly whether you’re shooting indoors, at dusk, or in the vibrant glow of city lights, this film performs exceptionally well, delivering crisp, detailed images with minimal noise. It seems like a great all rounder film stock that won’t stop you from getting the images you want, no matter the weather.
I picked this film stock out because autumn in Hokkaido, Japan can be fairly changeable, however, I wanted to be able to capture the beauty of the autumn foliage that Japan is so well known for.
Looking through all of my film photos (developed by us at FilmProcessing.co.uk of course!) I absolutely loved all of the results that came back, I did try a few at night time which didn’t really excel, through my own photography battles and not using the flash on my camera though which wasn’t really a reflection on the film stock.
CineStill 800 Sample Film Photos In Japan
These photos that I captured at the Hiraoka Tree Art Center in Sapporo of the autumn foliage and Japanese garden are my favourite of them all.
The colours are vivid, yet have a cinematic almost muted quality to them which really adds to the character of them.
Looking back at my photos I forgot how cloudy our trip actually was, and whilst the film makes the colours more muted, I love the overall look and feel of the images.
The variation of colours looks so beautiful in this image, along with the shape and texture of the trees that’s so obvious in this shot, it’s definitely one of my favourites!
I tested some just as the sun was going down in the iconic Susikino area of Sapporo, using the lights as the backdrop in the images, it’s not a perfect shot as the flash was not being used on the camera, but I still like how the shadows on the right hand side add some depth and the people crossing the street add subtle movement to the shot.
Whilst this image below was way too dark, there’s something about the blurring of the street lights and movement that looks really cinematic and cool!
Sometimes it’s the unexpected, mistakes that actually look really characterful!
I really like CineStill 800 and would recommend it to anyone looking for an all rounder, versatile film stock that performs well in low light, and in day and night situations.
Let me know in the comments below if you’re a fan of this film stock!