Kodak 5213 (200T)

Kodak Vision3 200T (Kodak 5213)

Kodak Vision3 200T, bearing stock number 5213, is a tungsten-balanced color negative film with ISO 200 speed. Designed for artificial tungsten lighting environments, it provides excellent versatility for studio cinematography and mixed interior/exterior lighting conditions.

Technical Specifications

Basic Parameters:

• Stock Number: 5213
• Speed (ISO): 200
• Color Temperature: Tungsten (3200K)
• Format: 35mm (4-perf standard)
• Processing: ECN-2 standard

Tungsten Color Balance

3200K Optimization:

• Primary Use: Tungsten incandescent lighting
• Tungsten Lamps: Color-balanced for 3200K lamps
• Daylight Correction: 85 filter required for daylight (shifts to 5500K)
• Mixed Lighting: Good compromise between tungsten and daylight

Speed and Grain

ISO 200 Characteristics:

• Moderate Speed: Not fastest, but fast enough for typical lighting
• Grain: Minimal grain, finer than 500T but slightly coarser than 50D
• Studio Lighting: Ideal for tungsten studio fixtures
• Flexibility: Works in both low and moderate light

Studio Applications

Primary Use Cases:

• Studio Cinematography: Designed for tungsten lighting
• Controlled Lighting: Interior scenes with studio lights
• Mixed Lighting: Can handle mixed sources with filtration
• Interview/Dialogue: Standard for dialogue-heavy interiors

Mixed Lighting Versatility

Tungsten Primary with Daylight Fill:

• Tungsten-balanced for main lights
• Daylight windows provide secondary fill
• Color temperature mixing manageable
• Practical for real-world mixed-light scenarios

Daylight/Tungsten Balance:

• 85 filter converts to daylight balance
• Effective for exterior day (with 85) or interior tungsten
• Flexibility reduces film consumption
• Common on multi-location productions

Color Characteristics

200T Color Rendering:

• Warm Palette: Inherent Kodak warm color bias
• Skin Tones: Warm, flattering rendition under tungsten
• Saturation: Well-balanced color separation
• Tungsten Light: Optimized for incandescent lighting aesthetics

Filtration Considerations

85 Filter for Daylight:

• Standard Conversion: 85 filter converts 3200K to ~5500K
• Light Loss: Approximately 2/3 stop reduction
• Practical Impact: Requires slightly wider aperture or higher light
• Alternative: Use daylight-balanced stock (250D) instead

Comparison Strategy:

• 200T + 85 Filter: Tungsten film + daylight conversion
• 250D Stock: Daylight film, no conversion needed
• Economics: Film cost vs. filtration and lighting adjustment

Shutter Speed and Exposure

Typical Exposure:

• Studio Tungsten: f/5.6-f/8 with standard 180° shutter
• Aperture Flexibility: Reasonable range for cinematographic control
• Shutter Angle: Standard 180° typical, variable for artistic effect
• Motion Blur: Adequate motion blur at standard shutter angles

Contrast and Latitude

200T Latitude:

• Exposure Latitude: ±1 stop typical range
• Highlight Handling: Pleasant rolloff without blocking
• Shadow Detail: Good retention without excessive grain
• Contrast: Moderate, balanced for studio lighting

Comparison with Other Vision3 Stocks

Notable Productions

Studio-Heavy Productions:

• Dialogue-heavy dramas
• Studio interview/talking-heads
• Interior cinematography with controlled lights
• Stage productions with theatrical lighting

Film-to-Digital Workflow

200T Scanning:

• Scans with proper color management (3200K white balance)
• DCI-P3 color space appropriate
• Kodak color characteristics well-preserved
• Digital grading accounts for tungsten balance

Economics

Cost Characteristics:

• Film Cost: Standard Kodak Vision3 pricing (~$100-120 per 1000ft)
• Processing: ECN-2 standard cost
• Filtration: 85 filter cost negligible
• Production Flexibility: Reduces film consumption vs. two stocks

Storage and Shelf Life

200T Storage:

• Standard Kodak film storage conditions
• Cool temperature (below 55°F ideal)
• Dry environment (40-50% humidity)
• Process within recommended timeframe
• No special handling beyond standard film care

Practical Cinematography Decision

When to Choose 200T:

• Studio/controlled lighting dominant
• Interior cinematography primary
• Mixed tungsten/daylight scenes
• 200 ISO adequate for available light

When to Choose Alternative:

• Bright daylight exclusive (50D or 250D)
• Very low light (500T)
• Pure tungsten scenes without daylight conversion (500T acceptable)

Hybrid Production Workflows

Multi-Stock Approach:

• 200T for interior/studio scenes
• 250D for exterior/daylight scenes
• Shot-by-shot or sequence-based selection
• Post-production manages color consistency

Economics vs. Single Stock:

• Two stocks vs. extensive filtration
• Processing economies of scale
• Additional inventory management
• Modern productions often use hybrid approach

Future of 200T

Vision3 200T remains standard for:

• Studio and controlled-light cinematography
• Professional television and broadcast
• Interior dialogue-heavy scenes
• Mixed-light production environments

No planned replacement; foundational tungsten option.