Speed 400 Agfa Colour Film

Highlights from my first roll of a classic vintage stock

If you’ve ever wanted to shoot vintage Agfa stock, this is your chance.

In September, Walkens House of Film in Melbourne started selling Speed 400, a made in Belgium colour negative film. The stock must be well over 10 years old, but as you’ll see from the images in this post, it’s held up pretty well. Sure there’s a bit of grain in the shadows, but the rich colours are still there.

There’s a cool story behind how they got hold of this film, so make sure you watch my video below to find out.

I shot this roll on my Fujifilm Klasse S and sent it down to Halide Supply lab in Melbourne. I was impressed with their service: high res scans are standard and you get a cool contact sheet for every roll included in the price.

I took a few images in direct sunlight, but the harsh Queensland sun made the colours look a little washed out. The magic seemed to happen in bright but slightly more subdued lighting.

From the moment I first bought my first camera in 1994, I always used Kodak film. Years later I think about the incredible range of films that existed in the 90s that I never tried.

Sometimes a film like this comes along and you get a second chance. I love the yellows and reds this film produces.

See you next time!

Matt