APS film
The APS film is a photographic film , which in 1996 by the camera and film manufacturers Canon , Fujifilm , Kodak , Minolta and Nikon introduced Advanced Photo System ( APS ) is used.
features
APS films (Kodak type designation IX240) differ significantly from common film materials such as 35 mm film ; they consist of a closed cassette in which the actual film remains permanently; The carrier material is only removed for exposure, development and, if necessary, for further processing.
Each film cassette has a four-stage film status display that knows four states: "unexposed", "partially exposed", "fully exposed" and "developed". Films can therefore no longer be given double exposure or even unexposed for development.
APS films are offered in packs of 15, 25 or 40 frames (for 35 mm film, packs of 12, 24 and 36 frames are common) and must be stored in suitable archiving systems.
The substrate of the APS film is particularly thin and the film emulsions used have been improved compared to the 35 mm films available up to then.
The sharpness of typical APS films is very high (given in line pairs per mm):
- 100 ASA : 200 lp / mm (e.g. Kodak Advantix 100, market launch in mid-1998)
- 200 ASA: 175 lp / mm (e.g. Kodak Advantix 200, launched in mid-1998)
- 400 ASA: 160 lp / mm (e.g. Kodak APS 400, market launch in mid-2000)
- 400 ASA: 115 Lp / mm (e.g. Konica VX 400, market launch in mid-1997)
As a result of these new, considerably improved film emulsions, a sharpness and resolution capability was achieved from around the year 2000 even with 400 ASA films that most APS cameras were no longer able to exploit, even with fixed focal lengths.
The negative format with dimensions of 16.7 mm × 30.2 mm was also newly introduced; the APS film itself is 24 mm wide.
The APS film also has optical and magnetic data tracks that enable data to be exchanged between the camera, film and processing laboratory (IX, Information Exchange ) and are intended to improve the image quality when ordering for the first time as well as ensuring consistent quality for repeat orders .
The following information is recorded in an APS film:
- Film type,
- Film length,
- Film speed,
- Image format,
- Film identification number,
- recording-specific data,
- selected number of prints,
- predefined or individual title.
These data are evaluated in the laboratory to achieve constant image quality (PQI = "Print Quality Improvement"); Both for first orders and for repeat orders, the image is produced in the defined number, the desired aspect ratio, the corresponding printing on the back and the "index print". The index print contains a reduced image of each negative, all negative numbers, the selected image format and the film identification number. The magnetic track also creates the possibility for various other applications, which, however, are usually not used.
Depending on the camera model, a partially exposed film can be rewound, removed from the device, and later reinserted into the camera to continue the exposure and automatically forwarded to the first unexposed image ("mid-roll change" or "mid- Reload "). However, not all APS cameras support this function.
The film loading has been simplified by "drop-in-loading": the film cassette is pushed into the cassette compartment of the camera and the compartment is locked; the camera then automatically picks up the film from the cassette and advances it to the first unexposed frame. As soon as the film is full, the film is automatically rewound and can be removed immediately.
Before each recording, one of three different image formats ("Print Aspect Ratio") with defined aspect ratios can be selected; This selection is saved on the magnetic strip of the film and automatically taken into account by the laboratory when making prints. The recordings recorded on APS film always use the entire APS negative format; The individual selection of the detail only becomes effective when the image is exposed. The recorded image is reproduced in full on an index print, but the dimensions of the selected section are marked. The following formats can be selected:
High definition format (H) : The H format, also known as "Hollywood format", offers the aspect ratio of 16: 9 based on the HDTV standard, uses the full APS negative and emphasizes the height or width depending on the position of the camera.
Classic format (C) : The Classic format offers the aspect ratio of 3: 2, which is also common for 35mm films, and is suitable when you want to concentrate on a specific subject, for example portraits . C-format prints use only 84% of the negative area.
Panorama format (P) : The panorama format offers the super-wide or super-high aspect ratio of 3: 1 and brings out wide landscapes and elongated objects particularly well. P-format prints only use 59% of the negative area, but at the same time the prints are almost 70% larger than those in H-format.
Footage
APS films have been marketed primarily as color negative films . For a while there was an APS black-and-white film from Kodak, which however required chromogenic development, i.e. had to be developed according to process C-41 like a color film . Fuji offered a slide film for a period of time . Due to a lack of demand, such rarely required films were taken out of the range. In mid-2011, production was stopped due to low demand and the bankruptcy of a supplier company for Kodak and Fuji.
processing
APS films can be processed in specially equipped laboratories. In 1996, Fuji provided photo labs with all the APS functions. The corresponding new machines with a corresponding range of functions became widespread in commercial photo laboratories from around 1998, i.e. only two years after their market launch. Previously, only the basic functions such as "Print Aspect Ratio" were supported.
meaning
The APS format - with the exception of miniature cameras, which benefited from the smaller size of the APS film - could not establish itself on the market. The planned replacement of 35mm film by the APS has therefore failed, especially with professional SLR cameras .
Since the dominance of digital cameras , analog photography (and thus also the APS format) has continued to lose importance. Most camera manufacturers discontinued their APS model series between 2001 and 2002 or are phasing them out. The production of APS films was discontinued at the beginning of 2011, until now (as of January 2018) residual stocks are still available from photo dealers or online.
The APS negative format, however, still has some significance for digital cameras ; For example, the sensor size of consumer reflex cameras from manufacturers such as Canon corresponds to that of APS film and is also called APS-C accordingly . When using normal lenses calculated for the 35mm format, the reduction of the angle of view and the format factor must be taken into account. Only professional digital SLR cameras have a full format sensor, the size of which corresponds to that of a 35mm negative.
The APS film is 24 millimeters wide. Roger Field was granted a patent for the use of 24 mm APS film for motion pictures, for example for the motion picture format 22 mm × 12.4 mm (previously only used for 35 mm film), for 16: 9 motion picture recordings for Cinema and television.
swell
- Foto Magazin, issues 6/2000, p. 60 f .; 8/1997, p. 57; 2/1998, p. 36 ff .; 8/1998, p. 56 f .; 6/1999, pp. 80 f., 178.
- Photo Hits '98 (Buying Guide).