Kodak Vision3 500T Super 8 Colour Negative Film (ECN-2)

Kodak Vision3 500T is the fastest Super 8 film in the Kodak lineup and the go-to choice for low light and indoor filmmaking. It's a tungsten-balanced motion picture negative film built around Kodak's advanced Dye Layering Technology for reduced shadow grain and exceptional dynamic range.

Importantly for Super 8 shooters — this cartridge has no remjet. It has an Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU) instead, which washes off cleanly in standard ECN-2 processing without the remjet removal step that causes headaches with bulk-rolled motion picture film.

Price is per 50ft cartridge.

Why filmmakers choose Vision3 500T

500T is the workhorse of low-light Super 8 filmmaking. At EI 500 in tungsten light — and roughly EI 320 in daylight with an 85 filter — it gives you real flexibility to shoot in interiors, under artificial lighting, at dusk, or in any situation where you need more speed than the 50D or 200T can offer.

Kodak's Dye Layering Technology means shadow areas stay cleaner than you'd expect from a 500-speed film. The noise floor is genuinely low, which matters when you're scanning and grading. Combined with the expanded highlight latitude, 500T handles high-contrast scenes — a dark room with a bright window, a night exterior with practical lights — with impressive control.

The tungsten balance gives it a neutral look under artificial light without filtration, and a cool, slightly blue cast in daylight if shot unfiltered — a look many Super 8 filmmakers use deliberately for a moody, atmospheric effect.

A bit of film history

Kodak's Vision3 line is the current generation of professional motion picture film, used in Hollywood productions, independent cinema, and music videos worldwide. The 500T emulsion (7219) is derived from the same technology base as the 35mm and 16mm versions of the same stock — meaning when you shoot Vision3 500T in Super 8, you're working with a genuine professional cinema emulsion, not a consumer adaptation.

Processing

Vision3 500T requires ECN-2 processing. The Super 8 cartridge version has no remjet — it uses an Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU) that washes off cleanly during development, making it straightforward to process without any special pre-bath or remjet removal. We refer all Super 8 processing to the team at Nanolab in Australia, who handle ECN-2 development and scanning.

Common questions

Does this film have remjet?

No. The Super 8 cartridge version of Vision3 500T has no remjet. It uses an Anti-Halation Undercoat (AHU) instead, which washes off cleanly in ECN-2 processing. This makes it significantly easier to process than bulk-rolled motion picture stocks that do carry remjet.

What is ECN-2 and where can I get it processed in Australia?

ECN-2 is the motion picture film development process used for Kodak Vision stocks. We refer all Super 8 ECN-2 processing to Nanolab in Australia — they handle development and scanning for Super 8 cartridges.

Should I use 500T or 200T for indoor shooting?

If you're shooting in well-lit interiors or under controlled studio lighting, 200T gives you slightly finer grain and a cleaner image. If you're shooting in dimly lit rooms, practical light only, or mixed indoor/outdoor situations, 500T is the better choice — the extra two stops of speed make a significant difference and the DLT technology keeps shadow grain under control.

Can I shoot 500T in daylight?

Yes, but it's designed for tungsten light so you'll get a strong cool/blue cast in daylight if shot unfiltered. Using an 85 orange conversion filter brings it to a neutral daylight balance at approximately EI 320. Some filmmakers shoot it unfiltered in daylight deliberately for the cool, desaturated aesthetic it produces.

How long is 50ft of Super 8 film?

At the standard Super 8 shooting speed of 18fps, 50ft gives you approximately 3.5 minutes of footage. At 24fps you get around 2.5 minutes.