CineStill 800T
Cinema film for still cameras — the king of night photography
Color Palette
Cinematic tungsten palette — teal and amber with red halation
Specifications
| Manufacturer | CineStill Film (USA) |
| Film Type | Color negative |
| ISO Speed | 800 |
| Process | C-41 (also compatible with ECN-2) |
| Grain | Moderate, cinematic — based on Kodak Vision3 motion picture emulsion |
| Exposure Latitude | Wide — can be rated EI 200-800 without push processing |
| Color Palette | Tungsten-balanced (3200K) — cool blue in daylight, natural under warm light |
| Available Formats | 35mm, 120 |
Reciprocity Failure Calculator
When exposures exceed one second, CineStill 800T requires additional time to compensate for reciprocity failure. This is particularly relevant for the long-exposure night photography that this film excels at.
Push & Pull Processing
CineStill 800T is surprisingly versatile when it comes to exposure. The underlying Kodak Vision3 500T emulsion has excellent latitude. In daylight (with the blue cast), rating at EI 200-400 produces better results. Under tungsten light, box speed of 800 is ideal. The film pushes well to EI 1600 and can reach EI 3200 in emergencies.
| Rating | Effective ISO | Stops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pull −2 | 200 | −2 | Great for daylight with the blue cast — smoother tones |
| Pull −1 | 400 | −1 | Recommended for daylight shooting or bright interiors |
| Box Speed | 800 | 0 | Normal development — ideal for tungsten-lit scenes |
| Push +1 | 1600 | +1 | Increased contrast and grain, enhanced halation |
| Push +2 | 3200 | +2 | Heavy grain, strong contrast — very cinematic look |
| Push +3 | 6400 | +3 | Extreme push — emergency use only, heavy grain |
Character & Personality
Grain
Moderate, cinematic grain that is visible but contributes to the film's aesthetic appeal. The underlying emulsion — Kodak Vision3 500T motion picture film — uses a modern motion picture emulsion design, which keeps the grain more organized than traditional emulsions at this speed. The grain adds to the filmic quality that draws photographers to this unique stock.
Exposure Latitude
Wide — CineStill 800T can be rated from EI 200 to EI 800 without push processing, retaining highlight and shadow detail across this broad range. When needed, the film can be push processed to EI 3200 with increased contrast and grain. The dynamic range is impressive for a high-speed film.
Color Palette
Tungsten-balanced at 3200K, meaning it is designed for warm artificial lighting. Under tungsten and incandescent light, colors appear natural and well-balanced with rich, cinematic tones. Under daylight (5500K), the film produces a distinctive cool blue/teal cast that many photographers embrace as part of its look. The signature red halation effect — a red/orange glow around bright point light sources — is caused by the removal of the remjet anti-halation backing from the original cinema film. This unpredictable halation is what makes CineStill 800T images instantly recognizable.
Best Suited For
- Night photography and neon-lit cityscapes
- Concert and music venue photography
- Indoor events under tungsten or warm lighting
- Cinematic-style street photography after dark
- Any situation where the distinctive halation glow is desired
- Urban exploration and moody environmental portraits
Available Formats & Pricing
| Format | Approx. Price |
|---|---|
| 35mm (36 exp) | ~$17-25 USD |
| 120 | ~$16-20 USD |
Prices are approximate and vary by retailer. Current as of early 2026.
Development Notes
Standard C-41 processing — safe for any commercial C-41 lab. CineStill 800T can also be developed in ECN-2 chemistry (CineStill's own Cs2 kit) for slightly different results. The remjet anti-halation layer has already been removed, so do not process in standard ECN-2 machines that expect remjet removal. The halation effect is part of the emulsion behavior, not a development artifact — it cannot be removed in processing. Static discharge artifacts (pink sparks or smudges) are more common in dry or cold conditions; advance film slowly to minimize this. When scanning, the orange/red halation can confuse automatic color correction — manual adjustments may be needed.
Sources & Further Reading
Manufacturer Data
- CineStill 800T Product Page (manufacturer)
- Kodak Vision3 500T Data Sheet (base emulsion data)
Sample Photos
Reviews & Resources
Shoot CineStill 800T with TLR Companion
TLR Companion is a free light meter app with built-in reciprocity correction for CineStill 800T and 21 other film stocks. Meter your exposures accurately with camera-specific settings for 48 TLR cameras.