I have not tried it yet, but it caught my interest. If anyone here already has it, I would be interested in hearing your impressions.. I already own their base profiles for my cameras and have had good results with those. I've always liked the Kodachrome aesthetic, even though I never personally shot the original film..
What stands out, at least based on their write up, is their methodology. They state that the team consulted with the nephew of one of Kodak's official developers and built the profile from an actual film development reference rather than simply matching scans and aiming for a general "film look". If accurate, that would suggest a more technical approach than the typical emulation preset.
The samples look promising and they offer two Kodachrome 64 interpretations, named 1987 and 2009, along with a Kodachrome 25 profile.
If I decide to get it, I will definetely share sample files and impressions after testing. From the examples shown, the rendering does resemble what many associate with Kodachrome, and in some cases it also reminds me a bit of Leica M9 files.
p.1 #2 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Interesting when I check with logon that my Cobalt kodachrome is discontinued still usuable, but there does not appear to be an upgrade path even paid from the prior version that I can see. I’ll see what Fred suggests before buying again. The lack of an upgrade path sets them apart from so many other packages.
Being older I shot lots of Kodachrome, and a sim is as close as I can get in memory lane
p.1 #4 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
shutterlawrence wrote:
FYI - You have to email them to get the discount code. I haven’t bitten the bullet yet, but I’m sure curiosity will get me soon.
I got the 40% discount code from them (thanks) as a prior owner, downloaded, and in the few minutes playing with it I do like what I am seeing with the Kodachrome 25, I'll play with that for a bit and work with the 64. As I recall I shot a lot more 64 than 25 back in the day- but that is ok, at the moment more interested in the 25. I am just doing do I like what I see, I'll leave the real analysis to Fred and I'll be very interested in his report.
Photos- these are portraits of snow monkeys in Japan from a couple of weeks ago, Cobalt from LR 25 at top and 64 at bottom 64 is warmer at least for this photo, with the 64 being more realistic for this photo, but there is something about the ghostly lighting effect of the 25 I do like for this photo of the monkey in the hot spring mist more artsy, The hot spring mist made for a low contrast shoot scattered light that made focus difficult, and it is a bit like an extreme mist filter, third photo Kodachrome helps with the low contrast scene and this is the 64 sim. Fourth back to Kodachrome 25. Sleepy monkey in hot spring pool. Nikon Z8 100-400mm, I do like the new Cobalt sim of Kodachome better than the older version so far. Being a Kodachrome generation, grew up with it, used it for decades and sadly watched its demise, more than other sim a good Kodachrome sim calls to me.
The snow monkeys were the cover of Life Magazine (Life along with NatGeo always a photo inspiration) in 1970, and one of those must do wildlife sites. Life as it was is long gone, but it inspired a couple of generations of photographers.
p.1 #5 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I think they did a very nice job with it-
Most noticeable, how the profile deals with reds. The last profile really played with the reds to a point they no longer looked natraul and had a fake look to them.
Like in the last photo, it still has that classic Kodachrome red but more reminiscent of the original film (IMO).
p.1 #6 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Thank you for sharing this. K25 was my go to slide film back in the day. It appears that this is not available for C1 yet. I'll keep my eyes out for it. There was nothing like a 4x5 K25 transparency.
p.1 #7 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Thanks for the sample images and the early impressions, guys. That sealed the deal for me.
I picked up the new Cobalt Kodachrome today, and it's quickly become one of my favorites.
Straight out of camera, with no adjustments other than white balance, the files have an incredible richness to the color. The reds really come alive without looking oversaturated, and there is a depth to the overall tonality that feels very natural. The Portra 400 and 800 profiles used to be my go to, but Kodachrome 25 and 64 1987 are right up there now.
Below are a few samples shot with my Leica 35mm f/1.4 "0.62" German yesterday and 50/2 Summicron Rigid. First image is Adobe Standard, followed by Kodachrome 64 in both the 1987 and 2009 versions. Aside from applying the same sharpening to all files, no other adjustments were made. The last image, especially, really brings out the reds in a way that reminds me of the M9.
PS: I also noticed that with these profiles, Cobalt included additional post processing tools such as push and pull film options, an Orton effect, and masked grain for both Kodachrome 25 and 64.
Adobe Stardard profile
LEICA M10-RSummilux-M 1:1.4/35 0.62 lens35mmf/2.01/60s250 ISO-0.3 EV
Cobalt Kodachrome 64 1987 B
LEICA M10-RSummilux-M 1:1.4/35 0.62 lens35mmf/2.01/60s250 ISO-0.3 EV
Adobe Stardard profile
LEICA M10-PSummilux-M 1:1.4/35 lens35mmf/1.41/125s200 ISO0.0 EV
Cobalt Kodachrome 64 2009 NB
LEICA M10-PSummilux-M 1:1.4/35 lens35mmf/1.41/125s200 ISO0.0 EV
Adobe Stardard profile
LEICA M10-RLeica 50mm f/2 Summicron Rigid lens50mmf/2.01/4000s100 ISO0.0 EV
Cobalt Kodachrome 64 1987 B
LEICA M10-RLeica 50mm f/2 Summicron Rigid lens50mmf/2.01/4000s100 ISO0.0 EV
p.1 #8 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Back in the day, I probably shot a majority scenics with Kodachrome for travel, various film cameras, in the 1990s I lived in japan for a year and shot a lot of film, a lot of scenics some Kodachrome. In that spirit this is Northern Hokkaido about two weeks ago, beached fishing boats, the Russian occupied islands, since WWII, in the background. One funny thing or at least a caution, sailing too close can get one seized by Russian forces, also going to close can cause cell phone to jump to Russia from Japan resulting in rather huge out of area charges. This is Cobalt Kodachrome 25 sim for the scenic.
p.1 #9 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
These profiles look quite nice, but I don't think they look that much like Kodachrome - at least not based on a book of William Eggleston's work that I own. The saturation and contrast look too high and digital just lacks a certain softness that film has.
p.1 #10 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I believe that Cobalt has a preset called Matrix mode, which desaturates -15 in Red/Green/Blues from the Calibration mode in Lightroom and works quite well with their profiles from what I recall
Thanks for the samples images, the new profiles look promising!
p.1 #12 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I assume these are Lightroom presets dssigned to work on RAW files. I'm not a Lightroom user. Won't these presets give a different look depending on what camera RAW file is used? For example, don't Sony and Fuji have different starting points for colour and contrast in their RAW files?
p.1 #13 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Geoff D F wrote:
I assume these are Lightroom presets dssigned to work on RAW files. I'm not a Lightroom user. Won't these presets give a different look depending on what camera RAW file is used? For example, don't Sony and Fuji have different starting points for colour and contrast in their RAW files?
You have to have a base profile matched to the sensor-
p.1 #14 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
I understand that some feel it doesn't "look like Kodachrome 64" and that is fair. Most of us have never shot or developed it ourselves, and online examples vary widely between photographers. From what I can tell, these profiles are the closest digital representation I've seen and I genuinely love what they do to my images. They are based on real Kodachrome transparencies processed via K-14 and carefully profiled for digital use. While they won't replicate the physical film look, the colors and tonal palette feel authentic to me across my cameras.
p.1 #15 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Fred Miranda wrote:
I understand that some feel it doesn't "look like Kodachrome 64" and that is fair. Most of us have never shot or developed it ourselves, and online examples vary widely between photographers. From what I can tell, these profiles are the closest digital representation I've seen and I genuinely love what they do to my images. They are based on real Kodachrome transparencies processed via K-14 and carefully profiled for digital use. While they won't replicate the physical film look, the colors and tonal palette feel authentic to me across my cameras.
From what I understand, the development process of it was also quite unique. You had to add in color with pollinator kits so there is probably a ton of room for manipulation and style for the people that could do it right-
It’s probably why the looks always vary so much in old pictures-
p.1 #16 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
tonights scenic
I was thinking as I did this how I moaned a bit when I switched from glass plates to film for my research decades ago, glass plates were unique, they were beautiful and had a depth and maybe a soul film did not. I still have some glass plates to remind me. I shot kodachrome for a few decades. It is off the playing field,I am not, so maybe I can capture a little bit of it.
This was this evening, Nikon Z8 600 mm and then ported over to the new Kodachrome 25, then 64, I did add it bit of grain, fake grain, which still isn't real grain...... but it is what I have.
p.1 #17 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Fred Miranda wrote:
I understand that some feel it doesn't "look like Kodachrome 64" and that is fair. Most of us have never shot or developed it ourselves, and online examples vary widely between photographers. From what I can tell, these profiles are the closest digital representation I've seen and I genuinely love what they do to my images. They are based on real Kodachrome transparencies processed via K-14 and carefully profiled for digital use. While they won't replicate the physical film look, the colors and tonal palette feel authentic to me across my cameras.
Actually none of us have developed Kodachrome. It wasn't close to being anything one could do at home. I have shot Kodachrome and I have some from my father's photo collection. I'm pleased that companies are trying to replicate the look and if they come up with presets people like then great. But I doubt they will ever succeed. First, Kodachrome 25 and 64 changed a lot over the years, so you will have to pick an era from the Zapruder film to the Afgan girl. But second, i suspect the layers in the emulsion react differently depending on the colour temperature of the light. The stark white in the car above is rare in Kodachrome. Whites either have a cream, grey or blue cast depending on the light. Same with other colours. They seem to take on different shades depending on the ambient light.
Of the shots above, I'd say the last one of the spider monkey could easily pass for modern Kodachrome 64. The last one of the car could too if the white was pushed slightly towards cream and grey, with saturation and contrast pulled down slightly.
I've mucked around trying to create a Kodachrome look using Fuji recipes, but in practice have found every file needs to be adjusted differently. Below are two attempts.
p.1 #18 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Thanks about the monkey- I think a large part of the issue is the input data- some files will look more kodachrome than others so the data we start with will give a path that the software emulator will do as it does to try to make it look kodachrome but depending on the input data it may or may not, the software does not look at it, it just applies some preset to a file and we get judge. This is a long way of saying I think we need to find out out to present the data by using lightroom first, and then ue the preset, that I have no figured out, if I ever do.
Geoff D F wrote:
Actually none of us have developed Kodachrome. It wasn't close to being anything one could do at home. I have shot Kodachrome and I have some from my father's photo collection. I'm pleased that companies are trying to replicate the look and if they come up with presets people like then great. But I doubt they will ever succeed. First, Kodachrome 25 and 64 changed a lot over the years, so you will have to pick an era from the Zapruder film to the Afgan girl. But second, i suspect the layers in the emulsion react differently depending on the colour temperature of the light. The stark white in the car above is rare in Kodachrome. Whites either have a cream, grey or blue cast depending on the light. Same with other colours. They seem to take on different shades depending on the ambient light.
Of the shots above, I'd say the last one of the spider monkey could easily pass for modern Kodachrome 64. The last one of the car could too if the white was pushed slightly towards cream and grey, with saturation and contrast pulled down slightly.
I've mucked around trying to create a Kodachrome look using Fuji recipes, but in practice have found every file needs to be adjusted differently. Below are two attempts.
p.1 #19 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Semi-related: How do the Cobalt profiles compare to other popular profile makers? I’ve been using Film is Fun’s new color profiles (along with their older presets) and the results have been mixed. I was a color printer for many years and now operate a photo lab scanning hundreds of rolls a week so I might have too high of an expectation.
p.1 #20 · New Cobalt Kodachrome 25 and 64 film profiles
Geoff D F wrote:
These profiles look quite nice, but I don't think they look that much like Kodachrome - at least not based on a book of William Eggleston's work that I own. The saturation and contrast look too high and digital just lacks a certain softness that film has.
I agree, I shot Kodachrome 64 for about 25 years (although I transitioned to Agfachrome 100 as I thought it looked more realistic) and none of this looks like Kodachrome to me although it looks nice. I have lots of film emulations and none of them look like film stocks to me but I enjoy using them.
