Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal PicturesWhen I talk about using the same film in your camera that Nolan used in The Odyssey, I’m talking about the film emulsion, not the format. Nolan and his longtime cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema used 65mm IMAX film in their cameras, but Kodak also makes the same Vision3 emulsions in 8mm, Super 8, 16mm, 120, and — crucially, for our purposes — 35mm.The emulsion is what gives each type of film its unique look. In the case of Vision3 — a line that includes a variety of emulsions targeting different light levels and kinds of light sources — the film is designed to produce a wide range of tones, from very bright to very dark.Even if you overexpose when you make an image, you should still be able to see some detail in the brightest portions of the scene. The same goes for underexposing and getting detail in the darker parts of your scene, though as with any negative film there’s a little more leeway in the highlights.People also praise the look of Vision3’s colors. In our rolls of 250D and 500T, we noticed vibrant reds and yellows, along with beautiful bursts of blue and striking greens. The range of tones is ample and does a fantastic job of accurately showing the world as it is, and you can amplify it in editing to create cinematic magic.Because Kodak doesn’t package Vision3 in standard 35mm rolls, you have to rely on respoolers, people or companies who buy huge reels of film and repackage them into 36- or 24-frame rolls fit for standard film cameras.Kodak’s Vision3 250D AHU allows vibrant colors like the red of this Vespa to pop while also faithfully depicting the green foliage in the background. Phil Ryan/NYT WirecutterFor our testing, we used rolls from Atlanta Film Co., Dirt Cheap Film, and a Redditor from r/photomarket that we took a chance on. Choosing a reputable company makes the most sense to us, though if you know someone you trust who respools film for fun and profit, going with them might make sense too. (The chance we took worked out — this time.)Bear in mind that since respooled film isn’t officially sanctioned by Kodak, finding this film in stock can be an adventure. (It’s a bit like buying Costco’s store-brand Kirkland products on eBay or Amazon.) You may need to check multiple vendors or even wait for a new drop before you can stock up. Once you find it, you can buy in bulk and store it in your fridge or freezer, and then shoot at your leisure.
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