CPB Respool | 500T | 35mm Colour CineFilm | 36 exposures | ISO 500

Film Type: Colour Cine Film
ISO: 500
Tungsten Balanced
Exposures: 36
Expiration: June 2028

The CPB Foundation, through its newly launched Community Darkroom, is proud to offer the first batch of ReSpooled Colour Cine film — now in 500T.

Scroll down to view sample images captured with this film.

500T is a tungsten-balanced cine stock rated at ISO 500, offering rich colour reproduction with fine grain and exceptional latitude. Originally intended for motion picture use, this film delivers a cinematic feel for still photography, balancing smooth tonal transitions with subtle contrast. Perfect for both professionals and film-curious newcomers, 500T adapts well to varied lighting conditions and can be pushed or pulled during processing.

While engineered for artificial light, 500T handles mixed lighting beautifully — whether you’re shooting indoors, in overcast conditions, or during the golden hour. Its ability to retain natural skin tones and colour accuracy under tungsten lighting makes it an ideal choice for portraits and moody scenes.

What is CineFilm?
CineFilm refers to 35mm motion picture stock, a mainstay of film production in industries like Hollywood and Bollywood before digital formats took over. In recent years, still photographers have revived the use of these stocks for their cinematic aesthetic and impressive exposure range. This film includes a Remjet layer — a protective black coating that shields the film from damage. It's best processed in ECN-2 chemistry (with Remjet removal), though it can also be developed in C-41 with a 1-stop push for optimal results (expose at ISO 800).

Features of CPB ReSpool Cinefilm:

• Fresh stock sourced directly from Kodak India

• Hand-spooled in a clean, dust-controlled space

• Guaranteed 36 exposures per roll

• Non-DX-coded cartridges tested across a range of SLRs, rangefinders, and point-and-shoot cameras

• Film leaders precisely trimmed using professional leader cutters

What is Respooling?
Respooling involves purchasing cinefilm in bulk (hundreds of feet at a time) and hand-loading it into repurposed metal cartridges. This is done in a light-controlled setup using specialised gear, ensuring results comparable to factory-sealed film (unless stated otherwise for expired stocks).