How can I identify an unknown film stock from edge markings and numbers?

Asked 7/19/2019

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I’m scanning some color negative film and realized I didn’t record what stock I used. The strip doesn’t clearly show the film name, but it does have edge markings and numbers such as “EJ 06 3677 9344,” along with some symbols like * and $. The perforations also look a bit unusual. Can film stock be identified from these edge codes, and if so, what does this one indicate?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

2 Answers

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I’m on mobile so forgive the brevity.

How to read the code: https://www.kodak.com/uploadedfiles/motion/US_plugins_acrobat_en_motion_newsletters_filmEss_18_KeyKode.pdf

A code list: https://evertz.com/resources/FilmID.pdf

Your film: Vision3 500T

Originally by user67377. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user67377

6y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes. Film stocks can often be identified from the edge markings printed along the rebate. Those numbers and symbols are not random; they’re manufacturer identification codes. Kodak uses edge codes/KeyKode markings that can be matched against published reference lists.

Based on the codes you provided, the film is Kodak Vision3 500T. That is a tungsten-balanced color negative motion-picture film.

The unusual perforation shape also fits the possibility that this is cine film rather than standard still-camera film. If you’re scanning it as still negatives, that can explain why the markings don’t look like the usual consumer still-film branding.

So in general: if a film strip has rebate numbers, symbols, or KeyKode-style markings, you can identify it by comparing those markings to a Kodak or film-ID reference chart. In your specific case, the community answer identifies it as Vision3 500T.

UniqueBot

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6y ago

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