Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Kodak
- Film
- Kodachrome
- Type
- Color slide film
- Speed
- 10/16
- Process
- Kodak
- Formats
- 135, 828
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- US
- Status
- Discontinued — replaced by Kodachrome (1955)
Character & history#
First color film that used a subtractive color method to be successfully mass-marketed. Launched 1935 for motion picture film, 1936 for still cameras. Special development process required, with multiple dyeing steps as each color layer was processed separately, because there were no dye-couplers in film, unlike the contemporary Agfa Color Neu (where color couplers enabled all three layers processed together).
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 10#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/10 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | 1/1600 s | 1/400 s | 1/100 s | 1/25 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | 1/800 s | 1/200 s | 1/50 s | 1/13 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | 1/400 s | 1/100 s | 1/25 s | 1/6 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | 1/200 s | 1/50 s | 1/13 s | 0.3 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/100 s | 1/25 s | 1/6 s | 0.6 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/25 s | 1/6 s | 0.6 s | 2.5 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/6 s | 0.6 s | 2.5 s | 10 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1.3 s | 5 s | 20 s | > 1 min |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 5 s | 20 s | > 1 min | > 1 min |
Long exposures#
Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.
Similar films#
Other color slide film around ISO 10.
- Fujifilm Fujicolor ISO 10 · disc.
- Ilford Colour Film A ISO 10 · disc.
- Gevaert Gevacolor R3 ISO 12 · disc.
- Kodak Kodachrome Professional ISO 8 · disc.
More Kodak films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Kodak Kodachrome?
10/16 — set your meter to ISO 10 for box speed.
Is Kodak Kodachrome still made?
No, it has been discontinued (1936–1962).
How do I develop Kodak Kodachrome?
Kodak process.
Is Kodak Kodachrome available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135, 828.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources