Optik Oldschool OptiColour - Film Review

OptiColour 200 is a C-41 color negative film produced by Optik Oldschool and coated by InovisCoat in Germany, using the Wolfen NC200 emulsion. With an ISO of 200 and a standard orange base, it’s a versatile, daylight-balanced film designed to deliver natural color with a slightly refined, modern character while still holding onto a classic analogue feel.

When we first shot OptiColour 200, we went in without much expectation. It’s a newer release, and like many of the Wolfen-based emulsions, there’s always some curiosity around how it will render color and contrast. After putting a few rolls through both 35mm and 120, the results felt immediately usable and consistent in a really good way.

In overcast or flat lighting, OptiColour 200 maintains a balanced, natural look. Colors stay true without becoming overly muted, and there’s a subtle softness that keeps images from feeling too clinical. In brighter conditions, the film shows a bit more personality. Greens and reds in particular become more vibrant, giving scenes a gentle pop without pushing into overly saturated territory.

Contrast sits in a moderate range, offering a nice balance between depth and flexibility. Highlights are controlled well, and shadows retain enough detail to give you room to work with in scanning or editing. It’s not a flat film, but it’s also not overly punchy – landing right in that middle ground that works for a wide variety of scenes.

Grain is present, especially in 35mm, but it feels appropriate for a 200 speed film. It’s not ultra-fine like some modern stocks, but it adds a bit of texture that complements the overall rendering rather than distracting from it. In medium format, that grain tightens up nicely while still maintaining character.

Skin tones are one of the stronger aspects of OptiColour 200. They lean natural with a slight warmth, making it a solid choice for portraits without introducing odd color shifts. Combined with its color separation – particularly in greens and reds – it performs well in both environmental portrait work and everyday shooting situations.

OptiColour 200 is also straightforward to work with in the lab. The orange base makes scanning simple and consistent, and it handles typical C-41 processing without any quirks. It has enough exposure latitude to handle slight over- or underexposure, giving you some flexibility depending on how you like to shoot.

Overall, OptiColour 200 feels like a dependable, well-rounded color negative film with just enough character to keep things interesting. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but instead offers a clean, natural rendering with subtle strengths in color and skin tones. If you’re looking for a 200 speed film that delivers consistent results, pleasing colors, and a balanced contrast profile, OptiColour 200 is an easy one to recommend.

Purchase here 35mm \ 120