Shooting Kodak Pro Image 100 with My Canonet 28: Affordable 35mm Film in Georgia Light
Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into 35mm film photography with my Canonet 28, a compact rangefinder from the 1970s that’s simple, quiet, and surprisingly capable. On a recent outing through Dallas and Marietta, Georgia, I loaded it with Kodak Pro Image 100, a film stock I’ve been meaning to test for a while. Spoiler: I was impressed—and not just by the results, but also by the value.
Why Kodak Pro Image 100?
Pro Image 100 isn’t as hyped as Portra or Ektar, but it’s an underrated gem. Designed with professionals in mind—especially in warmer, humid climates—it holds contrast and color beautifully while staying relatively affordable (which in today’s film economy, really matters). At ISO 100, it loves sunlight, and Georgia’s bright days gave it room to shine.
The Camera: Canonet 28
The Canonet 28 doesn’t get as much love as its older sibling, the QL17 GIII, but it’s lighter, more compact, and still gives you that classic Canon rangefinder feel. While it doesn’t offer full manual controls, its automatic exposure mode paired with Pro Image 100 delivered well-balanced exposures across different lighting scenarios.
Shooting in Dallas & Marietta
Dallas gave me soft suburban scenery and small-town textures—perfect for testing color rendering on wood, brick, and greenery. Marietta, with its pockets of shade and sun, helped show how this film handles contrast.
You’ll see in the sample shots I’m including how Pro Image holds skin tones, pops reds and yellows without going overboard, and keeps shadow detail decently intact—even in midday light.
The Scan Workflow
After developing the roll, I scanned the negatives on my Plustek OpticFilm 8200i using SilverFast. That combo gives me control over sharpness, dust removal, and tonal curves. I typically scan at 3600 dpi, then adjust contrast and levels in post to reflect the original scene as closely as possible.
What I Learned
- Pro Image 100 is a solid everyday film. It doesn’t pretend to be cinematic like some stocks, but it’s honest, vibrant, and forgiving.
- The Canonet 28 still holds its own. The fixed 40mm f/2.8 lens delivers just enough sharpness and character to keep me excited about carrying it around.
- Scanning is half the process. If you want full control of your film look, a scanner like the OpticFilm 8200i paired with SilverFast is worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a good combination of budget-friendly film, a compact rangefinder, and DIY scanning workflow, this setup works. Kodak Pro Image 100 gives clean, colorful results without the boutique price tag. Paired with a Canonet 28 and scanned at home, it offers a satisfying blend of analog character and digital convenience.
