It doesn’t take much to get me to try a new film, especially color. For some reason, I had not heard of OptiColour 200 until March 2026. Once I understood that it was a new emulsion, and not a rebranded film, I decided to take a chance on a roll. The $12.99 price put me off for a moment, but I figured it was only one roll.
I’m happy with my color lineup: Fuji 200 and 400 along with Kodak Gold and Ultramax for everyday use. For special situations, the various Portras and a smattering of Lomography color films meet my needs, so I really didn’t need another color film—especially one more expensive than Kodak Gold or Fuji 200. But what is life without new experiences?
My OptiColour arrived in March and sat in the fridge until July. As is often the case these days, I loaded a roll in my trusted Minolta AF-C and went for a stroll in Midtown and Cabbagetown. I had no specific expectations for OptiColour 200. Harman Phoenix, the last new emulsion I tried, had definite quirks, good colors, but a lot of grain. I expected much the same from OptiColour 200. Boy, was I wrong.
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History
OptiColour 200, released in mid-2025, began its life as Wolfen NC 200. However, it appears that Optik OldSchool released Wolfen NC 200 relabeled as OptiColour 200. KONO Color 200 is the same emulsion. In July of 2026, Optik Oldschool purchased InovisCoat, a film coating concern, and FilmoTec, which produces Original Wolfen analog film. Thus, Optik Oldschool is now positioned to create color and black-and-white film under its own brand/label, joining Kodak, Fuji, and Harman as full-blown film manufacturers. OptiColour 200 is available in 35mm, 120, and large format.
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Images
All images were shot at box speed and developed using CineStill’s 2-step Color Kit chemistry. Scans are from the Epson V600 using Epson Scan 2. The only corrections were made in Apple Photos, and they were limited to occasional adjustments to white balance or contrast. I sought out the most colorful subjects I could find.
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OptiColour handles blues, yellows, and greens well. Reds seem particularly intense. I chose scenes with shadows to see if I would get muddy results, but no, the shadows look pretty good in most frames. High-contrast scenes do give muted shadows, but they’re not off-putting.
Summary
Reading blogs that reviewed the film, I noticed that on many sites, the colors seem somewhat muted and slightly yellow or greenish. Compared to Kodak and Fuji films at the same ISO, the grain is more noticeable, which at times makes images seem slightly softer by comparison. However, colors seem just as good to my eye.
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Overall, OptiColour 200 surprised me, especially after having shot Harman Phoenix. I could easily see using this film more often. The fact that the price dropped by three dollars per roll ($12.99 to $9.99) helps as well. In 120 format, where grain is less noticeable, this could yield beautiful images.
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OptiColour 200 has been a very pleasant surprise—I’m glad I took a chance and shot a roll.
