5 Frames with a Canon EOS 5000, 50mm f/1.8, and Kepler 800

I’ve shot a variety of films before, both color and black and white, from Portra to HP5, but I had never experimented with motion picture stock like Kodak Vision3 500T. I had seen photos online and read about it, but never tested it myself.

In July, I finally got Kepler 800, a respooled motion picture stock with a Remjet layer, from Mumbai-based Zhenwei Film Lab. This tungsten-balanced film is DX-coded, making it compatible with my Canon EOS 5000 (also known as EOS 888 in Japan, 1995) paired with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. I got the camera body for just £12 from Bristol Cameras in 2023, a tiny investment for a tool that would bring this film to life.

The Canon EOS 5000 was designed in the mid 90s as an entry level SLR for beginner enthusiasts. It offered a range of modes that feel familiar to modern DSLR users, from aperture and shutter priority to landscape and portrait presets. For this roll of Kepler 800, I experimented with the landscape and portrait modes, which gave me the flexibility I needed while shooting around Kolkata. The autofocus is surprisingly reliable, comparable to more recent digital models, and with its EF mount I can use the full range of Canon EF lenses I already own, making it a versatile and practical choice despite its modest price.

I chose to shoot in Kolkata, India, a city known for its vibrant colors and rich textures. Even under cloudy conditions along the Hooghly River in Howrah, Kepler 800 handled the light beautifully. Shooting motion picture stock always feels a little eternal because these emulsions were originally designed to capture cinematic stories, frame by frame, long before reaching still photography. Stocks like Kodak Vision3 500T, Fujifilm Eterna 250D, and older films like Kodak 5219 carry that cinematic legacy.

When I received my scans, I was stunned. The texture and color reproduction were natural and cinematic, even in overcast light. There is something uniquely immersive about Kepler 800. The Remjet layer, its fine grain, and the DX-coded compatibility make it feel effortless to shoot while still offering that motion-picture aesthetic.

After this first roll, I am eager to explore more with Kepler 800. Shooting this film is more than just taking pictures. It is about experiencing a medium that bridges cinema and still photography, carrying a sense of history, motion, and depth in every frame.

For those interested in seeing more of my work, you can follow along on Instagram or visit my website. Through film and photography, I continue to explore stories and moments, and I’m excited to share them with readers here.

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