Classic Neg, on RAWs from cameras that never had it
Classic Neg is Fujifilm's snapshot-negative look: hard contrast, cyan-green shadows and colours that separate by brightness. It arrived with the X-Pro3 in 2019, and the X-T3, X-T30 and every older body missed it. RAF Film Lab renders it on all of their RAFs.
What does Classic Neg look like?
Fujifilm modelled Classic Neg on the everyday colour negative film people had developed at the corner lab. It is contrasty, and its colour depends on tone: highlights lean warm, shadows lean cyan and green, so the same red reads differently in sun and in shade.
It is the film owners of the X-T3 and X-T30 ask about most. Fujifilm never added it to either by firmware, though both have the X-Trans IV sensor and processor of the X-Pro3 that introduced it.
Which cameras have Classic Neg?
23 of the 48 cameras RAF Film Lab has a page for. The ones without it are the X-T200, X-T30, X-A7, XF10, X-T3, X-T100, X-H1, X-A5, X100F, X-T20, X-E3, X70, X-T2, X-Pro2, X-E2S, X-A3, X-T10, X100T, X-T1, X100S, X-M1, X-E2, X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100; RAF Film Lab renders it on their RAFs too.
X-T30 III, X-E5, GFX100RF, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, GFX100S II, X-S20, GFX100 II, X-T5, X-H2S, X-H2, X-T30 II, X-E4, GFX50S II, GFX100S, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-Pro3, GFX100, GFX 50R, GFX 50S
Can I use Classic Neg on a camera that doesn't have it?
A RAF holds the sensor's data, not a film, so any film can be applied to it afterwards. The camera and X RAW STUDIO can only use the films that camera has; RAF Film Lab renders Classic Neg itself, on RAFs from every camera below.
X-T200, X-T30, X-A7, XF10, X-T3, X-T100, X-H1, X-A5, X100F, X-T20, X-E3, X70, X-T2, X-Pro2, X-E2S, X-A3, X-T10, X100T, X-T1, X100S, X-M1, X-E2, X-Pro1, X-E1, X100
How close is RAF Film Lab's Classic Neg to the camera's?
We shot 31 RAWs on an X100VI and had Fujifilm's X RAW STUDIO develop each one in Classic Neg, using the camera's own processor. RAF Film Lab's Classic Neg lands at a median of 2.76 ΔE from the camera's (mean 3.40), scored as CIEDE2000 colour difference over flat areas of every frame.
About 2 ΔE is roughly the smallest colour difference most people notice side by side. The films were measured on the X100VI; other cameras' RAFs are read with their own colour matrix, but we haven't published scores for their sensors yet. How we measure.
When should you use Classic Neg?
- Everyday and family photos, for a printed-snapshot feel.
- Summer light. It handles strong sun with character rather than glare.
- Turn an X-T3 archive into Classic Neg without re-shooting anything.
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Classic Neg questions
Which Fujifilm cameras have Classic Neg?
23 of the 48 cameras RAF Film Lab has a page for. The ones without it are the X-T200, X-T30, X-A7, XF10, X-T3, X-T100, X-H1, X-A5, X100F, X-T20, X-E3, X70, X-T2, X-Pro2, X-E2S, X-A3, X-T10, X100T, X-T1, X100S, X-M1, X-E2, X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100; RAF Film Lab renders it on their RAFs too.
Can I use Classic Neg on X-T3 RAW files?
Yes. The X-T3 never got Classic Neg, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Neg from any X-T3 RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone. More on the X-T3.
Can I use Classic Neg on X-T30 RAW files?
Yes. The X-T30 never got Classic Neg, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Neg from any X-T30 RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone. More on the X-T30.
Can I use Classic Neg on X-H1 RAW files?
Yes. The X-H1 never got Classic Neg, so neither the camera nor X RAW STUDIO can apply it. RAF Film Lab renders Classic Neg from any X-H1 RAF on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Will Fujifilm add Classic Neg to the X-T3 in firmware?
Fujifilm hasn't, and the X-T3's last firmware updates didn't include it. RAF Film Lab doesn't depend on the camera: it renders Classic Neg from the RAF itself.
Develop your RAFs in Classic Neg.
RAF Film Lab is in beta on TestFlight for Mac, iPad and iPhone. Leave your email and Apple will send you an invite.