Where DxO FilmPack 8 CineStill 800T preset fails
A “CineStill 800T emulation” without halation is like selling a car without an engine while still calling it a car.
I loaded my Leica MP with a fresh roll of CineStill 800T and my Leica M10-R with the same lens, and shot with the same ISO, aperture, and shutter speed on both cameras. My goal was straightforward: determine whether DxO FilmPack 8’s new CineStill 800T preset could genuinely replicate this beloved film stock known for its halation effect.
If you want to see the process of negative conversion of this roll with Negative Lab Pro, check the post below:
On the left side, you see the real film stock, on the right side, you see the software’s emulation. Take your own conclusions.
The results disappointed me, because it kills all the magic and purpose of shooting CineStill 800T.
Before examining the comparison, let me clarify this article’s purpose. I’m not interested in debating film versus digital photography. That conversation belongs elsewhere. My focus here centers on a specific question: Can DxO FilmPack 8 effectively emulate CineStill 800T?
The short answer is no. For the long answer continue reading…
Understanding halation
CineStill 800T began as Kodak Vision3 500T, a motion picture film stock. To make this cinema film safe for standard C-41 processing, CineStill removes the rem-jet backing layer. This rem-jet layer normally serves as an anti-halation barrier, protecting the acetate from scratches, static discharge, and reducing halation of bright highlights.
When you remove this protective layer, the film exhibits a distinctive red-orange glow around bright light sources and strong highlights. This glowing effect, known as halation, and it kinda defines the CineStill aesthetic, meaning photographers look for this film stock with that specific intent, and the community love it.
I even wrote about this aspect of this specific aspect in the below post:
Queen of the Night: CineStill 800T Film Feels Made for Neon
The Anticipation: Loading the CineStill 800T
Again, photographers choose CineStill 800T for this halation effect. Remove halation from the equation, and you’re left with a tungsten-balanced color negative film that offers nothing special. Dozens of films can achieve similar color rendition. The halation makes CineStill 800T unique.
What DxO FilmPack 8 Delivers?
DxO FilmPack 8 markets itself as featuring “CineStill 800T, loved for its cinematic glow in low light” among its 15 new film renderings. The company positions this software as providing “scientifically faithful” film emulation.
After extensive testing during the 30-day trial period, I can confirm that DxO FilmPack 8 applies color correction that approximates CineStill 800T’s tungsten white balance. The software shifts your daylight images toward the characteristic blue/green tones. It adds some grain structure as well, and it contains some (very cliché, by the way) capacity to add film borders, light leaks, and other artifacts.
What it doesn’t do: halation.
I photographed the same neon-lit storefronts, the same street lamps at dusk, the same backlit subjects that produced stunning halation on my real CineStill 800T negatives. The DxO preset rendered these scenes with pleasant color grading and some texture. But still, zero halation.
This omission is disappointing given the marketing claims. CineStill 800T’s instantly recognizable characteristic stems from the glowing halo effect it produces around strong highlights because of the removal of the anti-halation backing. A preset labeled “CineStill 800T” that lacks halation simulation misses what many photographers consider the film’s defining feature.
Where DxO FilmPack 8 Succeeds, and does it well!
Note: DxO kindly shared a 15% discount code for Camera Clara readrs who would like to buy FilmPack 8, use the code RAF15. I think that aside the halation issue on CineStill 800T, the software does a very good job, as you're about to read.
Fair assessment requires acknowledging what the software does well.
The black and white film emulations impressed me, in particular the Kodak T-Max Pro 3200 and other monochrome stocks. These presets capture grain structure, tonal response, and contrast curves convincingly. When evaluating black and white film simulations, DxO demonstrates genuine understanding of film characteristics.
The software includes various creative effects like textures, frames, and light leaks. These tools might appeal to photographers seeking vintage aesthetics or nostalgic overlays. I personally found them gimmicky and unneeded for my work, your preferences may differ.
DxO FilmPack 8 now integrates directly with Adobe Photoshop, letting you apply film renderings without switching applications. This workflow improvement matters if you regularly work between multiple editing programs.
The other presets that don’t include halation are awesome. Here’s some Kodak TriX 400.
In these cases, the grain is very good. I just don’t advise using it to simulate the CineStill 800T.
Reviewer Disclosure & Methodology: This is an independent product review based on my personal testing and photographic experience. I tested DxO FilmPack 8 using the company’s free 30-day trial period. I purchased the CineStill 800T film with my own money and I am considering buying the DxO FilmPack 8 just to emulate black and white presets. This review represents my honest opinion based on direct comparison testing between real film and digital simulation. I have no business relationship with DxO or CineStill Film.