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Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400

 & Jim Fisher Principal Writer, Cameras

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 is a unique color film that paints images in a purple light, but it's pricey and takes a bit of practice to master. - Digital Cameras
4.0 Excellent

The Bottom Line

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 is a unique color film that paints images in a purple light, but it's pricey and takes a bit of practice to master.

Pros & Cons

    • Very unique look.
    • Available in 35mm or 120 format.
    • Color negative (C-41) processing.
    • Expensive.
    • Not a general-purpose film.
    • Takes some practice to use effectively.
    • Tricky to scan.

If the rise of digital photography has made film a niche product, then Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 ($11.90 per roll) occupies a niche within a niche. The unique color negative film is a modern take on Kodak's long discontinued Aerochrome III infrared film, which rendered green grass and foliage in rich red and purple tones. LomoChrome isn't sensitive to infrared, but instead produces its unique look through a chemical formulation that causes severe color shift in images and a dark green film base that really pushes the purple. It's a unique look that isn't appropriate for every situation, but if you're intrigued by it, it's worth trying out. The biggest issue is the price—at $11.90 a roll, it's more than twice the cost of premium color negative stocks like Kodak Ektar 100 ($5.50 per roll). And Lomography only offers it in 5, 10, or 15 roll packs, but other retailers have started to offer it as single rolls.

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 : Sample Image

Final Thoughts

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 is a unique color film that paints images in a purple light, but it's pricey and takes a bit of practice to master. - Digital Cameras

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400

4.0 Excellent

Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 is a unique color film that paints images in a purple light, but it's pricey and takes a bit of practice to master.

About Our Expert

Jim Fisher

Jim Fisher

Principal Writer, Cameras

My Experience

Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I've covered cameras at PCMag for the past 14 years, which has given me a front row seat for the changeover from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the smartphone camera revolution, and the emergence of drones for aerial imaging. I have extensive experience with every major mirrorless and SLR system, and am also comfortable using point-and-shoot and action cameras. As a Part 107 Certified drone pilot, I’m licensed to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for commercial and editorial purposes, and am knowledgeable about federal rules and regulations regarding drones.

The Technology I Use

I use all of the major camera systems on a regular basis, swapping between Canon, Fujifilm, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, and Sony systems. I still find time to use Leica M rangefinders and Pentax SLRs on occasion, too. I keep an iPhone 13 in my pocket for the rare occasions I'm not carrying a camera.

I'm not a brand-specific photographer. For product review photos, I swap between a Canon EOS R5 and a Sony a7R IV. I use Flashpoint and Godox TTL lights and Peak Design tripods, and I most often reach for a Think Tank or Peak Design backpack to carry equipment.

When it comes to computers, I'm an unapologetic Mac person and have been for the past 20 years. I write in Pages and use Numbers for spreadsheets. I currently swap between an Intel i9 MacBook Pro and an Apple Silicon Mac Studio for writing and use a calibrated BenQ 32.5-inch with the Studio for photo and video editing. I rely on a LaCie 6big RAID for media storage. I also keep a PC around for gaming, but please don't tell my Macs about it; they'll get jealous.

I split time between several different software apps depending on the type of editing I'm doing. For Raw image processing, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is my standard. I pair it with a LoupeDeck CT console to supplement my keyboard and trackpad, and I lean on RNI All Films 5 presets when I want to give an image a film look. I use Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing.

My first digital camera was the Canon PowerShot Elph S200, and my first DSLR was the Pentax *ist DL. I have a soft spot for antique film gear. I still use a 1950 vintage Rolleiflex Automat TLR and love trying mid-century Leica lenses on film and digital alike. I mainly use whatever's in front of me for review for digital snaps, but I pick up either my Leica M Typ 240 or Pentax K-3 III Monochrome when I want to step away from review work. In my downtime, I enjoy bird watching, reading, video games, and both good and bad movies, especially in the sci-fi and horror genres.

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