The KONO Manufaktur®
With over 25 years of collective experience in analog film—encompassing color grading for major feature films and overseeing R&D for successful photographic products like being responsible for the R&D of the Lomochrome Purple and the reintroduction of 110 Pocket-film as the Head of Film at the Lomographic Society and the revival of peel-apart ONE INSTANT films—our team brings a wealth of expertise in visual design and packaging, supported by multiple international awards. In 2014, we launched our handmade film company from the ground up, and today we proudly launched over 30 unique products available in more than 28 countries across five continents. Join us on this exciting journey!
OUR MILESTONES
In 2014
We had to develop and build our own machinery to remove the remjet layer of a legendary motion picture stock and so our first two films were born, the KONO! Rotwild and Kolorit 400T. Followed by the Kolorit 125 Tungsten. Even though it is deconstructed, the blue print for our remjet removal machine is archived securely.
In Autumn 2014
The first Prototype of KONOTYPE was born. A completely new way of analog photography located in the twilight zone between negative and positive, with pictures similar to ancient Ferrotype techniques but easy to use.
In 2014/2015
The Reanimator (a device by KONO!) was invented in 2014 and the production of the KONO! Originals (Sunstroke, Moonstruck, Monsoon, Galaxy, Candy and Mirage) and KONO! Effect films (Luft (Air) and Liebe (Love), Holiday feeling (Wintermärchen), Alien and Ufo, Katz starts.
Only the ORIGINALS are made in Germany by the KONO Manufaktur®
In 2015
We launched the super slow KONO! Donau, an ISO 6 film, the KONO! Rekorder 100-200 and the orthochromatic KONO! Schwarz Weiss 100 film.
In 2016
Our Cooperation with Svema begins. The outcome is our beloved KONO! MONOLIT Black & White Line. Produced with technical assistance by Svema for KONO Manufaktur.
It started with KONO MONOLIT ISO 64 & ISO 400 and expanded to the Monolit 100 and Monolit ISO 3 in summer of 2021.
In 2017/2018
One of our most challenging projects:
Finding a solution to keep Packfilm alive. The first ONE INSTANT Prototypes designed and built at the KONO HQ in 2017/2018 after an idea from our Co-Founder Uwe Mimoun.
After a successful Kickstarter Campaign One Instant is now being produced in Vienna by Supersense, using our license for crucial parts. We are proud to be Co-Inventor and Co-Founder and name giver of ONE INSTANT.
In 2019
We moved from a small town close to Vienna, Austria to a small town close to Cologne, Germany and launched in cooperation with NINM lab the limited Edition of the I´m fine Camera Sunstroke and Moonstruck.
In Fall 2019
BACK IN RED! Bringing back the red glowing intensity of the KONO! Rotwild with the KONO! ROTWILD No2.
2020
Was the year of KONO!RAMA - Effect Layers for Instant Photography - a registered Utility Model by KONO Manufaktur® - 9 amazing Effects in 3 sizes. Works with Fuji Instax®
In 2021
We made it! We designed and built the first 120 Reanimator resulting in our first 120 Medium Format film. The KONO! Delight ART Line became very successful in a very short time, which is now also represented on the international markets in 35mm and ISO 100 and 400.
We started with the World’s first color tinted 120 Medium Format Film in June 2021.
Long before this KONO! Product has been copied. Often copied – never reached.
At the same time in 2021
Launch of KONO! MONOLIT 3 an orthochromatic and ultra-slow film stock with a speed of ISO 3. The perfect film stock for architecture and landscape photography.
And KONO! MONOLIT 100 an panchromatic black & white film which receives an Editor´s Choice award and five out of five stars from the Phoblographer.
Later in 2021
The next step forward: After the big success of the 120 film we launched the Delight ART 100 in 35mm, which is an absolute bestseller.
In the first quarter 2022
We moved in a bigger HQ and office and launched the KONO! Delight ART 400 in 120 Medium Format and in 35mm
Spring 2022
It is all about sustainability, the first steps have been taken to generate our electricity consumption completely with our own solar power system. We also made the switch to an e-car.
September 2022
At the beginning of autumn we started our pre exposed 35mm film for Halloween: The KONO! Effect Film BOO!
Let the ghosts dance over your photos, bats or ufos hover through the picture and creepy pumpkin heads and aliens laugh mischievously as you run into a cobweb and shoot the best photos of your Halloween night.
Available as a single film and in the KONO! Halloween Collection together with our Effect Films ALIEN and UFO
October 2022
Back in 2015 we launched this unique Color Negative Film for the first time and it became an instant favorite for a lot of slow film friends. We are happy to announce the relaunch of the Ultra Slow Film KONO! Donau.
Spring 2023
The fifth product of the KONO! Delight line was launched in spring 2023 and produces saturated and at the same time bright colors. The look of the Delight ART II 400 film is a homage to the late 70s. Color Tinted Film, ISO 400.
Also in Spring 2023
we launch the KONO! DONAU II, THE FILM FOR ALL LONG TIME EXPOSURE AFICIONADOS The KONO! DONAU II is an ultra slow and ultra fine grain film with strong blue and purple shades. Compared to its predecessor the DONAU II has an increased speed of ISO 8 and is therefore the perfect film for long exposure photography in the daytime, extremely long exposures in the evening or at night.
For reasons of sustainability, we load the film into used & cleaned cartridges.
October 2023
The KONO! COLOR Film. Don´t you dare call it STANDARD!
Our KONO! Color film is the modern interpretation of a classic German color negative film with an excellent tonality and a wide exposure latitude up to ISO 400. If even more intense colors are desired, the KONO! Color 400 can also be used at ISO 200.
For reasons of sustainability, we load the film into refurbished metal cartridges and refurbished plastic containers whenever possible. Made and packaged in Germany.
In the course of conversion measures, we have expanded our production area by 30% and significantly increased our capacities.
Sustainability
For reasons of sustainability, we load the film into refurbished metal cartridges and refurbished plastic containers whenever possible. We would like to thank the companies that actively support us with used cartridges and cans. Please read more here.
KONO! Delight ART II 100 120
The sixth product of the KONO! Delight line. We started with the World’s first color tinted 120 Medium Format Film in June 2021.
The Delight ART II 100 120 Medium Format is inked in a special way, making it particularly suitable for portrait photography. The high-contrast saturation provides a great glow on the skin and thus gives the photo a certain magic. The film with its coloration is also interesting for architectural photography.
KONO! B&W 400 Film - June 2024
This German made panchromatic film is a rare combination of deep blacks, beautiful fine grain, and lots of details in the shadows.
The KONO! B&W Film. Don´t you dare call it Standard!
KONO! BULK ROLLS Sept. 2024
Bulk roll 30.5 meters, 35mm film
- Color Negative Film ISO 400, C-41
- Black & White Film ISO 400
KONO! SLOW Black & White Nov. 2024
Super slow at ISO 6, deep black, amazing contrast, and super fine grain. Available as a Pack of 3 or as a Single film.
Our values:
As a small company, we prioritize our responsibilities, with sustainability at the heart of our operations. In our first years, we successfully recycled thousands of film cartridges and canisters during the production of our Kolorit films. Our innovative pack film cartridge system, developed for One Instant, replaces plastic with cardboard, significantly reducing our environmental impact. Additionally, we are taking proactive steps toward generating our own electricity, with the goal of running our office and machines entirely on solar power in the near future.
We are deeply committed to sustainability, which is why we prioritize loading our films into refurbished metal cartridges and plastic containers whenever possible. This practice not only minimizes waste but also supports a circular economy by giving new life to materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill.