About

ABOUT

WHAT WE DO

We are more than a lab.

Optik Oldschool is built on the idea that analogue photography deserves clarity, care and intention.

In the lab, we focus on precise development and high-quality scans — treating every roll with the attention it deserves. Because a film is never just material, but a collection of moments and decisions.

At the same time, we create our own products. Film, tools and solutions developed from practice — not to add more, but to improve what already exists. More accessible, more consistent, with a clear understanding of how analogue photography is used today.

What drives us is the connection between technical precision and visual expression. The fascination with processes, materials and chemistry — and the passion for images with character, depth and intention.

We see Optik as part of a wider community.
A culture that doesn’t just use analogue, but questions it, develops it and keeps it alive. Our goal is to support that culture — through reliable lab work, thoughtful products and content that makes knowledge accessible.

Optik stands for an honest approach to photography, transparency in process and quality without unnecessary complexity.

WHO WE ARE

Meet the team

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

CHRIS

The Grand Master. Prefers black & white, cigarettes & coffee. Usually on the phone. Supportive as hell.

CO-FOUNDER & CPO

CARSTEN

Hands-on product designer who turns bold ideas into real solutions. Develops wild stuff.

LAB MANAGER

MADDIE

Sees it all, knows it all. The most contagious laugh. Always got your back. Questions? Ask Maddie.

LAB TECHNICIAN

NOEL

The machine. Keeps everyone hydrated. Best chocolate ally with the biggest heart.

GLOBAL SALES MANAGER

NIKO

Sales beast. The motto: “Folgt dem Erfolg” - always driven, but with his heart in the right place.

TRAINEE

LARA

The most adorable. Always hands on. Super sporty, but squats... still in progress (we’re getting there).

FREELANCE

SCHOGI

Creative precision. Colour & flash. Forever carrying all sorts of camera batteries in his pockets.

TRAINEE

ALEKS

Curious & eager. Street artist. Drops unexpectedly witty one-liners out of nowhere.

PROJECT MANAGER

SEBASTIAN

Big heart. Hits hard. Cigarettes & coffee fuel his day. Artist through and through, no compromises.

BUSINESS OPS COORDINATOR

DAVID

Does it all & is all over the place (literally). Need anything? He's your guy. Codes, cooks, fixes stuff.

BRAND MANAGER

ESTHER

All black & aesthetic lover. Creative soul, structured mind. MacBook-glued + food envy.

SCANNING ASSISTANT

VINCENT

Scan-Master. Globetrotter. Always somewhere. Usually argues with the Noritsu - but the cute way.

FEEL GOOD MANAGER

EMIL

Makes sure everyone is doing well. Gets (loudly) excited about every visitor. Cuddly & soft.

Over time

How it started

Hello, Film Killer!

Everything started with the Film Killer. Built from the need for a precise and practical cutting tool for 35mm and 120 film.

After its debut at Photopia in Hamburg, it went straight into pre-order and marked the beginning of our own product line.

What followed were tools like the Film Racks and Analogue Ave — expanding our approach to practical solutions for analogue workflows.

Film Development & Scanning

Our first lab

We built our first lab to deliver consistent, high-quality film development and scanning.

But it was never just about the service. From day one, the idea was to create an open space — a place where people can understand the process, exchange knowledge and get closer to the craft behind analogue photography.

New Location

We needed more space

Within a year, we outgrew our first space — faster than expected.

The new location gave us the room to scale and rethink how we work as a lab. Designed as an open environment, transparent and accessible. From drop-off to development, scanning and archiving: Every step is visible and part of the experience.

A new colour film

OptiColour 200

Together with InovisCoat, we took part in testing and shaping a new film stock from the ground up.

Through continuous feedback, lab testing, and real-world use, we helped define its final look, colour response and scanning performance.

OptiColour 200 became our first own film — available in 35mm and 120 Medium Format.

Santa Film joins our line-up

SantaColor 100 & 800

In summer, we connected with the team behind Santa Film through Kamerastore Finland and quickly found a shared vision. It became clear that SantaColor deserved a broader stage - and that we could make that happen together.

By taking over the Santa brand and moving production to our custom-built spooling system in Germany, we're able to produce SantaColor at scale in standard metal cassettes - bringing it to photographers worldwide while keeping its original spirit.

Growing team

More space, more products, more people

As the work grew, so did the team behind it.

New roles, growing responsibilities and a more structured workflow became necessary to keep up with increasing demand.

With new team members and apprentices, Optik continued to grow into a more stable and scalable operation.

Expansion of our OptiColour range

OptiColour 200 Sheet Film

At the start of May, we expanded our OptiColour 200 range to include large formats – specifically the 4×5, 5×7 and 8×10 sizes.

Our first community exhibition

BEYOND FILM

BEYOND FILM was launched in July 2026 as Optik Oldschool's first community exhibition dedicated to analogue photography. Held at Bilker Bunker in Düsseldorf, the exhibition brought together 195 photographers from around the world. Featuring works across a wide range of analogue processes, BEYOND FILM celebrated the diversity and continued relevance of photography beyond the digital image. The opening weekend alone welcomed more than 1,200 visitors.

A NEW Black & White Film

OptiMono 100

In mid-July 2026, we launched a completely new product – our first in-house black-and-white film: OptiMono 100

A New Chapter Begins

Acquisition of InovisCoat & Filmotec/Original Wolfen

With the acquisition of InovisCoat and FilmoTec/Original Wolfen, we have become a film manufacturer. Together, we are preserving photographic film production in Germany and investing in the future of analogue photography.