Some Kodak B&W Film Deletions

[Tim Gray]

I agree with you Mike. I think people DO use the 3200 stuff, but the shelf life of that film is pretty crummy, which works against it.

While it sucks that TXP might go away, at least there are other options for ISO 400-ish B&W films, even from Kodak (400TX and TMY). But TMZ... that's it from Kodak. And there is only one other film on the market that is comparable (Delta 3200). That's what made me sad about HIE.

RE: TMZ in the fridge. I found it fogs eventually. Don't plan on buying a 10 year stock.

[SuzanneR]

Well, just ordered some 220 format TXP. Bumming that it may be discontinued, though I have to say I've been using more of the Tri-x 400 more frequently. I find it a bit more versatile than the TXP even though it's only available in 120 format.

Although it's not as fast a film, I think I might have to give Ilford Fp4 a go... I understand it's quite similar to TXP. Anyone have an opinion about that?

[Nicole]

Suzanne, Ilford FP4 is a beautiful film. Have fun.

[Ken Nadvornick]

I'm glad I switched back to Ilford films 2 years ago.

Yep.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Been about two years for me as well. An obvious-to-me decision (and subsequent recalibration effort) even back then that I've never once regretted, given Kodak's oft-repeated new positioning of themselves in the analog markets.

Harman/Ilford manufactures simply marvelous photographic products.

Ken

[David A. Goldfarb]

FP4+ has been my medium-speed film of choice lately, as someone with a TX/TXP sensibility in general.

[railwayman3]

Suzanne, Ilford FP4 is a beautiful film. Have fun.

I'll endorse that. FP4 is a great all-round film...I use a lot of that and HP5 (the latter speed since HP3 days!). I think of HP5 as a nice "old-fashioned" film..you "can't-go-far-wrong-with-it", if you see what I mean!

But all Ilford B&W stuff is good!

As for color slide, I'm not sure where I'll look when my stock of K64 is finished in a few months time. I'd only just discovered that EPP was still available and now that's gone!

[filmamigo]

I was really starting to like BW400CN in 120. Grainless and great tone.

I actually believed BW400CN might be one of the last films standing... with Kodak really streamlining most lines into C41 (ala Ektar "replacing" the E6 films).

I imagined a time 15 years from now when the Kodak catalog would consist only of Ektar 100, Portra 400NC, BW400CN and Tri-X 400.

Guess I was wrong.

[Cainquixote]

It is a real shame about the tri-x 320.

I was really starting to enjoy it in d76 1+1. It was simply stunning when i did everything right.

If this is true i guess i'll be going to the double fs. Foma and fuji.

[Bob Carnie]

My favorite film

I've got a feeling Harman might rapidly re-assess the viability of HP5 in 220 ;)

[K-G]

I've got a feeling Harman might rapidly re-assess the viability of HP5 in 220 ;)

I have used TXP-320 in 220 size for more than thirty years and it has been a wonderfull film when used in good lighting conditions. It's a shame that Kodak is going to discontinue it as it is the only remaining black and white film in 220 size on the market. If Harman can suply HP5+ or Delta 400 in 220 size, I will definitely switch to Ilford , both in 220 , 120 and 135 sizes. Today I mainly use TX-400 in 135 size but I have tried HP5+ and Delta 400 with good results, so I don't think the transition will cause any problems.
I might even think of using Ilford chemicals if Silverprint can find a way of sending them outside the UK.
Karl-Gustaf Hellqvist

[railwayman3]

I've got a feeling Harman might rapidly re-assess the viability of HP5 in 220 ;)

I think there is a thread here from last year where Simon G (of Harman)
explained that there there was no 220 packaging machinery existing or available on the market, and that to build a new machine would be impossibly expensive.

But if Kodak is stopping all 220 and their equipment could be bought and saved from scrapping, who knows. ;)

[Martin Reed]

I think there is a thread here from last year where Simon G (of Harman)
explained that there there was no 220 packaging machinery existing and available on the market, and that to build a new machine would be impossibly expensive.

But if Kodak is stopping all 220 and their equipment could be bought and saved from scrapping, who knows. ;)

Colin Hulley, who is my first point of contact at Harman, confirmed tonight that the original 220 gear at the Harman plant had gone :(

[Darkroom317]

Well there goes that 220 back I wanted for my RB67, oh well.

Also, I was out with my Voigtländer Bessa today and someone asked me, can you still get film for that?
It never ceases to amaze me about how many people don't realize that film is still made. I was at a photography symposium last May and was talking to a former National Geographic photographer who didn't know that Kodachrome was still available at the time.

I really wish that companies would start advertising for their product, however, it would be a costly endeavor.

[MikeSeb]

What the hell is happening with Kodak!

K

They are adapting to aggregate market demand for their products.

[Aurelien]

Harman already stated that they CAN NOT supply any film in 220 because their converting machine is dead, and building another one would be economically not possible. Maybe Kodak would sell its converting machine... I doubt: they prefer destroying their buildings, their history, and they are happy with that.
What I can't understand is why they discontinue TXP 320, and not PX125??? Maybe soon too. What will remain? TMAX 100 and 400, triX. That's all.

What about sheet films? All the TXP320 sheet film are going to die too, they won't coat this emulsion just for sheet film, don't dream.

Well, Kodak is a dying company. Digital won't save them.

Now, Ilford, Foma and Rollei are my friends in my cameras...

[Aurelien]

I forgot: Ilford is intelligent: they adapted their coating machine to make small amount of films: that's the case of Pan F, SFX and Maybe Delta 3200 that are coated in small quantities, when stocks are depleted. No big stock, they sell everything, and then they do not discontinue anything...

[jnanian]

Well, not that this is any thing authoritative, but I just got off the phone with Kodak about T-MAX 3200. The guy was very nice and said that he didn't see anything about it being discontinued. He told me that he checked the website, current product lists, and discontinuance notices. I'm in the US if it makes a difference.

Of course, take this with a grain of salt. It could very well be that the film isn't discontinued yet because they still have stock, even though they aren't making any more. I kind of get the feeling that Kodak doesn't delete a product number/line until they have no more stock left.

I'm still going to order some - I was getting low anyway :D


hi tim

they love to tell people things aren't gonna change until it is announced in the sunday papers.
when i learned of the plants closing in south america, i spoke with someone
who claimed he was some sort of vp, and he told me that they had no plans
on discontinuing any "black and white papers, chemicals or films in the near future"
within a few weeks ( maybe less i don't remember ) it was announced that
the weren't going to be making any papers anymore ...

luckily there are still companies that make and sell the things we still love and use,
and while it is a bummer that some of these things are becoming
unavailable that is the way of the future.

[Sirius Glass]

Would the OP posted if Fuji deleted a film? Not that Fuji ever did or would do. No only Kodak deletes film. How about going after Fuji for deleting its films? Or is this a thinly veiled attempt at Kodak Bashing, again, again, again?

Steve

[DanielStone]

I think the simple answer is this:

If you want it, shoot it, then they'll make more cause they're sold out, and there's a demand there for more"

I have been shooting mostly TMY-2 and efke 25 in all formats lately, and have been happy with those offerings. I decided to give a box of 320TXP a try a few months ago in 4x5. 1/2 way through I started to get the hang of it in HC-110 dil. H. boy, nice results!!!!

I'll definitely be shooting more TXP in 4x5, maybe in 120/220 too if its still available, but I'm pretty well stocked out in PL25(efke) and TMY-2 right now. so my limited student budget won't budge much more right now for film.

definitely a pity if it ends up going away all together though, I LOVE the results(albeit very few) results I've gotten so far!

-Dan

[mikebarger]

"I forgot: Ilford is intelligent: they adapted their coating machine to make small amount of films: that's the case of Pan F, SFX and Maybe Delta 3200 that are coated in small quantities, when stocks are depleted. No big stock, they sell everything, and then they do not discontinue anything..."


That's easy to do when your a niche company producing for a niche market. Checker is a great niche company that produces for a niche market......sorry, they're out of business. Not that much demand for a basic taxi these days.


Mike