It would be good to have Delta 400 in sheet

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi !
I wonder why there is only Kodak T-grain film in 400 ISO speed available in 4x5 size.
Large format film can accommodate larger grain so 400 ISO speed is very good in that size. We are not, as smaller format users are, forced to use the slow fine grained films.
Add to this the fact that we use "slow" lenses, often closed as much as we can to gain that extra mm of deep of field.
So I wonder why one can use HP5 Plus but not Delta 400 ?
Mr Galley, a good reason ?

[matt miller]

I would definitely purchase some Delta 400 in 5x7 if it were available.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've stated my interest in such a film many times. I don't particularly care for the tonality of HP5+ or TMY, but I'd definitely shoot Delta 400 if it were available in sheet sizes. Currently I use Tri-X and my remaining stock of Forte/J&C/Arista.EDU I 400 in that speed.

[BradS]

Was delta 400 ever available in sheets? If not, I wonder why not. Perhaps, there is some technical reason similar to that for SFX200?

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think it was available in 4x5" at one time and discontinued due to low sales, but at that time, the first tier companies were offering more B&W sheet film options (like Super-XX and Ektapan, and maybe APX 400--I don't recall whether it was available in sheet sizes), so maybe it's time to test the market again. Forte and Agfa are out of the way. The remaining ISO 400 sheet films are Fomapan 400, Tri-X, Neopan-400, T-Max 400, and HP5+.

[Simon R Galley]

Dead David,

This is definitely a cost to produce / stock holding issue :

We withdrew it a long time ago XP2 Sheet film as well, because any stock we have to destroy*( stock wise ) by going out of date is subject to a detailed product review. *Yes... we do recover the silver.

As I guess you all know now, on very short runs of any product ( and especially film ) we have high wastage : Run up and run down on the coating machine etc etc.

Regardless, the absolute minimum run would generate about 15,500 boxes of 25 sheets ( 5" x 4" ) based on known sales at withdrawl, and add in the known decline in the market, that would mean the product would surely go out of date before all inventory was sold.

So I see very little chance of a return, but as always I will ensure that it is mentioned in the range team meeting of the marketing functiuon at HARMAN

Regards

Simon. ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited

[Amund]

I think it was available in 4x5" at one time and discontinued due to low sales, but at that time, the first tier companies were offering more B&W sheet film options (like Super-XX and Ektapan, and maybe APX 400--I don't recall whether it was available in sheet sizes), so maybe it's time to test the market again. Forte and Agfa are out of the way. The remaining ISO 400 sheet films are Fomapan 400, Tri-X, Neopan-400, T-Max 400, and HP5+.

Ooohh, I wish Neopan 400 was offered in 4x5, but it isn`t...

[bdial]

Let's see, 19,986 members, not including Simon. Only 5,014 of us would need to buy two boxes...

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks for the reply, Simon. Could it be a special offering like the ULF offerings, cut in a range of sizes to make more use of the master roll?

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi Simon !
If you advertise a single run and see as you go from here ?
IMHO, the competitors are quite far from Delta 400.
The new Tmax is grainier, the FomaPan 400 is wayyy different, so you have something to say.
Will it be profitable ? I don't know and can't say, but...
Cheers !
P.S. David, AgfaPan 400 WAS availlable in sheet size, at least in 4x5. I've 2 or 3 boxes in my fridge (best before date 1973...)
P.S. 2 : I wonder if Neopan 400 is availlable in sheet size in Japan ?