Agfa Films Again?

[ARCHIVIST]

With the demise of Agfa I have wondered what happened to their patents on film, chemistry and paper.

I am lead to beleive that their coating equipment ended up in South Korea in a non photo situation.

If the patents have been sold then to who and what are their intentions. Obviosly it must be to produce product again and for profit as the cost of the patents would not have been cheap.

Perhaps the patents were not sold ?

Can anyone through some light on this?

Regards
Peter

 

[peter_n]

I can't speak to the patent situation but I can say that Agfa 135 B&W film continues to be sold in both cassettes and bulk here in the US.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

What's sold now is leftover stock from the warehouse.

There is a rumor that has tentatively been confirmed on APUG that Fotoimpex has the recipes for the film and paper and is trying to reproduce them with their smaller equipment. Apparently some paper has been coated or is getting ready to be coated. I'm not exactly sure.

 

[sepiareverb]

25...25...25...25...25...25

Perhaps if we all chant loud enough?

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Trius]

While I would be ecstatic if Agfapan 25 reappeared, I somehow doubt it. I'm prefectly happy with the current Pan F+, which I shoot ~EI 40 anyway ... close enough for jazz. 😉

APX100 is the film I don't want to ever die.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[lushd]

This months Black and White Photography mentions in passing that Fotoimpex are intending to produce APX 100 within 18 months.

You can still buy 100 and 400 from RetroPhotographic here in the UK, dated to expire in 2010.

 

[peter_n]

This months Black and White Photography mentions in passing that Fotoimpex are intending to produce APX 100 within 18 months.

That is very good news! I have a few rolls in bulk that should last for a while. I am told that Fomapan 100 is close to APX100.

 

[bmattock]

Produce does not mean manufacture. While I have heard that PhotoImpex is experimenting with setting up a manufacturing line, and I hope they do, 'to produce' is to make more rolls up from the frozen huge master rolls Agfa sold as part of their assets. People keep reading that and getting all hot and bothered by it, because they don't understand marketing lingo.

I really don't get the whole argle-bargle anyway. It's like a line of teenage girls waiting for the rock-star-du-jour to make an appearance at a hotel window. Agfa film will either be made again by another company or it will not. Time will tell.

 

[colinh]

25...25...25...25...25...25

Perhaps if we all chant loud enough?

I've written the following in some other thread...

Apparently, SPUR Orthopan UR (ISO 20 - 25) is the same film as ADOX CMS 20, (which is an extremely high resolution orthopanchromatic document film, with a matched developer to enable its use as normal film) and is (apparently) made by Agfa-Gevaert NV (a Belgian company) by their Materials group.

The company which went bust was AgfaPhoto GmbH.

Anyway, I recommend the film at every opportunity 🙂


colin

 

[Gray Fox]

This is from the July issue of Shutterbug, from their PMA report, "The Agfa brand is getting back into the market in the U.S.A. with Vista color negative 100, 200, and 400 speeds and Precisa 100 and APX 100 black and white film, all available only in 35mm format."

The same article said that, "Kodak has reformulated and is reintroducing Kodak Gold 100 film with more color saturation and fine grain for excellent sharpness and big enlargements. Faster Kodak Gold 200 film has even brighter colors than before and deeper color saturation."

 

[bmattock]

This is from the July issue of Shutterbug, from their PMA report, "The Agfa brand is getting back into the market in the U.S.A. with Vista color negative 100, 200, and 400 speeds and Precisa 100 and APX 100 black and white film, all available only in 35mm format."

I know, and we've been through all that. The company that is introducing the film has a licensing agreement with the receivers of Agfa Photo - they are allowed to market left-over film cut and boxed with the Agfa logo and the Vista name. So it is Agfa film - leftovers. It is Agfa Photo - this new marketing company purchased the rights to call it that.

There is no new Agfa film. I'm sorry.

 

[sepiareverb]

...Apparently, SPUR Orthopan UR (ISO 20 - 25) is the same film as ADOX CMS 20, (which is an extremely high resolution orthopanchromatic document film, with a matched developer to enable its use as normal film)...colin

Thanks for the suggestion. I've tried the CMS20, and after a real good try to like it I just find it lacking for what I do. Quality of enlargements is fantastic- I have no bone to pick there, but the problem is the tonality- just not my cup of tea. PanF+ is a better fit for me.

 

[gb hill]

I know, and we've been through all that. The company that is introducing the film has a licensing agreement with the receivers of Agfa Photo - they are allowed to market left-over film cut and boxed with the Agfa logo and the Vista name. So it is Agfa film - leftovers. It is Agfa Photo - this new marketing company purchased the rights to call it that.

There is no new Agfa film. I'm sorry.

Be new to us though and that is always good news. Same artical stated that Fuji is soon releasing it's asa 50. Forget what it's called. Maybe the marketing co. will actually make a profit and somehow put the film back into production. I still think film will be around for a long while at least my lifetime. Here in N. Carolina on 85 N. through Gboro/Burlington sits the Konica/Minolta plant which anounced it was shutting down a couple of years ago. They made photo paper btw, On the news this week someone is taking over manufacturing and keeping 60 jobs. They made film there years ago before Minolta bought in with Konica.

 

[lushd]

I am really hoping it's true or that something doesn't happen that's bad! It's my favourite B+W film.

 

[bmattock]

Be new to us though and that is always good news. Same artical stated that Fuji is soon releasing it's asa 50. Forget what it's called. Maybe the marketing co. will actually make a profit and somehow put the film back into production. I still think film will be around for a long while at least my lifetime. Here in N. Carolina on 85 N. through Gboro/Burlington sits the Konica/Minolta plant which anounced it was shutting down a couple of years ago. They made photo paper btw, On the news this week someone is taking over manufacturing and keeping 60 jobs. They made film there years ago before Minolta bought in with Konica.

I live in Wilson, I know where you mean.

Whatever you say. I'm not getting sucked into this argument again. Wait and see what film 'comes back'.

 

[mhv]

* CMS 20 is a different film than Gigabit, SPUR, or whatnot. It's the same kind of stuff (monodispersed microfilm-type emulsion), but not the same thing

* Currently, you can buy Rollei Retro 100 and 400, which are leftovers of APX 100 and 400. However, it seems that the 120 is cut from the master rolls on 35mm base, hence the grayishness, and slight curl.

* Fotoimpex is working right now to restart the production of emulsions for film and paper. This involves a smaller kettle for production, and lots and lots of testing. While they have been granted knowledge to the APX (film) and Multicontrast (paper) formulations, it's a fact of emulsion production that re-creating a discontinued product is an uphill battle. At best, they can hope to make a good product, but they are not fools, and know that there will never be another film that is 100% identical to APX 100. They have done some experimental Multicontrast coatings, and when the product is stable enough, they will send beta samples to testers. I have sent them my email to do so, and so can you.

 

[gb hill]

Whatever you say. I'm not getting sucked into this argument again. Wait and see what film 'comes back'.

Oh I certainly agree with what you say and wouldn't even attempt to make a bet against that you are probably right. but we can hope for the best. As far as the KM plant ever manufacturing film again? NEVER! but i'm glad to see that it's not shutting completely down. I have enough abandoned buildings here in Lexington I can photograph.