AgfaPhoto CT 100 Precisa: Best quality film at lowest price

[Keith]

I can't vouch for this film, but it sounded interesting enough... So, I wrote to Freestyle suggesting, "This seems like exactly the kind of product that you would carry."

Got a reply right back, saying they will stock it by sometime this summer.

Thank you, Freestyle.

Which is why Freestyle keeps getting my business. They respond to emails and they seem to be making genuine efforts to not only keep film well and truly alive but also keep it affordable and offer as much diversity as they are able.

 

[HHPhoto]

Is there a way to tell from packaging which version - Fuji or Kodak - it is?

For almost a year ago Lupus Imaging (the company behind the "AgfaPhoto" labelled films) switched from Kodak as a supplier of their slide film to Fuji.
The current stock at the main big online distributors and the drugstore chains like 'dm' is all fresh film from Fuji.
You always can check it by yourself: On the new boxes "made in Japan" is printed.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

I can't vouch for this film, but it sounded interesting enough... So, I wrote to Freestyle suggesting, "This seems like exactly the kind of product that you would carry."

Got a reply right back, saying they will stock it by sometime this summer.

Thank you, Freestyle.

At least finally they reacted to customers needs. After years....

The "new" AgfaPhoto Precisa film (after the insolvency of AgfaPhoto Produktion in Leverkusen) has been available for years in Europe and Asia by lots of different distributors (first the version made by Kodak, and for almost a year now the Fuji made version).
Freestyle (and other North American companies) ignored that for years and refused to offer this film (and lots of other excellent stuff from Europe; films, chemicals and gear).

Cheers, Jan

 

[Steve M.]

Thanks Colonel. Freestyle rules. Those folk are dedicated to film.

 

[k__43]

I find the Precisia CT to have a old school-ish color (which is nice) and a bit difficult to scan: the shadows are loosing detail faster than E100G or Elitechrome.

The price here in germany is really good tho

 

[BobYIL]

I find the Precisia CT to have a old school-ish color (which is nice) and a bit difficult to scan: the shadows are loosing detail faster than E100G or Elitechrome.

The price here in germany is really good tho

Have any chance to compare it against the Provia?

 

[paulfish4570]

what are processing costs, and where?

 

[Mablo]

A friend of mine - a long time chrome shooter - says he thinks Precisa is like Sensia but be it Provia or Sensia, who cares. It's great value for money if chromes are your thing.

Btw. the AgfaPhoto Vista Plus 400 (Made in Japan) is also clearly a Fuji film. it looks more like Superia than Reala to me. I shoot it at EI200 and get good results.

 

[HHPhoto]

I find the Precisia CT to have a old school-ish color (which is nice) and a bit difficult to scan: the shadows are loosing detail faster than E100G or Elitechrome.

Then you have probably used the first, original Agfa Leverkusen version.

I cannot confirm this for the current Fuji version: Shadow detail is on the same level as E100G, Elitechrome 100 and Provia 100F.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

Have any chance to compare it against the Provia?

I've already written it in my thread opening post:

"This new version has been intensively tested by lots of film experts.
I have tested it also, and compared it to all other ISO 100 color slide and color negative films.

All who have tested this film so far came to the same conclusion, that this emulsion is almost identical to Provia 100F. It is either the Fuji Trebi 100 (Japanese amateur version of Provia), or Provia 100 batches, which are not 100% identical to Provia QC norms.
No matter what it is, it is very hard to distinguish the results of CT Precisa from Provia 100F. "

Cheers, Jan

 

[wblynch]

...Freestyle (and other North American companies) ignored that for years and refused to offer this film (and lots of other excellent stuff from Europe; films, chemicals and gear)

Well to consider fairness, many times deals are struck between suppliers and retailer/distributors that prevent some offerings.

We never know about these confidential agreements.

For example, in exchange for providing Arista Premium films, Kodak may have extracted an agreement for Freestyle to not carry certain competitive films. Same may have happened with Fuji and Legacy Pro.

Of course this is only conversational because I certainly don't have any evidence of such agreements, only that they do occur.

It might well be that some agreements have expired or made obsolete which now frees up new offerings.


Just a thought...

 

[Trius]

It is available to North America via eBay sellers. I don't know which offerings (if any) are the new Fuji OEM version.

 

[HHPhoto]

Well to consider fairness, many times deals are struck between suppliers and retailer/distributors that prevent some offerings.

We never know about these confidential agreements.

Well yes, that is right.
But I doubt that this is the case here, because AgfaPhoto Precisa has been sold for years by lots of different distributors worldwide.
And as posted above someone asked for this film at Freestyle and they answered from summer on they will stock it.
Looks like the pressure from customers is needed.
Very sad that we as customers have to be active to get the distributors in action......

I think Freestyle can do better and should do better. It's not only the Precisa, some other excellent films are not offered so far as well: Agfa Scala 200X, Agfa Copex Rapid, Fuji Pro 160 NS, Kodak Gold, Superia 1600.
No problem here for me to get these films by my online distributors in Europe.
Same with photo chemistry, and quite worse is the situation with film cameras, where only a very limited range is offered by FS.
A company, which is permanently emphasizing their "commitment to film" should show much more efforts.
And they should start marketing for film as a photographic medium. That is absolutely necessary in this tough times for film.
Only selling is not enough anymore. These times are definitely gone.
If you want to sell film products nowadays you have to do marketing for film products.
LSI and IP are the only ones so far who have realised that. All others like Freestyle, AG-Photographic, Fotoimpex, Maco, Fotohuis, Riegler, Ars-Imago, Puntofoto, R3, cameraquest etc. continue their deep sleep and remain passive.
That is the major problem of the film market.

Cheers, Jan

 

[k__43]

Then you have probably used the first, original Agfa Leverkusen version.

I cannot confirm this for the current Fuji version: Shadow detail is on the same level as E100G, Elitechrome 100 and Provia 100F.

Cheers, Jan

bought this year from DM .. no I think it's the current version. I've never tried Provia 100 so I can't compare. I'd definitely prefer E100G if it came with the same price tag.
For Fuji .. I really liked Astia - anyone with insight knows why they decided that they axed Astia not Provia or Velvia 100 (I mean .. when I go Velvia I'd pick 50) ?

 

[HHPhoto]

bought this year from DM .. no I think it's the current version. I've never tried Provia 100 so I can't compare. I'd definitely prefer E100G if it came with the same price tag.
For Fuji .. I really liked Astia - anyone with insight knows why they decided that they axed Astia not Provia or Velvia 100 (I mean .. when I go Velvia I'd pick 50) ?

Well I've compared CT Precisa directly to Provia 100F, E100G, Elitechrome 100, Sensia 100. Same subject, same shooting conditions.
There have been no differences in shadow and highlight detail between E100G, Provia, CT Precisa and Elitechrome 100.
Sensia 100 showed a bit more dynamic range. That's not surprising, this film has a bit flatter characteristic curve.

The reason why Astia has been stopped: Too little volume, too little demand.
Partly Fuji itself is guilty for that: They have never done a right marketing for this outstanding film. They said it is a subdued film, so people thought they get dull colors and never tried this film.
But Astia is not a subdued film, it is a natural color balanced film. And that is a huge difference:
If you have subdued colors in your original subject, Astia will show the colors right, subdued.
If you have very intensive and bright colors in your original subject, Astia will show these colors very intensive and bright as they are. And not subdued.

Cheers, Jan

 

[efix]

I tried Precisa a couple weeks ago. I get the same results as with Provia. If my basement weren't full of Elite Chrome 100, I'd stock up on this one. Best bang-for-the-buck slide film there is.

 

[wblynch]

...If my basement weren't full of Elite Chrome 100, I'd stock up on this one. Best bang-for-the-buck slide film there is.

I also have a small supply of Elitechrome that I love.

I hope Provia/Precisa are around for a good long time. I want to use this too.

 

[brbo]

I shot two rolls of AgfaPhoto CT Precisa 100.

Two from the first roll:


higher.2 by boachi, on Flickr


higher.1 by boachi, on Flickr

I few from second roll (I used it as a test for my new Canon F-1 (old) and 50/1.4):


myRobots by boachi, on Flickr


this is getting old by boachi, on Flickr


lalala... by boachi, on Flickr


simultaneous pull by boachi, on Flickr


I think I like this film. I cleared the shelfs of our local Müller store. I hope they restock soon.

 

[Drtenma]

Considering how cheap it is compared to other slide films and looking at the more than decent results I get, the Precisa CT is an excellent option.

 

[Fotohuis]

All others like Freestyle, AG-Photographic, Fotoimpex, Maco, Fotohuis, Riegler, Ars-Imago, Puntofoto, R3, cameraquest etc. continue their deep sleep and remain passive.

As long as DM Drogerie in Germany (19% VAT) and Kruidvat in Holland (for Agfa Photo / Fuji film 21% VAT) is offering Kodak Ektar 100 for Eur. 2,15 for a 135-36 film or equivalent prices in Holland for Agfa Photo CN films I am not going to do any attempt to try to get this market and make suicide for these prices.
They even do not know what they are selling. :bang:

Look at Lomography. 120 roll film for Eur. 60,- / 5 pack for their "special" IR color film. Pre-paid, maybe delivery in June 2013.
That is a better idea for surviving in the actual film market. :angel: