Another nail

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Flinor

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I've been using Scala for several years, sending the film to Color Reflections in Miami for processing. I used to live a couple of miles from Main Photo in Santa Ana, CA, the west coast Scala lab but never liked their work or customer service. I understand that there was a New York lab also.

I sent a roll to Miami on Dec 12 and today I got that roll back from Main Photo with the following message.

"Thank you for your Scala processing order. As of Dec. 16, 2005, Main Photo and Imaging Service will be the EXCLUSIVE (their caps) processor of Agfa Scala film in the United States.

We're sure you are aware that Agfa will cease to exist. Main Photo has been exploring alternate sources for the chemistry necessary to process Agfa Scala film and the resultes of our search have been very encouraging. At thi time, we feel that there is no cause for alarm"

There was some more about honoring existing mailers and how wonderful Main Photo is but the message is loud and clear. The only question is: Why go to lengths to find processing chemistry for a soon to be nonexistent emulsion? No Agfa, no Scala.
 
Some poeple are stockpiling Scala for later use. Freezing it. I'm guessing that there will be at least a few people who have enough to last a few years, thus *someone* needs to offer the development of it.
 
No. No one _needs_ to offer processing of Scala. However, there is serious money to be made off of those who did stockpile a film that needs special processing.

I really have no sympathy for those people. My only sympathy is for thier bank as they watch those balances go empty... 😀

:angel:

William
 
it's been hard enough in the past year getting Scala developed.. as much as I love it, I won't be buying any more after I run through my current batch.. it's such a shame since I don't think there's any alternative for such sharp and grainless b&w film
 
Flinor said:
"At thi time, we feel that there is no cause for alarm"
Click to expand...

I really don't know what to make of this last sentence, but it tells me that there's a hint of their own "alarm" over the current situation. I would reword certain parts of the letter if I were the manager, but that's just me.
 
Flinor said:
I've been using Scala for several years, sending the film to Color Reflections in Miami for processing. I used to live a couple of miles from Main Photo in Santa Ana, CA, the west coast Scala lab but never liked their work or customer service. I understand that there was a New York lab also.

I sent a roll to Miami on Dec 12 and today I got that roll back from Main Photo with the following message.

"Thank you for your Scala processing order. As of Dec. 16, 2005, Main Photo and Imaging Service will be the EXCLUSIVE (their caps) processor of Agfa Scala film in the United States.

We're sure you are aware that Agfa will cease to exist. Main Photo has been exploring alternate sources for the chemistry necessary to process Agfa Scala film and the resultes of our search have been very encouraging. At thi time, we feel that there is no cause for alarm"

There was some more about honoring existing mailers and how wonderful Main Photo is but the message is loud and clear. The only question is: Why go to lengths to find processing chemistry for a soon to be nonexistent emulsion? No Agfa, no Scala.
Click to expand...


Why is this thread titled "Another Nail"?

Agfa is bankrupt and out of business!

It has been so for many months now.

Do we have to have a thread like this one (and Bill M.'s one about the Canadian clearance purchase) every day?

AGFA IS OUT OF BUSINESS - JOBBERS ARE CLEARING OUT THE INVENTORY!!!

WE KNOW THIS!!

THIS THREAD OFFERS NO NEW INSIGHT TO ANYTHING AND WILL JUST START ANOTHER "FILM IS DEAD" DIATRIBE!!!!
 
copake_ham said:
THIS THREAD OFFERS NO NEW INSIGHT...
Click to expand...
Maybe it's time for a 'film is dead' forum so those who want to carry on a breath by breath account of film's last gasps can do so and those who don't, don't have to read about it.

Peter
 
copake_ham said:
Why is this thread titled "Another Nail"?

Agfa is bankrupt and out of business!

It has been so for many months now.

Do we have to have a thread like this one (and Bill M.'s one about the Canadian clearance purchase) every day?

AGFA IS OUT OF BUSINESS - JOBBERS ARE CLEARING OUT THE INVENTORY!!!

WE KNOW THIS!!

THIS THREAD OFFERS NO NEW INSIGHT TO ANYTHING AND WILL JUST START ANOTHER "FILM IS DEAD" DIATRIBE!!!!
Click to expand...


george,
i gotta ask ya to calm down, for your own good man. too much stress...
you're passion for some issues seems to rile you past the point of good judgement at times.
 
back alley said:
george,
i gotta ask ya to calm down, for your own good man. too much stress...
you're passion for some issues seems to rile you past the point of good judgement at times.
Click to expand...

Joe,

Point taken - I yield the floor to "peterc" whose post follows mine and precedes yours.

George
 
I'm the guy who started this thread and I apologize. My intent was to pass on some information of value to RFF members who are Scala users. I had no intent to generate a thread that would do justice to the LUG.

Copake and Peterc: I'm one of the members who reads much and writes little. I find many posts uninteresting, redundant or just plain frivolous. When I find those I just DON'T READ THEM. I don't find it necessary to whine or make snotty comments. You are both adults with freedom of choice.
 
Joe and Jorge:

I feel badly about making the previous post and I'm sorry for letting emotion take over. But I feel more sorry for the increasingly contentious and pugnacious tone of some recent posts.
 
Flinor said:
Joe and Jorge:

I feel badly about making the previous post and I'm sorry for letting emotion take over. But I feel more sorry for the increasingly contentious and pugnacious tone of some recent posts.
Click to expand...


it's cool.

no doubt there has been an upsurge (is that a word?) in tension around here, from many people just just you guys.
i was hoping it was all part of that christmas rush thing but it seems to be lingering.

if we all just took a long deep breath BEFORE we started typing...
 
Joe i come here to do 2 things shoot some film and kick some ass...and i'm all out of film *

and yes, upsurge is a word.

*tongue planted firmly in cheek 😀
 
"No Agfa, No Scala" - that is a good quote. Sounds kind of like some ancient saying, something equating to "no maker, no product" or whatever.

Sort of a quote for this dark time for film. If you say it without regard to the actual meaning of the words, it runs together nicely too.

I know the deal though. Chrome'n'R in Los Angeles is the only place in the country (or close to it) that does type R prints - they may no longer, given that they had simply stockpiled the chemistry/paper. I have been a faithful customer there for that reason. They do it to please their customers - it is good PR, a good way to let your customers know that you care about the business in more ways than $$$$.
 
Flinor said:
I'm the guy who started this thread and I apologize.
Click to expand...
No need for an apology. The information is appreciated. I have a roll of Scala left that I'll probably never shoot because the last Scala lab in Canada closed last summer. (If anyone wants it, I'll send it along for the cost of postage).

Flinor said:
Copake and Peterc: I'm one of the members who reads much and writes little. I find many posts uninteresting, redundant or just plain frivolous. When I find those I just DON'T READ THEM. I don't find it necessary to whine or make snotty comments. You are both adults with freedom of choice.
Click to expand...
I think my tongue in cheek was not taken in the vein in which it was meant.
Personally, I'd be just as happy if there was a place film could be mourned by those who feel that's a necessary pursuit ... then I wouldn't get sucked into reading it in other threads. I'd much rather discuss what we can do while film is still with us ... that's a lot more fun.

Peter
 
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Buried somewhere in our mountain of threads is one on developing Scala in Rodinal, as normal negative film. If you have some Scala left over, it might be of interest. I can no longer remember the name of the RFF member who posted some Scala as negative shots in the gallery -- it was quite some time ago. I think one shot was of a large barge on a river in Germany or the Netherlands. Sorry, that's the best my emulsion-thin memory can do ...

Gene
 
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