EFKE/Fotokemika now completely gone!

[Turtle]

Efke PL100 is simply beautiful. Grainy, but as Chris says, totally un-modern. We talk about the organic quality of film compared to digital, but this stuff is to TriX what TriX is to a DSLR.

 

[sevo]

Coated by whom? I can think of several options, but I can't guess which might be the best bet. Any idea?

Going by some of Mirko's posts they consider doing a low volume Efke substitute in their own low volume factory (Fotoimpex/Adox purchased the former Agfa R&D lab and set it up near Berlin).

 

[jwc57]

I've never tried Efke for the same reason that Rayt listed. I like HP5, but haven't shot it in a couple of years. I usually shoot FP4+ and Tri-X.

Marketing is a problem for companies like Efke and Foma. I run into people all the time that think ALL film has stopped production, Kodak and Fuji, and is no longer available. They were not even aware that Efke, or Ilford for that matter, existed. With that against them, it is no wonder that they are in trouble as the market shrinks.

 

[healyzh]

😱

Argh! This rates up there with loosing Ektachrome for me. I've been wanting to order a pile of Adox CHS 50 from Freestyle as it has been hard to get locally around here. 🙁

 

[Ezzie]

Excuse my French, but FCUK! I've just started a love affair with Efke R25! Need to stockpile the stuff pretty pronto.

 

[Keith]

I've just placed an order with Freestyle for 300ft of KB100 and 20 rolls of 120 and a (50) box of 4x5 sheets.

I think I have an Efke summer coming up!

I'll be interested to see if they can fill the order ... I'm hoping!

 

[jsrockit]

My goodness, you film guys better bank on ilford being healthy. 🙂

 

[Keith]

My goodness, you film guys better bank on ilford being healthy. 🙂

It's you damned digital converts that have caused this problem John! 😀

 

[jsrockit]

It's you damned digital converts that have caused this problem John! 😀

😱 Oops 😱

 

[Highway 61]

I feel the same way too, Keith. I may stop shooting film when all existing Kodak and Fuji film ceases.

Fuji has ceased making B&W films already, what is for sale onwards from now is remaining stocks.

This is a Pulcinella's secret.

My only concern with Ilford films are their retail price (as explained in another thread) ; otherwise all those discussions about, say, Tri-X vs HP5+ always puzzled me, because when similarly exposed and developed in the same fluid, I can't see any difference between the two.

What I could see on Efke films were stains and scratches and emulsion drops from the factory, because of a very poor QC.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Fuji has ceased making B&W films already, what is for sale onwards from now is remaining stocks.

Where did you hear this?

 

[Keith]

While I was in a paranoid buying frenzy at Freestyle I ordered another five hundred feet of Tri-X to add to the two hundred feet already in the freezer.

That's probably a months shooting for Tom A! 😀

 

[Highway 61]

Where did you hear this?

http://www.fujifilm.com/

This has been discussed many times here already.

Even if they still were to produce some B&W film, apart from Acros 100 I couldn't see what they would make so far, because the demise of Neopan 400, Neopan 1600, Neopan 100SS have been officially confirmed.
So, that's it. No more Fuji B&W films. This is something we ought to live with.

 

[teddy]

Because people who know nothing about emulsions and coating technology always assume that more silver is better, and therefore, by an omitted middle, the films they like are silver rich...

Another basic flaw in the 'silver rich' theory is that there will always come a point, for a given emulsion technology, where you have enough silver to give a good negative or print. Adding more won't improve matters.

You know this. I know this. But plenty don't.

Cheers,

R.

Well, I think you are right. I don't know much about emulsions to really tell whether silver rich is the same as any other. What I do know is that Efke 25 gives me bucket loads of tonality with minimal grain when stand developed. Is the tonality due to more silver in the emulsion? If it is, then I will go with any other film that gives me more of the same quality. Suggestions anyone?

 

[Keith]

Well, I think you are right. I don't know much about emulsions to really tell whether silver rich is the same as any other. What I do know is that Efke 25 gives me bucket loads of tonality with minimal grain when stand developed. Is the tonality due to more silver in the emulsion? If it is, then I will go with any other film that gives me more of the same quality. Suggestions anyone?

I'm finding Acros to be a remarkable film tonality wise at the moment ... but who knows how long that will be around! 🙁

 

[Keith]

I've already done that and now I'm wondering how much longer Arista Premium 400 will remain. For me it is Tri-X.

When I said Tri-X I was actually refering to AP400 ... the genuine Tri-X is listed at $74.00 per 100ft! 😱

You'd have to supect that Freestyle's stocks of AP400 must be nearly gone by now.

 

[jonmanjiro]

http://www.fujifilm.com/

This has been discussed many times here already.

Even if they still were to produce some B&W film, apart from Acros 100 I couldn't see what they would make so far, because the demise of Neopan 400, Neopan 1600, Neopan 100SS have been officially confirmed.
So, that's it. No more Fuji B&W films. This is something we ought to live with.

I've seen that website before but wonder how reliable it is...😕

I know the demise of Neopan 1600 and Neopan 100SS has been officially confirmed by Fujifilm Japan, but haven't seen anything about Neopan 400 in 135 size from them yet. Fujifilm will have a riot on their hands in Japan if they discontinue Neopan 400.

The most recent announcement about discontinuing B&W film I could find on the Fujifilm Japan website is dated 13 July 2012, and says that Neopan 100 SS in 135-24 is discontinued and the last batch is expected to ship in December this year (no surprises there). Fujifilm recommends using Acros in its place. The notice goes on to link to the current B&W film products here. Acros is still there, as is Neopan 400. Fujifilm will have a riot on their hands in Japan if they discontinue Neopan 400. Hmmm...

Back on topic, I have 6 rolls of Efke 50 that I purchased in Zagreb in April. I will use it carefully! I thought of visiting the factory as well while there, but didn't have quite enough time :bang:

 

[rxmd]

I don't really know why Efke is considered silver rich - technically, Adox was a pioneer of thin coatings, and while the Adox coatings contain more silver by coating volume, they marked a considerable reduction in silver content by roll, compared to other unstructured grain film of equivalent sensitivity.

I think the reason is that people generalize from Efke's papers to Efke's films.

 

[rxmd]

Coated by whom? I can think of several options, but I can't guess which might be the best bet. Any idea?

Hm, my guess is either Inoviscoat, or, as Sevo pointed out, Adox' own coating facility where they reuse Agfa gear.

 

[Nokton48]

I have 250 sheets of 6x9cm PL100, and 250 sheets of 6x9cm PL25 in my deep freeze. Perhaps I should order more!