EFKE/Fotokemika now completely gone!

[Retrotech68]

Fotokemika was a special player in the market because they could produce a small amount of special films: IR820, IR820 aura, Ortho 25, Retro 100 TONAL.

And do special confectioning, 127 roll film format.

That means I must find a makeshift solution to keep my Baby Rollei and Yashica 44 LM from becoming nice paperweights or, as friend likes to put it, "shelf queens"... 🙁

 

[dcsang]

*sigh*... I grew to love this film... I will be sad(der) when it's gone:

"Silver Streak"
Efke 25 in Rodinal 1:50
50mm Summilux pre-ASPH @f2

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Mackinaw]

Yep, I'm going to miss Efke 25:

Jim B.

 

[znapper]

Bought some EFKE 35mm sample batch (2 films of 25/50 and 100 ISO) last year, but most of them has been sitting in my freezer the whole time.

Went out to shoot a roll of EFKE 50 a couple of weeks ago, check them out (not shot with a rangefinder though, these are shot with my Canon 1v):

An odd couple. Efke 50 ISO in HC-110 dilution H for 13 minutes.

Looks pretty close to the 30cm*40cm print of it that hangs on my wall here. 🙂

Butt-shroom. Efke 50 ISO in HC-110 dilution H for 13 minutes

Funny-looking. Efke 50 ISO in HC-110 dilution H for 13 minutes

Solo-shroom. Efke 50 ISO in HC-110 dilution H for 13 minutes

I was a little bit surprised that the greens became so bright ^^

Too bad to see it go though.
In fact, I am planning a video blog for youtube these days, in an attempt to convince a few more digi-shooters to actually shoot both digital and analog (there really isn't any reasons who one should not shoot both imo)

I've already purchased ADOX 35mm bulk of the 25 and 50 asa, as well as 10 rolls each of 25/50/100 ISO (EFKE and ADOX) in 120.

Going to keep them in the freezer and shoot them now and then, luckily the low-iso films will keep for a loooooong time when frozen.

 

[joeswe]

Film from one of the last batches of Efke 50 maybe?

I have some KB50 with batch number 111021 exp. 2014-2 sitting right in front of me. Looks like they did one coating run a month or so? I like the look of the 25 and 50 and had little or no problem with scratches so far, but the heavy curl of the base is a real PITA when scanning.

 

[bananasplit]

Apologies if this has already been posted.
I received the following info from Fotohuis today:

"Less good news is the termination of Fotokemika / Efke production in Croatia.
In our Fotohuis film program:
Efke 25 and 100 135-36 / 120 Rollfilm, IR820 135-36 / 120 Rollfilm, Retro 100 Tonal 135-36 / 120 Rollfilm / 4x5" Sheet film, Ortho 25 135-36 / 120 Rollfilm, Retro 80S 127 Rollfilm.
For the Ortho and 127 roll film there maybe is an alternative solution."

Very sad. Hopefully we should still be able to get film around...

 

[Thomas78]

Macodirect doesn't have anymore Efke bulk film and
Fotoimpex has no more Adox CHS 50...

 

[Fotohuis]

Fotohuis sold out for Efke 25 films in all format.

 

[newtorf]

Hi Keith,

If you have any LP100 that you would like to dump, I will be ready to take them. 🙂

Thx!

Hi Roger,

It's very true what you say and halfway through my 100ft roll of Acros I was thinking "This stuff is crap ... what do people see in it?"

Then I shot some in very strong light and developed it in Rodinal and finally saw where it's strengths lie. I won't be getting any more because LP100 is long gone from Freestyle and individual (36 exp) rolls of the genuine thing are more than I'm prepared to pay.

The slower emulsions seem to be the ones that I have trouble settling on ... my favourite to date has been Rollei Retro 100. I liked that from the beginning of the 100ft roll to the end ... and that's gone too!

 

[Fotohuis]

"Update from the Efke factory:
Efke brand films will continue to be produced for the foreseeable future but paper production from this factory will cease. This is due to the coating machinery no longer being economically repairable due to age and current manufacturing volume."

In the mean time they did not start up anymore after the holidays. Also the airco system broke. They ceased all production and my contact person at Fotokemika is not picking up any phone nor e-mail anymore.

First hand information. What can I tell you more?

Same story by Impex. Impex/Adox is loosing all Adox CHS 25-50-100 films incl. Ortho 25 and of course the IR films.

 

[KM-25]

I just ordered 250 sheets of 4x5 IR820 from B&H, they are now out. I also added 50 rolls of it in 120, I think they have 90 or so left. I also went to order 25 ISO in 120 and they are out. I will check Freestyle but does anyone think B&H or Freestyle will get anymore stock? I was hoping to use R25 with my new 6x12 back on my 4x5...

 

[traveler_101]

In the mean time they did not start up anymore after the holidays. Also the airco system broke. They ceased all production and my contact person at Fotokemika is not picking up any phone nor e-mail anymore.

First hand information. What can I tell you more?

Same story by Impex. Impex/Adox is loosing all Adox CHS 25-50-100 films incl. Ortho 25 and of course the IR films.

So what does this mean--that FOMA is the only central European producer left?

 

[Keith]

I just ordered 250 sheets of 4x5 IR820 from B&H, they are now out. I also added 50 rolls of it in 120, I think they have 90 or so left. I also went to order 25 ISO in 120 and they are out. I will check Freestyle but does anyone think B&H or Freestyle will get anymore stock? I was hoping to use R25 with my new 6x12 back on my 4x5...

In the email I got from Marv keller at Freestyle he told me they have a shipment arriving on the 7th Sept. I ordered three 100f rolls of KB100 and they can only supply two imediately. He basically wanted to know whether I wanted them to go ahead and ship my order minus the one roll or wait until the 7th when he thinks they will be able to supply the extra one.

The way things are going I suspect their shipment on the 7th may not have all that they ordered ... or if it does it won't last long certainly.

This whole Efke situation has made want to shoot more film and not just the obscure brands that may disappear without support from film users. I'm reasonably happy to use a mix of digital and film but I don't want my options reduced to a couple of brands. I'm sure we all feel the same way.

A few people have commented that Efkes's quality control has been a little suspect at times but that's to be expected with the smaller manufacturers occasionally IMO. I would rather have diversity than one or two manufacturers dominating the market and the odd hiccup in QC is a small price to pay for something that's a little different to the rest!

If you want perfect ... shoot all digital! 😀

 

[sevo]

So what does this mean--that FOMA is the only central European producer left?

At least Foma, Gevaert (if you consider Belgium Central Europe) and Filmotec are active. B+G (ex Turaphot) still have the facilities to reappear, but currently do only glass plates. Adox have frequently announced that they are working on their own films, now have their own lab scale coater, and have partnered up with Inoviscoat (ex Agfa, possibly too large in minimum volume to consider entering the market until either prices or demand have adjusted upwards).

 

[Keith]

If what I've heard recently about black and white film consumption leveling out is true that's good IMO.

I just hope this whole Monochrom thing that Leica has started doesn't get out of hand ... ie other manufacturers following suit and releasing equivalents. An X100M as silly as it sounds would probably be quite successful judging by the reaction to the pricey Leica.

Digital has all but destroyed colour film photgraphy and now it wants to hunt down black and white with more and more sophisticated PP software and now this damned Leica M9M. I've decided that every Leica Monochrom that I come across from now on will be crushed forthwith in front of it's owner. My parting gesture to them will be to hand them a roll of black and white film and tell them to "get real!"

Good god ... I'm talking like a zealot! 😀

 

[traveler_101]

At least Foma, Gevaert (if you consider Belgium Central Europe) and Filmotec are active. B+G (ex Turaphot) still have the facilities to reappear, but currently do only glass plates. Adox have frequently announced that they are working on their own films, now have their own lab scale coater, and have partnered up with Inoviscoat (ex Agfa, possibly too large in minimum volume to consider entering the market until either prices or demand have adjusted upwards).

Thank you for the information. I saw this Adax website in English and wasn't sure if this was connected in some way to Efke. Good to hear that it isn't and they plan to get into the market--when prices increase, which is already happening of course.

I don't consider Belgium part of Central Europe, but I didn't realize that they had a film production company. I suppose most European countries must have had their own camera and photographic supply companies at one time--before the war, perhaps. Netherlands? France? Italy?

 

[Russ]

I was really looking forward to getting acquainted with the EFKE Aura, once my Kodak HIE was depleted. Damn, I guess it's Neopan and Delta from here on out. However long that lasts...

 

[Thomas78]

This morning I ordered two 100ft rolls of Adox CHS 25 and one of CHS 100.

Now, only Adox CHS 25 is still available for bulk loading at Fotoimpex.

 

[sykotec]

just got my small order - expiration dates should anyone be curious:

r25 120 - 10 at 1/2014 and 10 at 4/2014
pl25 4x5 - 2 boxes both 4/2014

will check back with freestyle around the 7th to see if there's anything else available, but not holding out much hope.

 

[Fotohuis]

Exp. 4/2014 are the last batches of Efke films in my stock.
Except from some Efke 100 in 35mm and 120 roll film, a few IR820 in 35mm the whole stock is already sold out now.