Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
He knows its the same, but was going to sell it and buy Tri-X instead because he thought Kodak would make more money on the yellow-box version and he wants to give them more money
Is Arista Premium 400 Really Tri-X?
- Thread starter Steve M.
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He knows its the same, but was going to sell it and buy Tri-X instead because he thought Kodak would make more money on the yellow-box version and he wants to give them more money
charjohncarter
Veteran
Then he should get a reality check. Although that is very altruistic, but Ayn Rand would not agree with him or would I.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I was convinced that Arista Premium 400 is Tri-X, the APUG thread just confirmed it.
As to the question why? I think the Arista Premium is another way for Kodak to sell batches of Tri-X that has nearer expiration date (due to smaller demand, they probably have giant rolls of these in their warehouse).
Rather than letting it expire, might as well make smaller profit but profit nonetheless.
Just use it Steve, you're still helping Kodak adjusting to the downsized film manufacturing industry.
As to the question why? I think the Arista Premium is another way for Kodak to sell batches of Tri-X that has nearer expiration date (due to smaller demand, they probably have giant rolls of these in their warehouse).
Rather than letting it expire, might as well make smaller profit but profit nonetheless.
Just use it Steve, you're still helping Kodak adjusting to the downsized film manufacturing industry.
venchka
Veteran
Where's the food service consultant? House branding is often MORE profitable for the name brand company. All of the R&D, advertising, warranty, overhead, etc. is borne by the name brand product. The house brand knock off is gravy. Kodak should have done this eons ago.
The Arista Premium 100/Plus-X is just as creamy and delicious as the original in the yellow box.
I totally agree. Where is the Arista Premium 120????????
The Arista Premium 100/Plus-X is just as creamy and delicious as the original in the yellow box.
I totally agree. Where is the Arista Premium 120????????
Mark D.
Member
I chuckled to myself a few weeks ago when I finally unloaded the "Legacy Pro 400" reel from my bulk loader and a big FUJI stamped on the side.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Freakscene
Obscure member
Mass spectrometry of Arista Premium 400 and 100 shows that they are chemically identical to current Tri-X and Plus-X respectively.
Marty
Marty
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Freakscene
Obscure member
I did.
Marty
Marty
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
LOL. I laugh but I'm obsessive enough to have done it myself if I had the equipment and the knowledge to do so 😛
PMCC
Late adopter.
Hi Marty,
Thanks for the authoritative confirmation. Your findings are conclusive for me. Have you had an opportunity to perform the same tests for Legacy Pro vis-a-vis Acros and Presto?
pmcc.
Freakscene
Obscure member
Hi,
No problem. Chemical composition is only half the story of making a film emulsion; physical changes that GCMS would not show make a difference to thebehaviour of the film. This sometimes occurs between batches in plants where QA is poor. But in this case it does show that these are the same films; the differences between film types, even within a brand, is obvious when analysed by this method.
I haven't compared Legacy and Neopan - I have several hundred rolls of Arista to get through first. Maybe in August or September, I figure. When I do it I'll let you all know.
Marty
Steve M.
Veteran
I should have done a little googling before I posted this question. It seems there about a gazillion postings on this subject, and the overwhelming majority says that the 2 films are the same. It appears that Freestyle submits a large, annual order for it, and then Kodak makes a large, single shipment each year. No advertising costs for Kodak, no warehousing, just a one time large shipment, so they can sell it at a substantial discount and still maintain their profit margin. That's the best answer I've found. True or not it makes sense.
What DOESN'T make sense, and this sort of thinking is probably why the Kodak company is in the shape that it's in, is aren't they just cannibalizing their own Tri-X sales? If I can get the same product for around half price, why would I buy the one priced twice as much? At some point don't you kill your brand? This is probably why there is no out and out confirmation from Kodak or Freestyle that yes, this is rebadged Tri-X.
I'm still going to continue to buy the Kodak, either because I'm just stupid, or I just like the bright yellow box and the idea of shooting Tri-X, or because I know for sure what I'm shooting is Tri-X and I like being connected to what I think is the most legendary B&W film around. You can go back and look at all the photographers who shot it and it's quite a group. Maybe all of that. The main thing is it seems everyone agrees the 2 films are the same. How Kodak runs their company is out of my control, as are most things. At some point I'm just going to buy a ton of the stuff and put it in the freezer and have one less thing to worry about w/ my photography.
What DOESN'T make sense, and this sort of thinking is probably why the Kodak company is in the shape that it's in, is aren't they just cannibalizing their own Tri-X sales? If I can get the same product for around half price, why would I buy the one priced twice as much? At some point don't you kill your brand? This is probably why there is no out and out confirmation from Kodak or Freestyle that yes, this is rebadged Tri-X.
I'm still going to continue to buy the Kodak, either because I'm just stupid, or I just like the bright yellow box and the idea of shooting Tri-X, or because I know for sure what I'm shooting is Tri-X and I like being connected to what I think is the most legendary B&W film around. You can go back and look at all the photographers who shot it and it's quite a group. Maybe all of that. The main thing is it seems everyone agrees the 2 films are the same. How Kodak runs their company is out of my control, as are most things. At some point I'm just going to buy a ton of the stuff and put it in the freezer and have one less thing to worry about w/ my photography.
chrispiper
Established
>>
What DOESN'T make sense, and this sort of thinking is probably why the Kodak company is in the shape that it's in, is aren't they just cannibalizing their own Tri-X sales?
<<
I have been buying genuine Tri-X but only because I didn't know about Arista. I just found out when I read this thread. I checked and Freestyle sells it for $1.99 vs. the $4.99 or so I'd been paying. I love the Tri-X look but have been sparing in shooting it precisely because of the cost. Freestyle will be getting my order for Premium shortly and I'll say goodbye to the yellow box.
I'm sure I'm not the only one ...
Chris
What DOESN'T make sense, and this sort of thinking is probably why the Kodak company is in the shape that it's in, is aren't they just cannibalizing their own Tri-X sales?
<<
I have been buying genuine Tri-X but only because I didn't know about Arista. I just found out when I read this thread. I checked and Freestyle sells it for $1.99 vs. the $4.99 or so I'd been paying. I love the Tri-X look but have been sparing in shooting it precisely because of the cost. Freestyle will be getting my order for Premium shortly and I'll say goodbye to the yellow box.
I'm sure I'm not the only one ...
Chris
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