Austerby
Well-known
So is any film actually being discontinued? It would appear not - just the packaging of them.
Storm in a tea cup?
Storm in a tea cup?
Storm in a tea cup?
Not because of the total number of frames, but because of the number of frames they want to be committed to a single speed and emulsion type at a stretch. This is why I sometimes wish I could get 12-exposure rolls of some films. I just don't necessarily want to shoot 36 exposures, because light changes or because the subject matter is ephemeral.
So is any film actually being discontinued? It would appear not - just the packaging of them.
Storm in a tea cup?[/]
Well, professional film has not been available in short lengths since I started out in the early eighties, with the one exception of Japan (where it seems to have some special tradition). That is, even though short rolls can be put to other uses, they have in the past obviously mostly appealed to casual users, presumably for economic reasons (whether imagined or real).
I've put out a tweet to @Kodak and @KodakCB on twitter to determine if there's any truth to this - I'm specifically concerned about Tri-X - but I haven't heard back anything yet - I would like some sort of confirmation before there's a huge run on what stock is out there 🙂
Cheers,
Dave
Is the Tri-X mentioned here THE Tri-X. the one that has been around since 1954?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/29170-USA/Kodak_8667073_TX_135_36_Tri_X_Pan.html
If so, I thought this is the one that would be around forever. What is the alternative?
Whenever possible, yes.Let's break this down here:
Tmax 400 120 IN SINGLE ROLLS/Tri-x pan 120 400 IN SINGLE ROLLS
--There are a whopping 2 types of people who use 120 film: The occasional pro who found a scanner cheaper than a $40,000 digital back, and advanced amateurs who want the big-a$$ negatives. These two groups have one thing in common: they generally don't buy one roll and shoot two Christmas mornings on one roll. They are far more likely to buy a 5-pack (or a brick of 5-packs). If you still want a single roll, though, places like Freestyle already break open pro packs and sell individual rolls (Fuji Acros 100, for example).
Elite Chrome 100/36
People use a slide film other than Velvia? 😀
BW400cn/24 three packs
--This is a specialty film most people don't use a ton of. Why? Because almost everyone who goes out of their way to shoot b&w film will develop their own. C41 is a PITA compared to a packet of D76. A one-roll pack makes sense. Never understood the 3-pack thing. Also, it's mad expensive.
Gold 200/24 four packs/Max 400/24 four packs
--How many people still buy C41 color film for "snapshot" taking? For the cost of "snapshooting" that 4-pack of film at Walgreens (something like $16 a roll including film, a 2nd set of prints and a CD... remember, that's what you're average sorority sister or dad at a ballet recital will be getting), you can buy an entry-level P&S camera. There's a reason the 35mm P&S market was the first to die off with digital (right after APS).
Max 400/12 single roll
If I wanted 12 shots on a roll, I'd grab 120. I remember a box of Portra 160NC at my Rite Aid growing up (a 20-pack of 12x rolls). It sat there for 5 years before they just pitched it. Fun Fact: The 12 exposure roll costs $2.69 at B&H Photo. A 24 exposure roll costs $1.99. You pay $0.70 extra for half the film. No wonder people weren't buying it. Fun Fact 2: Kodak Gold 400/12 is the ONLY 12-exposure film sold at B&H Photo at this time. Obviously it's not that popular of a roll size.
We may have to bulk load-- back to the beginning, I have the chemistry and equipment t mix D 76, though I prefer Xtol, and R09 for MF.
When the photo shops begin to sell it with a freezer, then I will really be worried. ;-)
Regards, John
I think they're just trimming down sizes that aren't as commercially viable. IE single rolls of Tri-X and T-Max.
Pro Packs of 120 and 35mm rolls are still in the catalogue.
Relax. The OP didn't say anything about Tri-X in 35mm. It's the 120 that's now only available in pro-packs.
That explains a lot. I was wondering how they could discontinue single rolls in favor of pro packs when pro packs aren't even made right now.FYI - Official statement from Kodak via their Chief Blogger & Social Media Manager:
@David_ChangSang changing PACKAGING Tri-X 400 120 so replacing single rolls Tri-X 400 120 w/ 5 roll packaging (propack) Tri-X 400 i-120
Seen here: http://twitter.com/#!/kodakCB/status/137253573913346048
Cheers,
Dave