New Portra 400 - No more 20-packs??

[Jamie123]

Just checked a few places that already list the new Portra 400 film on their websites and noticed that there seem to be no more 20-packs (120 film) available. Did Kodak silently discontinue them??

 

[Tim Gray]

Don't know. What sites already have it listed?

 

[chris00nj]

Yeah, what sites?

I checked freestyle, adorama, and B&H.

 

[btgc]

20-packs were made for professional photogs, I think. Now they shoot cameras with letter D on them. Seems Kodak isn't expecting demand on 20-packs high enough to make and handle them.

 

[Mackinaw]

Not sure it was ever an option. Kodak's website lists only 120 propacks.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/portra/400QA.jhtml?pq-path=2300875

Jim B.

 

[DonaldJ.]

it was an option at some point, i came across alot of film a two years ago and i ended up with 3 20 roll packs

 

[Mackinaw]

Yes, but we're talking about the new film, not the old.

Jim B.

 

[Jamie123]

German online seller macodirect.de lists it already (with an ''expected availability in december'' disclaimer). They (Macodirect) used to and still do sell Pro Packs of 20 rolls. I ordered one just a couple of months ago (freshly dated). If you check B&H they also sell 20-packs of Portra 160 and 400NC but it's pretty much redundant as they're exactly four times the price of a single 5-pack. At Macodirect, however, I usually save a bit more than 18% by going with a 20-pack of 400NC instead of four 5-packs.

I'm only talking about 120 film, of course.

 

[Mackinaw]

I'm confused. Are we talking about the new film, or the old one?

Jim B.

 

[sevo]

20-packs were made for professional photogs, I think.

20 packs essentially were a marketing gimmick, to justify discount offers to particular customer groups/for particular resellers, and were directed towards enthusiastic amateurs, beginning pros and part-timers. Studios or press agencie bought in much bigger quantities than 20 (many had a turnover of more than 20 rolls per day) - and bought by the crate pro packs generally were more expensive than either bulk (unpackaged) or consumer cartons.

 

[Jamie123]

I'm confused. Are we talking about the new film, or the old one?

Jim B.

We're talking about the fact that the new film doesn't seem to be available in 20-packs like the old film is/was.

 

[Jamie123]

20 packs essentially were a marketing gimmick, to justify discount offers to particular customer groups/for particular resellers, and were directed towards enthusiastic amateurs, beginning pros and part-timers. Studios or press agencie bought in much bigger quantities than 20 (many had a turnover of more than 20 rolls per day) - and bought by the crate pro packs generally were more expensive than either bulk (unpackaged) or consumer cartons.

That's complete BS. Neither 5-roll nor 20-roll pro packs are a ''marketing gimmick''. They're simply varying discounts depending on how much you buy. Of course large studios and press agencies could get better prices by buying in large quantities but not everyone has access to that or needs/needed that much film. You make it sound like the whole photographic industry consists only of press agencies or big studios. I know quite a few pros who, back when they still shot film, even bought Portra in 5-packs. I'm sure they got a discount for volume but the film still came in 5-pack cartons.
Sure, the term ''pro pack'' might be a bit of a marketing gimmick but that doesn't make the product itself a gimmick. This, of course, only applies to stores where 20-roll ''pro packs'' are actually discounted in comparison to single rolls and 5-roll packs. B&H, for example, sells 5-packs at exactly 5x the price of a single rolls and 20-packs at 20x the price. But in my experience they send you unpackaged rolls in a ziploc bag anyways no matter how many or what kind of pack you order.

 

[35photo]

Has any actually shoot the NEW Portra 400? Can we see a sample scan? I've been looking for it online and seem not to be able to find it....?

Thanks
Marko

 

[Tim Gray]

I don't think it's really out yet. Oct-Nov was the time frame I've heard. A couple places on the net have some examples.

 

[Mackinaw]

There are few pics on the Kodak website. And as Tim said, the film will start to be available later this month.

Jim B.