Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Wednesday I called Kodak pro support to ask some questions, most importantly where can I get the new TMY-2 (new Tmax 400)...
First, calling Kodak pro support is always a great experience. The reps are right here on State St. in Rochester, not off-shored/outsourced somewhere. Every rep I've encountered (2 so far over about 4-5 calls) is very knowledgeable, and when they don't know the answer to a question, they get it quickly while I'm on the line.
One outcome of this call was that indeed, the new T-Max will not be heading into the distribution channel until next month, after current inventory is shipped out. That's understandable and fair enough, though I wonder why the new stuff was announced before current stocks were still sitting in a Rochester warehouse. (Yes, all Kodak film production is now consolidated in Rochester.)
But the rep stated that the customer support center should be getting some rolls soon, so she will send some out to me, direct and free, when it comes in. OK, combined with her really great customer service skills, that's superb.
OTOH, she confirmed (after searching her resources), that Tri-X 35mm in bulk rolls is discontinuted. Damn. And she stated the obvious but painful ... don't expect K64 to continue on the line card forever.
Next ...
Thursday I stopped in at a local camera shop to buy a couple of rolls of Tri-X (prior to getting 2 or 3 100ft rolls from inventory at Freestyle, Central, or elsewhere) ... and the owner and I chatted about Kodak film. Basically he's not happy. Film sales are up, paper sales are very strong (he's sold 400+ boxes to local schools, and obviously some schools with larger needs have purchased direct), so his opinion is that Kodak has handed the film and paper market to Harman, which now is basically dictated the pricing.
Sigh. I'm not posting this to start an anti-Kodak rant. In fact, I'll be writing a letter to Antonio Perez w/ cc to Mary Jane Hellyar about their strategy. Yes, their b&w paper is gone, but now that the film market has pretty much consolidated, they can still make money. Film is now pretty much a niche market, which means prices can be higher and they can achieve a higher gross margin. But beyond that, it is important for EK to continue a leadership role in film purely from the standpoint of still imaging leadership. Sometimes you have to lead in areas where there isn't cold hard bottom line profit. I don't think Perez gets this, but I'm going to tell him. The future is important, but so is the past.
First, calling Kodak pro support is always a great experience. The reps are right here on State St. in Rochester, not off-shored/outsourced somewhere. Every rep I've encountered (2 so far over about 4-5 calls) is very knowledgeable, and when they don't know the answer to a question, they get it quickly while I'm on the line.
One outcome of this call was that indeed, the new T-Max will not be heading into the distribution channel until next month, after current inventory is shipped out. That's understandable and fair enough, though I wonder why the new stuff was announced before current stocks were still sitting in a Rochester warehouse. (Yes, all Kodak film production is now consolidated in Rochester.)
But the rep stated that the customer support center should be getting some rolls soon, so she will send some out to me, direct and free, when it comes in. OK, combined with her really great customer service skills, that's superb.
OTOH, she confirmed (after searching her resources), that Tri-X 35mm in bulk rolls is discontinuted. Damn. And she stated the obvious but painful ... don't expect K64 to continue on the line card forever.
Next ...
Thursday I stopped in at a local camera shop to buy a couple of rolls of Tri-X (prior to getting 2 or 3 100ft rolls from inventory at Freestyle, Central, or elsewhere) ... and the owner and I chatted about Kodak film. Basically he's not happy. Film sales are up, paper sales are very strong (he's sold 400+ boxes to local schools, and obviously some schools with larger needs have purchased direct), so his opinion is that Kodak has handed the film and paper market to Harman, which now is basically dictated the pricing.
Sigh. I'm not posting this to start an anti-Kodak rant. In fact, I'll be writing a letter to Antonio Perez w/ cc to Mary Jane Hellyar about their strategy. Yes, their b&w paper is gone, but now that the film market has pretty much consolidated, they can still make money. Film is now pretty much a niche market, which means prices can be higher and they can achieve a higher gross margin. But beyond that, it is important for EK to continue a leadership role in film purely from the standpoint of still imaging leadership. Sometimes you have to lead in areas where there isn't cold hard bottom line profit. I don't think Perez gets this, but I'm going to tell him. The future is important, but so is the past.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Yeah! Go get 'em Trius. I'm not certain you're thinking will be understood, but I sure hope it is.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Blasphemy! This is another sign the end of the world is at hand.
The first sign was the return of Disco...
The first sign was the return of Disco...
drewbarb
picnic like it's 1999
The only way I take issue with your response is that film is not a part of the past. It's part of the present- and the future!- of photography. Film is no longer dominant, and it never will be again- but there are still plenty who use it, and this will remain true for as long as they continue to produce it. And someone will.
Kodak has been a world-wide industry leader in film, since virtually the invention of the medium; it would be a mistake for them to give up that position now. So of course I agree with your position. Let me know if I can help.
Kodak has been a world-wide industry leader in film, since virtually the invention of the medium; it would be a mistake for them to give up that position now. So of course I agree with your position. Let me know if I can help.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
Cr#p! 
venchka
Veteran
I don't have the link handy, but if you dig around the Kodak site you'll discover that several flavors of Ektachrome 64 are being discontinued effective January 2008. Lay in a supply while you can.
Honus
carpe diem
Say It Ain't So, Joe!
I certainly hope that the decision to stop bulk rolls is not an indication that Kodak is considering pulling the plug on Tri-X. Blasphemy, indeed.
I certainly hope that the decision to stop bulk rolls is not an indication that Kodak is considering pulling the plug on Tri-X. Blasphemy, indeed.
colyn
ישו משיח
venchka said:
Kodak also plans to discontinue their photo paper as of the end of the year..
venchka
Veteran
You mean their color paper? B&W disappeared when I was in my Black Hole period. Otherwise, I'd have a stash of Kodak paper, PX 625 batteries and Agfa APX 25.
venchka
Veteran
Here is the Ektachrome/HIE announcement:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/discontinuedNotice.jhtml?id=0.2.26.14.25&lc=en
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/discontinuedNotice.jhtml?id=0.2.26.14.25&lc=en
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
TX in bulk gone = big mistake for the yellow giant.
dpetrzelka
Well-known
Robert-
I can't imagine Kodak will pull the whole Tri-X line- their own web site claims that it is "the worlds best selling black-and-white film."
My fingers are still crossed.
I can't imagine Kodak will pull the whole Tri-X line- their own web site claims that it is "the worlds best selling black-and-white film."
My fingers are still crossed.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
It is bad news that Kodak has discontinued the bulk TriX. Many of us figured how to shoot, by buying multiple 100 ft cans and screwing up! Ultimately we got it righ- TriX/D76/1:1/10-11 min!. Well I still have 20+ cans in the freezer as we speak and I assume there is still some stock around in stores.
Harman's take over of Ilford and the predatory pricing they are so fond of, will ultimately harm them. I. for one, have stopped buying Ilford products. When FP4+ is hitting close to $8/roll, I will go elsewere!
The new KODAK 2-400TMY is good, considerably better than the old one, but it is not a substitute for Tri X. I have to admit that Fuji 400 looks better and better and it is pretty close to TriX.
At the moment I have about 7-8000 ft of film in stock (mostly XX and TriX), but this makes it even more important to stock up when you can find it!
Harman's take over of Ilford and the predatory pricing they are so fond of, will ultimately harm them. I. for one, have stopped buying Ilford products. When FP4+ is hitting close to $8/roll, I will go elsewere!
The new KODAK 2-400TMY is good, considerably better than the old one, but it is not a substitute for Tri X. I have to admit that Fuji 400 looks better and better and it is pretty close to TriX.
At the moment I have about 7-8000 ft of film in stock (mostly XX and TriX), but this makes it even more important to stock up when you can find it!
W
wlewisiii
Guest
I had a shop worker tell me that Plus-X 120 was the way of the Dodo as well. I've searched the Kodak website and have been unable to find anything. I think that their distributer may be the problem. If you think of it, Trius, could you enquire about this? I still miss the sheet sizes and would really be unhappy if it went away. While I bought the three rolls of TX400 they had, I'd have rather gotten a couple of rolls of PX.
William
William
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Could be they make more money from the 36 exp rolls of TX, and they KNOW we'll buy 'em I am encouraged, however, by the introduction of the new, improved Tmax. I have difficulty in getting TX in Israel, yet Tmax is widely available.
I am encouraged, however, by the introduction of the new, improved Tmax. I have difficulty in getting TX in Israel, yet Tmax is widely available.
amateriat
We're all light!
Well, I know one guy who is truly bummed about the big K killing off HIE, and I'm betting he's not alone. Watch for a serious run on HIE stocks in the next few months.
As far as EPR is concerned, I'm actually surprised Kodak didn't pull the plug on that one sooner. The E6 catalog has been pretty fat this far along; the only E6 film I've touched in recent times is E200, and I'm patiently awaiting a Portra-like refresh of this emulsion for the sake of better grain. (Yeah, yeah, any major dude will tell you to Just Shoot Digital, but I'm not interested.)
Killing off bulk Tri-X, I agree, doesn't seem a bright idea from out here.
- Barrett
As far as EPR is concerned, I'm actually surprised Kodak didn't pull the plug on that one sooner. The E6 catalog has been pretty fat this far along; the only E6 film I've touched in recent times is E200, and I'm patiently awaiting a Portra-like refresh of this emulsion for the sake of better grain. (Yeah, yeah, any major dude will tell you to Just Shoot Digital, but I'm not interested.)
Killing off bulk Tri-X, I agree, doesn't seem a bright idea from out here.
- Barrett
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Tom... do I assume correctly that Fuji 400 is B & W film?
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Mike,
The Fuji in question is Neopan 400. I don't find it very Tri-X like but everyone is different in that matter. I'd be happier with it if it pushed decently in Diafine.
I find myself slowly shifting to Fuji for color and Foma/Arista.edu Ultra for B&W that before much longer what the Great Yellow Father does will be rather irrelevant to me...
William
The Fuji in question is Neopan 400. I don't find it very Tri-X like but everyone is different in that matter. I'd be happier with it if it pushed decently in Diafine.
I find myself slowly shifting to Fuji for color and Foma/Arista.edu Ultra for B&W that before much longer what the Great Yellow Father does will be rather irrelevant to me...
William
Ororaro
Well-known
I agree with Tom! I went through a 100 ft. roll in record time just to figure out the correct development times for it as Kodak's times are all wrong, IMO. What a bad move from them!
And now Plus-X, my personal favorite, is about to get the same treatment?
Agfa Gone... And I'm not buying any Ilford overpriced film either. Looks like I'll have to stock up too.
And now Plus-X, my personal favorite, is about to get the same treatment?
Agfa Gone... And I'm not buying any Ilford overpriced film either. Looks like I'll have to stock up too.
mike goldberg
The Peaceful Pacific
Over here in Jerusalem, Ilford B/W is easily 20% higher than Kodak and Fuji. Fuji in color & B/W is widely available. I'm with William... to H**l with what the Great Yellow Father does [tho' I am looking forward to new Tmax]. I think that most of us like to standardize on film-developer combinations, that work well.
Of course, it helps if the materials are readily available at moderate cost. I used to have friends bring over long rolls of TX on their visits to Israel. With tight airline security now, that's no longer an option. Damn!
Of course, it helps if the materials are readily available at moderate cost. I used to have friends bring over long rolls of TX on their visits to Israel. With tight airline security now, that's no longer an option. Damn!