J. Borger
Well-known
Keep shooting TMAX400.
Whine a little here and there, everything was better back then, bla bla... and then buy a small digital camera and forget about film.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
I'd be forced to break in to my large (and growing) stash of frozen films that I love.
I'll just shoot the stash till one of us is used up.
I'll just shoot the stash till one of us is used up.
anjoca76
Well-known
Probably the best answer yet. I just recently shot my first couple rolls of Tmax 400 and kicked myself for having not tried it sooner. I really, really liked the results.
maxwell1295
Well-known
Shoot for a few years with my super secret stash of Arista Premium 400...
Teuthida
Well-known
continue to shoot hp5, which I've always prefered.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
You can spool it yourself to get the price down, XP2 in 100' rolls costs around 75 EUR new and you get around 20 rolls of film out of that.
mwoenv
Well-known
According to this article in 2011, citing an AP report, film sales are expected to be "as low as 20 million rolls this year" (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/35mm-film-sales-slowing-16617)
Assuming $4 per roll, roll film sales would be approximately an $80 million per year business. Several small to mid-size manufacturring plants could produce all of the world's demand, so the large producers like Kodak and Fuji will have to decide if they want to be part of a much smaller business compared to what they had or to just get out of the business. But it should still be a viable business for several firms. If Kodak and Fuji do decide to exit, you would think they would get some final revenue by selling or licensing their best formulations for others to make.
Also, it not clear if this includes cinema film. My understanding is that nearly all movies are shot digitially now but film is used for backup as digitial archival integrity is a concern. So film sales may be even higher.
Overall, I'm not worried about film disappearing.
Assuming $4 per roll, roll film sales would be approximately an $80 million per year business. Several small to mid-size manufacturring plants could produce all of the world's demand, so the large producers like Kodak and Fuji will have to decide if they want to be part of a much smaller business compared to what they had or to just get out of the business. But it should still be a viable business for several firms. If Kodak and Fuji do decide to exit, you would think they would get some final revenue by selling or licensing their best formulations for others to make.
Also, it not clear if this includes cinema film. My understanding is that nearly all movies are shot digitially now but film is used for backup as digitial archival integrity is a concern. So film sales may be even higher.
Overall, I'm not worried about film disappearing.
Right, which is why I said roll film... or do they use roll film for that process? Perhaps he's moved onto something like the Lieca S2 by now?
Fawley
Well-known
I agree. I suspect that as long as Kodak is in the film business they will be making TriX. When they do exit I would be very surprised if another manufacturer doesn't pick up the rights to the name and formulation. After all, its the most recognized name in BW photography.
emayoh
Established
The death of Tri-X will be preceded with enough notice to stock up on both it (or Arista Premium 400) ... and whiskey for when even that runs out.
You may have wanted to ask: "What would you do if Tri-X disappeared suddenly leaving all bags empty."
Simple. Skip straight to the whiskey.
You may have wanted to ask: "What would you do if Tri-X disappeared suddenly leaving all bags empty."
Simple. Skip straight to the whiskey.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Amen (plus extra characters)
dap
Established
as others have said - move on to some other brand. I guess I never became all that attached to any one particular make/model of film. There will always be some type of B&W film to shoot (whether it is available in your preferred format is another question).
The only type of film I would be really tempted to stock up on if sh!t hit the fan would be ortho-litho sheet film - just because it is super handy (and cheap) to make enlarged negatives with.
The only type of film I would be really tempted to stock up on if sh!t hit the fan would be ortho-litho sheet film - just because it is super handy (and cheap) to make enlarged negatives with.
Nokton48
Veteran
Eastman Double-X for me, if Tri-x ever goes bye-bye. I use both interchangeably for my uses.
HHPhoto
Well-known
You like Agfa Scala? Then just use it!!!!!!
Don't waste your time with starting such worthless threads.
Use the time and shoot your favourite films!! That's the way to keep film alive.
Agfa Scala 200X is still available! You can buy it for example from
www.fotoimpex.de
www.fotobrenner.de
www.nordfoto.de
www.spuersinn.de
Due to Fotoimpex Scala stock will last until 2017.
And Adox intends to make a Scala successor when Scala stock is depleted.
And you get very good results with Retro 80S, Superpan 200, Foma R100 and Agfa Copex Rapid in the original Scala prozess. The German Scala labs are offering development of these films as BW reversal.
Once you have seen the incredible detail rendition of Copex Rapid in Scala Prozess you don't miss Scala 200X anymore
.As for Tri-x: If it would be discontinued (I doubt that), there are enough excellent other 400 BW films.
HP5+ can all do what Tri-X can.
Tri-X is completely overrated.
Cheers, Jan
BobYIL
Well-known
I used five decades long the hi-speed Ilfords, HP3, HP4 and finally HP5, plus versions as well, they were my standards. Time to time I used also Tri-X and have always been pleased with it up until 1992 I think. Two years ago, I tried two rolls and found them a little different in tones compared to my older Tri-X negatives. I might be wrong but I am sure with the HP5 it was always the same quality.
mrrobleyleica
Member
So, if your favourite whiskey went out of production, what woud you drink...
21 yr Ardbeg Islay - I drank a bottle with friends many years ago after my mother in-law gave me a bottle for Christmas. Not knowing what it's value would be 15 years later, it went down very well then, as it would now.
Could buy a decent M6 for the same amount now, I know what I'd rather have.
Vincent.G
Well-known
There are always alternatives out there. I am not going to lose sleep over it. I think most of us are resilient enough for such minor set back.
kuzano
Veteran
Hmmm. are you asking this seriously?
Hmmm. are you asking this seriously?
I will likely blow off the funeral, and lay my money down for the next attractive BW that comes along.
Much as I did for my dear departed third wife. Move on!
Hmmm. are you asking this seriously?
I will likely blow off the funeral, and lay my money down for the next attractive BW that comes along.
Much as I did for my dear departed third wife. Move on!
RBruceCR
Well-known
I have a stash of T-Max in two reels one of 100 and another of 400. I can't find Tri-X any more! Nor Plus-X Pan my other favorite! I hope film never dies!