Acros 100 in peril?

fdonadio · May 24, 2018

mooseontheloose said:
As it is I can no longer afford Ilford paper or chemicals, just the film. While I still shoot Tri-X and use D-76, most Kodak films are often difficult to source in any quantity, especially 120 film (either due to popularity or distributor issues), and most of the chemicals are either gone (HC-110) or too expensive (Xtol is triple the price here as it is in the States).

Then I’ll welcome you into my world...

Fuji tried to stop selling E-6 chemistry to labs here. If it wasn’t for one of these labs putting a lot of pressure on them, Fuji would have discontinued E-6 in Brazil, although they still sell Provia here (go figure!)

Kodak (Alaris) only sells film in 135 format. I talked to one their sales reps and he said they will be (re-)releasing four films here this year, including 120 format. No large format, though. The only developer available is D-76 — HC-110 or XTOL are nowhere to be seen.

B&W paper is not available from Kodak or Fuji here and, in fact, I have just learned about Fujibro when I saw the press-release about the discontinuation of Acros in 120 and 135 formats.

Ilford has only one distributor here, called Marinho, and they sell directly to end users. Prices are high, but part of that is due to the steep taxes we pay here (for example, 60% import tax). It’s just ridiculous.

I buy all my film and paper from abroad. Most of the time, I buy from Freestyle. Even paying the 60% tax, it’s cheaper than buying Ilford from Marinho. I “brew” my own developers and fixers.

I’ll take this opportunity to thank the Photrio... I mean, APUG community for all the great deals on cameras, lenses and darkroom supplies, even if they don’t look so good from your standpoint.

mooseontheloose · May 24, 2018

fdonadio said:
Kodak (Alaris) only sells film in 135 format. I talked to one their sales reps and he said they will be (re-)releasing four films here this year, including 120 format. No large format, though. The only developer available is D-76 — HC-110 or XTOL are nowhere to be seen.
B&W paper is not available from Kodak or Fuji here and, in fact, I have just learned about Fujibro when I saw the press-release about the discontinuation of Acros in 120 and 135 formats.
I buy all my film and paper from abroad. Most of the time, I buy from Freestyle. Even paying the 60% tax, it’s cheaper than buying Ilford from Marinho. I “brew” my own developers and fixers.

I wonder if HC-110 and XTOL are unavailable because the prices are too high for the import market. For example, HC-110 was over 8000 yen (about $75 US), before they discontinued it here. As for the paper market, Kodak got out years ago and Fuji papers have long only been available in Japan. I don't understand why they didn't try to market their products internationally (that goes for chemicals too) - the Japanese market, while very loyal to Fuji, is clearly not enough to keep their film and paper production lines going.

Like you, I often buy from Freestyle, because even with tax (which is negligible here), it's a lot cheaper than what is available in Japan, if it even is.

RattyMouse · May 25, 2018

$75 for a bottle of HC-110!! Wow. No wonder it didnt sell.

I agree with Moose...Fujifilm's marketing group operate under very strange conditions. So many products of theirs are geographically restricted. As such critical volume can never be achieved which dramatically hinders profitability.

mshchem · May 31, 2018

RattyMouse said:
$75 for a bottle of HC-110!! Wow. No wonder it didnt sell.

I agree with Moose...Fujifilm's marketing group operate under very strange conditions. So many products of theirs are geographically restricted. As such critical volume can never be achieved which dramatically hinders profitability.

Crappy cell phone picture 6x20 print from Fuji G617 Acros 25A red filter ,XTOL 1+1 . I have around 100 rolls reserved for the 617. I went a little overboard with the deep red filter. The film is truly amazing stuff, it takes a really good lens to keep up. I'm using a 240mm Rodagon in my Zone VI VC enlarger. The contact prints are crazy sharp. Any how RattyMouse I am going to try to use this wisely. When it's done I will go on. Hopefully I will get some nice negatives to print down the road . Need to get some 12 in rolls of paper.

mshchem · May 31, 2018

Forgot the image

destroya · Jul 20, 2018

acros back in stock at B&H

Old-N-Feeble · Jul 20, 2018

destroya said:
acros back in stock at B&H

What formats?

mfagan · Jul 20, 2018

120, 135

RattyMouse · Jul 20, 2018

destroya said:
acros back in stock at B&H

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

I've never rushed over to a web site, searched, ordered, and paid for something as fast as I did today. Thanks to Apple Pay, I ordered up 15 boxes of Acros in less than 2 minutes.

What a glorious day.

Richard Man · Jul 20, 2018

Ordered! Last week Freestyle had some 120 in stock, and I was waiting to save up $300 to buy 10 packs, but by NEXT DAY they were all gone :-/

Just bought 10 packs from B&H. I am a happy clam.

fdonadio · Jul 20, 2018

Wow... I bought 4 boxes from Kumar one month ago. Price was right, but my credit card balance was kind of sad.

Edit: to clarify, what I mean is that I spent more than I should at that moment to secure some film, and it was only four boxes. I can’t imagine myself buying 10 or 15 boxes in one go as some of the guys here... I would cry when I saw my credit card balance!

Kumar is a great guy, gives top notch service and I would choose him over B&H anytime!

fjpod · Jul 20, 2018

Got mine. 135 and 120.

pentaxuser · Jul 21, 2018

destroya said:
acros back in stock at B&H

Same price as before production stopped i.e. no attempt to capitalise on the "run on the market"? Just curious Thanks

pentaxuser

fjpod · Jul 21, 2018

What is the consensus??... Is it back "permanently"?

DWThomas · Jul 21, 2018

fjpod said:
What is the consensus??... Is it back "permanently"?

That's what I am wondering. It's far from the only film I use, but if I have to work into a replacement, I might as well do it now rather than kick the can down the road for a couple of months. The B&H price seems pretty consistent with pre-announcement.

faberryman · Jul 21, 2018

fjpod said:
What is the consensus??... Is it back "permanently"?

No, it has been discontinued. There is simply some stock still in the supply chain. Get it while you can.

mshchem · Jul 21, 2018

Short time after TMX 120 reappeared Acros is cancelled . Wonder what happens if Ektachrome comes back? Conspiracy theories are popular these days

RattyMouse · Jul 21, 2018

pentaxuser said:
Same price as before production stopped i.e. no attempt to capitalise on the "run on the market"? Just curious Thanks

pentaxuser

Nope. Price is now $5 more per box. Doesnt matter. I'll pay that any time.

RattyMouse · Jul 21, 2018

DWThomas said:
That's what I am wondering. It's far from the only film I use, but if I have to work into a replacement, I might as well do it now rather than kick the can down the road for a couple of months. The B&H price seems pretty consistent with pre-announcement.

The price before discontinuing was $23.99/pro pack. Today's price is higher, which is fine by me.

fjpod · Jul 21, 2018

the 35 mm price seems to be a bit high in relation to the 120.... but a minor "inconvenience"

fjpod · Jul 21, 2018

also just noticed that B&H only has 38 rolls of 35 mm available... but the 120 seems to be unlimited.

wblynch · Jul 23, 2018

Thanks for the heads up. Got 2 boxes of 120 on their way. Still have plenty in 35mm so I was good there.

RattyMouse · Jul 24, 2018

I put a second order in for Acros 120 and got the last 9 boxes at B & H. I was going to go for another 15 but 9 was all they had. That makes 24 pro packs of Acros 120 on the way for me.

fdonadio · Jul 24, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I put a second order in for Acros 120 and got the last 9 boxes at B & H. I was going to go for another 15 but 9 was all they had. That makes 24 pro packs of Acros 120 on the way for me.

I envy you. I’ll have to make do with the 5 I have.

RattyMouse · Jul 24, 2018

fdonadio said:
I envy you. I’ll have to make do with the 5 I have.

Well,l there's hope that from now to October that more will appear unannounced. I never looked at B & H for more stock once it was listed as discontinued. Only this thread brought me back to looking for more. Should more appear and I'm lucky enough to find it in stock at B & H, I'll put in another order.

In my opinion, Neopan Acros is the greatest monochrome film ever made. It is to Fujifilm's eternal shame that they discontinued such a wonderful product.

Acros 100 in peril?

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