Agfa APX 100 & 400 120 Discontinued?

[bwfans]

Just read from photo.net. Agfa APX 120, both 100 and 400, seems gone.
Content of email from Agfa:

"Unfortunately I have no better news, the 120 format will disappear from our range. There is still stock and APX can be kept for a long time. To cover yourself, maybe freezing in is an option. With kind regards, Folke van der Meulen, Agfa Gevaert."

 

[clogz]

Right. Let them keep their stock and give them the freezing shoulder. high time to look for a manufacturer that still sees a future in (120) film. I'd suggest Foma or Forte.

 

[TPPhotog]

"Unfortunately I have no better news, the 120 format will disappear from our range. There is still stock and APX can be kept for a long time. To cover yourself, maybe freezing in is an option. With kind regards, Folke van der Meulen, Agfa Gevaert."

Plain speak translation .... we have decided it's not profitable to make anymore, so why not take it off our hands so we can use the space for something else?

 

[eric]

I haven't bought any agfa apx in a while. Since I started getting the jandc pro 100, why bother paying for more? I like the film (120 size) and to be honest, I can't tell the difference too much. There will always be other film makers out there.

 

[Deckled Edge]

There will always be other film makers out there.

From your lips to Kodak's ears!

Eric, I think the point of all this is that we are witnesses to a death march.
When there are only 1 or two film makers out there, and they are constantly raising the price to see just how serious the 120 (or 35, or sheet film) market is, then we'll all arrive at the funeral together. Have you tried to buy new flash bulbs recently?

 

[eric]

True true. Perhaps, when all is gone, my Jandc 100 will costs as much as Kodak/Ilford stuff. Flash bulbs....not recently

Who knows! Maybe there will be a backlash. I sometimes read about people who bought digital and then they get reminded of KR64 or B&W they did "back when" and they bought film gear.

 

[VoidoidRamone]

I hope this news isn't true, because APX 100 is my favorite film ever. I guess I need to start stocking up eh? Good thing I just got a paycheck, that might get me 100-200 rolls of the b&w gold. I guess I also need to try the J and C pro 100. I've tried the Forte and wasn't very impressed with it (really bad curling). I'm gonna' go cry in the corner now... -Grant

 

[VoidoidRamone]

Also, I have a quick question... what is "closer" to APX 100? Foma 100 or JandC 100? JandC is having a Photokina sale, so I figured it seemed like a good time to try some of those films. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. -Grant

 

[rjr]

I have just browsed through photo.net and found nothing like that (nothing new, that is...). Could you give us a link?

I doubt it is true - they´d leave such a decision to the new managment and that starts the job only in late November.

No matter what, I´ll ask the guys at the Photokina this Friday.

 

[rjr]

OK, I found it. The topic line "APX100" didn´t catch my attention. ;-)

This reads exactly the same as the story when the swedish importer stopped importing Rollfilm 120 - one guy claimed "they stopped production, we can´t deliver anymore" when it should have read "people didn´t buy from us, we don´t bother to import it any longer and we need someone to blame for it".

I´ll keep my eyes open at the Agfa booth. ;-)

 

[titrisol]

one more film gone the way of the dodo!
As long as there are other birds around, all we can do is moan twenty years from now on how beautiful APX was.... and it is beautiful

 

[Jordan]

one more film gone the way of the dodo!
As long as there are other birds around, all we can do is moan twenty years from now on how beautiful APX was.... and it is beautiful

No need to panic. This stuff has come up on photo.net time and again (referring specifically to APX in 120 format) and it always turns out to be a question of local distribution rather than manufacture. Others have recently posted e-mails they have received from AGFA headquarters stating they have no plans to discontinue these films. Of course there is no guarantee that they won't take this step in the future, but for the time being I think there is no need to worry.

 

[bwfans]

Most stores still in stock.

Don't know if this is the last batch of APX 120, or if Agfa will make more after this batch sold out.

Do what you think is right. Frankly even if I want to stock some more, there is still a money issue, after just bought tons of Ilford stuff. Though I did stock a few cases of APX 100 and 400 120, in case it is true.

I tried digital negative approach last week and I expect to get a better result if I used the right tools and materials, including the transparency film, the ink, and the printer. I used an old Lexmark laser printer printing to a 3M transparency. The 8x10 contact prints from wet darkroom looks fine if viewed from many feet away .

 

[Ian Grant]

Also, I have a quick question... what is "closer" to APX 100? Foma 100 or JandC 100? -Grant

Actually with 15'ish years of experience of APX 100 and Tmax I'd say I've only used one film remotely similar and close to APX 100 and that's Kodak's Tmax 50 (ok they call it 100). But for a long time I switched seamlessly between the two prefering APX 100 for 35mm in my Leica because its a stop faster, and using either in 5"x4", and AP25/APX25 in my roll film back.

Now I'm stuck will I buy a film only available in 35mm, and not easily available in the UK. I doubt it and they've (Agfa) lost a very loyal and prolific customer.

 

[moose10101]

Here's a link to the photo.net thread in question:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009bPr

Here's a thread where the individual originally posted his claim that Agfa had "formally announced through Europe, Asia, and Australia" that they were cutting APX 100 and 400:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009OH8

When challenged to provide any evidence of this "formal announcement", he could not. His new thread is just a quote from some Agfa Netherlands employee who could be anyone from a marketing exec to a mail room lackey.

Will Agfa discontinue the rest of the APX line? Probably; they don't seem to have the first clue about marketing their products. Will it happen soon? I don't know, and neither does the person who posted those threads. He just seems to enjoy being the bearer of bad news, true or not.

 

[dancqu]

Will Agfa discontinue the rest of the APX line?

Perhaps they will soon announce their line up of new high speed
emulsions. They do hold the patents and I'd think be the first
to market. Dan

 

[skahde]

Quite to the contrary of the ongoing rumours about the discontinuance of further Agfa products there are rumours popping up on german forums that now - after the management buyout - Agfa has plans come back with APX in sheets, cut to size and packaged by Tura.

To my mind and as of today I think both is equally questionable.

Stefan

 

[rjr]

Moose,

thanks for that.

I know people who used to work for Agfa and still have contacts - they haven´t heard anything like that and there is no bit of rumour going in around german ressources.

So - I take it for nonsense.

The new managment crew are old Photo guys, they have dedicated themselves to the Agfa Photo. I hope they will restructure the marketing and distribution and take some responsibilies away from the national distributors - there is no good in the current model of local decision making. There is no Rodinal in South East Asia, there is no Rollfilm 120 in Sweden...

 

[moose10101]

The new managment crew are old Photo guys, they have dedicated themselves to the Agfa Photo.

That would be the best news to come out of any of the major manufacturers in years.

 

[bwfans]

The new managment crew are old Photo guys, they have dedicated themselves to the Agfa Photo. ...

I like this. Hope APX 100 & 400 still there, and APX 25 come back too.

 

[rjr]

For example, Verhooven is one of them and he will be with the new board.

Some others have dedicated their personal wealth to the company (besides the money coming from external investors), after all it is a managment buyout...

 

[photomc]

For example, Verhooven is one of them and he will be with the new board.

Some others have dedicated their personal wealth to the company (besides the money coming from external investors), after all it is a managment buyout...

Thanks for this post..I have been wondering when someone would point out that it was a management buyout!! Personally, I think that if they are serious (and they did put their own money on the line) that we may soon see Agfa as the STRONG film maker out of the shakeups that are occurring. They have a good product and many people love some current and older products. Let's think positive thoughts for a change and I for one will not be sorry if they do well. No bad wishes for Ilford or any of the other companies, but with two separate threads this week about NEW film cameras, why not have hope that film is alive and doing well...

Here's wishing you all your favorite emulsion/paper are here for a long, long time.

 

[rjr]

Just returned from Photokina - no sad news about Rollfilm 120. They still make it.

Roman

 

[Aggie]

Thanks rjr, good to know the rumors are being corrected.

 

[Ian Grant]

Just returned from Photokina - no sad news about Rollfilm 120. They still make it.

Roman

They no longer list it on their websites, maybe they are selling the remaining stock.

In this case there is a very similar film to APX100 available from Kodak unfortunately a stop slower their 50 ISO - Tmax 100, they recommend 50 ISO for best tonality. Having used APX100 & Tmax 100 for many years after initial zone system tests I found the same speed differance I have happily switched between the two getting images that sit perfectly alongside each other