Agfa APX 100 & 400 120 Discontinued?

rjr · Oct 4, 2004

Ian,

not? What is this?

http://www.agfa.com/photo/products/professional/film/agfapan/

APX100 price is currently on an alltime low in Germany, I can get the stuff for less than 1,84EUR per roll in 120 - cheaper than anything but Fomapan100, even Lucky stuff is more expensive.

I could find no indication that production is discontinued, the fresh datasheets were on stock at the booth and that rumour isn´t even topic in the german community (including de.rec.fotografie and several fori). I spent the days in Cologne with someone who actually used to work for Agfa and he was in contact with his former colleagues - he had no clue nor indication from them.

If it is limited to the Netherlands I know who I may ask there and I´ll contact him immediatly. But I somewhat doubt there is any credibility to that.

Dean Williams · Oct 4, 2004

"They no longer list it on their websites"

They still show it on their product webpages:

Here
and
Here

rjr · Oct 4, 2004

Ehm. Too fast, too tired. You are right, there is no mentioning of type 120 on the website. But they don´t mention any format sizes on it.

Only if you download the spec sheet you´ll see them listed.

The Email to the Netherlands is on the way and should be at least half en route. ;-)

I don´t give any rumour any credibility until I see a red rhombus right on top of the letter. <g>

Roman

bwfans · Oct 4, 2004

I am afraid that the datasheet on the Agfa website does not mean much according to my experience with Agfa (i.e. their website). If you visit Agfa website frequently enough last few years, Agfa APX 25 datasheet was there MANY months after they killed the production of it. That PDF file for APX 25 was probably took off early 2003 or in 2002 from their website.

Right now after reading and searching all internet I can only find one place (photo.net) , one people posted the news. But he did give the source of this news. If anyone is in that country how about just call this guy to verify it?

If I have time to kill tomorrow I will call a few distributor friends here in USA to see if anyone knows. Though I don't even need to worry about it - already got enough Agfa 120 films lasting many years. The batch of Agfa 120 I bought have 2009 dating. Should be produced in 2004. If it is THE last batch and is part of the available stock, I am pretty lucky.

bwfans · Oct 4, 2004

This technical data sheet in Agfa Hongkong's website still includes APX 25. Will they revive APX 25?

http://www.agfa.com.hk/ci/downloads/Agfa%20Range%20of%20Films%20(Professional).pdf

Sorry! Someone did not update the datasheet. This datasheet in Agfa's main website does not have APX 25 any more:

http://www.agfa.com/photo/pdf/products/F-PF-E4_en.pdf

Ian Grant · Oct 5, 2004

Dean Williams said:
"They no longer list it on their websites"

They still show it on their product webpages:

Here
and
Here

Well I don't dispute that.

It is quite possible that Agfa aren't importing it in the UK any more, if it is still being produced. See this link:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0081M5

Also the Agfa Data sheet is over 14 months old

But I think there was a press article here about Agfa cutting their range still further, and I seem to remember that left just one flm in 120 which was a basic colour neg film.

Dean Williams · Oct 5, 2004

Maybe it's time to put this to bed and have an end to all the rumors. I wrote Agfa yesterday. Here is text of my message:

"I keep hearing that your Black and White APX films in 120 format will be
discontued. Is this true? How long will it be in production?
Thank you
Dean Williams"

Here is the reply from Agfa as of today (10-05-04):

"Dear Mr Williams,

Thank you for your mail.
Agfa does not plan to discontinue the APX 120 films.

It is possible that certain products will no longer be sold in individual countries. This is
decided by the local Agfa sales organisations or representatives.

Best regards
bruno"

There. Take a breath and go make some Photographs!

dancqu · Oct 5, 2004

I don't think I've heard any mention of Agfa's new high speed emulsion technology.
As I understand it they hold the patents. Perhaps they will soon be introducing
an entirely new line-up of films. I'd think they would be first, they holding
the patents. Dan

bwfans · Oct 5, 2004

I called one of my friend that sells Agfa films here in USA today. He haven't heard of discontinuation of 120 films in USA yet.

(And he offered me tons of APX 120 and I rejected . )

Aggie · Oct 5, 2004

Thank You Dean!

Ian Grant · Oct 5, 2004

Thanks Dean, I rest my case the UK has never been a good market for Agfa, it's all Ilford mainly and Kodak for B&W film, although Agfa have a toe hold in the B&W paper market, coming 2nd to Ilford.

I've had problems recently as the no of Agfa stockists has dropped to the mainly mail order & online stores.

Ian

Dean Williams · Oct 5, 2004

From what Bruno says, is seems that if you can't get the Agfa products in your region you need to talk it over with the rep. Jump on 'em like a duck on a June bug!!

Something else comes to mind here, Re: Agfa. Bruno answered my email in less than 24 hours. Maybe they're paying attention. Hopefully...

dancqu · Oct 6, 2004

dancqu said:
I don't think I've heard any mention of Agfa's new high speed emulsion technology.
As I understand it they hold the patents. Perhaps they will soon be introducing
an entirely new line-up of films. I'd think they would be first, they holding
the patents. Dan

I'm becoming discouraged. Still no mention. Somebody's uncle or
cousine or friend there of must be close to Agfa. Dan

rjr · Oct 6, 2004

Dean Williams said:
From what Bruno says, is seems that if you can't get the Agfa products in your region you need to talk it over with the rep. Jump on 'em like a duck on a June bug!!

I just got a reply from the late working Markus Ludwig, head of "Global Marketing BL Film".

120 is in production and will stay in production. With the new company starting from 01.11.2004 they are no plans to stop production of any kind of film or paper nor chemistry, but they will adjust in details - he told me that APX100 in 135/24 will be axed in favour of the large volume selling APX100 in 135/36.

He didn´t refer to local decisions on distributor level - but I guess they will sort them out once being independent and depending on the money.

Something else comes to mind here, Re: Agfa. Bruno answered my email in less than 24 hours. Maybe they're paying attention. Hopefully...

Here is was less than 36h - and going to the right guy on top level immediatly. Impressive.

Guess my next buy will be a big brick of APX100/120. ;-)

bwfans · Oct 6, 2004

rjr said:
...
120 is in production and will stay in production. With the new company starting from 01.11.2004 they are no plans to stop production of any kind of film or paper nor chemistry,

Thanks rjr this is one very excellent news indeed, and for a while, only get bad news.

Only wish Ilford bw film and paper will have a good buyer - that will keep the production of the films, even the profit is slim.

dancqu · Oct 6, 2004

Dean Williams said:
Maybe they're paying attention. Hopefully...

Hopefully. Hopefully they are they are doing something with the
new high speed emulsion technology on which they hold the
patents.

Perhaps your contact at Agfa might do us the favor of 'leaking' a
little information.

Perhaps they are preparing to "Shock and Awe" us with the
announcement of a completely new line of films.

Personally I think they owe us a progress report. If they have a
cure for electronic cancer it should not be shelfed. That would be
criminal. Dan

Dean Williams · Oct 6, 2004

bwfans said:
Thanks rjr this is one very excellent news indeed, and for a while, only get bad news.

A lot of this so called "bad news" is not news at all, but rumors perpetuated by some, intent on wringing their hands. Many businesses change the products they market. Many go through bad times, and come out of it.

I recently asked a man who worked for Eastman Kodak about Kodak's B&W film production. He told me their coating plants are working 24 hrs a day. That won't stop the next rumor about Kodak cutting back on film production, though. Some people delight in this kind of thing, though I can't under stand why. It's so unproductive, and it takes our minds off of other things we could be thinking about, like that next award winning photo.

Aggie · Oct 6, 2004

Amen Dean!

rjr · Oct 7, 2004

Even worse - imagine the flood of emails and phone calls generated by that, flooding the customers services.

It costs their money, their time, their nerves.

Don´t let other do your job - if _you_ have questions or worries regarding the availibility _you_ should ask the customer service before starting a unproductive and baseless rumour and stressing other people nerves.

Thus the guys at Agfa, Kodak, Fuji, Ilford will have to deal with only one customer instead of thousands and stop the rumour at the root or they´ll give substantial information. Only then you may go into public with the troubling news.

Agfa APX 100 & 400 120 Discontinued?

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