APX 100 - RIP

[Eric Rose]

Well what do I get for believing my local Agfa rep? Getting it in the back as usual. When I first heard about the possible demise of my favorite film APX 100 in 4x5 I emailed my Canadian Agfa rep for a clarification. He assured me that the reports were inaccurate and there was lots of stock. Don't worry be happy.

Well I'm down to my last 10 boxes and put in an order. Guess what? The film is disco'd and none in stock.

This pisses me off!! If he was straight with me I would have probably bought at least 100 boxes of the stuff.

So I guess it's on to Ilford FP4. This really ticks me off as I am starting a new project and didn't want to have to change film half way thru.

I suppose this is what we will have to get use to in the coming years. We will be a bunch of junkies looking down every lane for our favorite "stuff".

Actually Agfa has disco'd all production of LF materials. Of course they did mention that if I wanted to commission a special run at some enormous minimum quantity they would fire up the production line. I can see it now, RGF 100 (Rose's Great Film) in 4x5, 8X10 and 11x14. Who wants to place and order? Don't worry, I'll always fill your orders. Really. Trust me....

 

[photomc]

EricR,
Could not vote, you forgot to add the 'no one' button. It's all about $$ and when it comes down to it, the sad truth is, the mfgs do not care.

Sorry, I had just tried APX100 in 120 format, and would have tried it in 4x5...

 

[Tom Duffy]

I gave up on APX 100 when they discontinued it in 8x10. it was my favorite film. But Agfa as a company is very draconian in its bottom line orientation. the handwriting was on the wall.

I'll continue to use Kodak Tri-x sheet film as long as possible. Kodak has twice recinded (sp?) a decision to discontinue a product that I'm aware of (Tri-x 5x7 and AZO paper). I believe they deserve my support for this. for EI 100 speed film in medium format and 35mm, I've become partial to Fuji Acros and I think it will be around a while.

That said, I think Ilford is the most committed to its B&W line of any of the companies listed above. (I just wish I could learn to like HP5...).

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I suppose I trust Ilford the most, but the film they make that I like--Delta 400--doesn't come in sheet sizes, so I don't use it. Like Tom Duffy, I'm also a partisan of Tri-X, and it seems like Kodak realizes that there is a market for it.

The East European manufacturers were trustworthy in an odd way under the Communist system, in that there wasn't much new innovation, and films stayed in production relatively unchanged for a long times, though there were sometimes quality control issues and there were certainly problems of distribution ("we have fixer this week--get it while you can, and maybe in three months we'll have developer"--I had this conversation in Poland in the late 1980s). I suspect occasional shortages of materials may have resulted in emulsions being changed (this would explain why Forte films are not just like Kodak films of the 1960s--gold chloride, for instance, would have been unaffordable in Hungary during the gold craze of the 1980s). Can these companies survive capitalism? They're trying, and I suspect they are finding markets they didn't know existed, even as Fuji and Kodak products make their way into the former Communist bloc.

 

[Aggie]

fomapan 100 is supposed to be like apx100. They make it in sheet film for the European market. Why not ask JandC if they will stock it.

 

[noseoil]

Eric,
Try J&C and ask for Efke 100. I think you will be pleased with it. There are more than a few people who are using it and get excellent results. It should be in production for quite some time, as it is filling the niche that Kodak, Fuji and Agfa seem to be running away from. Ilford still seems to be a player and may benefit from the market shifts as well.

 

[JHannon]

I went through the same thing with agfa. First with apx 25, then with the 4X5 sheet film apx 100. Wasted my time testing etc. only to have them discontinue without notice. Too bad, I really liked the results and the reasonable price. Now I wouldn't buy another agfa product.

 

[Eric Rose]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. While the Euro stuff sounds interesting I need dependable supply. Dealing with boutique operations in the US is not something that I relish.

I guess I will have to stock up on FP4. I like the TX320 but as far as I'm concerned it's to expensive. My Scottish blood I suppose.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I like Ilford Pan F+, Ilford Delta 100, Kodak T-Max 100 and Fuji Acros 100. All developed in Pyrocat-HD. I have pretty much settled on Ilford Delta 100, both in 120 roll and 4X5.

I am currently testing Kodak Tech Pan (again), Kodak T-Max 400, J and C 400 and Efke 100.

 

[k_jupiter]

Having told you it was going, I have no sympathy for your plight. I bought enough for a year or three of shooting (500 sheets), as much as my budget would allow and just yesterday checked at Keeble and Shuat to see what their stock was like. Out.

If you have no use for the 'boutique' sellers of the net, perhaps when you have the need for the 'boutique' sellers on the net, they won't be there.

That said, I don't find Efke100 the equivalent of APX100, hell I haven't found anything that's as nice a film as this product. I still won't buy APX100 or any other Agfa film evermore as they have told me they don't need my business. I find the 'boutique' films like Classic200 to be very nice films and do the majority of my shooting with that. Plus the fact this film is available in 'boutique' sizes like 3x4, 2x3, 4x5, 120, 135 make the processing part of life a bit easier, even compensating for differences in shutter speeds, etc.

Best of luck finding a replacement.

tim in san jose