Availability of Agfa Fiber Papers ????

[SusanK]

Recently, an acquaintance of mine emailed me to say that Kodak is no longer making b/w paper, and Agfa paper was unavailable in 5 warehouses that she'd checked. She's been stockpiling paper in a freezer and wants to have 10 years worth put away (personally, I'd think the paper would fog within 10 years, even if frozen). The last time I ordered Agfa paper, I got it through Calumet/Chicago and didn't hear a word from them about an availability problem.

I realize that most photo companies are in a quandry about whether or not to continue producing b/w materials. Can anyone tell me the status of b/w paper & b/w chemical production at Kodak and Agfa ???

Thanks for your time,
SusanK
http://www.susankopecky.com

 

[ann]

Kodak is no longer making black and white papers. You may find some on the open market but when the supplies are depleted they will not be coating any more black and white papers.

Kodak chemicals have not been effected, at least at this point in time.

Agfa, is no longer in business as we know of it, and it is unknown if someone is going to buy them out . There are others on this site who have better knowledge about Agfa and i am sure they will be checking in with more specifics.

You didn't ask about Ilford products, but they are committed to black and white products.

 

[srs5694]

Ann is right -- Kodak paper will soon become completely unavailable, and the same is probably true of Agfa paper. I just received some Agfa RCP310RC resin-coated paper from B&H, but it's possible they're sold out now, and I didn't check on Agfa fiber-based paper availability.

There was a recent thread somewhere on APUG concerning paper longevity tests. IIRC, Ilford and Agfa papers were tested. The Ilford held up fairly well, frozen, after several years, but the Agfa fogged noticeably.

 

[david b]

Ilford is up and running and making all the stuff we love. Why not support a company that wants to support us?

Plus, they are coming out with TWO new paper developers in the next few months and hopefully a Delta 25 film!!!!

 

[SusanK]

I'm sure this has been discussed previously yet, I feel the need to vent for just a moment... I find that I am more than a little irked that society has fallen for the "30 second sound bites" of digital being "all that and a bag of chips". The immediate gratification that digital provides continues to outweigh that qualities of a handmade, fiber base print in the consumers' minds.

I'm not trying to start a flame war. Just expressing my general disappointment in this trend as a whole. And I wonder, at age 35, how much longer I will be able to use my traditional equipment to produce traditional prints before both find themselves extinct. My personal intention is to continue to produce traditional prints for as long as the materials are available. Once that is no longer possible, I will likely choose to find a new "hobby".

I am intrigued by APUG's print sales gallery and am looking into joining as a member and adding my images to the other superior quality images that I see in this fine gallery.

In the meantime, can anyone suggest an Ilford paper that has similar characteristics to Agfa MC Fiber - Glossy ??? Presently, I am using Zone VI print developer and fixer, and Pyro for film development.

Thanks for the responses to my original question. Your time is sincerely appreciated. Oh, and my apologies for my brief ventilation of frustration.

SusanK
http://www.susankopecky.com

 

[Les McLean]

Susan try Ilford Warmtone, its similar to Agfa MCC and produces a very nice rich warm print colour with Zone VI print developer and it responds very well to both selenium and gold toning. Multigrade IV is more neutral in tone but does not respond well to toning.

 

[SusanK]

Thank you Les. I'll give the Ilford Warmtone a try the next time I order paper. And yes, I do selenium tone all my prints for permanence.

BTW, I love your tag line.

Susan

 

[MattKing]

Agfa RC paper

For those who might be looking for Agfa RC paper, and who are either in Canada or are willing to try ordering from here, you may want to try the Vancouver (Broadway) store of Lens and Shutter cameras. I was in there last week, and they seemed to have a fair amount of stock in what remains from what used to be a large darkroom section.

Here is a link to the location page on their website

Lens and Shutter

There is nothing analogue on the website (which is pretty skimpy) and their stores have been heavily "digitized", but there are still a few there who know some things about film

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

Hi Lowell,

I don't mean to doubt your statement about Freestyle having product in transit, but I recently ordered five packets of Freestyle Private Reserve; they shipped two and put the other three on backorder, but I just got a call from them saying they had hoped to get one more shipment but that the deal fell through and consequently I will not be able to get the rest.

They still have RC papers, but all FB papers are no longer available.

Jerry

 

[jandc]

Hi Lowell,

I don't mean to doubt your statement about Freestyle having product in transit, but I recently ordered five packets of Freestyle Private Reserve; they shipped two and put the other three on backorder, but I just got a call from them saying they had hoped to get one more shipment but that the deal fell through and consequently I will not be able to get the rest.

They still have RC papers, but all FB papers are no longer available.

Jerry

Lowell just has a business relationship with Freestyle and takes every opportunity on every forum to advertise for them or himself. It really doesn't matter if it's good advise as long as there is a plug for them.

This is evidenced by 10 of his 13 posts on APUG being advertisements for Clayton or Freestyle.

 

[firecracker]

I'm not a sales rep or anything, but everytime I see this thread coming back I'll post what I know. In Japan, we still have a few left, and the main importer/distributor called "Kindai" has not even written a statement of about the closure of Agfa, though almost of all of its users have already been well informed. So, there's even a rumor going around that Agfa is still making its photographic paper somewhere.

I don't know what the status is, but the store I go to still gets shipment for some reason. The store clerks have no clue, orsimply they don't tell the truth, I don't know. The only difference I've noticed in the last few months is that now none of the new packages have expiration dates printed. That makes me wonder what this is all about.

 

[Jersey Vic]

I bought the last box of 118 (it is 11x14) at Adorama in NYC today..theres still some RC, Neutol and Multicontrast developer on their shelves if you can made it there