Dejected today- Pan X, Plus X, and Tri-X

braxus · Apr 17, 2007

Im just off on a rant today, so dont read any further if you must.

I had a roll of Panatomic X dated expiry 1946. Since I know Pan X keeps very well and even rolls from the 70s turn out good, I'd thought I'd for fun shoot the roll and see what happens. I was hoping to post some pics here. But that was wishful thinking. I had a local lab develop it in HC-110 for 4:40 min.s. The result was the neg was close to black. Only in a few spots on the entire neg was there any hint of an image of something. So I guess 1946 is a bit too far back.

Driving home I'd thought I'd pick up a couple rolls of Plus X, since I usually only keep stock of Tri-X. There is only one store here in town that carries more then the bare minimum of films. I got there to find out they've cut down their selection AGAIN and totally deleted bringing in BOTH Plus X and Tri-X! But they did have the TMAX films in stock still. No thanks. They also carry Ilford with stock of FP4+, HP5+, Delta 100 and 400. I'm a Kodak man, so I declined getting any Ilford this round. Don't get me wrong I like Ilford, I just prefer using Kodak's versions of these films.

So I went home and plunked my empty film cannister back on my dresser. Im just not happy to now have to drive at least 30km, if not 120km, just to get my staple films. But its getting to that point. Im not even sure the 30km lab will be keeping stock of these same films anymore. Since they are the ones having distribution issues with Kodak, it looks like its driving into Vancouver for me from now on.

Luckily I still have a large stash of film in my deep freezer. I might be filling the box even more full now that I need to go to the city to get film. Problem is even with my 4 banger it easily cost $20-25 of gas just to make the trip.

jim appleyard · Apr 17, 2007

Braxus, have you thought of mail order? I don't know all the stores in Canada, but I've had a couple of good dealings with Henry's. You can also think about bulk loading. That way, you've got plenty of film on hand.

You'll have to pay for shipping with mail order, but it shouldn't be as much as you'd spend in gas for a handful of rolls of film.

jimgalli · Apr 17, 2007

I was startled the other evening when 4 100 foot long rolls of Panatomic X from 1982 fetched $240 on Ebay. Guess I shouldn't have been. If it was good at all it was worth that. Things are certainly changing drastically.

braxus · Apr 17, 2007

Thats only $60 a 100 foot roll, which is not to far off of the new price for 100 foot rolls. I have two 100 foot rolls in my freezer of Pan X. I guess I better take care of them now.

As per mail order- I have used it before, but have to get it sent to a different address then here. The person Im living with has issues with big items of mine coming in the mail. I might consider mail order again, but I like to be in the place I buy my goods from. Its also good to confirm they actually have the film in stock when ordering.

aldevo · Apr 17, 2007

Well, if you do decide to go the mail-order route, then Freestyle in CA, USA is probably the best way to go. I have never had any issues with their website being inaccurate when it comes to availability of product. The same is definitely not true for Adorama or B&H Photo Video. And the sales reps at Adorama or B&H just regurgitate what they see on the web-site...

Calumet Photo in the USA also seems to have reliable inventory monitoring for their site.

Hope things work out!

Thomas Bertilsson · Apr 17, 2007

I'll second the opinion on Freestyle. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. Good customer service too.

I too am surprised at the price the Panatomic-X sells for, even 25 years expired. There are other films that are just as good, but perhaps not exactly the same. But what I don't get is no matter how much I loved APX 25 for instance, I can't really say that I mind very much that it's gone. People get too hung up on details like that, gets in the way of making photographs. I just moved on to Efke 25, then to Pan-F, and then stopped shooting slow film unless it's sheet film. But I watched those 100 ft rolls on eBay go for a very high price indeed, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

I suppose I must be very lucky, my local dealer, no more than 8 miles away, carries a broad assortment of Fuji, Kodak, and Ilford films. They also have a full array of Ilford paper, bar their graded papers. They even have trays, grain focusing tools, thermometers, etc. I'm very happy about that, almost to the extent that I'm willing to give up some of my more unusual papers just to support the local business. I can get all my Ilford FP4+ there, as well as Tri-X, my two favorite films. I can get my Ilford fiber paper there, very reliably so, and I hope that my support of them, as well as other photographers, will keep them around for a while longer.

- Thom

braxus · Apr 18, 2007

I order from Freestyle. But I'd prefer to get it in Canada to avoid border hassles. But its not worth it when you need only a couple rolls now and then. I guess Im just going to have to get used to getting big supplies of film instead of a few rolls. And I'll have to work on using what I already have in the freezer. But it was just so convenient when I needed just 1 roll to drive down the road and buy it. In terms of buying Kodak, those days seem to be over.

GeorgesGiralt · Apr 18, 2007

Braxus,
I, too, support local shopping.
When an item is not on the shelf, I ask for it.
Generally, the guy tells me that he can't get it. If he does not carry the brand name anymore, I switch shop, otherwise, I ASK him (or her) to order the stuff with it's next order and PHONE when delivered.
It works, and, a I do this when the shop is full, it encourage other people to do the same.
The guy near me has a shop with B&W film in 135 but no 120 nor 4x5. Guess from where came the last 4x5 B&W film I bought ?

PhotoJim · Apr 18, 2007

braxus said:
I order from Freestyle. But I'd prefer to get it in Canada to avoid border hassles. But its not worth it when you need only a couple rolls now and then. I guess Im just going to have to get used to getting big supplies of film instead of a few rolls. And I'll have to work on using what I already have in the freezer. But it was just so convenient when I needed just 1 roll to drive down the road and buy it. In terms of buying Kodak, those days seem to be over.

The market is demanding this kind of behaviour, unfortunately. I buy what I want from wherever I can get it at a reasonable price.

My local dealer is a great source for Ilford products so I get them there (except for the postcard photographic paper which they can't seem to get, so I get it from another place). Their prices on Fuji film used to be pretty good but are a little high now. Their prices on Kodak film are reasonable.

Because Fuji E6 films are a lot cheaper by mail order, I mail order them (I get a pro pack (20 rolls) about once a year from B&H). Because nobody near me sells 36-exposure rolls of Fuji Superia C41 films, I buy them from B&H as well.

This isn't optimal for my local shop (which is predominantly digital now, unsurprisingly) but at least they get some of my business. However, I want what I want and I buy it where it makes sense to buy it. As long as somebody is selling these products, I'm in good shape. There is a certain convenience to being able to pick up some products locally on short notice, but I find that I am able to anticipate my own need well enough that this is rarely required. I still use the local shop where it makes sense to do so though.

Stores decide what people want. People then decide if the stores are right or not. I am pretty opinionated about what I want to buy and I don't hesitate to go to where it's available.

Uncle Bill · Apr 18, 2007

Speaking as another canuck, I have never had troubles (touch wood) mail ordering film across the imaginay line.

Bill

copake_ham · Apr 18, 2007

PhotoJim said:
.....

Stores decide what people want. People then decide if the stores are right or not.....e.

I don't think stores decide what people want - rather stores stock what people will buy.

Unfortunately, for the local camera store to survive nowadays they are compelled to reduce their film stocks to what sells relatively quickly. It's not as if they are actively "cutting off" the supply - they are just managing inventory based on demand for product.

While it may be nice to shop locally - the reality is that film is now a niche market that is best served on an aggregated basis by a few large sellers working on a mail order basis. This is particularly the case with what are considered "specialty" films.

Right now it has to really suck being a small camera store operator. On one side the "big boxes" are killing you in the digi camera market. On the other side, the local Walgreens or Eckerd's etc. efficiently meet the demand for basic consumer films with the added convenience on providing on-site processing.

If you want to support your local guy - perhaps you should ask him if he will special order some Tri-X etc. from his distributor the next time he puts in a large film order?

fhovie · Apr 18, 2007

The sad truth is truth none the less - Us artsy fartsy B&W chemical emulsion guys are too rare to support an ordinary mom and pop camera store. ALLL the SUV driving Soccer Moms are into purse size digigizmos and they are the ones that pay the rent. The exceptions are the stores located near colleges that support students in courses. Usually even then, the supply of light sensitive consumables and their counterparts is limited to student mentality -- cheep cheep cheep. So - IR and bigger than 35mm may be scarce, and chemistry may be limited to cheap and quick D-76 knock offs. Paper is in packs of 10 - RC only. Maybe one or two other options from special orders that were never picked up.

So - I love my local camera store - but they are there to serve the masses - and the masses don't run around with cameras with bellows and light meters. I buy 70% of everything from B&H. They have always treated me well and their pricing has always been competitive on the consumables. I had terrible experiences with Adorama. Freestyle is good but often pricey. I kinda miss J&C but the book is not closed on that one yet. - To spread out the cost of shipping - I always order film in large quantities. I mix my own chemistries.

MattKing · Apr 18, 2007

braxus:

I don't know if you have seen this thread that I started last year, but you may find it useful:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Don's Photo have just revamped their web presence, and don't as yet have any film or darkroom listings in place, but if you contact them, they are happy to provide price and other information.

Matt

braxus · Apr 18, 2007

Ok. Thanks Matt. I'll have to see if their pricing is any better then getting from Vistek or Freestyle.

Removed Account · Apr 20, 2007

fhovie said:
The exceptions are the stores located near colleges that support students in courses. Usually even then, the supply of light sensitive consumables and their counterparts is limited to student mentality -- cheep cheep cheep.

The shop at Malaspina University sells their photo products at enormous prices... $9.99 CDN for 35mm Delta 100?!?!? Take the bus to the nearest London Drugs and you can get several variations of Kodak and Ilford films for 5 and change, on average.

Uncle Bill said:
Speaking as another canuck, I have never had troubles (touch wood) mail ordering film across the imaginay line.

I am going to have to start doing that a little bit. One of the benefits when I lived in Toronto was the reasonable access to good film products when I hunted enough. There is also the shining gem of Northern Artists Northern Artists Photofinishing

In addition to their digital work, they stock a selection of Black and White, colour neg, and chromes in 35mm and 120, will process said film. B&W is overnight, or same day if dropped off soon after opening, and get this: 2 HOUR E-6!!! That is correct, two hours for a roll of slide film. Beats the 7-10 days around here! They will also do REAL B&W silver printing from 35mm and 120, as well as 4x5 and 8x10 contact prints. Oh yeah, and push/pull processing for B&W and E-6 is allowed, albeit with a $4 surcharge. There is still hope!

m_liddell · Apr 20, 2007

Why do people buy locally? Everywhere I have lived it is always substantially more expensive, older and with less of a selection.

Uncle Bill · Apr 20, 2007

cafeharrar said:
The shop at Malaspina University sells their photo products at enormous prices... $9.99 CDN for 35mm Delta 100?!?!? Take the bus to the nearest London Drugs and you can get several variations of Kodak and Ilford films for 5 and change, on average.

I am going to have to start doing that a little bit. One of the benefits when I lived in Toronto was the reasonable access to good film products when I hunted enough. There is also the shining gem of Northern Artists Northern Artists Photofinishing

In addition to their digital work, they stock a selection of Black and White, colour neg, and chromes in 35mm and 120, will process said film. B&W is overnight, or same day if dropped off soon after opening, and get this: 2 HOUR E-6!!! That is correct, two hours for a roll of slide film. Beats the 7-10 days around here! They will also do REAL B&W silver printing from 35mm and 120, as well as 4x5 and 8x10 contact prints. Oh yeah, and push/pull processing for B&W and E-6 is allowed, albeit with a $4 surcharge. There is still hope!

Two hour E-6?? That is worth the drive from Oakville as my local indie lab stopped processing slides.

Dejected today- Pan X, Plus X, and Tri-X

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