E100GX Discontinued

[Ektagraphic]

Yes but they are sure that Elite Chrome 100 will stay.

 

[BetterSense]

Where exactly does E100s fit in all this? I can't find much info online. I just got 100 feet of expired E100s. Is it similar to E100VS, just less "s"?

 

[brianmquinn]

E100G replaced E100S
E100GX replaced E100SW
There was no change to E100VS

 

[2F/2F]

E100GX is not like E100SW. They are totally different looking. The closest thing to E100SW I have found is Astia. I am a big E100SW fan. I had a bunch of it stashed, though the supply is dwindling!

 

[Ektagraphic]

When did E100SW and E100S go away?

 

[brianmquinn]

E100GX is not like E100SW. They are totally different looking. The closest thing to E100SW I have found is Astia. I am a big E100SW fan. I had a bunch of it stashed, though the supply is dwindling!

I did not say they were similar, Kodak did. Kodak suggested E100G and E100GX as replacements for E100S and E100SW.

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

When did E100SW and E100S go away?

About 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[flatulent1]

Forgive me if this has already been covered, I have not seen it if so. Is there a final batch of E100GX coming, or have we seen the last of it? B&H lists it as discontinued, Adorama lists it as backordered.

 

[Ektagraphic]

According to Kodak, we have seen the last of it.

 

[TerryM]

Saving E100GX

Linked below is a Letter I've just Faxed to Kodak Vice Presidents Brad Kruchten and Kimberly Snyder. It proposes a simple way for them to continue offering E100GX and other niche films in a profitable manner. If you want to save E100GX and similar low-selling films, then don't just complain about it on Internet Forums! Let Kodak know that you value such films, and endorse this proposal I've offered them. I've done the hardest part already. Below are their Faxes and E-Mails. It would be better to send a Fax during local business hours of 9 to 5.

Brad W. Kruchten (in Rochester)
Fax: 1-585-724-9629 (1 to 9PM GMT is 9 to 5 EDT)
E-Mail: Brad.Kruchten@kodak.com

Kimberly A. Snyder (in Los Angeles)
Fax: 1-323-468-4240 (4PM to 12AM GMT is 9 to 5 PDT)
E-Mail: Kimberly.Snyder@kodak.com

 

[Q.G.]

With all respect, Terry, i don't think it will work.
It costs money to get films to shops. It costs shops money to keep film in stock. If their turnover is low, the return is that also, and the costs may well exceed the return. So someone will have to be prepared to lose money to keep Kodak film available in every small shop around the world. Who is that going to be?

Your proposal of an advanced order system bypasses those shops altogether. Customers being able to order their goods from one, large supplier is exactly what put shops in the predicament they are in.
So selling the film before making it may free Kodak from the risk of having a roll of unsold film, but it will kill off the film offerings of many of the small (and larger) shops around the world.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Good luck. Let us know how you make out....It is now officially on the website as discontinued. http://www.kodak.com/global/en/prof...00GXFilm.jhtml?pq-path=13319/1229/13363/13370

 

[mhanc]

Just thinking out loud here...

Not sure about the economics from Kodak's side, but sounds like a very interesting idea. The small local shops in my area only carry small amounts of standard films, almost no B+W and certainly no sheet film. Half the time it is either outdated or out of stock. So these shops are not currently a viable option for film. I now purchase film online from the handful of "national suppliers" such as Freestyle, etc. I would be happy to do it from Kodak as well. There is absolutely nothing to prevent the small shops from taking part in such advance orders.

I would not want to undermine these national sellers as they are really the only source I know of selling a large variety of films. So, maybe there might be a way for these companies to drive this advance order idea -- i.e. they aggregate all the individual orders for these films until there are enough for Kodak to produce the film economically. Obviously, there would be extra costs to Kodak for making these special order films and retaining the expertise to do so. We must all be prepared to bear that cost in the price of these films -- if we think Kodak are making too much money from film sales then we should buy its stock. It is currently has a very low price.

And if this is feasible for film, the why not do it for paper?

I am good for an order of HIE, Panatomic-X, Supper-XX, Polymax, Azo...

 

[Q.G.]

There is absolutely nothing to prevent the small shops from taking part in such advance orders.

There is.
I, for one, wouldn't go through a shop, allow them to add their profit margin, when i know they do what i can do myself: order from 'the source' directly.

That goes for the larger, online shops as well: why would we need to go through them, and not save a buck and order from Kodak instead?

 

[Tom Kershaw]

In the UK, prices from the retail route of Harman Express are higher than dealer prices in general.

Tom

 

[Nightfly]

Not sure why they bothered to officially announce E100GX going away, E200 (in 120) has been gone for months now with no announcement. I guess if its available in some format (35mm) then it is still "available".

 

[TerryM]

There is absolutely nothing to prevent the small shops from taking part in such advance orders.

There is.
I, for one, wouldn't go through a shop, allow them to add their profit margin, when i know they do what i can do myself: order from 'the source' directly.
That goes for the larger, online shops as well: why would we need to go through them, and not save a buck and order from Kodak instead?

'mhanc' is correct that all photo shops can order the films for themselves. They are Kodak's "customers". I think you overestimate the number of people who would want to order directly from either Kodak or a supplier. Such individual direct orders would have to be large enough to negate the mail and shipping costs added on. It is also likely that Kodak wouldn't take orders directly from individual customers, but would direct you to place your order with a dealer. If small shops weren't forced to buy more film than they need for the upcoming few months, then they would be able to keep fresh films on their shelves. Demanding distributors are probably harmful to small film shops.

This advance ordering system would also make it much more practical for Kodak to offer the Film in 120 and Sheet Formats. A company can't ask for better than to make a pre-ordered product.

 

[bob100684]

Forgive me if this has already been covered, I have not seen it if so. Is there a final batch of E100GX coming, or have we seen the last of it? B&H lists it as discontinued, Adorama lists it as backordered.

I ordered some from adorama just before it went out of stock. Expires 10/09

 

[Q.G.]

'mhanc' is correct that all photo shops can order the films for themselves. They are Kodak's "customers". I think you overestimate the number of people who would want to order directly from either Kodak or a supplier. Such individual direct orders would have to be large enough to negate the mail and shipping costs added on.

As if shops operate with no added margin ...

It is a major part of why shops are experiencing major problems: they are too expensive, compared to online prices including shipping and handling costs.

I think you underestimate the number of people who do not want to order through their local shops.

It is also likely that Kodak wouldn't take orders directly from individual customers, but would direct you to place your order with a dealer.

That would be possible. yes.
Then again: you are proposing a new business model to them...

If small shops weren't forced to buy more film than they need for the upcoming few months, then they would be able to keep fresh films on their shelves. Demanding distributors are probably harmful to small film shops.

But, i think, less so than demanding customers.

I haven't bought film from my local shop in a while. They always tell me that they don't have any, but can order some. Great ...
The thing is that i can do that myself quite easily too, and get it for a lower price to boot.

Today, i was told that they don't stock developer anymore (i needed some in a hurry - great, those local shops...).
What's more, they say they can't get hold of it anymore.
But i can ... !

Recently, the local lab (run by the same people) got rid of the machine they did rollfilm in. They only do 35 mm now, and have to send rollfilm to another lab.
When i was last there, they told me that the market for 120 processing wasn't too small for them, nor getting smaller. Yet the machine has gone! Couldn't get a coherent explanation why out of anyone there.

So it's not even demanding customers.
It's shops no longer trying to meet the demand of customers.

They rather sell SD and CF cards, digital P&Ss, and run those "you do all the work yourself" printing computers.
Less work for them. And no need for qualified staff (i guess i should have seen the writing on the wall when, some time ago, i brought them a bunch of 120 rolls, and the guy behind the counter didn't even know what they were, and had to be told by his co-workers what film (!) was, and that it came in different forms and formats, the rolls i dumped on the counter being one of them. That's in a lab... I guess all he knew was where the slot for SD and CF cards was, and how to push a mouse across a pad).

This advance ordering system would also make it much more practical for Kodak to offer the Film in 120 and Sheet Formats. A company can't ask for better than to make a pre-ordered product.

I agree (add 220 too though).
I will happily register for my supply, if that ensures continued availability.
At Kodak.

 

[Anon Ymous]

...I agree (add 220 too though).
I will happily register for my supply, if that ensures continued availability.
At Kodak.

Speaking of 220, 135, sheets etc, one has to wonder if this preorder approach would work, given that 3 master rolls would be needed, and we're talking about products that have been chopped.

 

[TerryM]

... Recently, the local lab (run by the same people) got rid of the machine they did rollfilm in. They only do 35 mm now, and have to send rollfilm to another lab. ...

It's too bad and sad that your Lab is losing sight of its purpose. Try and find out where that 120 Machine went. See if you might be able to buy it rather cheap. You don't want to see the Machine scrapped.

Speaking of 220, 135, sheets etc, one has to wonder if this preorder approach would work, given that 3 master rolls would be needed, and we're talking about products that have been chopped.

For a small-selling Film like E100GX, the 135 Base would have to be used for 120/220 and Sheets. There aren't enough sales to run off an entire Master Roll for 120 or Sheet.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

It's too bad and sad that your Lab is losing sight of its purpose. Try and find out where that 120 Machine went. See if you might be able to buy it rather cheap. You don't want to see the Machine scrapped.


For a small-selling Film like E100GX, the 135 Base would have to be used for 120/220 and Sheets. There aren't enough sales to run off an entire Master Roll for 120 or Sheet.

I believe the topic has been brought up before, and the concensus is that the big three (Ilford, Kodak, Fuji) generally refuse to compromise on quality by marketing a product that isn't up to spec. It doesnt make any difference to me if it's the 135 base being used, but from a technical standpoint it doesnt meet the standards of a large international company. There'd be problems with curl in 120, as you can see with the Rollei retro films, and I imagine there'd also be problems with film flatness in sheet sizes as well. 135 and 70mm would probably be more readily made.
If they could consolidate to one master roll without any side effects in the final product, they'd have done it years ago.

 

[Q.G.]

I wouldn't mind 70 mm film.

It's too bad and sad that your Lab is losing sight of its purpose. Try and find out where that 120 Machine went. See if you might be able to buy it rather cheap. You don't want to see the Machine scrapped.

I don't think i have the money, the facilities, nor the time to run a machine like that.
I'll think stick to inverting my tanks myself, or use a small tank autolab at best.

I think it is a pitty about the machine only if there is someone who has the money, the facilities and the time to run it, and is willing to do so. Else it is a useless bit of old metal and plastics.

 

[Ektagraphic]

What's more, they say they can't get hold of it anymore.
But i can ... !

I just love walking into a photo shop that says film isn't being made any more and Kodak has shut down. It makes me laugh but pisses me off all at the same time.

 

[Q.G.]

My local shop isn't as bad as that, yet.
But i get increasingly annoyed at their "no, we don't have any" when you ask for something. As far as shooping there is concerned, Kodak (and Fuji, and ... ) might as well have discontinued not just E100GX.

And that (to get back on topic again) is, i really think, a big part of the difficulty in getting film: not (just) Kodak making it hard for them to maintain a small enough stock, but these shops not wanting to stock film anymore.
It would be a good thing if, if they will consider Terry's proposal, Kodak would also start an online shop and deal with their customner's directly. It would not just make life easier for many photographers, but also cut costs.