Europe: Agfa APX 100 and 400 price increase

[cmo]

My film dealer informed me today that prices for APX 100 go up by 10%, APX 400 by 30% soon.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Supplies are drying up then, eh? On the other hand, APX100 can still be bought cheaply as Rollei Retro 100.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

How does this work, exactly? I always assumed that APX100 and 400 were just old stock floating around the marketplace since Agfa's end of production. Who's making a coordinated price increase of a product that hasnt been manufactured for some itme?

 

[cmo]

10% is not that bad, and there are other alternatives. But 30% for the APX 400 is a lot, especially because it is probably not the best 400 ASA film in the market...

 

[cmo]

How does this work, exactly? I always assumed that APX100 and 400 were just old stock floating around the marketplace since Agfa's end of production. Who's making a coordinated price increase of a product that hasnt been manufactured for some itme?

I must say I have no idea, I just pass what my dealer said. All the business around the old Agfa empire is suspect to me.

 

[Anon Ymous]

How does this work, exactly? I always assumed that APX100 and 400 were just old stock floating around the marketplace since Agfa's end of production. Who's making a coordinated price increase of a product that hasnt been manufactured for some itme?

I don't know how things are down there, but APX100 has been available (abundant) around here all these years since Agfa closed. Additionally, there are many fans of this film and if the supplies are drying up, those interested will gladly pay somewhat more for a really cheap and fabulous film.

 

[2F/2F]

10% is not that bad, and there are other alternatives. But 30% for the APX 400 is a lot, especially because it is probably not the best 400 ASA film in the market...

Indeed. I am not fond of it at all. All other 400 b/w films out there are more to my liking (well, at least HP5, Tri-X, Delta, T-Max, Neopan). The 100 was nice, though. I wasn't even aware that you could still get it reliably. Is it all still old stock? Is it available in 120?

 

[Anon Ymous]

... The 100 was nice, though. I wasn't even aware that you could still get it reliably. Is it all still old stock? Is it available in 120?

No, 120 is long gone and it's Rollei reincarnation was AFAIK cut from 135 master rolls, so it had different base thickness. You may find some 135 at Freestyle, who knows...

EDIT: Yes, it's old stock, but I have some in the original Agfa boxes (with the rhombus, not the Agfaphoto stuff with the dot) and the expiration date printed is May 2011.

 

[mablo]

I thought APX 400 was gone already. I haven't seen it since last February or so. Maco has been selling Retro 400s instead which is another emulsion, based on Agfa Aviphot.

I still adore the Rollei Retro 100 / APX 100 but at the same time I didn't like the APX 400 at all. I still have one bulk roll of it stored somewhere but I hesitate to open it.

 

[Matt5791]

As far as I know there is no APX400 left, at least not in any kind of quantity (ie. maybe there is the odd roll here and there). Rollei Retro 100 is the last remaining APX100 which is confectioned from un-edge marked, un-perforated 135 "pancakes" - ie there is no way of cutting 120. Once these pancakes are gone, that's it.

Matt

 

[pentaxuser]

Matt I have just had a look on the film section of U.K. e-bay and you are absolutely right There was a load of APX 400 even a few months ago, mainly from sellers based in Germany but not now. Mailshots are still selling 400 but it seems as if it is now commanding a premium price.

Now the German competitors as sellers have disappeared then the field is wide open for charging what the market will bear. I suspect that we haven't reached the end point yet in Agfa 400 price increases.

pentaxuser

 

[cmo]

So, what are suggestions for people as a replacement? Foma 400? Lucky 400? That could be the same level of quality and price as the old APX 400. Tri-X and HP-5 are well above that level.

 

[2F/2F]

Arista Premium 400, bought in bulk and shipped over from Freestyle. Just as good or better than APX400, and exactly the same as Tri-X at about half the price.

As for an APX 100 replacement, I am not sure. I think Fuji Acros is the cheapest here, of the big three brands, at least...but I am not sure about its price in Europe

 

[mablo]

Digitaltruth has opened an online shop for their European customers recently. For now they offer just LegacyPro 100 and 400 in 135. Lpro 100 is rebranded Acros and LPro 400 is Neopan 400 as we all know. I souped a roll of LPro 400 today in Rodinal 1:50 and like it a lot.

 

[Ian Grant]

My film dealer informed me today that prices for APX 100 go up by 10%, APX 400 by 30% soon.

This is actually very good news.

If that sounds odd well there was a glut of APX100 made as Agfa ceased manufacturing consumer films. The sooner that glut disappears the earlier we'll have new film manufactured in all sizes and available through Fotoimpex/Adox.

Ian

 

[Anon Ymous]

LegacyPro 100/400 can be bought in bulk rolls from EU retailers as well. It's dirt cheap!

 

[Matt5791]

This is actually very good news.

If that sounds odd well there was a glut of APX100 made as Agfa ceased manufacturing consumer films. The sooner that glut disappears the earlier we'll have new film manufactured in all sizes and available through Fotoimpex/Adox.

Ian

Absolutely

As an alternative I would suggest the Rollei 400S, made by Agfa Gevaert in Belgium

Good price and excellent quality.

Matt

 

[AgX]

How does this work, exactly? I always assumed that APX100 and 400 were just old stock floating around the marketplace since Agfa's end of production. Who's making a coordinated price increase of a product that hasnt been manufactured for some itme?

It may be that AgfaPhoto (Holding) or the seemingly affiliate company Lupus Imaging still have stocks of those films (red-dot version).
Anyway, both list them in their portfolio...