Recently, there was a rather longish thread about the quality of a certain film. This thread is now locked. I am taking a risk here raising the subject again, but in a different context.
I want to explain to all and sundry that there is a severe supply problem involving quality photo chemicals. They are becoming harder to get, they are becoming much more expensive, and the second tier or third tier suppliers often don't have photo grade chemicals.
As the photo companies find it more and more difficult to get these chemicals or decent quality chemicals, then I believe that quality will suffer. This goes to raw stock keeping, speed, reciprocity failure and latent image keeping.
An example is a chemical called TAI. It is becoming rare and expensive. It preserves film. The older chemical, MBT is cheap and readily available but not nearly as effective and is more difficult to use if one wishes to prevent coating defects.
Eastman Kodak and Fuji, I know, have their own synthetic chemicals divisions, but most other companies do not. I'm not sure about Ilford at the present time.
I think that we will have to take a hit from the quality of products offered by the smaller companies. It will probably vary from batch to batch.
I would add some of my previous comment. As film declines in importance (sales) and factories age, then it becomes more difficult to maintain or upgrade these factories as equipment fails or wears.
IMHO, all of this will lead to slowly deteriorating quality from these smaller photo product producers.
PE
I want to explain to all and sundry that there is a severe supply problem involving quality photo chemicals. They are becoming harder to get, they are becoming much more expensive, and the second tier or third tier suppliers often don't have photo grade chemicals.
As the photo companies find it more and more difficult to get these chemicals or decent quality chemicals, then I believe that quality will suffer. This goes to raw stock keeping, speed, reciprocity failure and latent image keeping.
An example is a chemical called TAI. It is becoming rare and expensive. It preserves film. The older chemical, MBT is cheap and readily available but not nearly as effective and is more difficult to use if one wishes to prevent coating defects.
Eastman Kodak and Fuji, I know, have their own synthetic chemicals divisions, but most other companies do not. I'm not sure about Ilford at the present time.
I think that we will have to take a hit from the quality of products offered by the smaller companies. It will probably vary from batch to batch.
I would add some of my previous comment. As film declines in importance (sales) and factories age, then it becomes more difficult to maintain or upgrade these factories as equipment fails or wears.
IMHO, all of this will lead to slowly deteriorating quality from these smaller photo product producers.
PE