Film still in production sticky?

[PeteZ8]

Seems some while some films are dropping like flies, other new ones still pop up from time to time. With as quickly as everything is happening these days, would it be possible to make a sticky of "Films still in production" and keep it updated? Not sure where it would go as it should cover B&W, Color, and E6 films, as well as instants and specialties like IR and cine all in the same thread. I guess here is as good as any?

A format with Mfr, then film, then speed, then size might be good. For example:

Kodak

• Color Negative Film
  • Ektar 100
    • 35mm x 36exp
    • 120
    • 4x5"
    • 8x10"

And so on down the line. I'd be more than happy to dedicate some time into getting most of the heavy lifting out of the way, and perhaps some of you who may be familiar with more obscure films could fill in the blanks?

 

[PeteZ8]

Nobody is interested in a list of film that they can still buy?

 

[Kokoro]

I'd like to see a complete list too. An idea about prices and availability would also be helpful.

Fujifilm C100 and Superia xtra 400 are available in shops near to me but I dont know if its old stock or whether its still available. Kodak Gold 200 is found all over the place so I am guessing its still being made.

I am pretty sure most Ilford Films are around. That reminds me, is it true that XP2 was sold in Boots? Would Boots be likely to still sell it?

edit:
http://www.boots.com/en/BootsColour-200-36-Exposure-Film_1131991/ boots own brand film too.

And isnt Fotoview film still available: http://www.fotoview.co.uk/film1.asp

 

[Ian Grant]

I've seen XP-2 in Boots a few weeks ago, it's not a shop I visit very often.

There's too many sticky threads and you'd constantly need to recompile as films change,disappear, re-emerge (like Agfa) etc. Not all films are available (or easily available) in all markets Kodak's very poor in this respect while Ilford, Fuji and Foma are very good.

If you want to know what films are available just check a good supplier, Silverprint in the UK, B&H or Freestyle in the US or the biggest suppliers in your own country.

It might surprise some that Ilford colour films were available in Turkey, (15 months ago) however the are rebadged and sold through the Ilford importer in Istanbul so lists can be misleading as well.

Ian

 

[railwayman3]

It's probably impossible to make an accurate list, given the many countries where APUG members reside, and the different products marketed in each area. Kodak and Fuji don't seem to provide definitive information of what is available. Ilford is probably the best, as they have indicated here that they intend to continue producation of all current films.
(For the UK, Boots colour film is rebranded Fuji. The slide version in branches which I have checked locally all seems to be very near to its expiry date, so I wonder if this is likely to be available for much longer. It's £9.99 per roll, process paid, but currently 3-for-the-price-of-2 offer....plus another 10% reduction if you have an over-60 Club Card....or know someone who has! A very good deal. )

 

[pentaxuser]

plus another 10% reduction if you have an over-60 Club Card....

Boots can afford to risk the 10% as we over 60s don't have long to go. I always get the man in the black outfit with the scythe to help me carry the big stuff to avoid strain

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

It would be nice to have the information, but IMHO these sorts of forums aren't well suited for sharing it.

A dedicated website is better, because you can edit pages. Threads that have earlier information at one end and updates later are much more confusing.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The B&H website's film section is pretty complete as far as the major manufacturers go.

Freestyle's website and fotoimpex cover the East European films fairly well.

Japan Exposures includes Fuji products for the Japanese market not easily available otherwise.

Badger Graphics sometimes has special orders for sheet film that isn't widely carried, like 5x7" transparency.

Lomography has its own branded films, most of which are available through other channels under other names.

That's most of it.

Not sure where to find up to date information on Chinese film. Ferrania--they still around?

 

[Photo-gear]

Kodak and Fuji don't seem to provide definitive information of what is available. Ilford is probably the best, as they have indicated here that they intend to continue producation of all current films.

Sooooooo true.
Also, this project would be hard to be accurate, taking into account the several targets in several areas according to the companies' goals. IMHO.

 

[hoffy]

I asked the same question a few years ago and got shot down - the problem is no one would want to maintain it, pure and simple.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I asked the same question a few years ago and got shot down - the problem is no one would want to maintain it, pure and simple.

Another way of putting that: if someone were to do some solid, complete, and reliable reporting on this question and start a thread about it, say posting an update four times a year, then we'd probably make it a sticky.

This is how it works in general--someone starts a thread and it turns out to have lots of good information and not too much noise, and we make it a sticky thread. We don't start thread as a sticky typically and hope people contribute in a way that makes it worthy.

 

[PeteZ8]

Another way of putting that: if someone were to do some solid, complete, and reliable reporting on this question and start a thread about it, say posting an update four times a year, then we'd probably make it a sticky.

This is how it works in general--someone starts a thread and it turns out to have lots of good information and not too much noise, and we make it a sticky thread. We don't start thread as a sticky typically and hope people contribute in a way that makes it worthy.

As long as I know there is some interest from the mods, I'll get to work on it. When I get as far as I can go, I'll post it and give you a heads up. Those who are outside the US that have regional films or just those who have something to add can chip in with data. Since every time a film is canceled it seems to a half dozen threads on here within 24 hours, I don't think keeping up with it will be too tough.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Can the original post (#1) be left open to be edited forever? IMHO, that's where the "latest" information should be posted... not buried 250 posts deep. Can that responsibility then be transferred to the next person... and the next... who wants to take on the task after the original and subsequent watchers no longer have the time?

 

[PeteZ8]

Can the original post (#1) be left open to be edited forever? IMHO, that's where the "latest" information should be posted... not buried 250 posts deep. Can that responsibility then be transferred to the next person... and the next... who wants to take on the task after the original and subsequent watchers no longer have the time?

That was more or less my plan. A mod could always keep current the info as well.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

That was more or less my plan. A mod could always keep current the info as well.

Yes, but a Mod may not want to do that any more than the average Member. I was thinking that the responsibility could be passed on to the next willing Member. The thread could be closed if no Mods nor Members wish to take on that task any longer. Tasks and responsibilities can take a lot of time from one's life. This could be fairly short-lived.

 

[tkamiya]

Realistically, how would one maintain such a list when manufacturers themselves don't reveil current and honest information in timely manner? Without sources being reliable and unquestionable, such list will be nothing more than speculation and be subject to heated debate. Once trolls jump in, we'll have no idea what we are talking about.

There is no doubt in my mind such list will be valuable but I don't see how it can be done.

 

[PeteZ8]

Realistically, how would one maintain such a list when manufacturers themselves don't reveil current and honest information in timely manner? Without sources being reliable and unquestionable, such list will be nothing more than speculation and be subject to heated debate. Once trolls jump in, we'll have no idea what we are talking about.

There is no doubt in my mind such list will be valuable but I don't see how it can be done.

It may not be perfect, but it's a start. I was inspired to start this as the other day I was looking for info on color IR film and it took a bit of searching to learn that the only color IR film was a Kodak Aero film that was just discontinued. So as of now, the only option for color IR is digi

But it would have been nice to just have a simple resource as to what is out there.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Welcome to the real world... you chose the blue pill. Now, swallow it and see reality.

 

[PeteZ8]

Welcome to the real world... you chose the blue pill. Now, swallow it and see reality.

What am I missing? That I expected there to still be a color IR film?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If a few people are willing to do the work, we could declare it a "no comment" thread, with data only, in a specified format and maybe with a source for the information, and we would delete all discussion. Then one could read backward from the last post for the latest info without having to weed through endless commentary.

 

[CGW]

Right and all you have to do is strike 'em off as the list shortens up!

 

[PeteZ8]

Right and all you have to do is strike 'em off as the list shortens up!

Sadly... Yes. The countdown to extinction

 

[PKM-25]

Right and all you have to do is strike 'em off as the list shortens up!

Cool, so he can build up the list and you can strike them off, seems like a perfect fit for you...

 

[CGW]

Cool, so he can build up the list and you can strike them off, seems like a perfect fit for you...

This, like the parallel "last living cameras list," seems a bit pointless--if only because there's just not that much to know. Why mope about what's obvious?

 

[PeteZ8]

Ok, I started working on this. I am going to try to include all configurations; ie sizes, packaging (25 sheets, 50 sheets, 5 rolls, etc) and when possible the manufacturer catalog number. This will probably take a few WEEKS to finish as it's a lot of reading, copying, pasting, editing, and organizing. But it should be a pretty cool experiment when all done. I'm starting to think the best way will to be make an entire thread, then one post for every film. Put a link to that post in the top post. That should make things less confusing. So maybe post #23 will be, say, Portra. There will be a link in the first post in the thread "Color Films > Kodak > Portra", click on that and you go right to post #23.

Stay tuned....