Has China finished making / exporting Black and white film?

Samuel Hotton · Nov 23, 2015

Does anyone know what has happened to the ready supply of Lucky 100 35mm film? There were bricks of this film available in the past year, now no more. This is sort of like the mystery of Shanghai gp3 drying up.
With thanks,
Sam H.

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

Samuel Hotton said:
Does anyone know what has happened to the ready supply of Lucky 100 35mm film? There were bricks of this film available in the past year, now no more. This is sort of like the mystery of Shanghai gp3 drying up.
With thanks,
Sam H.

Read the GP3 post/thread below. That might be a hint to what's happen to Lucky film. They just might be produced in the very same plant. Either that or the Chinese are learning from American Capitalist that when you create a shortage of something people have grown used to, it will help drive the price up and you make more profit. They do it with coffee, gasoline/petrol and anything they can get away with. I believe it's a factory-upgrade thing and hope that's true. John W

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 23, 2015

Hi
According to one seller, it has been discontinued.
Take it with a pinch of salt.
The last batch I have seen is dated 01/2016.
There are 2 sellers on Ebay with "fresh stocks" and a few more at Ali Express.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 23, 2015

JW PHOTO said:
...or the Chinese are learning from American Capitalist...

I lived in Kunming and Beijing, China from 1996 to 2001, traveled all over the country and been back a couple times since. "Communist" China is even more capitalist than any country I've ever been to. From the tiniest street stalls to the largest companies, I've never seen people in and out of business and opportunities so fast in my life. If there's a chance for a sale and a profit they are all over it in no time, balls to the wall. No fear.

Athiril · Nov 23, 2015

Latest batch I've seen is 2017

summicron1 · Nov 23, 2015

do everyone a favor and switch to Ilford, Fuji and Kodak.

Seriously, Fuji Acros is now expensive, but when I see the results I don't care. Haven't said that about any of the cheap films.

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

summicron1 said:
do everyone a favor and switch to Ilford, Fuji and Kodak.

Seriously, Fuji Acros is now expensive, but when I see the results I don't care. Haven't said that about any of the cheap films.

I never said that GP3 was the only film there is. All I said is that I like it for some things(subjects) and in some cameras(non-coated lens). It has some "highlight bleed" from a not-to-good anti-halation coating and that actually helps for me to get the look I want. It also seems to work nice in my pyro developer. Yes, I use Acros and Ilford films, but they are not the only tools out there. When you get a good batch of GP3 film it can be very, very nice. John W

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 24, 2015

It has some "highlight bleed" from a not-to-good anti-halation coating

Hi
You can get that pretty much from Foma Retropan 320 soft.

do everyone a favor and switch to Ilford, Fuji and Kodak.

Forget Koda, they're dead in the water.
and Fuji has lost the "film" part.
Better Adox, Foma and Ilford.
Better films, better quality.

sagai · Nov 24, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
Hi
You can get that pretty much from Foma Retropan 320 soft.

Forget Koda, they're dead in the water.
and Fuji has lost the "film" part.
Better Adox, Foma and Ilford.
Better films, better quality.

Yeah ... a canister costs a little bit more than 2 EUR for a 320ASA film is a rather good deal.
I have just put 30.5m roll into my freezer, it expires in 2018.
Good work Foma!

I wish if it would be for MF too.

Samuel Hotton · Nov 25, 2015

Is Foma Retropan 320 Soft available to purchase in the U.S. of A.? Sounds like a fun usable film.
Sam H.

JPR · Nov 26, 2015

Sorry, why support Fuji? They only have 1 black and white film left. Also, I am leary of Kodak. I see Maco, Rollei and Ilford as the contenders for the future of BW.

And to do think that 5 years ago I was a 60% Kodak shooter and 30% Fuji shooter for Neopan 1600, Velvia 50 and Fuji 400 slide film, which I loved.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 26, 2015

JPR said:
Sorry, why support Fuji? They only have 1 black and white film left.

Because Acros is an awesome film? Ain't gonna cut my nose off in spite of my face...

Sirius Glass · Nov 26, 2015

JPR said:
Sorry, why support Fuji? They only have 1 black and white film left. Also, I am leary of Kodak. I see Maco, Rollei and Ilford as the contenders for the future of BW.

And to do think that 5 years ago I was a 60% Kodak shooter and 30% Fuji shooter for Neopan 1600, Velvia 50 and Fuji 400 slide film, which I loved.

If you stay leery enough on Kodak, it will go away too! Talk about basic cutting ones nose off to spite the face.

RattyMouse · Nov 26, 2015

I used to believe that Fujifilm was committed to film. I no longer believe their lies.

MartinP · Nov 26, 2015

JPR said:
I see Maco, Rollei and Ilford as the contenders for the future of BW.

Neither Maco nor Rollei make any film or paper.

Their various products are made for them by Harman, Foma, Innoviscoat (maybe) and Agfa. Don't forget Adox either, for black-and-white film and paper, plus Ferrania may soon be up and running for colour materials. I have probably forgotten a few manufacturers, but most boutique-labelled materials come from the companies listed here.

Xmas · Nov 26, 2015

MartinP said:
Neither Maco nor Rollei make any film or paper.

Their various products are made for them by Harman, Foma, Innoviscoat (maybe) and Agfa. Don't forget Adox either, for black-and-white film and paper, plus Ferrania may soon be up and running for colour materials. I have probably forgotten a few manufacturers, but most boutique-labelled materials come from the companies listed here.

Orwo may still be coating 35mm cine.

canuhead · Nov 26, 2015

Kodak and Fuji make colour film and also my fav b/w films so I'm not going to drop them any time soon. The hate for Kodak is strong in some

cmacd123 · Nov 26, 2015

Xmas said:
Orwo may still be coating 35mm cine.

they certainly sell two 35mm Cine films (and 16mm also) How easy it is to find seems to depend on what market you are on. It is fairly straightforward in North America.

They also sell several B&W Movie "lab" films, but most of those require a commitment to buying 2000ft at a time.

MartinP · Nov 27, 2015

Yes, I forgot ORWO-Filmotec in my list! My apologies to everyone at Wolfen in Germnay, where they have been producing photographic materials since 1910(!).

AgX · Nov 27, 2015

MartinP said:
Neither Maco nor Rollei make any film or paper.

Maco and Rollei are the same, by being brandnames (own resp. licenced) of one company (Mahn).
They are manufacturers in the meaning that they not only have stock produced for them offered by the industry, but also have/had stock produced to their orders.
So they are in a inbetween position.

TheToadMen · Nov 27, 2015

JPR said:
Sorry, why support Fuji? They only have 1 black and white film left. Also, I am leary of Kodak. I see Maco, Rollei and Ilford as the contenders for the future of BW.

And to do think that 5 years ago I was a 60% Kodak shooter and 30% Fuji shooter for Neopan 1600, Velvia 50 and Fuji 400 slide film, which I loved.

Don't forget about Foma film. They have 5 fine B&W film types: 100, 200 and 400 ASA negative film, a B&W positive (reversal & cine) film and recently a new Retropan 320 (Soft) negative film.
And in different sizes too.
See: https://www.macodirect.de/en/film/black-und-white-films/?p=1&o=1&n=36&s=10

Anon Ymous · Nov 27, 2015

canuhead said:
Kodak and Fuji make colour film and also my fav b/w films so I'm not going to drop them any time soon.

:eek: Oh, that's shocking! An apug user making reasonable statements when it comes to film manufacturers!

canuhead said:
The hate for Kodak is strong in some

Maybe not strong, perhaps beyond bizarre is closer to reality. One would assume that technical characteristics, price and availability would be selection criteria for films, but no, brand is all that matters. Ah, fanboys...

Xmas · Nov 27, 2015

AgX said:
Maco and Rollei are the same, by being brandnames (own resp. licenced) of one company (Mahn).
They are manufacturers in the meaning that they not only have stock produced for them offered by the industry, but also have/had stock produced to their orders.
So they are in a inbetween position.

Who has just bought the ex ciba(?) coater in Switzerland?

When I said Orwo may still be coating I ment coating not finishing.

Can't afford Kodak myself cine or stills, when you hike £ you lose customers.

AgX · Nov 27, 2015

Ciba left the photochemical industry decades ago.

canuhead · Nov 27, 2015

Anon Ymous said:
<snip)One would assume that technical characteristics, price and availability would be selection criteria for films, but no, brand is all that matters. Ah, fanboys...

yup, the price of 400TX etc is beyond ridiculous compared to Ilford and I have no idea why that's the case. Manufacturing costs or greed ? dunno. and not being able to buy Acros 8x10 in North America is another baffling decision. Even at the price point it sits at, it would sell pretty well. sigh...

Has China finished making / exporting Black and white film?

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