Ilford update

[Ian Grant]

In todays BJP Ilford announce that apart from SFX200 they are retaining all existing lines gradually re-introducing products dropped by the Recievers.

I'd have posted the link to the BJP online version but the site is still showing last weeks magazine etc and not yet updated.

More intersting Ilford expect the overall B&W market to shrink further this year before flattening out leaving a core market of "fine-art, student and specialist black& white photographers". Or to put it another way people like us here on this forum.

 

[csandlund]

Good News!!!

 

[Les McLean]

Ian, I talked with all the new directors at Focus last week and they tell me that all will be back to normal in about 6 to 8 weeks including ID11 and Ilfochrome.

 

[Loose Gravel]

Les,

That only leaves the question, what is normal in this market today?

 

[Lee Shively]

Great news! I was worried about 120 Pan F Plus more than anything else in the Ilford line. Now I can relax a little.

 

[eagleowl]

big relief!

Although I've switched film and developer,I absolutely LOVE MGIV.
To me,it looks almost toned-as opposed to my old neutral tone paper.

 

[Bighead]

Anyone have any ideas as to what this is going to do for us in the long run? Prices? up/down, same??

Guess I better grab some SFX200 before it goes away..

 

[fhovie]

Other than fine art and students - who else uses B&W materials anyway? Everyone is using Chromogenic films and digital already. I figure the market is stable now with possibilities of people returning on a backlash. Some folks (not many) are noticing the difference.

 

[rjr]

Frank,

"Other than fine art and students - who else uses B&W materials anyway?"

Thousands of ordinary people like me (photography supports my studies, but it´s not a part of the courses) and others I know? And don´t forget - the bulk of bw is used by administrations all over the world for documentation/archival storage, in speed traps, by the military in reconnaissance etc.pp.

Sorry to be so blunt - but "Fine Art" actually isn´t what keeps these companies running.

 

[Lee Shively]

Also, the fine art wannabe's.

 

[Bighead]

Hey!! We matter too......

 

[fhovie]

OKOKOK - Let me clarify .... Mama never shoots B&W of the kids unless she wants ... artsyfartsy which she will do by flipping the switch to B&W or by using a C-41 process film that works at Walmart. There are VERY FEW LABS that process traditional B&W films and even fewer that make B&W priints on paper other than what goes in their color processor. So - if you shoot a lot of FP4 - you either have a good lab that is afordable near by or you have a darkroom. That rules out nearly everybody. I would say that any one that shoots traditional B&W is looking for something more artfull than your regular color print and that separates them from regular folks - like mama. The rest of B&W film (commercial/industrial/military/government/medical) - some have moved to digital and some have not. I would think that by now they would have done an analasis on digital and made the switch or they would have found that for what they do, traditional means are still more practical for their situation. In which case - the market should be stable now.

And - you may not call yourself an artist, but if you chose a medium that is less convenient to get a "look" that you prefer - I would say that you are making an artistic decision and therefore ... you fall into the artist category.

I'll bet the color market has been damaged far more than the B&W market with the switching over to digital!!

 

[rbarker]

Anyone have any ideas as to what this is going to do for us in the long run? Prices? up/down, same??

Down? Not likely.

I think the problem that many of the older manufacturers face is that they have facilities and management/staff structures that are probably larger than their needs. Both of those factors add costs that they've had trouble recovering as the market shifts. Those previously purchased by highly-leveraged investment conglomerates also have large debt service costs that prevent any wind from even coming close to their sails. Once restructured, and out from under some of that burden, they have a good opportunity of surviving and being profitable. That last part, however, almost always means higher prices - prices that are more in line with expectations in what has become somewhat of a specialty market.

 

[Chazzy]

I don't suppose that there is a snowball's chance in hell that they will resume making 220 film. But at least they're still around.

 

[arigram]

Excellent.
My bulk of materials is Ilford but have to say that this whole have made
me try out other brands as well, which is good.
Now, I hope the Greek distribution survives.
I am ready to make a big order and so I hope they can deliver!

 

[FrankB]

And - you may not call yourself an artist, but if you chose a medium that is less convenient to get a "look" that you prefer - I would say that you are making an artistic decision and therefore ... you fall into the artist category.

Oh smeg... I'm an artist!

All my techie mates'll never let me live this one down!

Seriously though, great news about Ilford. The B&W world would be very much poorer without what they bring to the table.

 

[Maine-iac]

In todays BJP Ilford announce that apart from SFX200 they are retaining all existing lines gradually re-introducing products dropped by the Recievers.

I'd have posted the link to the BJP online version but the site is still showing last weeks magazine etc and not yet updated.

More intersting Ilford expect the overall B&W market to shrink further this year before flattening out leaving a core market of "fine-art, student and specialist black& white photographers". Or to put it another way people like us here on this forum.

I'm interpreting this as meaning that Delta 400 sheet film will come back from the dead. Hope I'm right.

Larry

 

[jcausey]

I'll bet the color market has been damaged far more than the B&W market with the switching over to digital!!

Well said. I predict in a few years here, we'll still be happily playing in our darkrooms while people are asking "C-forty-WHAT?"

 

[jd callow]

Well said. I predict in a few years here, we'll still be happily playing in our darkrooms while people are asking "C-forty-WHAT?"

I sure as hell hope you are wrong, but I'm happy for ilford and all you luddites. Of course the film I most preferred from Ilford was SFX.

 

[jcausey]

I sure as hell hope you are wrong, but I'm happy for ilford and all you luddites. Of course the film I most preferred from Ilford was SFX.

I hope I'm wrong too. I'm really frustrated because I still want to learn traditional color development and printing processes, and no one seems to want to teach them -- my university where i'm currently studying black and white actually laughs at me when I ask about it.

 

[jd callow]

I hope I'm wrong too. I'm really frustrated because I still want to learn traditional color development and printing processes, and no one seems to want to teach them -- my university where i'm currently studying black and white actually laughs at me when I ask about it.

The APUG Conference will have a Colour Theory and Basic Colour Printing workshop. Stay tuned...

 

[Mark Layne]

Ilford unfortunately has made it virtually impossible to purchase their products in Canada. Everything has to be ordered from an American warehouse in I think New Jersey and the camera stores are not willing to do the endless customs clearances to import the stuff. Then Ilford complains their sales are down.
So out here Agfa reigns and you can only get a Kodak product if it is on the Canadian inventory.

Mark

 

[jcausey]

The APUG Conference will have a Colour Theory and Basic Colour Printing workshop. Stay tuned...

Will do! All the more reason to attend.

Ilford unfortunately has made it virtually impossible to purchase their products in Canada.

Hopefully the new bosses at Ilford will correct this situation soon...

 

[FilmIs4Ever]

Also, there is a PJ out there who still clings to the occasional roll of B&W, although I, er he, uses color too. But hot damn, you can't beat TMZ-3200 (Delta 3200 in 120 too)

~Karl Borowski

 

[Canuck]

Ilford unfortunately has made it virtually impossible to purchase their products in Canada. Everything has to be ordered from an American warehouse in I think New Jersey and the camera stores are not willing to do the endless customs clearances to import the stuff. Then Ilford complains their sales are down.
So out here Agfa reigns and you can only get a Kodak product if it is on the Canadian inventory.

Mark

Mark, I have just the opposite problem out here in Alberta. Seems like Agfa is not selling worth beans so many are dropping them from the line up in the stores. I kinda like the Agfa more than Ilford.