Is anyone else unhappy with today's films?

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George Mann

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They took away our Kodachrome, our Astia, and even our original Velvia, not to mention our Pan-X!

I really cannot say that I am happy with today's selection of films.
 

Alan9940

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I currently shoot Delta 100 and Acros in MF and Foma 100, Delta 100, and Tri-X in LF, and I'm very happy with all. For 35mm, I have a boatload of EFKE 25 in cold storage. Not a current film, but I do so enjoy it.
 
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George Mann

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Delta 100 is very similar image-wise to Pan-X, so I will give it a pass.
 

MattKing

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The Kodak Professional C41 films continue to be superb. And I like using the Kodak Gold films as well.
I never liked particularly the Fuji slide materials, preferring instead the recent Ektachromes (which I still have in reasonable quantity).
I'm hoping that the new Ektachrome that has been promised will be of similar quality, and particularly hope that it will be made available in 120 as well.
Kodachrome was a wonderful film in its time, but the last Ektachromes were better.
EDIT: and if black and white is on topic here in the color forum , the new T-Max 400 is the best black and white film I've ever used.
I do miss Plus-X, but if the supply/backing paper problems with T-Max 100 in 120 don't get resolved, I'll be happy to transition to FP4+.
Printing the newer black and white films is a revelation if you compare it to printing an older film like 1970s era Tri-X.
 
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George Mann

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Velvia 50 is OK, but it's current price is a bit hard on the pocketbook.
 

mesantacruz

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If you really have a thing for slow speeds and black and white. I recommend rpx 25... I order it from across the atlantic "macodirect"... Also there is rollei 80s. Which I also like for harsh scenes that need the low contrast....

As for velvia, yeah. We still have a few sizes left....but on a projector, nothing can beat it.
 

MattKing

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George Mann said:
Sacrilege! Kodachrome 64 forever!
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There are some here who will say Kodachrome 64? Sacrilege! Kodachrome II forever!
I started shooting Kodachrome just before the transition between the two, but the majority of my Kodachrome slides are Kodachrome 64.
And I did shoot a bunch of it in 2010 just before the discontinuation of processing.
But the last Ektachromes were very nice - particularly in 120!
 

Slixtiesix

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I am quite happy with the selection of B/W films available, not so much with slide films though. No more Astia and the prices have become quite high.
 

mshchem

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I miss Kodachrome, but I am in love with modern film. I love Kodak, Fuji and Ilford all better than ever in my book. I wish I could shoot some Kodachrome from 1950s and Kodachrome II. That stuff was the bomb. And processing ONLY by EKCo. Kodak, not Kodalux were the best there ever was at photofinishing. I wouldn't mind reliving Ektacolor S just to see how much better Portra is.
Current Fujichromes suit me. I'm more of a Provia F fan which I think is as good as it gets, alas no more Cibachrome .
All the black and white films today are outstanding.
 
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George Mann

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I am primarily a color shooter, with a preference for slides. I know a lot of you like Provia, but to me, it looks too cold and sterile, similar to digital.
 
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Sirius Glass

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I am very happy with the current selection of black & white and color films available today although I wish that Vivid Color and Ultra Color were still available in places other than my freezer.
 

etn

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I am not unhappy. Of course, some great film stock has disappeared, but there are ample choices remaining on the market.
I personally like Velvia 50 and Tri-X and shoot 98% of my pics with those. I also like Portra and Ektar, although I don't use color negative too much.

For what it's worth, I never saw any practical difference from the old Velvia to the new Velvia 50.
(The Velvia 100, however, is a completely different story. I hate the purple-ish /brown-ish tint in low light areas. YMMV)

I am looking forward to the re-introduction of Ektachrome, and will definitely try the Ferrania slide film when available.

I miss a good 400 ISO slide film. Fortunately I stocked a pile of Provia 400X before its discontinuation, this will keep me going for years, but I think there is a market need here. (Fuji are you listening? )
 

BMbikerider

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Some well known and popular films have dissapeard - Technical Pan and High Speed Infra Red are two but they were specialist films and needed careful handling. The Bread and butter films remaining, all of those by Ilford, plus Tri X and the T max from Kodak are all we really need. The prices of film is what dissapoints me, every time I buy a new batch the prices have increased. There are other makes/names available but they do not really apeal to me, I suppose it is a case of just using what you are familiar with and can be relied upon.

Kentmere and possibly Agfa pan, both reputedly made by Ilford and given different brand names fo me just don't equal HP5+ FP4+ or Pan F+.
 

removed account4

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the only thing i am unhappy about is cost.
film and paper cost too much. things were much cheaper
when photo warehouse sold from master rolls
 

Steve Smith

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It could be far worse. Fifteen years ago, we were being told that film only had another five years.


Steve.
 

baachitraka

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For me the only thing I am not so happy is that I could not able to spend a lot of time shooting with film or taking photographs in general.
 

1kgcoffee

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I wish that fresh Kodak slide films were still available, as well as some of the other c41 manufacturers like Konica. Never got a chance to try them. Besides that I feel we are spoiled with B&W choices.

I have a feeling Fuji will paring down their film lineup sooner than we'd hope.
 

Agulliver

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Things could be worse....not long ago there was much nodding of heads to the idea of film being totally discontinued.

The fact is that I have a lot of cameras from 1916 to the 1990s and can still get film for every single one of them. The range of B&W films is still very good. I'm happy with the choices available there and generally with the prices. Ilford and Foma...and my bulk loaders are certainly my friends in this regard.

For C41, choice is OK but I'd prefer it if Portra and Superia were a bit cheaper...however that's what comes with a product no longer being mainstream. A lot of C41 material has just gone, but what remains is enough if it continues to be available. I can still actually buy the stuff, and I mostly shoot B&W film anyway. With slide film...I haven't shot any in about 10 years and was thinking of doing so again until I saw the prices of Fuji...yikes! However Ferrania may well save the day there. Plus the return of Ektachrome will be watched with keen interest.

What I really want is super 8 colour reversal (Hello Ferrania!)
 
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