Kodak out of stock in Tokyo

Nuff · Jun 11, 2014

I would not hesitate to use Pro400H or Pro400 if I were you. I really like the way they render greens and blues, and I think they will capture the Japanese summer really well.
A number of Japanese photographers that I follow use it and they get make stunning photos.

RattyMouse · Jun 11, 2014

Nuff said:
I would not hesitate to use Pro400H or Pro400 if I were you. I really like the way they render greens and blues, and I think they will capture the Japanese summer really well.
A number of Japanese photographers that I follow use it and they get make stunning photos.

I could not agree with this more. Last December I was in Tokyo and Kamakura making images and used 400H as my main color film. I was overjoyed with the results. The colors were just so real and lifelike. 400H is really a wonderful film which makes it target #1 for Fujifilm to discontinue it.

ericdan · Jun 13, 2014

Just checked on Yodobashi's website. Portra 400 is in stock again and for the old price. I'm really confused now. all the cheap films went up and portra stayed the same.

Tri-x not yet in stock, but if portra is back tri-x will come back too I guess.
Really wondering why Yodabashi said they would only work on an order basis from now on.
They even had a sign sitting on the shelf that said you have to order this film now if you want it.
bizarre

Nuff · Jun 13, 2014

Possibly portra has the highest volume, whereas the other stuff has to increase in price to compensate the drop in volume? Economics...

ericdan · Jun 13, 2014

Nuff said:
Possibly portra has the highest volume, whereas the other stuff has to increase in price to compensate the drop in volume? Economics...

Yes, that's probably why.
Well, I'll go and buy some Portra after work tonight!

Xmas · Jun 13, 2014

Perishable goods are priced for perceived risk.

If they thought they might need to remainder it as expired they would stock less and mark up more.

If their Trix and Tmax volume was less than C41 or E6 that would be sufficient cause, if their volume was reducing at a faster rate as well...

They will have noticed that both Fuji and Kodak had reduced choice.

Buy a larger fridge, zip lock yellow, white and green boxes, 400 ISO mono keeps a while in fridge...

ericdan · Jun 13, 2014

I have a lot of 400 iso slide in my freezer now without zip locks. I hope it'll still be fine.

Simon R Galley · Jun 13, 2014

Dear Ericdan,

I'm sure it will, 35mm will be 'sealed' in the tub and 120 should be in the foil but zip locks are extra and valuable insurance.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Xmas · Jun 13, 2014

ericdan said:
I have a lot of 400 iso slide in my freezer now without zip locks. I hope it'll still be fine.

The Ziploc is so you can still read the expiry date... The plastic tub seal is pretty good.
Slide won't last forever though.
The kids seem to like cross processing so still a good investment.

ericdan · Jun 13, 2014

ok, thanks. Good to know, because I usually just dump the 5-packs in the freezer like that.
I've seen some 100 iso slide film expired in 2003. That was kept frozen and still looks decent. Don't know if 400 iso will keep that long.

MattKing · Jun 13, 2014

The Ziploc bags are extra insurance if you have a power failure and all the non-photographic stuff in the freezer melts. They also protect the entire package from excess humidity if the humidity is reasonable when you put the film in.

StoneNYC · Jun 14, 2014

MattKing said:
The Ziploc bags are extra insurance if you have a power failure and all the non-photographic stuff in the freezer melts. They also protect the entire package from excess humidity if the humidity is reasonable when you put the film in.

Zip locks are OK, but "snapware" is a much better guarantee, I hesitate to share this as it's very humble compared to Dan's...

Freezer

Layer 1 (4x5)

Layer 2 (120 mostly)

Fridge

Stock on top, to develop in "cheese drawer" bottom

Use now or recirculating job stock on door

Jessestr · Jul 9, 2014

Any updates on this?

I bought some Tri-X in March had expiry date of 06/2016... bought 30 rolls last week and still had the same expiration date... Should we worry?

Ricardo Miranda · Jul 9, 2014

No.
It is normal for those expiry dates if the turnover is slow. I.e. people buy in batches instead of little, but often. It is still 2 years life expectancy.
If you are worried, buy Ilford HP5+ or PAN 400 from the UK. Most of the time I get fresh film with 4+ years on the expiry date.

ericdan · Jul 10, 2014

Still no Tri-X in Tokyo.

StoneNYC · Jul 10, 2014

ericdan said:
Still no Tri-X in Tokyo.

Dan is going to kill me for pointing this out... But the new KA leader did technically say "we will continue to sell film as long as people are buying it" which in technicality, the loophole that no one is buying it because it's not being stocked protects him from being a liar... This could be the end...

RattyMouse · Jul 10, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Dan is going to kill me for pointing this out... But the new KA leader did technically say "we will continue to sell film as long as people are buying it" which in technicality, the loophole that no one is buying it because it's not being stocked protects him from being a liar... This could be the end...

Portra supplies have been dwindling down in Shanghai the past few months. I'm going to my film supplier this weekend, weather permitting to get a new bottle of DD-X, Rapid Fixer, and a few bricks of HP5. I'll scout around and see what the Kodak situation is there.

I read in another thread here at APUG maybe a month ago where several speculated that Kodak has already rolled their final runs of film and now are just going to sell off the remaining rolls bit by bit over the next several years and then call it a day.

The Kodak Alaris CEO stated in a recent interview (one I declined to post at APUG) that film will be sold as long as it is "makes sense". He would not commit at all to film at any point more than that. The lack of commitment to any future for film at KA was distinctly palpable.

KA subscribers at Linkedin still get their daily dose of how digital is the future for KA.

Depressing.

RattyMouse · Jul 10, 2014

Also, the lab that does my color developing has stopped carrying Tri-X. That is a recent development (no pun intended).

Jaf-Photo · Jul 10, 2014

I've been buying film online since the Kodak distribution problem began in Sweden, so I don't know the current status.

But these ongoing distribution problems tell me one of three things:

(1) Kodak Alaris is preserving its cash by not placing any film orders with the Kodak coating plant.

(2) The coating plant is not doing smaller batches but hoarding orders for a big run.

(3) Kodak Alaris is quietly letting film stock run out worldwide to gauge the reaction. If there is no noise they can cancel film altogether with reference to the absence of demand. It's much smarter than actually announcing the cancelling of production before the fact.

In any case, I am actually past caring. Kodak doesn't have a brand today. But if they think they can build one by talking about "digital" while everone else is doing it, I think they are in for a shock.

madgardener · Jul 10, 2014

Would it be possible that KA is experiencing "teething pains"? KA has a huge task in trying to figure out and run a distribution chain world wide. Not that I'm a fan of KA, about once a week I get emails hawking photo books and digital this and that. I am wiling to give them a little more time, not that I am a huge buyer, but I do purchase 30 rolls or so of the ProFoto XL/100 a year. Hopefully its temporary.

StoneNYC · Jul 10, 2014

madgardener said:
Would it be possible that KA is experiencing "teething pains"? KA has a huge task in trying to figure out and run a distribution chain world wide. Not that I'm a fan of KA, about once a week I get emails hawking photo books and digital this and that. I am wiling to give them a little more time, not that I am a huge buyer, but I do purchase 30 rolls or so of the ProFoto XL/100 a year. Hopefully its temporary.

It doesn't matter, this kind of thing shouldn't happen at all, it's going to kill their film lines simply because people WON'T WAIT since there is no news from Kodak, people will simply jump ship and go to Ilford/Fuji/FOMA/Adox who can actually keep normal stock. It's unacceptable to have this kind of issue...

No excuse for this...

Xmas · Jul 10, 2014

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/We'll_Meet_Again

ebay

Sal Santamaura · Jul 10, 2014

madgardener said:
Would it be possible that KA is experiencing "teething pains"? KA has a huge task in trying to figure out and run a distribution chain world wide...

Recall that Kodak Alaris' film marketing and distribution operation is the former Eastman Kodak people and facilities. The only things in need of "figuring out" are those that were puzzling, if any, before the badges and paychecks changed color.

Photo Engineer · Jul 10, 2014

I'll chime in for a comment here.

Production seems to be going at the "usual" pace at Kodak Park. So, the "normal" amount of film should be out there in the pipeline or on the shelves. Unless they are changing the distribution pattern for some reason.

PE

TimFox · Jul 10, 2014

A quick check of the B&H website indicates that they have almost everything "normal" (35, roll, and sheet) from Kodak in stock. I noticed Ektar 100 out of stock, and one 8x10 item on backorder.

Kodak out of stock in Tokyo

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