New Ilford film being Introduced

There is a lot of color in that tweet...

pentaxuser said:

We should now recognise that we are not dealing with Simon Galley's Ilford any longer. It is a completely new company. I didn't think much of the Twitter conversation. It resembled a kind of Halloween" trick or treat" situation involving "that old guy called Ilford" whom the kids cannot resist visiting because they sense that he might have some thing to tell them but they are going to have to ask a lot of questions and each of the kids are going to leave satisfied because he hasn't put any of them down but there is still a mystery to be solved.

I don't think it looks like the Ilford I met in the factory tours of 2006 and 2008 where I would have been surprised had Ilford used this sort of method or a form of "spin" to announce something but I recognise that while 2006 -2008 seems like yesterday to me, it was really another era. It was the past - a foreign country where they do things differently.

pentaxuser

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It's a new era, the way to reach a big part of the customer base is via social media, their website not so much... They can leak a teaser (which costs them nothing) and it spreads around from there, I bet it'll be on Petapixel tomorrow.

Why the different colours? Based on their product range, maybe something to do with XP2 or Delta 3200? Not sure about the completely black and white graphic though - roll film? paper?

Ilford Ortho in 120 and 35mm? It's a current emulsion in sheet formats, would only need coating in smaller formats and could be made in small batches like SFX. Or maybe an addition to the Kentmere line of films? Kentmere in 120?

kevs

Well, they have my interest. Any new film is a good thing in my book.

I always wanted Ilford's version of Tri-x 320 in roll film. Im betting the odds are Zero on that.

I would argue that we really don't 'need' any additional B&W films unless they are planning to update an existing stock. Delta 400 could use a revamp and sheet film availability. The world really needs more color negative films however.

Don't know, but eager to hear.

I'm hoping that it will be a film to replace my beloved Verichrome Pan.

BrianShaw said:

I agree

I must be an old curmudgeon because I HATE WITH A PASSION this kind of Twitter-tease marketing. If an announcement isn’t being made I’d rather hear nothing until the announcement is made.

The guessing and speculation and rumors that result is really annoying.

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It’s fun, enjoy the speculation

I’m betting on the one being a new paper, a new large format offering of an existing stock, and a 25 speed film in both 35 and 120.

MattKing said:

I like this - everyone, or just witches and wizards, no muggles?
If we are guessing wildly, how about a revamp of one of the Delta emulsions with much, much better reciprocity behavior (take that Fuji Acros)?
Or Pan F with more reliable "memory" .

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Please watch your language, I get very offended when I hear the word "muggles"!

markbau said:

I'm hoping that it will be a film to replace my beloved Verichrome Pan.

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that would be interesting, they did at one time make a competing product in "Selochrome" (long range medium speed)

I wonder if this is related to a survey they had out a year or so ago.

Maybe they bought Alaris .

odell1618photography said:

I’m betting ... a new large format offering of an existing stock...

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SFX 200 sheet film?

I was going to say an ortho and an IR B&W based on colors, but already covered...

I keep hoping that someone will revive Efke 25 with better QC. Just a little dream. The old stock is running low.

The Marketing folks want something to bring young people in from high school on. Hopefully it's a mass market item that will make them a boat load of money. Maybe a line of creative stuff similar to Lomo. Ilford is all about black and white, I would be shocked to see a conventional color film.
Real IR would be awesome, but that's like wishing for 220, very doubtful IMHO.
Ortho that people can use a 2 dollar red LED safelight with would bring amateurs to the table.

Ilford has put real effort into it's business since the change in ownership, it's refreshing to see.

mshchem said:

Real IR would be awesome, but that's like wishing for 220, very doubtful IMHO.

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I'd love to see a super fine grain APX 25 type film that has strong/extended red sensitivity. Something like the old Konica 720 IR film that looked cool with just a red filter, so it was usable on an SLR. FP4+ and TMY cover most of my other needs.

As others have mentioned, they seem to have most speed covered, but they only have one C41 B&W film, so I’m going to guess it’s something like that. Fast seems more popular than slow these days, so despite my preference for a 100 or slower, I’m going to guess XP 800, maybe XP 1600.

abruzzi said:

As others have mentioned, they seem to have most speed covered, but they only have one C41 B&W film, so I’m going to guess it’s something like that. Fast seems more popular than slow these days, so despite my preference for a 100 or slower, I’m going to guess XP 800, maybe XP 1600.

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Yes that could be the most probable option. Although a ‘revamp’ of the delta400 and sheetfilm for it would be interesting too. A 3200 film can always be improved btw. A b&w slide film seems not very likely to me. A general reduction of prices, especially of analogue papers and chemistry, with longer shelf life too, would be very welcome. Ilford is very expensive in the darkroom.

abruzzi said:

As others have mentioned, they seem to have most speed covered, but they only have one C41 B&W film, so I’m going to guess it’s something like that. Fast seems more popular than slow these days, so despite my preference for a 100 or slower, I’m going to guess XP 800, maybe XP 1600.

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Yes, high speed BW C41 would make sense.

I really hope it isn't another 400 speed film. There are a glut of those already on the market. A higher speed XP2 would also be disappointing. From an enthusiast's point of view I've never seen the appeal of B&W chromogenic films; their only real benefit is convenience of processing, as long as you like being stuck with one flavour.

High speed ortho would be fantastic. Dream on

Firstly I'd agree that anything Simon Galley said years ago regarding possible future films should be disregarded as Harman is now owned and run by different people. We've seen the new owners ramp up their social media presence while retaining all the traditional products we know and love. They do seem intent on encouraging young photographers to shoot Ilford B&W film and to use Ilford darkroom products.

What else can we infer? The images suggest a 135 cassette, some sort of sheet film and a 120 spool....and we can go down one of two routes at this point. This could represent three different emulsions in three different formats, or a film product being launched in all three formats at once. I am tempted towards the latter. So the further question is, will it be a significant update to an existing product in the portfolio or will it be a new addition?

I don't think that Harman/Ilford would make such a fuss over an updated HP5+ or even an HP6....so I do think this is something new, not already in the lineup. I don't think it's going to be a total niche product like IR film. I don't think Ilford has any interest in producing colour film....so I am going to predict it is either Delta 25, which wold have a niche as the only slow speed T-grain film on the market.....or possibly Delta 1600 which kind of bridges a gap between D400 and D3200 though either film can successfully be used at 1600....or it could be a C41 chromogenic XP product either at 100 or 1600. Though if in sheets, that seems unlikely.

Awaiting with eager anticipation whatever it is. Personally of the possible products I've guessed...I would be most interested in Delta 25.