Old Ilford/AGFA colour emulsion formulas

[Nodda Duma]

Basic emulsion making is fairly easy. You can make a variety of coating devices up to and including R&D lab-grade coating blades for coating a layer at a time. An actual test-scale (let alone full size) coating machine would probably cost millions if newly built to the necessary specifications.

A new lab-scale coating machine is about $250k-$500k (I’ve checked). Then you need all the other equipment... cutters, packagers, etc.

 

[Lachlan Young]

This is just a press release issued in 1953, and there is no academic scientific study to confirm it.
- And this is a very, very ancient history - Life has evolved a lot after this date, even the chemicals have improved very much.
- I know lab technicians have been working in Egypt Film Studio for 30 years and have not had anything.

Firstly, it was in a technical disclosure in the pre-eminent motion picture industry technical journal - peer reviewed etc. If you had done even the most cursory search you would have found out how hugely important a researcher one of the authors was to the invention of colour neg films as we know them today. Other Kodak researchers (Richard Henn for example) also have commented in other publications on the dangers of PPD and certain of its derivatives - and that you shouldn't be dabbling your bare hands in them. Secondly, if you 'improve' CD-1, CD-2 to make them less sensitising to people, you get CD-3, CD-4, CD-6.

A new lab-scale coating machine is about $250k-$500k (I’ve checked). Then you need all the other equipment... cutters, packagers, etc.

Quite apart from housing the machine in a suitably clean environment where it won't be affected by vibration etc. I recall that the air filtration quality is a key difference between test and production machinery. What type of coating head did those machines have & how many layers did it offer?

 

[AgX]

In this toxicology debate one must not overlook the type of processing applied: if a colour process was free to everyone or in practice restricted to processing lines at a manufacturer or few certified labs.

 

[mohmad khatab]

Firstly, it was in a technical disclosure in the pre-eminent motion picture industry technical journal - peer reviewed etc. If you had done even the most cursory search you would have found out how hugely important a researcher one of the authors was to the invention of colour neg films as we know them today. Other Kodak researchers (Richard Henn for example) also have commented in other publications on the dangers of PPD and certain of its derivatives - and that you shouldn't be dabbling your bare hands in them. Secondly, if you 'improve' CD-1, CD-2 to make them less sensitising to people, you get CD-3, CD-4, CD-6.



Quite apart from housing the machine in a suitably clean environment where it won't be affected by vibration etc. I recall that the air filtration quality is a key difference between test and production machinery. What type of coating head did those machines have & how many layers did it offer?

God bless you ,,
I respect your strong concern for public health.

 

[mohmad khatab]

In this toxicology debate one must not overlook the type of processing applied: if a colour process was free to everyone or in practice restricted to processing lines at a manufacturer or few certified labs.

God bless you ,,
you are right
Greetings to you

 

[mohmad khatab]

A new lab-scale coating machine is about $250k-$500k (I’ve checked). Then you need all the other equipment... cutters, packagers, etc.

A million dollars is not a big sum for any investor with a great deal.
- This amount is considered very trivial, perhaps any rich Arab gambler, who owns the oil fields, will lose a gambling session while smiling at the end of the session. While there are poor people in the neighboring country, they become very hungry (this is just an example that is not intended to be anything).

 

[Lachlan Young]

In this toxicology debate one must not overlook the type of processing applied: if a colour process was free to everyone or in practice restricted to processing lines at a manufacturer or few certified labs.

Yes - and this can be seen arguably in the rapid evolution of E-4 to E-6 process - VNF-1 continued to use the same nasty ingredient as E-4 (TBAB) for a long time after. However, it is interesting that Kodak was worried about the specific sensitisation risk (as opposed to toxic or corrosive - sulfuric acid at a low pH is the stop bath for cinema neg processing) from the earlier PPD derivatives in an industrial processing environment for cinema print film.

 

[Henning Serger]

@koraks
You are right with almost all you have written.
As you have referred to me in person and the case of Ilford, please let me explain that topic a little bit further and more precisely:

Secondly, performing the R&D on both film development and production engineering is a rather involved task. If you're interested in some of the more general considerations in engineering a color film, please see the posts of Photo_Engineer, which I know you are aware of. It's a careful balancing act and getting it right across 9 emulsions and yet more layers just takes time and manpower. This means that (1) the lead time of such a product will be several years at best, and (2) it will occupy R&D manpower that companies like Ilford also need for simply keeping the existing product range going - think of re-engineering products due to disruptions in the supply chain, troubleshooting quality issues, assisting partners in optimizing their products for toll manufacturing, etc. Embarking on the adventure of a whole new range of products with a significantly higher degree of complexity is not something a company takes lightly, and only something that is feasible for companies that are doing exceedingly well. Sadly, none of the major photographic materials companies fall in that category. Some of them are doing fairly well considering the circumstances, some have simply been struggling for decades now. This brings me to the third issue:

Undertaking the R&D and production system setup requires a significant investment. Someone like Henning Serger may be able to give you some figures, but it's certainly not going to be a few hundred thousand dollars, or even a couple of million. It's not just the R&D manpower, production engineering, but also acquiring the necessary equipment (which for the largest part will have to be custom-engineered and -built), qualifying the production process, training production and QA personnel, implementing a marketing strategy and playing the sales/distribution channels to push your product. The sort of investment this requires simply isn't pocket money that they have lying about on a shelf for all but one of the companies active in the film business (more on the exception below).

.................So, in short, if you want to seduce a company like Ilford/ Harman to produce a color film, I think that at least where we are now, in 2020, you're simply barking up the wrong tree, and it doesn't take an insider in this industry or an MBA to recognize this.

At my factory visit in Mobberley at Harman technology / Ilford Photo we have discussed that topic - making colour film at Ilford - in detail with Simon Galley and his colleagues:
And the Ilford experts have been very clear concerning that topic: "As long as Kodak and Fujifilm produce their excellent colour films, we will definitely not make any attempt in R&D for any colour film material."
And that was even before the current film revival (with its strength in colour film) started. Now both Kodak and Fujifilm have made clear commitments to their film production, and even films have been reintroduced. And new investments are made in additional production infrastructure at the "big two". And the third colour film producer is increasing his activities, too.

Honestly, it would be the most stupid thing Ilford could do to start colour film production. It would most probably kill Ilford!
Because:
- several million pounds would be needed for R&D, new staff, new machinery
- the films would be worse compared to Kodak and Fuji, because Ilford has not the several decades long experience and expertise Kodak and Fuji have in colour film production; it is absolutely impossible to generate that knowledge in only a few years
- the films would be more expensive than Kodak and Fujifilms, because of all the new investments and the lower production volume compared to the big two.
And who of the colour film users would pay more for a worse film, instead of using the excellent Fuji and Kodak films?
A rhetorical question of course.......

No, the Ilford guys are very clever people, and they know their strenghts, the market, and what is realistic and what not. And Ilford colour film is not realistic at all. Especially not now in the film revival when Kodak and Fuji can ride their (colour film) wave.
The very good news is: Our friends at Ilford will not kill their company by doing suicide by dangerous colour film adventures.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

A British used camera dealer went to Japan and established an online store. He buys used cameras from Japan and sells them to the world. His business kept on booming until I heard he was building a lab and buying a machine to make a black and white film. Does that make sense?

No, not at all. But simply because your story is not true at all: This dealer for used cameras has neither a lab, nor any own machinery for BW film production. Until 2017 he was even not able to develop a BW film by himself at home: In 2017 he published an article on his own blog about his experience developing his first BW film at home in 2017.
The BW film he is offering (since spring 2016, by the way) is just former Agfa (Belgium) BW surveillance/aerial film (therefore "Made in Belgium" is on the boxes). A film type which was coated last time at Agfa in 2008 (the film was then discontinued). So what you indeed have here is long expired leftover film stock of a long discontinued film. The converting of this film is done on contract basis by Harman for him.

- The same example happened in Finland, and there is already now a Finnish black-white film, but it is designed for the icy freezes.

Again, not true: The Finnish offering by Camera Rescue is also an already existing film. I know the Camera Rescue Team, very nice guys. And they have never said that they have an own film production. They are honest. I know where this film is derived from, but cannot tell you because of a NDA.

There is also a Japanese investor negotiating with the Communist Party of China to rent a production line from the Lucky Corporation of China, which stopped the manufacture of the analog film. Does this make sense?

Lucky is again making their SHD 100 BW film.

- Lomographic Foundation established a small factory in Austria to manufacture a color film, but it is very expensive, mysterious and unreliable.

Again not true: Lomography has no own film production. Neither for BW, nor for colour. They buy all their films from the established film manufacturers.

. ADOX has bought a coating machine from Agfa Heirs and is building a production line right now - they are walking slowly but they lack scientific expertise.

ADOX has no general lack of scientific expertise. Their challenges are currently more in other fields. As a very small "start-up-like" manufacturer they have to go in small steps. And concentrating on their main challenges. I know the factory there, too.

To get a large number of color film with different flavors and from the production of different companies at an acceptable and fair price.
I do my best to persuade and influence Filmotic, Ilford and Foma - why not

Why not? Because it is completely unrealistic and a complete waste of time! Neither Ilford, nor FilmoTec or Foma are economically able to make a colour film which could be competitive to Kodak and Fuji. Even if they would succeed after years of R&D: Then the films would be much more expensive and much worse compared to Fuji and Kodak.
For FilmoTec and Foma it is completely impossible in general, by the way. E.g. Filmotec has no own coating machine (they need a contract coater), and Foma can only make simple one-layer BW emulsions: For a modern colour film you need about 15 layers (some Fuji films have even 21 layers).
If these companies would start making colour films, it would kill them!!

- Away from logical theoretical calculations, I just threw a stone into the stagnant pond, I am just a man who lives next to the pyramids - I am tired of using the cheap expired film - I am tired of developing those films that have expired since 1998 and I am bored with the unpleasant surprises that result from these films And dream about the availability of new and varied brands and products, one way or another.

You best you can do is
- buy fresh film from Kodak and Fujifilm colour on a regular basis
- support Kodak and Fujifilm: the higher the demand and the sales for their colour films, the higher the chance of more films coming back
- build a local scene of film shooters, teach the young, promote film use in your region and / or country.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Lachlan Young]

... Foma can only make simple one-layer BW emulsions

For some reason I thought their coater could do two layers plus supercoat in one pass - likely because I was assuming that Fomapan 400 was two layer like most faster films?

 

[BradS]

The 1950’s and 60’s are a little before my time but here in North America, Kodak dominated the market. I don’t remember even seeing any other significant competition here in the US of A (at least not in the retail consumer space) until the mid to late 1980’s or so.

 

[Henning Serger]

For some reason I thought their coater could do two layers plus supercoat in one pass - likely because I was assuming that Fomapan 400 was two layer like most faster films?

Hello Lachlan,
afaik the Foma films are single layer films. That is from a very reliable source. An expert who has seen the production there. I cannot go into further details because of a NDA.
There is a reason why Foma films are so cheap. They are not producing on the same technology level as other BW film manufacturers like Ilford. They know that their main competitive advantage is: price. To keep that advantage compromises in other areas have to be made. There is no free lunch.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[mohmad khatab]

No, not at all. But simply because your story is not true at all: This dealer for used cameras has neither a lab, nor any own machinery for BW film production. Until 2017 he was even not able to develop a BW film by himself at home: In 2017 he published an article on his own blog about his experience developing his first BW film at home in 2017.
The BW film he is offering (since spring 2016, by the way) is just former Agfa (Belgium) BW surveillance/aerial film (therefore "Made in Belgium" is on the boxes). A film type which was coated last time at Agfa in 2008 (the film was then discontinued). So what you indeed have here is long expired leftover film stock of a long discontinued film. The converting of this film is done on contract basis by Harman for him.



Again, not true: The Finnish offering by Camera Rescue is also an already existing film. I know the Camera Rescue Team, very nice guys. And they have never said that they have an own film production. They are honest. I know where this film is derived from, but cannot tell you because of a NDA.



Lucky is again making their SHD 100 BW film.



Again not true: Lomography has no own film production. Neither for BW, nor for colour. They buy all their films from the established film manufacturers.



ADOX has no general lack of scientific expertise. Their challenges are currently more in other fields. As a very small "start-up-like" manufacturer they have to go in small steps. And concentrating on their main challenges. I know the factory there, too.



Why not? Because it is completely unrealistic and a complete waste of time! Neither Ilford, nor FilmoTec or Foma are economically able to make a colour film which could be competitive to Kodak and Fuji. Even if they would succeed after years of R&D: Then the films would be much more expensive and much worse compared to Fuji and Kodak.
For FilmoTec and Foma it is completely impossible in general, by the way. E.g. Filmotec has no own coating machine (they need a contract coater), and Foma can only make simple one-layer BW emulsions: For a modern colour film you need about 15 layers (some Fuji films have even 21 layers).
If these companies would start making colour films, it would kill them!!



You best you can do is
- buy fresh film from Kodak and Fujifilm colour on a regular basis
- support Kodak and Fujifilm: the higher the demand and the sales for their colour films, the higher the chance of more films coming back
- build a local scene of film shooters, teach the young, promote film use in your region and / or country.

Best regards,
Henning

You replied to my breath while writing my posts.
It is in no one’s interest for the color movie monopoly to remain in the hands of an evil Japanese company and an American company struggling and struggling for restructuring. We don’t know whether it will succeed in it or not, it may succeed and we hope it will succeed, but it is somewhat vague.
In theory, your words may be correct, but as I told you before - life is always full of irrational matters, this is God's will.

- Yes, I am publishing analog photography in Egypt, and I am preparing black and white photographic acids (C41) and I am distributing them to amateur photographers at a cost value only. Currently, I am trying to prepare (E6) and distribute it to amateurs and train them in the treatment of film Roll at home .
The challenges are great, the manual treatment tank is not easily available and many other obstacles, but the most important obstacle is the high price of color film,

 

[Henning Serger]

It is in no one’s interest for the color movie monopoly to remain in the hands of an evil Japanese company and an American company struggling and struggling for restructuring.

There is currently only one manufacturer of colour movie / cinema film: Eastman Kodak.Therefore there is no "evil Japanese company" in movie / cinema film production.
If you have meant Fujifilm: They had to stop producing of colour movie / cinema film in 2013 due to decreasing demand. We should not forget that also Kodak evaluated in 2014 to stop production (that was a bit later officially explained by the former Kodak CEO). Fortunately at that time the deal with the Hollywood studios saved movie film production at Eastman Kodak.
And Fujifilm is not an "evil company": They certainly made some severe mistakes in the past. But in contrast to other colour film manufacturers like Agfa, Konica and Ferrania, Fujifilm has continued film production. And they make some of the best films ever made, oustanding quality materials. And Fujifilm has saved E6 color reversal film! When Kodak stopped all their transparency films in 2012, Fujifilm fortunately didn't make the same mistake and kept on with E6. Films and chemistry.
Without Fujifilm and their continued reversal film production we would have never seen the Ektachrome reintroduction. Because if Fujifilm would have also stopped E6, the whole infrastructure with labs would have gone in the meantime.

In theory, your words may be correct,

Not in theory, but in real world. I have described the situation as it currently is. I have visited five different film manufacturers, two of them also producing colour film, and a third who wants to make colour in the future. I have seen the production and have talked to the engineers. I am in permanent contact with lots of manufacturers. And I have designed economic market evaluation methods which have been proven to be very precise in the last 14 years. Already in 2006 I have forecasted the market bottom in 2015/16 and the following film revival.

........ but the most important obstacle is the high price of color film,

What are you paying for a roll of ColorPlus 200 or Fuji C200?
I know that in lots of emerging markets the problem is mainly ridiculous high import customs/taxes and or / bureaucratic hurdles implemented by the governments of these countries. That is for example the problem in India and Brasil. Much too high customs, initially implemented to protect the own local industry. But as neither India nor Brasil have any film/photopaper production (anymore) for a long time, these customs only hurt the local people.
In such cases the film manufacturers are not responsible at all for too high film prices.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[mohmad khatab]

There is currently only one manufacturer of colour movie / cinema film: Eastman Kodak.Therefore there is no "evil Japanese company" in movie / cinema film production.
If you have meant Fujifilm: They had to stop producing of colour movie / cinema film in 2013 due to decreasing demand. We should not forget that also Kodak evaluated in 2014 to stop production (that was a bit later officially explained by the former Kodak CEO). Fortunately at that time the deal with the Hollywood studios saved movie film production at Eastman Kodak.
And Fujifilm is not an "evil company": They certainly made some severe mistakes in the past. But in contrast to other colour film manufacturers like Agfa, Konica and Ferrania, Fujifilm has continued film production. And they make some of the best films ever made, oustanding quality materials. And Fujifilm has saved E6 color reversal film! When Kodak stopped all their transparency films in 2012, Fujifilm fortunately didn't make the same mistake and kept on with E6. Films and chemistry.
Without Fujifilm and their continued reversal film production we would have never seen the Ektachrome reintroduction. Because if Fujifilm would have also stopped E6, the whole infrastructure with labs would have gone in the meantime.



Not in theory, but in real world. I have described the situation as it currently is. I have visited five different film manufacturers, two of them also producing colour film, and a third who wants to make colour in the future. I have seen the production and have talked to the engineers. I am in permanent contact with lots of manufacturers. And I have designed economic market evaluation methods which have been proven to be very precise in the last 14 years. Already in 2006 I have forecasted the market bottom in 2015/16 and the following film revival.



What are you paying for a roll of ColorPlus 200 or Fuji C200?
I know that in lots of emerging markets the problem is mainly ridiculous high import customs/taxes and or / bureaucratic hurdles implemented by the governments of these countries. That is for example the problem in India and Brasil. Much too high customs, initially implemented to protect the own local industry. But as neither India nor Brasil have any film/photopaper production (anymore) for a long time, these customs only hurt the local people.
In such cases the film manufacturers are not responsible at all for too high film prices.

Best regards,
Henning

- I have a lot to say in this field, but I really do not want to look like someone who loves controversy only.
I feel very disappointed and disappointed. I ask for help.
Leave the talk of photography aside, I now have a dilemma for the health of Egyptian citizens.
A medical problem has recently emerged in Egypt for unknown reasons.
- The Egyptian government has tightened the screws on the import of acids that are used in the treatment of (X-ray) and allow only government hospitals and the government sector ,,, the reasons are really unknown, and this made the prices of X-ray services rise suddenly.
A large number of X-ray Film, Acid and Medical Supplies dealers contacted me yesterday and today. They asked me about black and white photographic acids, D-19, and I sent them, but it didn't work out tolerably.
- I looked a lot for a reliable formula that was specially designed for X-rays but I didn't find any reliable formula,
Mitol is present in Egypt, but it is somewhat expensive, but hydroquinone is available at an affordable price. I also have (CD2-CD3) I want a prescription based on hydroquinone and (CD2).
I do not know what to do ,,
- Respected colleague (Rudi) from Austria brought me a good formula,
Calbe A49:
I don't have (CD1) so I used it instead (CD2)
CD-1 - 5g
Hydroquinone - 3g
Sodium sulfite - 100g
Sodium tetraborate - 5g
Boric acid - 1,5g
Potassium bromide - 0,5g
But it is slow and takes a long time to process X-rays.
- I really feel a lot of sadness, fatigue and frustration.
- I have done many failed experiments and a lot of chemical raw materials have been wasted, and I feel I am on the cusp of a major failure.
I am very sad, bored and angry.

 

[BurntOutElectronics]

Hello Lachlan,
afaik the Foma films are single layer films. That is from a very reliable source. An expert who has seen the production there. I cannot go into further details because of a NDA.
There is a reason why Foma films are so cheap. They are not producing on the same technology level as other BW film manufacturers like Ilford. They know that their main competitive advantage is: price. To keep that advantage compromises in other areas have to be made. There is no free lunch.

Best regards,
Henning

G’day Henning
What is a NDA exactly? I’ve never heard that term before.
Thanks

 

[koraks]

Non Disclosure Agreement. A very common phenomenon when entering any kind of collaboration with especially larger businesses but sometimes smaller ones as well. Can be between two (or more) businesses or a business and a private person. Intended to manage the risk of leakage of business-sensitive information to third parties while allowing for fairly unhindered information sharing between the participants.

 

[mohmad khatab]

Please - please - help
I want a robust, reliable and proven formula for X-ray developer (for medical purposes) and not for technical or photographic purposes.
We are in great crisis in Egypt.
I know that this post is not the place to ask for help - but I have to.

 

[koraks]

Do you have access to phenidone? If so, any PQ developer could be used. You may have to do some testing to find a suitable development time, but that's a matter of working on it for a day.

 

[Henning Serger]

Non Disclosure Agreement. A very common phenomenon when entering any kind of collaboration with especially larger businesses but sometimes smaller ones as well. Can be between two (or more) businesses or a business and a private person. Intended to manage the risk of leakage of business-sensitive information to third parties while allowing for fairly unhindered information sharing between the participants.

Exactly.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

@mohmad khatab :
You should contact
- Fujifilm X-Ray business: https://www.fujifilm.eu/de/produkte/medizinische-systeme/roentgenfilme
- Foma X-Ray business: https://www.foma.cz/en/dental
- Agfa X-Ray business: https://medimg.agfa.com/main/x-ray-film-and-screen-systems/
- Carestream X-Ray business: https://www.carestream.com/en/us/me...aphy/film-systems/dental-film-and-accessories

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

@mohmad khatab :
You should contact
- Fujifilm X-Ray business: https://www.fujifilm.eu/de/produkte/medizinische-systeme/roentgenfilme
- Foma X-Ray business: https://www.foma.cz/en/dental
- Agfa X-Ray business: https://medimg.agfa.com/main/x-ray-film-and-screen-systems/
- Carestream X-Ray business: https://www.carestream.com/en/us/me...aphy/film-systems/dental-film-and-accessories

Best regards,
Henning

Just forgotten:
Chemistry (developer and fixer) for X-Ray film is also produced by photo chemistry specialist SPUR in Germany:
https://spur-photo.com/some-information-in-english/
https://www.spur-photo.com/
You can order the chemistry directly at SPUR. Just send them an email.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[BurntOutElectronics]

No, not at all. But simply because your story is not true at all: This dealer for used cameras has neither a lab, nor any own machinery for BW film production. Until 2017 he was even not able to develop a BW film by himself at home: In 2017 he published an article on his own blog about his experience developing his first BW film at home in 2017.
The BW film he is offering (since spring 2016, by the way) is just former Agfa (Belgium) BW surveillance/aerial film (therefore "Made in Belgium" is on the boxes). A film type which was coated last time at Agfa in 2008 (the film was then discontinued). So what you indeed have here is long expired leftover film stock of a long discontinued film. The converting of this film is done on contract basis by Harman for him.



Again, not true: The Finnish offering by Camera Rescue is also an already existing film. I know the Camera Rescue Team, very nice guys. And they have never said that they have an own film production. They are honest. I know where this film is derived from, but cannot tell you because of a NDA.



Lucky is again making their SHD 100 BW film.



Again not true: Lomography has no own film production. Neither for BW, nor for colour. They buy all their films from the established film manufacturers.



ADOX has no general lack of scientific expertise. Their challenges are currently more in other fields. As a very small "start-up-like" manufacturer they have to go in small steps. And concentrating on their main challenges. I know the factory there, too.



Why not? Because it is completely unrealistic and a complete waste of time! Neither Ilford, nor FilmoTec or Foma are economically able to make a colour film which could be competitive to Kodak and Fuji. Even if they would succeed after years of R&D: Then the films would be much more expensive and much worse compared to Fuji and Kodak.
For FilmoTec and Foma it is completely impossible in general, by the way. E.g. Filmotec has no own coating machine (they need a contract coater), and Foma can only make simple one-layer BW emulsions: For a modern colour film you need about 15 layers (some Fuji films have even 21 layers).
If these companies would start making colour films, it would kill them!!



You best you can do is
- buy fresh film from Kodak and Fujifilm colour on a regular basis
- support Kodak and Fujifilm: the higher the demand and the sales for their colour films, the higher the chance of more films coming back
- build a local scene of film shooters, teach the young, promote film use in your region and / or country.

Best regards,
Henning

There is currently only one manufacturer of colour movie / cinema film: Eastman Kodak.Therefore there is no "evil Japanese company" in movie / cinema film production.
If you have meant Fujifilm: They had to stop producing of colour movie / cinema film in 2013 due to decreasing demand. We should not forget that also Kodak evaluated in 2014 to stop production (that was a bit later officially explained by the former Kodak CEO). Fortunately at that time the deal with the Hollywood studios saved movie film production at Eastman Kodak.
And Fujifilm is not an "evil company": They certainly made some severe mistakes in the past. But in contrast to other colour film manufacturers like Agfa, Konica and Ferrania, Fujifilm has continued film production. And they make some of the best films ever made, oustanding quality materials. And Fujifilm has saved E6 color reversal film! When Kodak stopped all their transparency films in 2012, Fujifilm fortunately didn't make the same mistake and kept on with E6. Films and chemistry.
Without Fujifilm and their continued reversal film production we would have never seen the Ektachrome reintroduction. Because if Fujifilm would have also stopped E6, the whole infrastructure with labs would have gone in the meantime.



Not in theory, but in real world. I have described the situation as it currently is. I have visited five different film manufacturers, two of them also producing colour film, and a third who wants to make colour in the future. I have seen the production and have talked to the engineers. I am in permanent contact with lots of manufacturers. And I have designed economic market evaluation methods which have been proven to be very precise in the last 14 years. Already in 2006 I have forecasted the market bottom in 2015/16 and the following film revival.



What are you paying for a roll of ColorPlus 200 or Fuji C200?
I know that in lots of emerging markets the problem is mainly ridiculous high import customs/taxes and or / bureaucratic hurdles implemented by the governments of these countries. That is for example the problem in India and Brasil. Much too high customs, initially implemented to protect the own local industry. But as neither India nor Brasil have any film/photopaper production (anymore) for a long time, these customs only hurt the local people.
In such cases the film manufacturers are not responsible at all for too high film prices.

Best regards,
Henning

How many film factory's have you been to exactly? Gee it would be the greatest thing to see! And I think the ilford silver ticket is still in the wild so to speak! Listen to me getting my hopes up lol.
But it would be a fantastic experience.
Lance

 

[Henning Serger]

How many film factory's have you been to exactly?
Lance

Hello Lance,
so far I've been in five different film factories in four different countries. This year another film factory in another country will most probably follow.
And yes, you are right: It always has been a uniqe, wonderful and unforgettable experience!

In addition I have visited lots of other photo product factories too. Like camera manufacturers and lab equipment manufacturers.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[BurntOutElectronics]

Hello Lance,
so far I've been in five different film factories in four different countries. This year another film factory in another country will most probably follow.
And yes, you are right: It always has been a uniqe, wonderful and unforgettable experience!

In addition I have visited lots of other photo product factories too. Like camera manufacturers and lab equipment manufacturers.

Best regards,
Henning

I know it's probably a bit rude to ask but what did you do to get these opportunities to go to all these places? Because there can't be to many people who get to do that. It would be great to see how film emulsions are coated on a production scale as I truely plan to coat my own emulsion onto some ester base or the like for 120.
Lance