Plus-X is gone. I can't believe it!

Sombra

A
Sombra

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
The Gap

H
The Gap

  • 5
  • 2
  • 53
Ithaki Steps

H
Ithaki Steps

  • 2
  • 0
  • 73
Pitt River Bridge

D
Pitt River Bridge

  • 6
  • 0
  • 81

Forum statistics

Threads
199,004
Messages
2,784,479
Members
99,765
Latest member
NicB
Recent bookmarks
1

NB23

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
4,307
Format
35mm
It just struck me.
This is impossible!
The Black and White scene without Plus-X. McDonald's without the Cheeseburger. Disney without Donald Duck.
 

mrred

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,251
Location
Montreal, Ca
Format
Multi Format
Get over it. I adored the stuff too, but there are lots of excellent choices out there. Change is not all bad....
 
OP
OP
NB23

NB23

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
4,307
Format
35mm
Yes, even Madonna has been substituted by Lady Gaga so anything is possible. I guess.
 

2F/2F

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
8,031
Location
Los Angeles,
Format
Multi Format
It stinks all right. At least we have FP4.
 

burchyk

Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2009
Messages
23
Format
35mm RF
Was checking some older negs of mine thinking "that PX is a great great film", dropped a roll into OM-4 this morning only to read this. Crap.
 

mrred

Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,251
Location
Montreal, Ca
Format
Multi Format
It still in some stores. There is stock in both locations I shop, here in Montreal. I still have 700' in the freezer so there is no need to resort to fp4 yet. I will probably go strait to acros anyway....
 

Hawkeye

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
55
Location
SW Florida
Format
Multi Format
When they dropped their B&W paper I moved to FP4 and HP5 and never looked back. Went to Ilford paper and chemistry also.

It appears they are going to continue discontinuing products before they attempt to sell what's left of their film business.
 

marcmarc

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
391
Format
Medium Format
I've really grown to like Fuji Acros 100. I'm also eagerly awaiting the arrival of Adox Premium 100 (AKA Agfa APX 100 part II) so there are still choices.
 

drumminor2nd

Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
45
Format
Multi Format
That was like a month ago. Where have you been?

The Black and White scene without Plus-X. McDonald's without the Cheeseburger. Disney without Donald Duck.

More like McDonald's without the Crispy Chicken sandwich or Disney without Hannah Montana (these might be too kind compared to their sales volume, actually).
 

Gabino

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
50
Location
Waterloo, On
Format
Medium Format
Too bad that something like this is accepted so "stoically", soon other films will be gone too. Is this irreversible? I guess we'll have to make do with what's left. I'm new to film, just last year, and this is my first loss.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
OP
NB23

NB23

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
4,307
Format
35mm
That was like a month ago. Where have you been?



More like McDonald's without the Crispy Chicken sandwich or Disney without Hannah Montana (these might be too kind compared to their sales volume, actually).

What do you mean by "where have I been"? I'm still missing Kodachrome. And in 10 years I'll still miss Plus-X and Kodachrome.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,539
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
Too bad that something like this is accepted so "stoically", soon other films will be gone too. Is this irreversible? I guess we'll have to make do with what's left. I'm new to film, just last year, and this my first loss.

It is easy to be stoic when one realizes that the game was over a long time ago. Plus-X had long ago been relegated to a casual mention at the bottom of the Kodak web site listing of B&W film. That was perhaps 2 years ago. That is when I stocked up on 120. PX 120 is basically unavailable today unless one wants to pay inflated rates on ebay. I just stocked up on 135 PX. That is still in some stores at "normal" prices. But I might have cleaned out one of the NYC retailers. :wink: If you want to shoot PX, order some soon!
 

Clay2

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
217
Location
Minden Hills
Format
Multi Format
Us old buggers have had lots of changes. In the 50's it was Verichrome Pan roll film, gone.
Then I did 40-50 years Kodachrome and Plus X, gone.
Still using Tri-X but it is not the same emulsion as it was then.
Moved to Ilford papers, film and chemistry but now Cibachrome/Ilfochrome papers and chemistry gone.
Testing Fuji now but astia gone.
Do about 10% digital these days. Should get a large format camera and start coating my own glass plates, ha!
We will carry on with what is left. E-6 is about dead as well, no more slides.
Best regards,
/Clay
 

brianmquinn

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
687
Location
Cincinnati O
Format
Medium Format
True but it's close right? Just a difference in red sensivity, I suppose.

More red sensitive and less blue sensitive, also faster with a different base and contrast. But still GREAT stuff. A common size is a 10x10 negative. Makes incredible prints IF YOU HAVE A 10X10 ENLARGER. The military used to and I have seen lots of HUGH prints from these negatives. They are wonderful but we are not looking for WMD here.

The fact is Kodak loves brand loyal consumers. They find a name that they think is a winner and sell as may items under that name as possible. Even if the items are not similar at all. How may KODAK MAX items were there? Film at several speeds, batteries, etc.... Also Ektar are we talking old or new film? Maybe we are talking about a lens. Yes in the past there were may Ektar lenes.

I love Kodak and their products but I think they are deceptive in the way they market their items. A top quality product deserves a unique name.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

brianmquinn

Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2006
Messages
687
Location
Cincinnati O
Format
Medium Format
Also to drive home my point. Note that in the link that frobozz provided
(#20 ) that there is more then one type of Plus-X listed.
KODAK PLUS-X AERECON II Film 3404
and
KODAK PLUS-X AEROGRAPHIC Film 2402
 

Curt

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
Ansel Adams loved Plus X. Insert smiley face here.
 
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Messages
457
Location
Huntsville,
Format
Multi Format
I've never been much of a Kodak film shooter, but I still hate to see it go.

What I worry about is the avaliability of the raw materials used to make film. When there's so little demand for some key components of roll film and sheet film (whatever componenets they may be), will the businesses that supply those components stop selling those componenets or even go out of business? What would happen to film then? We'd all go back to using glass plates and contact printing?

I'm not sure if that's a valid concern or not, but in my (albeit very tired) mind, it seems so :\
 

Wade D

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
897
Location
Jamul, CA
Format
Multi Format
It's sad to see an old friend go. I have been using Plus-X in 4x5 and 120 for 40+ years. I still have 5 4x5 boxes and a dozen 120 rolls in the freezer but they won't last long so I bought some Fuji Acros 100 in 120. I've been pleasantly surprised at how good it is.
 

Curt

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
I agree, any loss is one more blow to the analog community.

In the early seventies I tried all that was available. My favorite was Panatomic-X, Ilford FP4 over Plus-X, Tri-X over Ilford HP-5.

Of course Art Center and Brooks had me shooting Super XX. The developer was D76, a fairly straight forward approach. Straight or 1:1.

I've used everything from Adox to Orwo in all speeds. The one quality I expect is consistency of quality. Kodak and Ilford speaks quality to me.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom