Price of TMAx 8x10 vs HP5

[Mahler_one]

I realize that the new TMax 400 is "improved", and probably "better" then the older emulsion. However, whilst putting together an order for some new film, I was both shocked and angry to see the HUGE disparity in the price of TMax 8x10 vs. the price of HP5. At B&H ( and about the same at Freestyle ) the cost of 25 of sheets of HP5 is about $80.00 while the cost of 10 sheets of Tmax is $49.50. Doing the very elementary math makes the cost of 25 sheets of Tmax ( rounding up ) about $124. Unless I am missing something, the cost of the Tmax in this film size is almost $45.00 (!!!) more then the same amount of HP5. Does anyone else here find the difference in the price outrangeous? What is Kodak thinking? If I didn't know better I might suspect that Kodak will raise the price of the 8x10 Tmax until the sales plummet, and they will then say that the sales of the film don't justify keeping the film in their repetoire. Of course, if there are enough people willing to pay the higher price then good luck. Caveat emptor.

Is there enough of a difference in the films to make the TMAX 400 so much more expensive? Are the images "better", is the grain that much less as to be noticed, are the sheets thicker, is the packaging better, etc., etc. I ask seriously, what is it about the TMAX that would make the average LF photographer be willing to pay such a premium to use the Kodak film? I really would like to know.

Ilford certainly deserves to be supported if they continue to make their excellent films available at such a cost savings. Just my opinion as I try to afford film and chemicals.

Ed

 

[PanaDP]

I prefer HP5 over TMax. I love kodak to death and shoot a LOT of their film in 16 and 35mm motion picture stocks but screw them if they're not even going to try to be competitive with their still films.

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

And if you take into consideration the fact that the Euro is high it makes Ilford even a better deal !
Kodak price and the 10 sheets issue, they really make it hard to buy.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's not just the 10x8 Tmax film that's much higher in price it's all the Kodak B&W films in all formats.

In switched back to Ilford films after a 22 year gap because of availability issues, I couldn't get the Tmax films I wanted while abroad but Ilford films were everywhere, I was pleasantly surprised at the cost savings too.

One thing we all noticed on the recent Ilford factory tour was how committed Ilford & its staff are to supporting their customers, and that's important to all of us using film.

Ian

 

[Mahler_one]

Thanks Ian (and others). Being in the UK you might hear information about Ilford before most of us in the States do. Thus, have you heard anything about "changes" in the HP5 emulsion? I was told that about 2-3 years ago the film was improved, i.e., the b+f level was made lower and the "straight section" on the film curve was made longer. Any other planned changes that you or your mates have heard of?

Thanks.

ED

 

[Ian Grant]

Ed, I don't know, I hadn't used HP5 since the release of XP1 until buying some in Chile last year. Since I first began using HP5 it has improved considerably, but it was already far better than it's predecessor HP4 and HP3 which I used while at school.

We didn't hear of any planned changes, only that R&D was in progress on non conventional silver gelatin products for non photographic uses.

Ian

 

[Mahler_one]

Thanks Ian. By the way, my wife and I visited parts of Turkey last year....wonderfully nice people, and a very interesting and vibrant culture.

 

[herb]

Tmax prices

As I was settling on a film choice, the price disparity was hugely obvious. I shoot a lot of 5x7, and wanted a T grain film. My choice in films was made very easy by Kodak. Delta 100 in Ansco 130 40:1 works well, as does pyrocat hd.

Paying 40 to 50% more makes me question Kodak's long term committment-

I see lots of signs that their executive management is not a believer in film.

 

[Ian Grant]

Paying 40 to 50% more makes me question Kodak's long term committment-

I see lots of signs that their executive management is not a believer in film.

That's the way their competitors see it as well.

Ian

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I work in a different industry where the most important thing to bring back to senior management beyond cash and organic growth is - margin!
If Kodak can do less business but at a higher margin - they may be making more money that way.
To me, Kodak's management just wants to make as much money as they can. It's their job. The high price certainly isn't there to antagonize or disappoint photographers.

The ten sheet box still doesn't make sense.

- Thomas

 

[Ian Grant]

The high price certainly isn't there to antagonize or disappoint photographers.

- Thomas

No, but it will accelerate any thoughts of switching to an alternative supplier.

In addition if the recent changes in exchange rates is passed on to Ilford customers in the US and Kodak customers in the UK and EU then the differential in pricing would become around 20% greater.

Ian

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Maybe. The company I work for is higher priced than the competition mostly, but people purchase it anyway. Mainly because it's a good brand with good products that people know will work.

There's no way of knowing for sure that people will switch until they actually do. You and I can always have opinions. I'm sure market research has shown Kodak exactly what the market will bear price wise.

- Thomas