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Re-Introduce film packs ?

spoolman

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I just thought I'd throw this idea out there and see what response it gets.Has anyone thought about getting a film manufacturer to make a update version of the film pack of old.I'm sure almost all large format camera owners(2x3 to 5x7 maybe) that have used one of these handy,dandy items in the past or know of someone who has.There are usually quite a few film pack holders and old,out of date film packs floating around on auction sites such as e-bay.

Since the instant load films have been discontinued or are in short supply, maybe this would be a viable alternative.

Any thoughts ?.

Doug
 

David A. Goldfarb

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It's a topic that comes up occasionally here and on the LF forum. Short answer: not a chance. They're too labor intensive to manufacture for the potential demand given alternatives, would require coating sheet film on thin base, and would require current filmpack holders.
 

Bruce Watson

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The only B&W film I use any more is 5x4 TMY-2. If I could buy it in film packs, that would probably be the only way I'd buy it. So much nicer, so convenient, and light weight!

Same for 160Portra. That would be sweet.

That said, I'm not holding my breath. If they won't even bother to revive the popular readyload format, what chance do filmpacks have?

Still, I bought readyloads while I could. I would certainly buy film packs given the chance.
 

John Shriver

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Film flatness is a problem with film packs, given the very thin (think 120) film base. Kodak decided to punt them back when products cross-subsidized each other, so there's no chance they would come back.

I'm sure that Kodak would be glad to sell you a master roll of TMY-2, in 120 thickness, and custom cut it to size. Then you just need to buy and assemble thousands of film packs, and sell them before the film expires.
 

mikebarger

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Never used them, so can't say much about them. But, I don't have any complaints using regular holders with my Sinar or Zone VI.

Mike
 

David A. Goldfarb

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I tried a few old 2x3" filmpacks once. Didn't care for the tabs accumulating in my pockets as I was shooting, and there was often a little paper left on the sheets that would float out in the developer, though I'm sure it was just a matter of practice to overcome that.

In 4x5" I could see the attraction, because you could carry a lot of film in a compact form. Was it 12 or 16 sheets in a pack the size of a Grafmatic?
 

Photo Engineer

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David, I think it was 12 sheets in 4x5 packs. Also, the sheets were larger than 4x5. The length was about 4.5 inches to facilitate the connection of those tabs and to allow easier transport.

They allowed very good shooting speed when needed. Very good for action photography. Almost like having a roll of 4x5 roll film with 12 exposures.

PE
 

mike c

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I've used 4X5 film packs,there really nice except if you keep notes on the pull out paper the paper is just dangling there while your working,bust suited for press camera an range finder focusing. The negs are very thin and get ripples along the egdes,had to use a glass carrier.
 

mike c

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Now I remember, the neg stays on the pull out tab when you take the pack apart to develop them. That way each individual neg can be processed accordingly by the notes wrote on the tab.
 

mike c

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Does the Arcos fit the the old graphic or kodak film pack holders.
 

analogsnob

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I've got some 5"aerial film and some old film packs and, given time, I was thinking of trying to reconstruct a few for myself. They were great back in the day.
 

mike c

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I think I still have some old empty ones, it would be pretty tricky getting film and the paper back in there.
 

AgX

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Is the machinery still available? There already is a problem with type 220.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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I believe the manufacture of film packs was only partially mechanized. My impression is that the final assembly of the pack was done by hand in the dark.
 
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