Some Kodak B&W Film Deletions

[Martin Reed]

Just to add to the general jollity I have in my hand a piece of paper with a Kodak logo on it; 4 black & white films to go;

TMax P3200 135-36, runout date to be confirmed;

Tri-X 320 in 120 format, suggested replacement Tri-X 400 120
Tri-X 320 in 220 format, no suggested replacement
Forecast runout date on the Tri-X 320 is March this year.

BW400CN 120, already gone by the look of it, & no suggested replacement

There are various Kodak colour transparency films to go as well, I'll try to find a link to a web page as it's quite a lot of information.

 

[peri24]

oh my god tmz! no, no, no, there's not a replacement film for this one!!!!
btw do they say anything on 4x5 TXP??

 

[Andrew Moxom]

AAAAAGH Crap!! and just when I'd got to grips with TXP 320!!!!

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks Martin, I'm glad I switched back to Ilford films 2 years ago.

Ian

 

[kraker]

No, not Tri-X 320 in 220 format! It's my favourite B&W film in 220 format.

(Well... there's not much choice, is there? But even if there were, it would still be a favourite.)

Time to stock up, I guess. But let's first see how this thread unfolds, I can't find a product discontinuation notice regarding these products on the Kodak website (yet).

 

[Martin Reed]

Those are the only B&W films - can't find the information on any Kodak sites, briefly the professional colour films due to go are;

EPP in all formats, suggested replacement E100G, runout end of Jan, ie now
EPY in all formats, no suggested replacement, runout end of Jan
EDUPE, all formats, no suggested replacement, runout end of Jan
E100VS 5x4", suggested replacement E100G, runout to be confirmed

 

[Ian Grant]

Time to stock up, I guess. But let's first see how this thread unfolds, I can't find a product discontinuation notice regarding these products on the Kodak website (yet).

If that's what Kodak have told Martin you can be pretty sure it's true.

Silverprint's the UK's leading specialist supplier of Film & Darkroom supplies, and an APUG Sponsor.

Ian

 

[kraker]

If that's what Kodak have told Martin you can be pretty sure it's true.

Silverprint's the UK's leading specialist supplier of Film & Darkroom supplies, and an APUG Sponsor.

Ian

Sorry, hadn't made the connection to Silverprint... Stocking up... now!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Any indication as to whether these are UK distribution only, or discontinuations at the factory?

No info that I could find at kodak.com. Just in case, I've put in an order for TXP 220 at Freestyle.

 

[Martin Reed]

No, not Tri-X 320 in 220 format! It's my favourite B&W film in 220 format.

(Well... there's not much choice, is there? .....

I've got a feeling Harman might rapidly re-assess the viability of HP5 in 220

 

[Tim Gray]

Dammit I love TMZ. TMZ has been on shaky ground with respect to rumors the last couple months.

 

[zenrhino]

Gah. BW400CN is one of my favorites.

 

[Kevin Kehler]

I hate to do a "told you so" but I reported back in November that Kodak was no longer supplying Canada with any TXP 120 (I tried to order 100 rolls). My thread was deleted as product speculation. That said, I am not happy to be right about the discontinuation of my favorite fast film.

 

[Tim Gray]

Well, not that this is any thing authoritative, but I just got off the phone with Kodak about T-MAX 3200. The guy was very nice and said that he didn't see anything about it being discontinued. He told me that he checked the website, current product lists, and discontinuance notices. I'm in the US if it makes a difference.

Of course, take this with a grain of salt. It could very well be that the film isn't discontinued yet because they still have stock, even though they aren't making any more. I kind of get the feeling that Kodak doesn't delete a product number/line until they have no more stock left.

I'm still going to order some - I was getting low anyway

 

[Martin Reed]

Any indication as to whether these are UK distribution only, or discontinuations at the factory?......

Highly unlikely that it would be UK only, as some of the films on the list have never been sold in the UK, eg Tri-X 320 in 120 format. But I'm trying to get hold of the main man at our Kodak supplier just to 100% confirm it.

The way Kodak works in the UK is that professional analogue stuff isn't distributed from one point here, but through several wholesalers who source their material through Germany. So there's no longer a UK 'catalogue' of Kodak materials.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've got an e-mail in to Scott DiSabato, Marketing Manager in the Professional Film Division at Kodak. I'll report back, if he responds without posting directly to the thread himself.

 

[Martin Reed]

.... I just got off the phone with Kodak about T-MAX 3200. The guy was very nice and said that he didn't see anything about it being discontinued. He told me that he checked the website, current product lists, and discontinuance notices..... I kind of get the feeling that Kodak doesn't delete a product number/line until they have no more stock left.....

If you look back at past threads, Kodak seem to have this down to a fine art by now, Infra-Red B&W, IR Ektachrome, Tech Pan, all followed the same route. Kodak have a stance of maintaining that a material is not discontinued while there is still some in the pipeline. And then suddenly it's gone. I seem to remember in the case of Technical Pan they had actually dismantled the coating facility while it was still 'available'.

However, in this case the information is from an actual Kodak release, with anticipated end of supply dates.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Martin,

Just when I was thinking about trying 220 film. 220 could prove very useful for inclement weather photography and midges...

Tom

 

[mikebarger]

I don't think this is to surprising. Tri-x 400 out sales 320 in 120, and 220 in anything isn't a factor anymore. A 3200 film, couldn't guess there would be to much demand for this stuff (knowing it is someone's favorite film).

I know it's a big deal to those that use these products, but I bet all of these put together it isn't much of a blip on worldwide film volume.

Mike

 

[kristopher_lawrence]

ARRRGGHHH

I just made TMZ my favorite new film for its wonderfull grain... For some reason, I didn't get along with delta 3200. I guess I will have to try a little bit more.

Anyone know if TMZ keeps well once refrigerated ? I might stock up. My guess is that its high speed makes it very prone to fogging. Damn damn damn.

What the hell is happening with Kodak!

K

 

[Tim Gray]

I agree with you Mike. I think people DO use the 3200 stuff, but the shelf life of that film is pretty crummy, which works against it.

While it sucks that TXP might go away, at least there are other options for ISO 400-ish B&W films, even from Kodak (400TX and TMY). But TMZ... that's it from Kodak. And there is only one other film on the market that is comparable (Delta 3200). That's what made me sad about HIE.

RE: TMZ in the fridge. I found it fogs eventually. Don't plan on buying a 10 year stock.

 

[SuzanneR]

Well, just ordered some 220 format TXP. Bumming that it may be discontinued, though I have to say I've been using more of the Tri-x 400 more frequently. I find it a bit more versatile than the TXP even though it's only available in 120 format.

Although it's not as fast a film, I think I might have to give Ilford Fp4 a go... I understand it's quite similar to TXP. Anyone have an opinion about that?

 

[Nicole]

Suzanne, Ilford FP4 is a beautiful film. Have fun.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I'm glad I switched back to Ilford films 2 years ago.

Yep.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Been about two years for me as well. An obvious-to-me decision (and subsequent recalibration effort) even back then that I've never once regretted, given Kodak's oft-repeated new positioning of themselves in the analog markets.

Harman/Ilford manufactures simply marvelous photographic products.

Ken

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

FP4+ has been my medium-speed film of choice lately, as someone with a TX/TXP sensibility in general.