Special order Eastman Double-X in 4x5 sheet.

Pan F stock would really be squirrely in sheet size. People put all kinds of things in sheet film holders, including thin lith film. But doing something
voluntarily is a little different game than offering a product with your name on it that you know won't be ideal from a mechanical standpoint.
Sheet films really need to be on some kind of stiff, dimensionally-stable stock of the correct thickness. Maybe this won't be a terrible issue with
this anticipated Double-XX product, but once you move up to 8x10, you quickly learn to adapt either adhesive or vaccuum holders or the film
with either potentially pop or just not hold focus due to not being flat. ... might not bother a contact printer who simply thinks an 8x10 is just
a cool oversized Holga, but it would drive the rest of us crazy. ... But there are things you can do to help the film from popping in even 4x5
holders, like acclimating your gear to the ambient working temperatures in winter before shooting it - just like you would with lenses to keep
them from fogging up, or by making your own adhesive holders. But the the problem is minor in 4x5 compared to even bigger formats.

StoneNYC said:

I...., whether they will imprint anything, if they do it will say what other kodak sheet film says most likely, it won't have bar codes, but will probably say "Eastman Double-X" or something.

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The bar codes and other makings are placed on Cine film at the same time it is perforated. many of the data fields are specific to movie use, such as documenting the Strip and master roll number and the perforating machine used to produce a given stand of film. every foot of 35mm also has a footage number which is useful to film editors to match scenes back to the actual camera negative. The system tries to make sure that these numbers don't repeat any more often than needed.

For sheet film I would expect that you would only see a generic "Kodak" or perhaps Kodak Safety film, as they might have to do tooling to print anything else.

cmacd123 said:

The bar codes and other makings are placed on Cine film at the same time it is perforated. many of the data fields are specific to movie use, such as documenting the Strip and master roll number and the perforating machine used to produce a given stand of film. every foot of 35mm also has a footage number which is useful to film editors to match scenes back to the actual camera negative. The system tries to make sure that these numbers don't repeat any more often than needed.

For sheet film I would expect that you would only see a generic "Kodak" or perhaps Kodak Safety film, as they might have to do tooling to print anything else.

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Well there's no tooling now, I believe it's all digital now, but really I think it's a price point. I do hope it says Double-X just because otherwise people might not believe me hah!

And if they don't?

Who cares, you'll have the photograph you wanted, hopefully.

StoneNYC said:

Well there's no tooling now, I believe it's all digital now,

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The machine that exposes the dots on the film is still "Tooling". It is Flexable tooling as it responds to software changes rather then Wrenches.

cmacd123 said:

The machine that exposes the dots on the film is still "Tooling". It is Flexable tooling as it responds to software changes rather then Wrenches.

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Yep. The slitting/lightbeaming machines are more than capable (and probably separate anyway). How do you think Tri-X got Arista Premium labeled on the rebate? A simple setting change. Keen spotters will of course remember the font is the same.

Keith just sent out another email, just a few more orders and kodak will begin! If you haven't yet, go put in your order, and if you want to add an additional box, that would help hot the goal too.

Very very close!

Bump

The way this is going this film may arrive about the same time that my Wanderlust camera gets here. That would be terrific!

Pioneer said:

The way this is going this film may arrive about the same time that my Wanderlust camera gets here. That would be terrific!

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That would be great timing! I think we may be close to our ceiling, the initial purchasing happened rather quick, but the last few boxes are trickling in, like shooting a roll of film and having 6 frames left and having to wait to process it... Haha

February update, we now only need six more boxes to complete the order, if anyone wants to order a second box, or hasn't jumped on this yet, please consider it, we are so very close!

Best,

Unfortunately, I am going to have to wait until the cost comes down. I'd love to get in on it from the beginning, but the cost is prohibitive for me at this time.

Update:

Ok it's happening!!! The order of specially cut Eastman Double-X in 4x5 has been sent to Kodak-Alaris yesterday and now we wait.

I wanted to thank all who helped make this possible.

I know this is not the main thread but it was talked about here.

Let's hope the cutting goes well!

Good to hear Stone. Now starts the waiting of a different sort.

Just got this email...

Sad news...

"Hello Stone;
It is with great disappointment that I am sending this email. Kodak contacted me and after doing the R&D for making 4x5 Double X they have determined that they cannot make it at the original minimum order quantity. As you know this is cinematography film that is cut into rolls. If Eastman Kodak were to make 60 boxes of 4x5 from a master roll and then cut the cinematography rolls there would be an enormous amount of wasted film. To avoid this waste they would need to manufacture 250 boxes of 4x5. It was difficult to even reach the 60 box mark, so 250 boxes would be insurmountable. Even though Eastman Kodak is not going to be able to make this work at the 60 box amount, I think they are to be commended for their willingness to do the R&D on the project. It took time for them to do this and therefore cost them money. I will begin to return your prepayments this week. For those of you in the United State, I will be sending a check in the mail. For those of you outside the U.S., please email me so that we can determine the best method of returning your money.

If there is anything that K.B. Canham Cameras, Inc. can do to help you with large format cameras or film in the future, please let me know.

Regards;
Keith Canham"

I'm surprised they didn't know the number needed to be higher ahead of time, that said, I'm glad Kodak made the effort, it shows a lot of hope for them as a company.

And so it goes...