TMAX 400 in 4x5

[SimonB]

Worryingly I've just been told by a UK film supplier that Kodak is discontinuing TMAX 400 in 4x5.

Has anyone else heard about this? I'm hoping this is just misinformation- I'd hate to lose another 4x5 emulsion.

Simon

 

[Ian Grant]

It wouldn't be surprising, Ilford make & sell a lot more B&W film compared to Kodak and dropped Delta 400 quite quickly because of poor sales, and in doing so helped HP5's survival in LF. It's likely to be similar with Kodak where many LF users prefer Tri-X, Kodak can only offer one of the films.

Ian.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I can see them dropping it in 8x10, but 4x5??

 

[MattKing]

More likely that it would go to the same special order status as 8x10 and other large sizes - through K.B. Canham:

https://www.facebook.com/K-B-Canham-Cameras-Inc-131324393576850/

 

[Sal Santamaura]

It seems highly unlikely that Kodak Alaris would discontinue 4x5 TMY-2 as a regular catalog item, at least in the US. More probable is that the OP's retailer is dropping it because of insufficient volume or Alaris is doing the same for its UK market.

Here's the page at B&H

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/545368-USA/Kodak_8438202_TMY_4053_4_x.html​

showing expected availability on January 23. Eastman Kodak now coats/finishes film in batches that match demand. Another explanation for what the OP was told is that his retailer simply wanted to sell him a different film instead of having him wait until the last week of this month for TMY-2. Unfortunately, threads like this, and the "not really discontinued" outcome, are all too common. I pay such reports no attention until a confirming announcement from Kodak is made.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Sal, I agree about getting all worked up about something that's still in the hearsay phase. Still, sometimes it works to the benefit of the company since people get scared their sacred cow is going to be sacrificed and buy up as much as they can. I've witnessed it here where I live with the gun and ammo thing. Somebody starts a rumor about this gun or a certain ammo being banned and sales go up by 400% or more. I almost thing those crazy, conniving gun and ammo manufactures dream some of these shortage/banned rumors up just to boost a slow spell. I don't think Kodak Alaris is doing that, but who the heck knows nowadays.

 

[BrianShaw]

Here's the page at B&H

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/545368-USA/Kodak_8438202_TMY_4053_4_x.html​

showing expected availability on January 23.

I had no idea thar Walmart sold LF film... interesting!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I had no idea thar Walmart sold LF film... interesting!

I suspect this is a problem at APUG and just supplied the details to Sean. The link I included is to a B&H page; you can see that in your post where you quoted mine, where clicking on it takes one to the intended page. However, APUG's software converted it into a different link in my original post, whether due to malware, a bug or some other problem.

Anyone interested in seeing the B&H page ought use the link in Brian's quote of my post.

 

[David Lindquist]

And as of this morning Freestyle shows TMax 400 4X5 in stock.
David

 

[MattKing]

I suspect this is a problem at APUG and just supplied the details to Sean. The link I included is to a B&H page; you can see that in your post where you quoted mine, where clicking on it takes one to the intended page. However, APUG's software converted it into a different link in my original post, whether due to malware, a bug or some other problem.

Anyone interested in seeing the B&H page ought use the link in Brian's quote of my post.

I expect that if you have "cookies" from B&H stored as part of your browser settings, you will see the B&H listing (I do) but if you don't the aggressive advertising that is rampant throughout the web will at least distort what you will see.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I expect that if you have "cookies" from B&H stored as part of your browser settings, you will see the B&H listing (I do) but if you don't the aggressive advertising that is rampant throughout the web will at least distort what you will see.

Nope. The Walmart link appears in my original post each time I start the browser (Firefox) and look at this thread for the first time. Despite having used the Cookie Manager add on to delete all walmart.com cookies. And I do have lots of B&H cookies stored. Still seems like an APUG issue.

 

[MattKing]

Nope. The Walmart link appears in my original post each time I start the browser (Firefox) and look at this thread for the first time. Despite having used the Cookie Manager add on to delete all walmart.com cookies. And I do have lots of B&H cookies stored. Still seems like an APUG issue.

Fascinating - I see a B&H link where you see a Walmart link.
Both in Chrome (Windows 7 and Windows 10) and Microsoft Edge (Windows 10)
I gave up on Firefox some time ago.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

$160 CAD for 50 sheets! At least shipping is free for us Canucks!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Fascinating - I see a B&H link where you see a Walmart link.
Both in Chrome (Windows 7 and Windows 10) and Microsoft Edge (Windows 10)
I gave up on Firefox some time ago.

I just closed Firefox and opened Edge (running under Windows 10). No change in the behavior; a Walmart link where I posted one for the B&H page.

 

[mgb74]

I'm seeing (Firefox) the B&H page.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Email I received from Kodak/Alaris...


Dear Andrew,

Perhaps a bit of confusion,

Kodak T-Max 100, T-Max 400, and Tri-X Pan 320 will now be available in 10 count sheet boxes, which is consistent with our Color Negative 4x5 sheet films.

In conjunction with this change, we are announcing the discontinuation of the 50 sheet-4x5 black and white film items.

Regards,

Thomas J. Mooney....

I'm not happy to hear this.

 

[David Lindquist]

Email I received from Kodak/Alaris...


Dear Andrew,

Perhaps a bit of confusion,

Kodak T-Max 100, T-Max 400, and Tri-X Pan 320 will now be available in 10 count sheet boxes, which is consistent with our Color Negative 4x5 sheet films.

In conjunction with this change, we are announcing the discontinuation of the 50 sheet-4x5 black and white film items.

Regards,

Thomas J. Mooney....

I'm not happy to hear this.

Thank you for posting this information from the horses mouth, so to speak.

I'm not happy to hear this either.

David

 

[Peter Schrager]

kodak is nuts and once again shooting themselves in the arse..no I mean foot!!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wonder what they will charge for a 10 sheet box of T-Max 400?

 

[mgb74]

I do not understand the logic in this at all. Sure, since color 4x5 is packaged in 10 sheet boxes, why not package other films the same way and reduce packaging cost. But almost certainly, the price per sheet will rise significantly and demand will suffer. I have no insight into Kodak/Alaris' rationale but this is the kind of move companies make when they're desperate and need to reduce costs short term at the expense of the long term.

That noise you hear? It's the champagne corks popping at Harman.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I do not understand the logic in this at all. Sure, since color 4x5 is packaged in 10 sheet boxes, why not package other films the same way and reduce packaging cost. But almost certainly, the price per sheet will rise significantly and demand will suffer. I have no insight into Kodak/Alaris' rationale but this is the kind of move companies make when they're desperate and need to reduce costs short term at the expense of the long term.

That noise you hear? It's the champagne corks popping at Harman.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Email I received from Kodak/Alaris...


Dear Andrew,

Perhaps a bit of confusion,

Kodak T-Max 100, T-Max 400, and Tri-X Pan 320 will now be available in 10 count sheet boxes, which is consistent with our Color Negative 4x5 sheet films.

In conjunction with this change, we are announcing the discontinuation of the 50 sheet-4x5 black and white film items.

Regards,

Thomas J. Mooney....

I'm not happy to hear this.

Is this supposed to be speaking about the UK market, OP, or worldwide market? This will be great for low volume users, but a pain in the ass, and the pocket for those shooting higher volumes.

 

[Ai Print]

Ugh, 10 sheet boxes are annoying!
I think I have about 25X 50 sheet boxes of each 100 & 400 Tmax in 4x5 but I had better go check...

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I wonder what they will charge for a 10 sheet box of T-Max 400?

Probably somewhat more than 20% of what has been charged for a 50-sheet box. My wild guess: between 25% and 30%. At the high end, based on B&H's "street price," that would be about $36.

Ugh, 10 sheet boxes are annoying!...

True. If I had my druthers, and they absolutely insisted on smaller boxes, I'd vote for 20 sheets. Oh well, at least it'll now be an even number; 25 sheets in a foil packet always required an extra, half-empty holder.

 

[MattKing]

Nope. The Walmart link appears in my original post each time I start the browser (Firefox) and look at this thread for the first time. Despite having used the Cookie Manager add on to delete all walmart.com cookies. And I do have lots of B&H cookies stored. Still seems like an APUG issue.

I just closed Firefox and opened Edge (running under Windows 10). No change in the behavior; a Walmart link where I posted one for the B&H page.

I've been thinking about this and had a thought.

Donald Trump has been reading Sal's posts over in the Soap Box, and has asked the Russians to hack Sal's computer.

Make sense?