What is happening to Tmax - short supply?

tkamiya

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
It seems Tmax100 and Tmax400 35mm are in short supply and shipments are hard to come by. I've contacted Adorama and B&H and if the item was not in stock, neither have any idea when the next shipment would come in. I've looked Freestyle and Tmax400 36 exp are in short supply.

I've contacted Kodak and it says there are no production issues on 35mm.

Who's telling the truth??

I'd like to standardize on one film and I picked Tmax400 but now I am starting to wonder...

Any opinions or experiences?
 

Christopher Walrath

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
7,175
Location
Milton, DE USA
Format
Analog
Don't worry. They have just reformulated the TMY (400) in the last year. It's not going anywhere fast.
 

DanielStone

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
3,114
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Multi Format
i don't think you have anything to worry about mate,

TMY-2 is always sold out when I go to get a box or two(4x5)

and I know that Freestyle and Samy's stock it regularly. Its just that its popular.

PE, what's the usual time to create/coat a master roll of b/w film these days? Week, two, month?

-Dan
 
OP
OP

tkamiya

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
Thank you, Christopher and Daniel.

No, I am not worried that Kodak may discontinue T-max any time soon. What I am concerned about is the way the company replenishes orders. In other words, if the production schedule is such that there may be a long time between production runs, resulting in long time of items being out of order at the distribution level, then I will need to keep larger stock here.

My last purchase is already half gone and I am going to buy some more. The question is, how many??
 

jgjbowen

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
879
Location
Richmond, VA
Format
Large Format
tkamiya said:
My last purchase is already half gone and I am going to buy some more. The question is, how many??
Click to expand...


Consider purchasing a 12 month supply. When you have a 6 month supply left, it's time to repurchase another 12 month supply.
 

mjs

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
1,123
Location
Elkhart, Ind
Format
Multi Format
I believe that with the economy weak and film sales down (although maybe recovering some, or maybe not, or...) a lot of places are trying to cut their stock down to the minimum they think they can get away with. I've seen this in retail before: the store cuts down, thinking they can place a hurry-up order with the distributor, who has cut their stock believing they can get a quick order from... When the herd all moves in one direction its the little guy who gets trampled. Just buy more and re-order before you need to.
 
OP
OP

tkamiya

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
I think I'm going to do just that.... order two dozen for a starter... Thank you for your input.
 

jeroldharter

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
1,955
Location
Wisconsin
Format
4x5 Format
jgjbowen said:
Consider purchasing a 12 month supply. When you have a 6 month supply left, it's time to repurchase another 12 month supply.
Click to expand...

Good advice.

I ordered 200 sheets of 4x5 TMY2 from Calumet that was backordered. I then ordered 300 sheets from Freestyle and forgot about my backorder until it arrived recently. Now I have plenty!
 

railwayman3

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
2,816
Format
35mm
Checked earlier with one of the big UK mail order suppliers, as their website (unusually) showed several types of Kodak films as "on order". I'm assured there are absolutely no problems, just "Kodak UK a bit slow on deliveries".

I'd agree that keeping an ample stock of one's favourite films in the freezer is a good plan these days, it's no use wingeing about the suppliers if they can't supply by return due to supply delays from the manufacturers.
 
OP
OP

tkamiya

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
I just placed an order for more.... let's see if it get filled....

From now on, I have to keep an eye on my stock and that of the supply chains. Recently, my typical supplier has gone out-of-stock and they have been for a while. The point of my post was to see if this was common for Tmax. Anyway, thank you, everybody, for advise.
 

Terence

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2005
Messages
1,407
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format
My rule of thumb is a hundred rolls of 120 on-hand. When I run through 20, I buy 20 more and rotate the stock. 20 rolls will last me about 2 months at home or one week on vacation.
 

DLawson

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
320
Location
Dayton, Ohio
Format
35mm
railwayman3 said:
I'd agree that keeping an ample stock of one's favourite films in the freezer is a good plan these days, it's no use wingeing about the suppliers if they can't supply by return due to supply delays from the manufacturers.
Click to expand...

Just-in-time shipping is an evil that has infected all levels of business. Unfortunately, there is no way to defeat it, so all you can do is maintain your own stock and order ahead.

Ironically, doing that mucks with the sales rate data that they use to predict sales and plan just-in-time ordering.
 

JBrunner

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
7,429
Location
PNdub
Format
Medium Format
Funny, here I have TMax coming out of my orifices, but Plus X is hens teeth.
 

Uncle Bill

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
1,395
Location
Oakville and
Format
Multi Format
I don't think Kodak is going to kill Tmax anytime soon, I do think there is a supply chain issue between the retailer keeping a tight inventory and all the way down to Big Yellow Father.

That's why I am comfortable shooting both Kodak and Ilford films, I know how they behave in my preferred developers and therefore, I don't have any supply issues (for example, can't find Tri-x 400 in 120, I'll shoot HP5 instead).
 
OP
OP

tkamiya

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
Oh geez....

All the back-ordered orders cleared ALL AT ONCE! Now, I'm going to have 6 currently in stock + 24 from Company A + 18 from Company B. By the end of this week, I'll have 48 films.

Time to plan for serious shooting sessions!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…