What is happening to Tmax - short supply?

[tkamiya]

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]

Don't worry. They have just reformulated the TMY (400) in the last year. It's not going anywhere fast.

 

[DanielStone]

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

 

[tkamiya]

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??

 

[nickandre]

It doesn't hurt to stock up. You never know these days

 

[jgjbowen]

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

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

 

[wclark5179]

Just a thought...

Bulk loading:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/29132-USA/Kodak_1587716_TMY_35mm_100_Roll.html


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/29118-USA/Kodak_8570541_TMX_35mm_100_Roll.html

 

[mjs]

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.

 

[tkamiya]

I think I'm going to do just that.... order two dozen for a starter... Thank you for your input.

 

[bill schwab]

Just buy more and re-order before you need to.

Words of wisdom in the new reality of analog photography.

 

[tjaded]

Plenty in stock at www.justfilmsf.com

 

[jeroldharter]

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

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]

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.

 

[tkamiya]

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]

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.

 

[tkamiya]

My rule of thumb is a hundred rolls of 120 on-hand.

That's A LOT of film! I'm thinking two dozens to start... (35mm)

 

[DLawson]

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.

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.

 

[Matt5791]

Just to say, we are having no difficulties with supply of Kodak black and white film (or chemistry) at present.

Matt

 

[JBrunner]

Funny, here I have TMax coming out of my orifices, but Plus X is hens teeth.

 

[tkamiya]

Funny, here I have TMax coming out of my orifices.

I do NOT want your Tmax!

 

[Uncle Bill]

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).

 

[tkamiya]

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!