What is the deal? (TXP 320)

I know its discontinued, and I know some rare rolls are popping up in different places, but I did a search tonight to see if there was any around.. and found a few listed.. between 9.00 and 12.00 per roll. Is this what it is going for now?

It's a classic film and now discontinued. Want to see ridiculous mark-up? Look at the prices of some Kodachrome.

I have some, and actually prefer Plus-X (I am a slower speed guy).. maybe I should part with it while its fresh.

Remember, what's left is 220, so $9-12 isn't as out of line as it would be for 120. I found some at justfilm.com a month or two ago and I think I paid around $30-35 for a 5-pack (but I also think it was the last he had). Uniquephoto.com still had 40-odd rolls left the last time I looked, but that's been a few weeks.

I specifically looked for 120.. 220 was about 15.00 or more. So many people looking for it, so I decided to sell mine. If it doesn't sell, I will just shoot it.

photomem said:

If it doesn't sell, I will just shoot it.

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Put it out of its misery.

(I don't know what I'm waiting for on my small stock, I should just go use it and stop waiting for a special occasion.)

I grew up in Nashville BTW, so it's good to see someone here from Memphis.

I would gladly trade Pasadena for Memphis.. just about shot everything I can here.

I decided that I would take offers on the film.. If that doesnt work, I will put it out of its misery..

When the discontinuation was annouced, I ordered ten rolls from B&H at about $4 a 120 roll. The US Post Office lost the film and B&H did not have any more left, and B&H promptly returned the money.

I got a PM from an APUGGer that pointed me to a source in San Francisco who shipped me ten rolls at $5 a 120 roll.

$6 to $9 a roll of 220 is not a bad price.

Steve

I think I may have misunderstood the chronology--so we've gone from TXP320 in 120 and 220, to 220 being yanked (which prompted me to go order some), to 120 also being yanked, so now no TXP320 at all.

Moved this thread to product availability, and as has been mentioned in numerous threads, TXP will no longer be manufactured in either 120 or 220 formats. It will still be available as a sheet film.

cfclark said:

I think I may have misunderstood the chronology--so we've gone from TXP320 in 120 and 220, to 220 being yanked (which prompted me to go order some), to 120 also being yanked, so now no TXP320 at all.

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It's still available in sheet film, but that doesn't mean that Kodak is going to make any more of it. Unfortunately, Kodak doesn't announce product discontinuations until stocks are nearly depleted.

Chazzy said:

It's still available in sheet film, but that doesn't mean that Kodak is going to make any more of it...

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Please share whatever it is that makes you think 320TXP in sheets is close to being discontinued. B&H appears to run out of it on a farily regular basis. Then, one or two weeks later, it's back in stock. Whenever I order some (5x7 or 8x10), it's always fresh with an expiration date more than two years distant.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just wondering if you have any solid basis for your concern. Everything I read indicates that Kodak sells more Tri-X than any other black and white film, so it ought to be the last to go.

Sal Santamaura said:

Please share whatever it is that makes you think 320TXP in sheets is close to being discontinued. B&H appears to run out of it on a farily regular basis. Then, one or two weeks later, it's back in stock. Whenever I order some (5x7 or 8x10), it's always fresh with an expiration date more than two years distant.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just wondering if you have any solid basis for your concern. Everything I read indicates that Kodak sells more Tri-X than any other black and white film, so it ought to be the last to go.

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On another related thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists), I give my thoughts as to why Kodak would discontinue TXP. The cost of manufacturing is the lesser cost; it is the storage, promotion, shipping, returns and tracking that are a killer, not to mention the human costs of labour, benefits and training and the business costs such as depreciation and servicing debt for unsold product. Thus, if it costs $50k to manufacture a small roll which sells for $75k over a two/three year period, is $25k worth the time, effort and cost for such a realistically small market.

To put it another way, I am unaware of a large format only film anywhere in the market. Does anyone know of a commerically available film that can only be bought in sheets and not rolls or canisters? Given the small market for sheet film, any business would likely not consider it worth the time and extra costs.

Sal, remember that 320TXP and Tri-X (ASA 400) are two different films with different formulations and characteristics. I think Kodak still sells a lot (relatively speaking) of Tri-X 400 in all formats.

320TXP was intended as a pro film for use primarily in studio portraits. Since the studio pros have mostly moved to digital, the demand has probably collapsed. There's not enough of a difference between 320TXP and Tri-X 400 to attract new fans to the film.

I agree that 320TXP in sheets is probably on death watch. Maybe there are enough LF shooters out there to keep both 320TXP and Tri-X 400 alive in the coming years, but I would be surprised.

Sal Santamaura said:

Please share whatever it is that makes you think 320TXP in sheets is close to being discontinued. B&H appears to run out of it on a farily regular basis. Then, one or two weeks later, it's back in stock. Whenever I order some (5x7 or 8x10), it's always fresh with an expiration date more than two years distant.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just wondering if you have any solid basis for your concern. Everything I read indicates that Kodak sells more Tri-X than any other black and white film, so it ought to be the last to go.

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Kevin Kehler said:

On another related thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists), I give my thoughts as to why Kodak would discontinue TXP...

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Yes, and in that thread it was pointed out to you that the 120 and sheet films are separately manufactured on different bases.

Kevin Kehler said:

...The cost of manufacturing is the lesser cost;...Thus, if it costs $50k to manufacture a small roll which sells for $75k over a two/three year period, is $25k worth the time, effort and cost for such a realistically small market...

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Kodak doesn't manufacture a "small roll" of any film. Your numbers appear to be pure conjecture, based, it seems, on absolutely nothing. I have no hard knowledge about how much sheet 320TXP sells, only observations based on a major retailer's stock status and the expiration dates when I purchase film. If you are privy to Kodak's 320TXP sales data, please share it. And please tell us how you got around the proprietary information disclosure restrictions.

Kevin Kehler said:

...I am unaware of a large format only film anywhere in the market. Does anyone know of a commerically available film that can only be bought in sheets and not rolls or canisters? Given the small market for sheet film, any business would likely not consider it worth the time and extra costs.

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This is a red herring. Kodak is currently offering "Tri-X" in rolls and sheets. In rolls it's 400TX and in sheets it's 320TXP. No different than making any other "film" in rolls and sheets. Same double manufacturing runs, same double storage and finishing. The only difference is they use a different recipe when preparing the emulsions for each run. I'm not even certain that's a difference. TMY-2 differs between sheets and roll; is the UV absorber a separate layer simply omitted for sheets or is it mixed / not mixed in a layer that's coated on both? Ron?

vdonovan said:

...320TXP and Tri-X (ASA 400) are two different films with different formulations and characteristics. I think Kodak still sells a lot (relatively speaking) of Tri-X 400 in all formats...

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Yes, they're different, but Kodak calls them both "Tri-X." It offers no lower-level detail when advertising that "Tri-X is the world's best selling black and white film." Do you have specific knowledge of the sales volume distribution? I don't.

vdonovan said:

...320TXP was intended as a pro film for use primarily in studio portraits. Since the studio pros have mostly moved to digital, the demand has probably collapsed..

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Studio pros abandoned sheet film for rolls long before they went digital. Digital probably killed 320TXP in rolls, but it seems unlikely to have had a significant impact on sheets. Most users of sheet 320TXP are amateurs and "fine art photographers."

vdonovan said:

...There's not enough of a difference between 320TXP and Tri-X 400 to attract new fans to the film...Maybe there are enough LF shooters out there to keep both 320TXP and Tri-X 400 alive in the coming years, but I would be surprised.

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Their common name ("Tri-X") is the real problem. 320TXP in sheets competes with other sheet films, not with roll films. In my opinion, it's sufficiently unique to have a competitive advantage in that market. I'm not certain how long Kodak will be in the film business period, but, if 320TXP disappears before Kodak's other sheet films, I'll be surprised. Disappointed perhaps. Not shocked. My freezer is filling with the stuff while it's still easily purchased in a very fresh condition. It's that special.

I am concerned that self-fulfilling Internet prophecies will hasten the demise of products which might otherwise remain commercially viable further into the future. When it's over, it's over, but why indirectly discourage anyone from using a film by posting speculative predictions without real supporting data?

One other thing to note. Purchasing a 10-sheet box of 8x10 film puts as much revenue in Kodak's coffers and uses as large a percentage of a master roll as buying 10 rolls in 120. The best way to keep film manufacturers in business is to move up-format. ULF anyone?

Sal Santamaura said:

Yes, and in that thread it was pointed out to you that the 120 and sheet films are separately manufactured on different bases.

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Yes and in the same thread I admitted I had forgotten that; however, when Kodak discontinued TXP, the press release admitted TXP was less that 5% of their Tri-X roll film sales.

Sal Santamaura said:

Kodak doesn't manufacture a "small roll" of any film. Your numbers appear to be pure conjecture, based, it seems, on absolutely nothing. I have no hard knowledge about how much sheet 320TXP sells, only observations based on a major retailer's stock status and the expiration dates when I purchase film. If you are privy to Kodak's 320TXP sales data, please share it. And please tell us how you got around the proprietary information disclosure restrictions. .

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You are making my point for me, Kodak does not make a small roll of film simply because it is not economical. Why would they run a huge roll of sheet film for a relatively small market, just to sit there for several years as it slowly sells. As for my numbers, yes they are conjecture and if you follow Kodak in any fashion, you know they do not release the numbers. However, given their press releases and more importantly, their actions of the past 5-7 years, it is clear that making less than X amount of profit is not sufficient and anything not generating sufficient returns is being cut, no matter how popular it is for a particular niche market.

Sal Santamaura said:

This is a red herring. Kodak is currently offering "Tri-X" in rolls and sheets. In rolls it's 400TX and in sheets it's 320TXP. No different than making any other "film" in rolls and sheets. Same double manufacturing runs, same double storage and finishing. The only difference is they use a different recipe when preparing the emulsions for each run. I'm not even certain that's a difference. TMY-2 differs between sheets and roll; is the UV absorber a separate layer simply omitted for sheets or is it mixed / not mixed in a layer that's coated on both? Ron?

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This is not a red herring, it's the whole point! Tri-X and TXP are completely different films with different emulsions and different characteristics. TXP is not TX on a different base! You can't say the only difference is the recipe any more than you can say the only difference between cheesecake and hamburgers is the recipe and what kind of plate it is served on.

Sal Santamaura said:

Most users of sheet 320TXP are amateurs and "fine art photographers."

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Probably true since very few professional photographers shoot B&W film anymore. The vast majority of professionals are digital and even amongst the film professionals, most are in colour (Velvia and landscapes come to mind). However, to ask your question, where are you getting your facts from?

Sal Santamaura said:

In my opinion, it's sufficiently unique to have a competitive advantage in that market. I'm not certain how long Kodak will be in the film business period, but, if 320TXP disappears before Kodak's other sheet films, I'll be surprised. Disappointed perhaps. Not shocked. My freezer is filling with the stuff while it's still easily purchased in a very fresh condition. It's that special.

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Having a unique look is no long sufficient to survive, not when shareholders want more than 2% returns. Polariod was more than unique. Yes, we think it is special too and the point of the thread was to determine what price this special stuff should sell for.

Sal Santamaura said:

I am concerned that self-fulfilling Internet prophecies will hasten the demise of products which might otherwise remain commercially viable further into the future. When it's over, it's over, but why indirectly discourage anyone from using a film by posting speculative predictions without real supporting data?

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Nobody wants any film to be discontinued but it is what is happening. Do I hope film is here in 200 years? Yes. Do I expect it to be? Nope. Is that a self-fulfilling prophecy or just a realistic expectation of where the trend is going to be.

Kevin, you seem to have a desire for sheet 320TXP to become extinct sooner rather than later, and are determined to "win." I'm not posting in search of a debating triumph.

Kevin Kehler said:

...You are making my point for me...

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I didn't make any point for you. My point was that neither of us has numerical information from which to conclude that sheet 320TXP will be around for another X months/years. Since all this is pure conjecture, why discourage any readers who might be interested in trying this unique product from "discovering" it? The more of them who do, the more Kodak will sell, and the longer it will be available.

Boy, I didn't mean to start this kind of debate.. I am just shocked how the prices for this stuff has spiked. You would think it used sheet gold as the substrate or something.

I don't know what it is going for, but at this point, I would not pay anybody any more than its latest retail price: around $4 per roll.

If somebody wants to pay stupid prices for a film that is still fresh and in plentiful supply from various sources, I have ten 120 rolls of it that I would sell to this somebody (expired March, 2008, but frozen)!

Sal Santamaura said:

Kevin, you seem to have a desire for sheet 320TXP to become extinct sooner rather than later, and are determined to "win." I'm not posting in search of a debating triumph.

I didn't make any point for you. My point was that neither of us has numerical information from which to conclude that sheet 320TXP will be around for another X months/years. Since all this is pure conjecture, why discourage any readers who might be interested in trying this unique product from "discovering" it? The more of them who do, the more Kodak will sell, and the longer it will be available.

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A) I have never wished for any film, even those I have never nor would ever use, to go extinct. Film is a wonderful thing that I wish more people used but I don't see how I would "win" at being realistic about the future of a singular product. On top of which, TXP is probably my favorite film and I would love to afford a larger format camera just so I can continue to use this film. Please do not put words in my mouth or my posts.

B) Yes this thread is conjecture but conjecture based on previous experience and the ability to read market trends and financial statements.That said, if you are a large-format user participating on APUG, likely you are not going to be swayed toward or away from using a particular product based upon what one person thinks.

Photomen, I apologize your thread got so off topic but I am done any more posts on this thread. If you have some TXP, by all means shoot it or sell it to someone who will use it.

I've got a few rolls of Panatomic-X 120 for only $75.00 a roll, they are original and in the unopened boxes. No guarantee of quality for these due to the age but what the hey they are an original and nothing compares. Free shipping!