Doesn't Kodak want to sell 8x10 Tri-X anymore?

[Nathan Potter]

Manufacturing operations are run wholly by marketing and business people now and every aspect addresses a bottom $$ line. This in turn is driven by shareholder and stock value interests. I'd guess that the 10 sheet per box strategy is simply a way for Kodak to make more return per unit of sales; and may be necessary to preserve Kodaks' film business on a firm financial basis. I can assure you that this has been carefully thought out by Kodak financial people.

Of course it does not mean that the strategy will be successful.

Nate Potter

[BarryS]

I wonder how many 8x10 shooters they surveyed to come up with that plan? Because a 10 sheet box just pisses me off and Kodak isn't fooling anyone with that "more economical" song and dance. I'm not thinking--"Hey a BOX of Kodak film is sooooo affordable now!", but "where can I find alternatives with packaging that suits my needs and a lower per sheet price?" If photographers look elsewhere, that contributes to a death spiral--not increased revenues.

[ic-racer]

On Kodak's website is a Q&A on the new T-Max 400. One of the answers is clearly misleading, if not deceptive. The question "Are you making any other changes?" is answered as follows, "...We will be replacing 50-sheet sizes of 8x10 sheet film with more economical 10-sheet sizes" (referring to T-Max 100, T-Max 400, Tri-X 320). Granted a 10-sheet box would cost less than a 50-sheet box, but a sheet in the 10-sheet box costs $1.62 more than a sheet in the old 50-sheet box. Obviously, not more economical where it counts, price per sheet. Their statement is clearly misleading, wrong. I hate to see Kodak act like this. I would like to think better of them.

Its 'more economical' for THEM! They get an additional $1.62 per sheet!

[Frank Petronio]

My thread asking for alternatives to 8x10 Tri-X was met with, "Don't change, film is the cheapest part of the workflow and don't take shortcuts." So we're faced with a monopoly situation and they can charge whatever they think the market will bear.

Shoot less film. It worked for oil prices, and if Kodak decides to shut down its B&W film lines then China or someplace will pick it up. But I doubt it will happen.

[Wayne Lambert]

I haven't even mentioned the aggravation that must ensue from loading a batch of holders from 10-sheet boxes vs. 25- or 50-sheet boxes or keeping up with all those boxes on a trip. Others have succinctly noted those problems. Those alone would be more than enough to drive someone to 25-sheet boxes of HP-5. But if you stick with Tri-X....a 100 sheets is only $164 more than what I formerly paid....and it's an awfully good film....and....so....

[Don7x17]

Here's the PER SQUARE INCH prices of recent film (at bottom are the Freestyle prices that started the discussion). Looks like a general price increase across their line. No unusual considering the price of silver, etc.
Still 8x10 in 10's is better deal than the ULF special cuts....

ULF price sq inch
TMY 25 14 x 17 $388.00 $0.065
TMY 25 11 x 14 $250.00 $0.065
TMY 25 7 x 17 $194.00 $0.065
TMY 50 5 x 7 $113.00 $0.065
TMY 25 20 x 24 $799.00 $0.067
TMY 25 6.5 x 8.5 $89.00 $0.064
Freestyle:
TriX 10 8 x 10 $46.99 $0.059
TMY 50 8 x 10 $153.99 $0.038 old price
HP5 25 8 x 10 $81.99 $0.041
Trix Jan 50 8 x 10 $152.99 $0.038 old price
Current prices from online:
B&H TriX 10 8 x 10 $41.95 $0.052
B&H TMY 10 8 x 10 $49.50 $0.062
Calumet TMY 10 8 x 10 $51.99 $0.065
Calumet TriX 10 8 x 10 $49.99 $0.062
Glaziers Nil


...and if you think 10 sheets per box is a PITA for 8x10, consider that previous cuts of Kodak ULF film in the past 8 years came in 10 sheet boxes BUT PACKED IN 16x20 KODAK paper boxes. Now that's a PITA to transport. (Cut recently came with film-sized cheap thin cardboard about half the thickness of the back-of-pad-of-paper cardboard. Still its better than a 16x20 box for 7x17 or 12x10 film....

[Wayne Lambert]

It's true, prices are going to increase, and we will just have to deal with it.

But then there's the inconvenience factor. Now I am imagining loading a batch of 8x10 holders from 10-SHEET BOXES IN A CHANGING BAG (in a hot humid hotel room, on your knees, on a bed, at midnight, after a long day...) Imagine this with me.

[BarryS]

Does anyone know of any stores that still have some 50 sheet boxes of TMX or (old) TMY?

[BradS]

Hotel room at midnight...turn off all the lights in the room , draw the curtains and use the bathroom.

[David A. Goldfarb]

In the short term, I think the solution is just to repackage the boxes oneself into larger boxes. This doesn't expose the film to any risk. A 50 sheet box of film contained two sealed lightproof packages of 25 sheets. So if I finish the 50 sheet boxes I have in the freezer before Kodak comes to their senses--if they do come to their senses--and starts selling larger boxes again, I'll just repackage 4 or 5 sealed 10-sheet packets into a 50 sheet box, if I'm traveling with the 8x10 camera.