Decimated sheet film makers

[ditkoofseppala]

Trying to get back into LF photography after a 40-year hiatus has its traumatic moments. Surveying the sheet film scene is one example. How many soldiers will be left standing after the digital/analog battle dies down? Both in terms of the makers, and the available emulsions. Eastman Kodak is "rationalising". Ilford apparently hived its analog photo-emulsion and chemicals biz into a specialist division, which is now gobbling up minor makers (Kentmere, e.g.). A small corps of unfamiliar eastern-European companies now make film; I see the venerable Adox name has been resuscitated by one of them.

A lot of Googling has given me a little illumination plus a large measure of confusion. I never used to think about these things much; I just walked into my neighbourhood photo shop and bought a box or two of the wide variety of Kodak sheet film emulsions; I bought some Agfa film for 35mm and rollfilm cameras.

I hear the newer Kodak tabular-grain emulsions are pretty unforgiving about processing, and not everyone is in love with their gradation. I'd rather stick with more traditional materials, but I'm not even sure which of the names I see in these forums are still producing -- a lot of film seems to come out of the deepfreeze these days rather than off the dealers' shelves. I heard Forte (a name I don't remember from my youth) is "defunct," for example.

Could some kind soul outline what IS currently available? Particularly along the line of slower emulsions? I never had much use for Tri-X and HP-5 in LF; always thought those were for the handheld camera crew. I have a lot of barrel-mount lenses, so slow emulsions make life easier when you're using your hat or a Galli shutter to measure exposure!

I never had a lot of luck with Ilford, either; always preferred Kodak. I think I have a fair idea of what both makers have just now (Ilford: FP4+, HP5+, Delta Pro 100, Commercial Ortho. Kodak: TMax 100, TMax 400, Tri-X.) So could somebody give me a good survey of the minor makers and what they have available in 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10?

Chemistry . . . but that's worth another separate thread. I'm glad D-76 and Rodinal have survived, anyway.

[Terence McDonagh]

I'd say your best bet is to look at B&H's, Freestyle's and Badger Graphic's websites. Between the three, I believe they have just about everything available in the U.S.

[John Bowen]

What you haven't inquired about are the manufacturer's Quality Control. I would suggest you stick with Kodak, Ilford or Fuji if you value quality control in your films. Many of the other manufacturers have had QC issues reported......this probably relates to the 50+ year old equipment they use.

Just my 2 Cents

[Christopher Breitenstein]

Welcome back!

Go with either Freestyle or B&H. Personally, I use freestyle. The transit time living in AZ is about two days. Their prices on 8x10 film are a little higher, but I think its worth it for many reasons.

To be honest, I would say one or two companies will be producing Lf film in 15-20 years, if we are lucky. I still fell this is very optimistic. I just hope it dosn't go belly up before I have the financial capacity to buy a life-times worth.

Im 22 and have never known the 'local camera shop.' The closest thing I have ever had is a Ritz, and the local pawn shop that occasionally got some equipment. I have found the places to pick up used equipment are this forum, Keh.com, Mpex.com (midwest photo exchange), and finally Ebay. For new gear I would go to Frestyle, B&H, or Badger Graphic. If you are looking for something really specific (a certain light meter, Size of dark cloth, shutter calibration, etc...), ask on the forum, because their are several individuals running home businesses that produce wonderful gear and provide the best of service.

With all the companies going under their is a glimmer of hope. It seems for every company that closes it's doors another, usually in eastern Europe or Russia, opens. Fotokemika is one of these, and in my opinion their paper is quite good. In addition their are all sorts of startup magazines who are looking for artists to cover their pages w/. Not to mention the trmendous effort being put forward by Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee. Who have established an amazing publishing company, The Lodima Press, and are working on a replacement for kodak Azo.

Things are not all all bad, but I know film based processes will all but disappear in my lifetime.

Yours;

[Christopher Breitenstein]

What you haven't inquired about are the manufacturer's Quality Control. I would suggest you stick with Kodak, Ilford or Fuji if you value quality control in your films. Many of the other manufacturers have had QC issues reported......this probably relates to the 50+ year old equipment they use.

Just my 2 Cents

I second this.

[Christopher Breitenstein]

Chemistry . . . but that's worth another separate thread. I'm glad D-76 and Rodinal have survived, anyway.

I make all my own developers, and buy the ingredients in large quntities from chemical supply houses. But nearly all the developing agents must be ordered through a specialty retailer. I do this because nobody makes ansco 130 paper developer, or ABC Pyro for film. Their are still several companies producing chemistry, but a lot of them are rather obscure.

[Bill_1856]

I nobody makes ansco 130 paper developer, or ABC Pyro for film. .

Is Photograpy Formulary now out of business too?

[ditkoofseppala]

Well, I've worked my way through Badger and Freestyle (having done Adorama earlier), will check B&H next. My heart sank when I saw how little Badger had to offer. Freestyle had a LOT more.

I'm sure quality control in small eastern-European firms will be more of an issue than it is with Kodak and Ilford. The question is, just HOW bad is it? I saw the thread about the mis-sized Bergger 4x5 stuff; presumably the retailers will take it back and get on the distributor's case, and so on back up the line. It used to be considered good practice, anyway (once upon a time) to buy in bulk and run tests on each new emulsion number just to be sure. I'm sure that would be essential now with the small firms.

I note the "Arista EDU Ultra" films, priced about half what the others cost. Has anyone tried these, and if so, just HOW bad are they? And how about Adox, Efke, Foma and Bergger? As I said, I like SLOW emulsions, and they just aren't available any more from the remaining Big Two.

And Christopher, the next 15 or 20 years are probably all I've got left anyway! After that, it's YOUR problem! But you never can tell! The situation may stabilise, or the pendulum might even swing back a bit, as it presently appears to be doing. Small companies are no bad thing. If analog photography remains firmly established as a dependable niche market, smaller companies will be interested in supplying it. And small companies tend to be more responsive to the wishes of their customers. So life may not be that bad for you youngsters. Just as a reminder of the unpredictability of life, remember that half a century or so ago, somebody estimated that the total market for computers might be 5 or 6 machines! Somebody made a collection of dumb categorical statements and predictions in that field, and it sure makes funny reading today. There's simply no knowing what the next fifty years will bring.

[cyrus]

Is Photograpy Formulary now out of business too?

Nope!

[David Karp]

I have never tried it, but lots of people like Arista.edu Ultra. It is the same as Fomapan.