patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Just got it confirmed from Robert Öbrink from Agfa Sweden. Agfa discontinues ALL 120-film. Color, slide, and B/W films. Goodbye Agfa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joachim_inkmann1 Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 That's really bad news! I will miss Scala. Digital "photography" (in the absence of a better word) turns out to be more harmful to photography than I thought. Let's hope that Fuji and Kodak can benefit sufficiently from Agfa's move to keep their 120 films alive for many years to come. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to Scala. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_goldfarb Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 If shipping from Europe doesn't make it prohibitively expensive, dr5 is an alternative to Scala, and quite a good one. Info at www.dr5.com Also, there is the T-Max reversal kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman_kuznetsov Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 It is sad to hear... I liked their Optima II and RSX100... May be it's time to fill my freezer until stocks last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oskar_ojala Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Bad...on the bright side I've had some time to perfect my FP4+ processing due to the lack of Agfa BW in sheet sizes (and APX100 in 120 is/was curiously expensive here.) Some lab in Denmark quit their Scala line, so the future of Scala processing here in Finland (Agfa used to send the film to Denmark) is unsure. I've never shot Scala, so maybe it's good that I don't know what I miss, but it's interesting to see how this situation develops... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per__ystein_pettersen Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Hmmm... A quick look in the fridge reveals - 3 rolls of Fuji Acros - 5 rolls of Kodak T-Max 100 - 4 rolls of Ilford Delta 100 - 1 roll of Fuji Velvia - 1 roll of Fuji Provia - 4 rolls of Kodak E100VS I don't think I know what I'll be missing - anything I should rush out and buy while stocks last?? --POP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lkv Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Sad ! I like there film most ! And used a lot of Optima. That said, it is not surprising as their film was already hard to find. I think they were killed by bad distribution more than by digital... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 They will still make 135-film, but for how long? In 120, I love APX 100, and have just learned to like Optima. :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marck mcgill Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 <i>Joachim Inkmann , apr 13, 2004; 07:03 a.m.<br> That's really bad news! I will miss Scala. Digital "photography" (in the absence of a better word) turns out to be more harmful to photography than I thought.<br><br></i>LOL!!! But things like this will always happen until forum fellows won't refrain from asking the "professional's" opinion, disregarding the difference between a professional and an artist.<br><br>Too bad. I was already missing Agfa Portriga to death, now there's something more that I will miss. Oh, well, many others missed Platinum paper long ago, but the world is still here. Anyway thanks, digital photoCRAPhy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db1 Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 FROM AGFA UK: This is from AGFA UK: Dear Mr. B, Thank you for your e-mail. Medium format films are currently under review by many manufacturers including Agfa but we have made no decision to discontinue it. The vast majority of 120 film has traditionally been bought by professionals but it is also this market that is turning most rapidly to digital technology. There is no denying that 120 sales are declining. Taking these market trends into account we will be examining the situation very closely to determine future manufacturing capacity. Should we take a decision to discontinue 120 format, a proper announcement will be made in the Photographic press. I hope this information is of help. Regards, Philip Miller Corporate Communications Manager Agfa UK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanky Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Just great. After reading several threads by hopefuls that digital won't completely kill off film we get this news. Ilford also mentioned they won't make 220 film anymore. Sigh...I'm really starting to think I made a bad decision blowing several grand on a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II. Agfa may just be the first in a domino effect of film just completey going away. I was planning to hit some photo swap meets next month to pick up another 120 back but maybe I should start saving up for a 10K digital back for my camera if ones available and I can get it this cheap :-/ Regards, Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db1 Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 I won't believe anything until I see it in writing. Patric has made several claims in the past about about Agfa. I'm not sure what to think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everitt Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 If this is true, then I am very sad, APX 100 was becoming my favorite B&W film. Dammit Agfa! Oh well, as long as Ilford keeps making FP4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 David B, this is what Robert Öbrink told me in his email: "Hej, Ryktet talar sant. 120-filmen kommer att utgå ur sortimentet under året. Mvh Robert." (The rumor is true. The 120-films will dissapear from the sortiment during this year) When I asked him if it's only in Sweden, he replied: "120-filmen utgår H E L T." (The 120-films will dissapear C O M P L E A T L Y). That's all I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everitt Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 I'm shocked how soon one of the big companies would make such a decision. Do you all think that 120 b&w films will be reduced to niche companies like Efke, Foma, and Maco in a few years? I might have to invest in digital sooner than I thought. This is bad timing, I just bought a used Pentax 6x7 (although for very cheap...) :.-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j._raabe Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Can't say I've ever used Agfa 120 film, though I have used some APX100 in 4x5 - nice, but not quite what I wanted.. Some of us use Foma and Efke/Maco almost exclusively, so this news doesn't hurt too much. Now, Ilford discontinuing 220 film, that hurts - but as long as they keep 120 around, there is an alternative to Foma & Efke/Maco. Kodak/Globo-Chem can kill off whatever they want, but I hope HIE stays around a good while - has anyone else noticed HIE dropped $1.50 in price at B&H???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everitt Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Yeah, I'd love to (and going to) try the Efke and Foma films (I've tried Maco 820, nice film), but I'm really worried about North American availabilty of them in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim obrien Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Well, it sure does make me feel better about my decision to boycott Agfa after them dropping their 4x5 stuff last year. The only Agfa product I buy now is Rodinal, and that might not be long for the world either. tim in san jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 This shouldn't be a surprise. When Agfa dropped Ultra 50 (which sold reasonably well in 120) and brought out Ultra 100 a year later in 35mm only, it was obvious what was going on. A local source of film has been unloading their 220 (which I don't use) as the bottom has dropped out of the business for that. I wouldn't expect the major players to keep more than a couple of different films over the next two years. Music and Portraits Blog: Life in Portugal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward_zimmermann Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 och himmel falla.... Du eller Agfa varit mycket dum... och Jag tror ikke Agfa macht slutta med 120 filma ..... i Sveriga? lilla Sverige...... maybe.. men Sverige ar ikke.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 Mr. Zimmermann, yes Agfa very stoopid if tell peepole wrong tings. Very sad my eyes bee too if Agfa stop make nice film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
._._z Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Agfa has been retrenching its business for a long time. It tried to sell off the film part of its business a couple of years ago but got no takers (at least none who'd offer what Agfa thought the business was worth) and upon keeping it started trimming back on its film- related product lines and introduced cost savings and layoffs. Competing film producers will now be evaluating the market to decide whether they can make money by going after customers about to be abandoned by Agfa, or whether they believe the Rubicon has been crossed, the market is shrinking rapidly, and that they need to follow Agfa's lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 <i>"Competing film producers will now be evaluating the market to decide whether they can make money by going after customers about to be abandoned by Agfa, or whether they believe the Rubicon has been crossed, the market is shrinking rapidly, and that they need to follow Agfa's lead."</i><br><br>On the other hand the other companies could see it as a chance to take over the market Agfa had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 I wrote an email via the web form om agfa.de and wanted them to confirm the information I got from Agfa Sweden. I <b>truly</b> hope that Öbrink at Agfa was misinformed. But I don't know what to expect to hear from Agfa Germany since they haven't gone out in public with the discontinuation yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 "om"? I meant "at". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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