david_parmet1

Long after we're all gone, our half opened bottles of Rodinal will still be good.

In fact many believe that after our civilization crumbles there will be nothing

left but Cher, cockroaches and half opened, but still useable, bottles of

Rodinal.

A couple of years ago I bought three 500ml bottles. I'm one third of the way

through the first. I'm pretty sure my kids will be using bottle three long after I'm

gone.

So in other words, this stuff lasts a loooooong time.

Can I get an amen for Tech Pan? I've just started toying with it for portraits in

120 format. The tonality is beautiful, especially skin tones. Sure it's slow and

somewhat finicky to work with, but if you are in control of the lighting - in a

studio situation for example - the results are great.<div></div>

<i>A crappy digital print is always a crappy digital print</i>

<br>

truer words were never spoken.

<br>

;-)

My own working method is to use a densitometer first. Than I'll shoot a few

rolls of a new film and adjust accordingly. Like you said a scientifically

determined film speed is nice but I like to confirm it in real life situations.

three words... after nap time.

here are my twin daughters at six months. it took me that long to get one

image of them both smiling at the same time....

In my experience, TXP is a great film if and only if you can control the lighting.

It works great in the studio for portraits, lousy in the field for landscapes where

there's a wide brightness range.

AA used TXP for landscapes late in his life, but he was AA and he could do

that sort of thing.

The 400 stuff, either 35mm or 120, is a great all around film.

My Bergger negatives look like they've been dipped in coffee when I soup

them in PMK. But as in all things YMMV.

Just a thought. Once, a few months back, I forgot I was working with PMK and

didn't give my negatives enough aggitation. The negatives came out very thin

even though I gave them the correct ammount of time. PMK negatives need

aggitation every 15 seconds to build up the stain.

Crack open the canister...

Roll the film onto the reel...

Hey... how the heck did my son's glow in the dark dinosaur get in here??? I

have got to start locking this door (no kidding).

It seems to me that they are completely in the right and to be commended for protecting copyrights and releases. How do they know you are the photographer? What if they accepted everyone's word over the phone and folks started sending in their wedding pictures to avoid paying the studio for copies?

They asked you to fax them the release. What is so hard about that?

Maybe we're missing something here?

From what I can figure out in your other post... Kodak did the right thing... but anyway....

Rodinal is nothing like D-76. If you liked D-76 there are a number of home brewed options. Do a search on Divided d-76 and you'll find a ton of recipies.

And what a better way for you to stick it to Big Yellow than to mix your own?

<i>Film/silver halide is rapidly being confined to a specific form of artistic

representation, which is where it should be in the first place for it's OWN

BENEFIT. Those of us who know how to work the film/silver halide medium for

it's own artistic merits will continue to do so with no real reference to what

digital does or doesn't do. Who cares how many pixels 6x7 or 4x5 Tri-X is

equivelant to? Seriously....who cares? </i><br>

<br>

Words of wisdom indeed. <br>

<br>

On a related note.. there was a story on CNBC a few months ago about

Michael's Art Supplies stores. It seems that they are one of the only specialty

retail stores who's stock is doing well over the past two years. I guess

someone should tell whomever is still buying oil paints, sketching pads,

pastels and modeling clay that silver-based photography passed them by

decades ago.

Scott,

What is your EI and times / dilutions for TXP in Rodinal? I've been struggling

on and off with TXP and HC110 for a bit. I like the look but still think there's

something missing - perhaps the sharpness of Rodinal?

that should have read 'it's gone" not "I'm gone".... I'll be here for quite some

time longer than VP.

Rob - are you talking about Tri-X PRO 120? I soup it in HC110 as well but I

find it only really works if you have decent control over the light as in a studio

situation.

I have twenty or so rolls of VP left. I'll miss it when I'm gone.

To be completely fair, representatives of Agfa and Bergger have

responded numerous times to questions on their products.

It's a wonderful forgiving old-fashioned film. I rate it at 80 and

soup it in HC110 diluted 1:14 for 8 minutes. The negs are easy

to print with nice shadows and subtle highlights.

<p>

I don't believe rumors. But I do believe what Kodak says on it's

Web site -- that VP is going the way of the Dodo and XX this

summer.

<p>

I'm going to use the ten or so rolls I have left and call it a day.

Maybe it's time to see what FP4+ can do for me in MF.

All that is being changed is the manufacturing facility. Kodak

has stated that owing to this change there may be some

changes in development time for some users.

A more constructive dialogue would be ... now that Verichrome

Pan is no more, what films should we be looking to for similar

results?

<p>

Discuss.....

"They are obviously more interested in PR than good products

on this sector."

<p>

No, they are interested in making money for their shareholders

and returning their business to profitability.

<p>

Businesses act like businesses. They aren't charities and none

of us should expect charity from Kodak. It would have been nice

if they figured out how to continue marketing black and white

products years ago so that division would be profitiable but they

didn't. Bad Kodak. End of story.

<p>

One thing I do disagree with Jorge however. Instead of asking if

any of you used any of these films recently I'd like to know if any

of you invested in Kodak stock? Maybe if you felt the pain Kodak

shareholders have been feeling the past few years you would be

screaming for them to drop b/w instead of continuing to market

an unprofitable product line.

Why should I support any company that treats its customer (in

this case for over 40 years) so shamefully?

<p>

Charlie,

<p>

Unfortunately we aren't Kodak's customers, at least their main

customers. That would be the folks buying Gold UltraMax 200

color film at Genovese, shooting a dozen or so pictures of the

kids and dropping it off at the QuckieMart for one hour

development.

<p>

Now as soon as my father-in-law shows an interest in

Verichrome Pan or Ektachrome for his point and shoot I'll be

shooting off emails to Rochester asking them to reconsider.....

Looks like Plus-X is also going the way of the dinosaurs. I never

used it so I can't say if this is bad or badder.

<p>

In any case, I've been playing with FP4+ for a few months and

that will probably be my replacement for Verichrome Pan.

I have to agree with Jorge on this. Obviously if there was a huge

market for these films Kodak would continue to produce and sell

them. The sad fact is there isn't. But that's reality.

<p>

This is a business decision. Probably a very good one on

Kodak's part since they'll have more resources to support the

product line that remains.

<p>

I'll miss Verichrome but I'm not going to throw a tantrum. I'm

going to find a film to replace it.

Can't say if it's XX (I've only been doing bw for a few years) but it

looks lovely in PMK so it's become my standard film for that

soup.

<p>

Calumet has it for $2.99 for a roll of 120.

Bob,

<p>

Kodak's only 'commitment' -- legally, morally or otherwise -- is to

their shareholders. Period. If their black and white product line

is a drag on their bottom line (and I would bet the house that it

is) than it's the obligation of the CEO and the board to either

ditch B/W or figure out some way to make it less of a financial

drain on the company.

<p>

Rumor has it that Verichrome Pan costs Kodak more per unit to

produce than Tri-X and Pan-X. Now I shoot mainly VP and I'll

miss it as much as anyone else. On the other hand, Kodak is a

publically traded company and has a fiduciary responsibility to

it's shareholders that outweighs whatever dubious

responsibilities it has to you or I as black and white

photographers. Sorry but that's reality.

<p>

Now in light of all that, if Kodak is triming down it's black and

white product line but is investing in a new manufacturing facility

for it's remaining product line, I can't see that as anything but a

positive development in the long run.

<p>

Just my opinion.

Ed,

<p>

I agree with you as far as the consumer market goes. I don't

think it's going to happen quite as fast as some industry types

think it will but I can see the day when there is little or no

film-based photography in this market.

<p>

As far as the fine art market goes, I think it will exist for quite

some time albeit on a much smaller scale. Classes at arts

centers are full up as soon as registration starts - there will

always be new b/w fine arts photographers just like there are

always new painters and sculptors.

<p>

So maybe in 15 years Kodak will only be offering Tri-X, Plus-X

and Tmax 100 from their new 'state of the art facility.' Ilford may

only be offering Delta 100,400 and 3200. But companies like

Bergger and others that will spring up to service this market will

be providing materials. It's a lot cheaper and easier for a small

company to service a market of, say 200,000 world-wide than it

would be for a company the size of Eastman Kodak.

<p>

Or maybe I'm just being optimistic.

<p>

*sigh*