View Full Version : New B&W film comming Jan.09
I just saw in my new fall edition of Freestyle mag. a new B&W film is comming in Janurary 09 called Legacy Pro. Manufactured in Japan by one of the leading film mfg. co. in world. I'm guessing Fuji? 100 & 400 iso, good latitude, fine grain, great for fine art, portature. Typical stuff you read... Don't say anything about price. Anyhow this to me is good news & shores up some more evidence that film will be around awhile. Think it's Fuji? Is there any other film manufacture in Japan?
WOW!! Even more good news that Freestyle has partnered with a major company in the USA to make a new line of Arista premium B&W films. Thats cool! Made in the USA.
photomoof
08-23-2008, 10:26
i think in the professional world the debate between digital and film is over.
But in the art world the debate is far from over, at least among those I know. Getting ready for fall classes at my school, I toured the darkrooms with my colleague, and he tells me there remains incredible interest among his students for darkroom time.
He just acquired two new Leica enlargers, I know I am going to make some prints this fall.
ray*j*gun
08-23-2008, 10:35
My son will graduate from the Philadelphia College of Art next year and he told me that the students there are "all over film cameras". The irony is that there is very little affordable new equipment available (not point and shoot) and you need a little time and exposure to figure out the used market.
Ray
mabelsound
08-23-2008, 10:44
But in the art world the debate is far from over, at least among those I know.
I think the debate is over there, too. It's just that nobody lost. Digital is now the go-to choice, but film is different, and it's what you use when you want what it has to offer. Much in the way that nobody is arguing about digital music media vs. vinyl. If you want certain advantages, you go with digital, and if you want other ones, you go with analog.
This is good news!
Sorry that's 120 I hope they supply.
The new Fuji GF670... Planning on buying Serial number 00001
vdonovan
08-23-2008, 10:55
I agree that the art market is strong and and growing. The rental darkroom I use in San Francisco is very busy during the school year, with lots and lots of art students in their 20s doing wild stuff. A lot of them started with digital which stimulated their interest in film. Many started when someone gave them a Holga.
Also hot this year: wet plate and alternative processes.
Does anybody sense that just maybe both Kodak and Fuji have decided on their new marketing model for film? Crank up the OEM/private label channel. Get out of branding and marketing it themselves. Keeps the equipment running, profits at same (or perhaps even better) level, chops marketing and support costs to near zero. Cool.
Roger Hicks
08-23-2008, 12:40
. . . profits at same (or perhaps even better) level . . .
No.
Talk to the manufactuers.
Cheers,
R.
Ray Nalley
08-23-2008, 13:04
All you have to do is look at Kodak's and Fuji's year over year decline in film sales to see that discounting film through rebranding isn't a new model for prosperity.
ItsReallyDarren
08-23-2008, 13:43
Heres hoping for some Fuji film via Freestyle! Hypothetically if the film does come from Fuji in 100 and 400 ISO flavors whats the guess on the 100 speed? The 400 could be Neopan 400. The 100 speed; Acros? SS?
I also hope they come in bulk rolls too. Ive found a steady stream of empty 35mm cartridges from a local 1hr photo lab. Plus I get to roll my personal favorite exposures 30...
amateriat
08-23-2008, 14:30
Just got my Freestyle catalog a little earlier. Haven't cracked it open, but the buzz I'm getting from this thread sounds good.
As far as the film market is concerned, I think the name of the game is sustainability, not conquering new worlds (there aren't any). Kodak long abandoned courting the pro market for black-and-white, instead talking up the fine-art (there's that term again!) market. That was well over a decade and a half ago; near as I can tell, Tri-X, among others, is still here. :)
- Barrett
Just got my Freestyle catalog a little earlier. Haven't cracked it open, but the buzz I'm getting from this thread sounds good.
As far as the film market is concerned, I think the name of the game is sustainability, not conquering new worlds (there aren't any). Kodak long abandoned courting the pro market for black-and-white, instead talking up the fine-art (there's that term again!) market. That was well over a decade and a half ago; near as I can tell, Tri-X, among others, is still here. :)
- Barrett
What is fine art? :p
Just kidding, I think it's time for me to stock up on BW film from freestyle.
NickTrop
08-23-2008, 17:03
...wonder how this new black and white film will taste?
amateriat
08-23-2008, 17:11
...wonder how this new black and white film will taste?
Think Peter Luger's taste at Applebee's prices. :p
- Barrett
From the LUG:
The latest Freestyle catalog adds a line to their Arista re-packaged films - 'Arista Premium', made by a 'major American manufacturer'. I called to ask who makes it, and the rep said contractual obligations prevented him from saying. So I asked how should I treat it, pretty much like Tri-X? and he said pretty much.
In January they'll be offering another new line, Legacy Pro, made by a 'one of the premier film manufacturers in the world'. I asked if this stuff should be treated pretty much as Neopan, and he said pretty much.
No.
Talk to the manufactuers.
Cheers,
R.
Right; like they're going to discuss that with me and be totally forthcoming.
I still stand by my opinion.
Regards,
Earl
Does anybody sense that just maybe both Kodak and Fuji have decided on their new marketing model for film? Crank up the OEM/private label channel. Get out of branding and marketing it themselves. Keeps the equipment running, profits at same (or perhaps even better) level, chops marketing and support costs to near zero. Cool.
... and now a word from a pessimist:
Perhaps they are just dumping remaining inventories. That wouldn't be cool.
...now. Before the ebay vultures drive the price up. I am currently using HP5+ that expired in 2003 with good results. The film has been kept cool since new. ISO 100 film would last even longer.
... and now a word from a pessimist:
Perhaps they are just dumping remaining inventories. That wouldn't be cool.
John Rountree
08-25-2008, 08:02
I teach a Fundamentals class to college level Graphic Deign students. For the past two years I have offered to teach the course with Photoshop (since that is the program they use the most.) Both times they have demanded that I teach the course with the wet darkroom. I am not even going to ask this year. Film is a long way from dead.
I teach a Fundamentals class to college level Graphic Deign students. For the past two years I have offered to teach the course with Photoshop (since that is the program they use the most.) Both times they have demanded that I teach the course with the wet darkroom. I am not even going to ask this year. Film is a long way from dead.
Rather than speculate and hypothesize and theorize as to the Whys and Wherefores behind the marketing strategy, just buy the film. Thank your lucky stars that it is dirt cheap. Use the heck out of it. Make the makers, whomever they may be, realize that there are a lot of us out here shooting film.
Ray Nalley
08-25-2008, 08:36
"Both times they have demanded that I teach the course with the wet darkroom."
What use is a wet darkroom class to Graphic Design students? It is extremely unlikely they will ever encounter or use one in the future.
Chriscrawfordphoto
08-25-2008, 09:46
"Both times they have demanded that I teach the course with the wet darkroom."
What use is a wet darkroom class to Graphic Design students? It is extremely unlikely they will ever encounter or use one in the future.
Graphic designers will never do photography of any kind themselves anyway, but the schools often make them take it. The students already know how to use Photoshop because it is used in their illustration and layout classes too, so they probably see photography as something fun and want film because it looks like more fun than digital.
shadowfox
08-25-2008, 10:19
This maybe the beginning of the confirmation that I was hoping for.
A confirmation on whether the "art" community/industry can sustain the production of film, the way it sustains painting supplies/equipment. If this trend continues, we as film users have a reason to rejoice, or at least a glimmer of hope.
I say Freestyle is one of the companies that is smart enough to realize the potential of this niche. One thing for sure, they are getting my money these days.
As an aside, for those (pro or not, "artist" or not) who are satisfied with digital only, the debate is long over, the dead horse has been beaten to dust. :)
...now. Before the ebay vultures drive the price up. I am currently using HP5+ that expired in 2003 with good results. The film has been kept cool since new. ISO 100 film would last even longer.
I don't understand your response, Wayne. It's true but has nothing to do with my posting. Perhaps I was too stingy with words... I tend to do that. My comment has nothing to do with how long film lasts. My comment was to provide counterpoint to the exhuberation that film production is on an upswing. I simply hypothesize, based on no data at all, that perhaps the film manufacturers are not trying to keep their production lines running but, rather, are just cleaning out the warehouses. Without additional information to make me believe that they are continuing (or increasing) film production I remain slightly pessimistic. If someone could produce evidence of new patents, or increased hiring at the film production plants... then I'd change my tune.
Like you, I continue to shoot older film too... some of which has even been stored in rather dubious environments!
ok, MY REPLY WAS STINGY TOO. What I meant was that anyone who thinks film production may be ending soon should load up their freezers at $2/roll. If/When Father Kodak and Fujisan make the dreaded announcement, folks will start hoarding & the prices will skyrocket. Look at what happend to Polaroid Type 55 P/N film.
"Both times they have demanded that I teach the course with the wet darkroom."
What use is a wet darkroom class to Graphic Design students? It is extremely unlikely they will ever encounter or use one in the future.
BECAUSE IT TEACHES SOME FUNDAMENTALS ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.