EFKE/Fotokemika now completely gone!

[Keith]

I started this thread a couple of weeks ago after hearing the news from Freestyle that Efke were ceasing production of photo papers but continuing with film.

Well it now seems that it's all over for EFKE/Fotokemika ... film included!

Very, very sad news IMO. LINK

[rxmd]

Elsewhere someone quoted a German thread from the Fotoimpex forum (http://forum.fotoimpex.de/index.php?showtopic=2589) which contained some interesting information by Mikro Böddecker of ADOX on this (who visited the plant to convince the director otherwise):

* There is a small chance of a last production run of the film, though not of the paper
* Paper production has ceased because a machine is broken and it is uneconomical to repair it
* Efke production is unsustainable because every factory has a minimum turnover; for this to be economical there has to be a minimum price; and this price would now be too high to compete with the prices of Ilford & Kodak who have better access to dealers
* There are plans to develop a new film in the 25-32-50 ASA range at Adox as a replacement for the popular Adox CHS 50
* The B&W film market is no longer shrinking.

[c.poulton]

Yes, very sad indeed! I used to shoot a lot of the CHS Art 50 before 'moving on' to Pan-f, maybe I should try to get a few rolls for old times sake before it disappears completely?

Let's hope that ADOX do manage to salvage something and continue producing film.....

[thegman]

A shame, I hope ADOX develop this new film, I'll be happy to try it out.

[teddy]

My favourite film - just when I was getting used to it.


Elmarit 90/2.8, Efke 100, Adonal 1:100 60 mins


Elmarit 90/2.8, Efke 100, Adonal 1:100 60 mins


Rolleiflex 75/3.5, Efke 25, Adonal 1:100 60 mins


Rolleiflex 75/3.5, Efke 25, Adonal 1:100 60 mins


Leica Summaron 35/2.8, Efke 25, Adonal 1:100 60 mins


My lovely wife and son
Elmar 90/4, Efke 25, Adonal 1:100 60 mins

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

A damned shame, I really liked the KB-100 film. It was gorgeous in Rodinal or PMK, a look no modern film gave.




Both Efke 100 35mm in PMK.

[Keith]

Damn! Chris ... I like that second shot!

I may order some 100 in 120 over the next couple days while Freestyle still have it ... the price is pretty reasonable.

[Keith]

It's just occured to me that if Fujifilm continues with their general trend of discontinuing emulsions at the rate they have been Ilford could finish up virtually controlling the film market ... I have no faith in Kodak continuing as Kodak sorry!

I seriously don't like Ilford's various film emulsions enough for that to be viable for me and I would prefer the scenario of someone picking up EK's production facilities and calling it whatever they want ... just keep making the damned stuff!

[Brian Legge]

I shoot Acros and Tri X. :\

I've tried Ilfords offerings a few times but can't seem to find my rhythm with them. If they're going to be the last one standing and if they bulk purchases will keep prices from exploding I'd absolutely switch to their film and figure out how to make it work.

[jbielikowski]

Well, Adox is simply better...

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Originally Posted by Keith

I would prefer the scenario of someone picking up EK's production facilities and calling it whatever they want ... just keep making the damned stuff!

EK's film division is announced for sale, so this scenario is quite possible.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Brian Legge

I shoot Acros and Tri X. :\

I've tried Ilfords offerings a few times but can't seem to find my rhythm with them. If they're going to be the last one standing and if they bulk purchases will keep prices from exploding I'd absolutely switch to their film and figure out how to make it work.

That's exactly how I feel ... now and then HP5+ looks promising and then I get a series of exposures that look really blah!

I've had some pleasing results with PanF+ but it tends to be a bit contrasty!

[teddy]

Are there any other films which are silver rich like Efke/Adox types? Does Fomapan come close?

[Ronald_H]

Time to buy a boatload of their 127 film then... I like their b/w films a lot, also in more common formats. Indeed a shame.

[sevo]

Originally Posted by teddy

Are there any other films which are silver rich like Efke/Adox types? Does Fomapan come close?

I don't really know why Efke is considered silver rich - technically, Adox was a pioneer of thin coatings, and while the Adox coatings contain more silver by coating volume, they marked a considerable reduction in silver content by roll, compared to other unstructured grain film of equivalent sensitivity.

That is, Foma, APX, Tri-X and the non-Delta Ilford films probably are more "silver rich". At least Foma should be, being a generation older than APX, "+" Ilford and "improved" Tri X. But they are quite different in structure and results.

[Vincent.G]

Originally Posted by Keith

It's just occured to me that if Fujifilm continues with their general trend of discontinuing emulsions at the rate they have been Ilford could finish up virtually controlling the film market ... I have no faith in Kodak continuing as Kodak sorry!

I seriously don't like Ilford's various film emulsions enough for that to be viable for me and I would prefer the scenario of someone picking up EK's production facilities and calling it whatever they want ... just keep making the damned stuff!

I feel the same way too, Keith. I may stop shooting film when all existing Kodak and Fuji film ceases.

[Rayt]

I understand Efke curls a lot in 120, and also it needs a hardening fixer. These are the two reasons why I never tried it. I tried some Foma but the curl drove me nuts.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by rxmd

Elsewhere someone quoted a German thread from the Fotoimpex forum (http://forum.fotoimpex.de/index.php?showtopic=2589) which contained some interesting information by Mikro Böddecker of ADOX on this (who visited the plant to convince the director otherwise):

* There is a small chance of a last production run of the film, though not of the paper
* Paper production has ceased because a machine is broken and it is uneconomical to repair it
* Efke production is unsustainable because every factory has a minimum turnover; for this to be economical there has to be a minimum price; and this price would now be too high to compete with the prices of Ilford & Kodak who have better access to dealers
* There are plans to develop a new film in the 25-32-50 ASA range at Adox as a replacement for the popular Adox CHS 50
* The B&W film market is no longer shrinking.

Coated by whom? I can think of several options, but I can't guess which might be the best bet. Any idea?

Cheers,

R.

[dogbunny]

I've been shooting Efke 50 all summer. I'm sorry to hear this. The film was starting to grow on me.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by sevo

I don't really know why Efke is considered silver rich . . .

Because people who know nothing about emulsions and coating technology always assume that more silver is better, and therefore, by an omitted middle, the films they like are silver rich...

Another basic flaw in the 'silver rich' theory is that there will always come a point, for a given emulsion technology, where you have enough silver to give a good negative or print. Adding more won't improve matters.

You know this. I know this. But plenty don't.

Cheers,

R.

[Turtle]

Efke PL100 is simply beautiful. Grainy, but as Chris says, totally un-modern. We talk about the organic quality of film compared to digital, but this stuff is to TriX what TriX is to a DSLR.

[sevo]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Coated by whom? I can think of several options, but I can't guess which might be the best bet. Any idea?

Going by some of Mirko's posts they consider doing a low volume Efke substitute in their own low volume factory (Fotoimpex/Adox purchased the former Agfa R&D lab and set it up near Berlin).

[jwc57]

I've never tried Efke for the same reason that Rayt listed. I like HP5, but haven't shot it in a couple of years. I usually shoot FP4+ and Tri-X.

Marketing is a problem for companies like Efke and Foma. I run into people all the time that think ALL film has stopped production, Kodak and Fuji, and is no longer available. They were not even aware that Efke, or Ilford for that matter, existed. With that against them, it is no wonder that they are in trouble as the market shrinks.

[healyzh]

Argh! This rates up there with loosing Ektachrome for me. I've been wanting to order a pile of Adox CHS 50 from Freestyle as it has been hard to get locally around here.

[Ezzie]

Excuse my French, but FCUK! I've just started a love affair with Efke R25! Need to stockpile the stuff pretty pronto.