What is the deal with Agfa?

[Treymac]

Hey guys. I've been trying to read up on Agfa's state and what's going on with the company. Most of what I find is from around 2004. Does anybody know what's going on with the company, is Agfa film dead and people are just buying the excess stock before it's all gone? Scala and APX look like really great film and if it's going to be all gone in the not too distant future, well that sucks.

 

[Helen B]

The AgfaPhoto division went bankrupt, but Agfa-Gevaert still lives, and Agfa-Gevaert still make some specialist films, particularly aerial recon films. The films that were made by AgfaPhoto, like APX 100 and 400, Scala and the RSX colour reversal films are no longer in production.

A&O Imaging are doing minilab maintenance and making Agfa chemicals. dox/Fotoimpex are planning to introduce their version of Agfa MCC 111 paper.

Best,
Helen

 

[compur]

AgfaPhoto is showing APX 100/400 film on its web site and color film too.

And, Lomography.com is advertising ...

"...brand new Agfaphoto films - which are uber-faithful and completely
breathtaking reproductions of the original German emulsions"

in their film shop here.

 

[Helen B]

As far as I know that is AgfaPhoto Holding GmbH selling film made by AgfaPhoto GmbH, they are not making new APX film. Exactly what Lomography are selling as newly produced film, apart from remaining films, is unclear to me. There seems to be something being sold as 'Vista New' under the Agfa brand by other vendors, possibly rebranded Fuji, but that is a guess based on who is still actually making film rather than just cutting up master rolls. Lomography say:

"From its legendary German factory, Agfa was famous for cranking out some of the most colorful, bold, and signature film emulsions in the world. We are thrilled to announce that we've obtained one of the world's largest remaining stocks of film from this now-defunct and much loved production plant. We're also gut-bustingly proud to offer some of the brand new Agfaphoto films - which are uber-faithful and completely breathtaking reproductions of the original German emulsions."

And elsewhere, when referring to Vista:

"This exclusive film is the original real-deal German Agfa – which is different than the “Agfa” branded film produced under license today by other firms.

If you want the classic and slightly offbeat look of original Agfa, then get some today – for once this precious stock is gone, then it’s gone FOREVER! Did we mention, that we are selling these gems from the glorious Agfa days at jaw-dropping prices? Well there you go!"

Also see Lupus' site.

For the rebranded colour film, it might be worth following the Ninoco/A-One trail.

http://www.a-one.cn/htm/colorfilms_agfa.htm

There's plenty of old APX and Scala still available at fairly low prices.

Best,
Helen

 

[compur]

Don't tell anyone but Freestyle's "Arista II" B&W 100/400 film labeled "Made in
Germany" is APX film from Agfa's last stocks (according to their current
catalog).

 

[elemental]

Don't tell anyone but Freestyle's "Arista II" B&W 100/400 film labeled "Made in
Germany" is APX film from Agfa's last stocks (according to their current
catalog).

Yes, and the 20 rolls for $25 deal is killer. Mine came on Monday.

 

[Jeff Canes]

Rollei (Maco) is buying film stock from Agfa-Gevaert and reportedly from some former AgfaPhoto suppliers too. You may want to give them a try

 

[KD5NRH]

Yes, and the 20 rolls for $25 deal is killer. Mine came on Monday.

Ack! You mean people hid this from me until it was too late to stock up for vacation.

Oh well, I'll just have to make do with the Delta Pro and Tri-X I did stock up on.

 

[K_Pugh]

OT: ah KD5NRH, a radio ham eh?.. had to look it up as soon as i seen your name.

 

[elemental]

Ack! You mean people hid this from me until it was too late to stock up for vacation.

Oh well, I'll just have to make do with the Delta Pro and Tri-X I did stock up on.

Stock up for your next vacation! I like the results from my first roll so much I think I'll order 20 more next time I meed something from Freestyle. Maybe 40.