Neopan 400, Dead or Alive?

colpepper

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Just bought a 35mm batch of this, it was my favourite when I shot in low light. Can anyone confirm whether it's extant or extinct? The current Fuji site reveals nothing on search but Googling around 2007 shows it still being made. Is it a gonner?
 
It's a gonner I'm afraid, all that is left are the current stocks.

I read something on FADU along the lines of the Japanese government banned one of the chemicals used to make Neopan400 and overnight production was stopped. One of the members on here gave me the last of theirs (and I've just remembered I need to send some film to Joxby for a swap - sorry chap, getting forgetful in my old age) which was nearly 10 years out of date. Shot a roll last weekend and it came out lovely, excepts for the pesky dust marks, drying marks and the effing coke bottle I left in the background of the scene. Only noticed it three days after making the print.
 
D'oh! Mine came from 7-Day, dated December next year. Damn, blast. Any B&W 400 still being produced (not just sold) by the big boys? (to save me searching y'understand)
 
Ilford HP5 is going strong and I think Kodak still make one. I think it's called TMAX, looks quite contrasty like Neopan so I'm going to give it a try when stocks run out.
 
What do you develop your Neopan in? I use Ilfosol3 because it's simple and convenient but it's not the best. I'm wondering if there is a better alternative liquid developer out there, I'm too lazy to make it up from powder and shoot so infrequently it'll go off once made up.
 
Cheers. I want to settle on an emulsion so I can hone the development and see how far to push the speed rather than have to keep changing stocks and start over. Ta again.
 
What do you develop your Neopan in? I use Ilfosol3 because it's simple and convenient but it's not the best. I'm wondering if there is a better alternative liquid developer out there, I'm too lazy to make it up from powder and shoot so infrequently it'll go off once made up.

To my shame I can't remember and I used to get through it at a rate. I think it was Agfa Rodinal. Some brews here: http://filmdev.org/film/show/1014?page=6
 
Has the world changed since I went away?

When I left a fortnight ago Neopan was being stopped in 120 but not 35mm and Kodak were making Tri-X as well as TMax in 400.
 
Neopan 400 in 120 and 35mm is still in stock at Fujifilms UK shop. Doesn't say anything about it being discontined there but looking around it only seems to be the 120 stopping.

Kodak recently announced that Tri-X 320 production is going to cease due to a lack of demand. I can't see the point of having a 320 speed version anyway as its only 2/3s of a stop slower than the 400. Unfortuantely the 320 was also the last 220 black and white film curently being produced so B&W 220 is gone for now.

Interesting though how two B&W Polaroid films are going to be sold shortly with colour versions following in the Summer.
 
Neopan 400 in 120 and 35mm is still in stock at Fujifilms UK shop. Doesn't say anything about it being discontined there but looking around it only seems to be the 120 stopping.

Kodak recently announced that Tri-X 320 production is going to cease due to a lack of demand. I can't see the point of having a 320 speed version anyway as its only 2/3s of a stop slower than the 400. Unfortuantely the 320 was also the last 220 black and white film curently being produced so B&W 220 is gone for now.

Interesting though how two B&W Polaroid films are going to be sold shortly with colour versions following in the Summer.


My understanding about the Tri-X 320 is that it was a very different beast to the Tri-X 400 so in different times Kodak might have renamed it and seen how they went rather than straightforward binning it.

I can't vouch for the quality but I have five rolls of Neopan 400 in 120 format in my desk drawer here. It was to be loaded into a MF camera I was getting on loan but four months since I was told said camera would be in the post I think the best thing is for that film to go to a good home.

PM me if you'd like it - it's yours for cost of postage (or free collection in central London).
 
If you want to use some of that film Jon you're more than welcome to borrow the Lubitel for as long as you want and if nobody else wants the Neopan in 120 I'll gladly take it.

Apologies if I caused confusion I thought all Neopan400 was dead not just the 120 stuff.
 
Kev - that's a very kind offer and I'm more than happy to take the Lubitel off your hands for a bit (and return!). PM me your address and you can still have all five rolls of the Neopan (I have some other film here as well, I went a bit mad) as given that it's an endangered species I'd rather it went to someone who know what they were doing than went out as a tester for me!
 
Been waiting for your return from the Italian Job....Mario...:D

If you are back I'll throw them in the post
 
As far as I'm aware it's alive and well in 35mm, although the 120 is being discontinued. If any of you 35mm neopan 400 shooters are after an even greater bargain, this is the same stuff Legacy Pro 400.
 
Just took another look at Kodaks website, apparently only the 120 and 220 medium format Tri-X 320 is being discontinued, the sheet format and 35mm is still availiable. The way they initially worded it made it sound like all the formats of it were going.

This is a bad year for 120 and 220....
 
Just took another look at Kodaks website, apparently only the 120 and 220 medium format Tri-X 320 is being discontinued, the sheet format and 35mm is still availiable. The way they initially worded it made it sound like all the formats of it were going.

This is a bad year for 120 and 220....

The problem is lack of sales in medium format film these days. I think 35mm still has a reasonable following, even though a lot of companies are cutting some films from their range, they are still producing the ones that sell.
 
you may know this already.................

just got Noepan 400CN Pro from Merchant City Cameras in Glasgow

saw Ilford HP5 in Boots
 
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