I am curious about what other photographers think about the parent company of AGFA,Bayer Inc saying that they don't consider AGFA's 6% of the market to be significant and they are going to dump AGFA. I think AGFA has been a good company for black & white photographers but they always seem to march to the beat of a different drummer when it comes to competion.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), May 01, 1998

Answers

I thought Bayer was supposed to be in the business of curing headaches, not creating them. Agfa Multicontrast Premium paper has some of the best blacks out there--even developed in plain old Dektol; I find it a great match for Tech Pan film souped in Photographers Formulary TD-3. I've also had some frighteningly sharp results with Agfapan 25 film developed in XTOL 1:3. And of course there are lots of Rodinal devotees. I don't know if the world would miss Agfa's color line as much, but to have these excellent black and white products go by the wayside would be a dirty shame.

-- Brian Hinther (BrianH@sd314.k12.id.us), May 08, 1998.

APX25 in dilute Xtol

> I've also had some frighteningly sharp results with Agfapan 25 film > developed in XTOL 1:3

APX25 is nice stuff, and it seems to respond especially well to dilute Xtol. Goodness, I hope it doesn't disappear, it is a bit of a unique product.

Dana K6JQ Dana@Source.Net

-- Dana H. Myers (Dana@Source.Net), June 10, 1998.

Ive been using Agfa papers for over 5 years now, first Brovira now Premium RC, and I just love the juicy solid blacks you can get, so much punchier than Ilford. The problem I find in the UK is that all Agfa papers are getting harder to find. Ilford has pretty much the lions share of the market here, plus there are a lot of smaller specialist brands too, like Kentmere, Seagull, even Kodak must be selling some stuff, although Ive never met anyone who uses it, all chasing the same relatively small customer base. Quite a few of the smaller independent Photography stores that I have known for a long time have dropped Agfa papers lately, which has worried me, I didnt realise, however, that there might be a threat that Agfa black and white products might disappear altogether. That would be pretty sad. Perhaps Ill have to keep checking this excellent site for news, the USA always gets eveything before we do.

-- Ian Cater (katz@buckfieldlord.co.uk), July 10, 1998.

It occurred to me that I could write to Bayer in Germany and complain to them directly about allegedly closing down Agfa. I say allegedly, because of the heart-warming response I received:

Dear Mr. Hinther,

I am very astonished reading your e-mail. Nobody is considering closing Agfa! Agfa is very healthy, we are good in shape. Last year, our sales rose by 8.6 percent (8.1 DM billion) and the operating profit by 97 percent (481 DM million). This year, we will continue to grow.

Maybe, the time will come, that Agfa will go on to the stock market. This will be a chance for even more growth. So, you can be sure: Agfa will be your partner in the future, too.

Sincerely yours,

signed Dr. Hartmut Hilden

-- Brian Hinther (BrianH@sd314.k12.id.us), July 17, 1998.

Notice they did not say that they were not parting ways with AGFA, which is their desire. Who knows what the future is when ownership changes or they are put out on their own.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), July 17, 1998.

There is no film comparable to Agfapan 25.

-- Larry Hensley (a003175@ezo.net), July 20, 1998.

It was announced a couple of weeks ago that Bayer will put AGFA on the European Stockmarket in the 2nd quarter of 1999. At that time it is their plan to sell off 75% of the company.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), October 24, 1998.