List of photographic films

The current rights to the historic ADOX name were obtained in 2003 by Fotoimpex of Berlin, Germany, a company founded in 1992 to import photographic films and papers from former east Europe. ADOX (Fotoimpex) subsequently established a film factory in Bad Sarrow outside Berlin to convert and package films, papers and chemicals. In February 2015 they acquired a lease on the former Ilford Imaging (Ciba Geigy) machine E, medium scale coating line at Marly, Switzerland.[1][2] In 2017/18 they started expanding the Bad Sarrow factory to add film coating capability and medium scale photochemistry manufacture with work ongoing in 2019.[3][4]

The ADOX name traces back to the oldest photographic film manufacturer in the world, started in 1860 in Germany.[5] In the 1970s, Dupont the owners of the Adox brand sold the recipes and machinery of their B&W films to Fotokemika in Croatia who continued to produce the films under the Efke brand. The films were subsequently imported by Fotoimpex and sold as ADOX CHS Art thus re-uniting the ADOX name with the films. After Fotokemikas closure in 2012, ADOX CHS II was produced for ADOX using modern cascade coating.

Agfa-Gevaert is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium and following the sale of its consumer films division (See AgfaPhoto), now only manufactures commercial films; 'Aviphot'for aerial photography and 'Copex' archival microfilms (since 2013 Copex films are branded 'Imagelink' for Eastman Park Micrographics [15]). Some of these films are however repackaged for consumer use by Maco under its Rollei brand and by Japan Camera Hunter, Silberra and ADOX.

The AGFA consumer film division with its plant in Leverkusen, Germany was spun off by Agfa-Gevaert into a new company AGFA PHOTO in 2004. At buy out the firm was split into a holding company Agfa-Photo Holding GMBH (licenses) and manufacturing company Agfa-Photo GMBH (leverkusen). The manufacturing company went bankrupt in 7 months resulting in the closure of the Leverkusen plant in 2005. The holding company was unaffected and retains a trademark license from Agfa-Gevaert for the use of the AgfaPhoto brand and 'red dot' logo on products having a photographic application.[17] Since 2005 these rights for consumer film products have been sub-licensed to Lupus Imaging & Media.[18] The colour negative and slide films were made by Ferrania from 2005, whilst black and white films were converted by Ferrania from stored master rolls of AGFA stock. Ferrania closed in 2009. Replacement colour films were supplied by Fujifilm until this contract ended in early 2018,[19] ending the sale of colour film under the AgfaPhoto brand.[20] Black & White films were replaced by new films made by Harman Technology after 2013.

Based in Gijón, Spain, Argenti offer a small range of B&W films, converted from bulk in their own packaging.

Arista EDU Ultra is a budget range of Black & White films produced for Freestyle Photographic, USA in three speeds (ISO 100, 200, 400) in 135, 120 and sheet film formats. They are currently the same as the equivalent speed films produced by FOMA.[27] 135 films are not DX coded.

Based in France Bergger offers a single B&W film manufactured on their behalf; Panchro 400 introduced in 2015 replacing BRF400.

CatLABS is a photographic retailer in Boston, USA. Two own branded films were launched in 2019.

Based in USA Cinestill converts Eastman Kodak motion picture stock into 135 and 120 still camera formats, for C-41 process by removing the Remjet backing, a separate Anti-halation backing used to protect the film in motion picture cameras.

A range of 'creative' colour films launched in 2017 in conjunction with mobile app 'dubble'.[32] The films were produced by KONO! a small European analogue photographic company based in Austria. In 2019 they announced a tie up with Revelog also in Austria, films will now offer 36 exp, effects are improved and some films were renamed.[33]

FILM Ferrania s.r.l. is a photographic film manufacturing company located in Ferrania (Liguria), Italy. Following closure of the original Ferrania factory in 2009 the company was re-founded in 2013 following a kickstarter campaign and support from the regional government to build a new film manufacturing base using the former Ferrania research laboratory (L.R.F.) and its narrow coater. Although initial plans focused on re-introducing a colour slide film, FILM Ferrania commenced manufacturing a B&W still film in February 2017 based on P30, a classic 1960s motion picture film stock, being a simpler proposition. Production of the P30 'Alpha' ceased in mid 2018 due to further works to the L.R.F building and need to refine production to reduce wastage and P30 production did not recommence until late 2019.

Factory in Saint-Nazaire, France. Launched in 2013, producing a handcrafted B&W film, handcoated on traditional Washi paper. Also converting other B&W films industrially coated in larger factories and originally made for technical, motion pictures, industrial or aerial applications for creative purposes.

Foma Bohemia spol. s.r.o, established 1921 with factory located in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, remains one of the last traditional producers of panchromatic B&W (black and white) photo materials including films, papers and chemistry. Films branded as Arista EDU also come from this source.

FOTOIMPEX of Berlin, Germany, is a company founded in 1992 to import photographic films and papers from former east Europe. They acquired the rights to the ADOX name in 2003. However two films are still sold under their own name, both Black & White films produced by Harman Technology.

FUJIFILM is a Japanese manufacturer of photographic films, chemistry, papers and cameras established in 1934 and one of only two manufacturers (with Kodak) still producing colour film. Recent years have seen significant reductions to their traditional film range, which is divided into Consumer films; Fujicolor/ Fujicolor Superia and Professional films; Neopan, Fujicolor Pro, Velvia and Provia. Instax is a range of instant films and cameras launched in 1998 which now outsell the traditional products. They undertook contract manufacture for AGFA PHOTO colour films from c2008 - 2018. Fujifilm distribution depends on worldwide region with a number of Japan specific products sometimes available as Parallel imports elsewhere. After a brief hiatus, Fujifilm announced a return to traditional black and white film with a reformulated Neopan Acros II launched in Japan in November 2019. [51] [52]

The Holga is a low cost plastic medium format 120 film camera, made in Hong Kong, known for its low-fidelity aesthetic. A Holga branded B&W film stock is produced by FOMA.

Ilford Photo is a UK manufacturer of photographic materials known worldwide for its black and white films, papers and chemicals based in Mobberley, Cheshire. Parent company Harman Technology also undertake contract coating, conversion and packaging of B&W films for other photographic brands as well as for their budget Kentmere brand.[81] They have also, since 2006, produced films by annual special order in larger than usual sizes, including sheet films in various sizes up to 16 by 20 inches, and bulk roll films in 90mm, 5 inch and 10 inch widths.[82]

Bellamy Hunt is a camera collector and runs the website Japan Camera Hunter. He released his own branded film in 2016, using a B&W traffic surveillance film manufactured by Agfa Gevaert.[95]

Kentmere is a brand of classic grain B&W films introduced in 2009 and produced by Harman Technology in Mobberley, Cheshire, UK. Originally designed as a lower priced brand to their Ilford offer to compete in the US market they are now available worldwide. Similar films are also made by Harman Technology for the Agfaphoto, Oriental and Rollei brands. The name is derived from the Kentmere based photographic paper brand acquired by Ilford in 2007 and is particularly aimed at the student market and those new to black and white photography. Film names and packaging were revised in 2018.[97]

Kodak TMAX100

Kodak is a USA manufacturer of photographic films established in 1888 and one of only two manufacturers (with Fujifilm) still producing colour film. Kodak films for still cameras are manufactured by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, USA but since its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012 are now sold and marketed by Kodak Alaris, a separate company controlled by the Kodak UK Pension fund based in Hertfordshire, UK.[100] The film range is divided into Consumer films, (ColorPlus and Gold/Ultramax) and Professional films, (Tri-X, T-MAX, Ektar, Portra and Ektachrome).[101][102] Kodak continues to invest in film with 2018 seeing the re-introduction of two films, TMAX P3200 and Ektachrome.

Launched in 2014, KONO! is a small European analogue photographic company based in Austria that produces a range of 'creative' 35mm format films. Most KONO! films are based on stock originally intended for shooting motion pictures, scientific purposes or other places photosensitive emulsions were used. All films are hand rolled onto recycled 135 film cassettes.[119][120] Kono! also produced creative films for the 'dubblefilm' brand until early 2019.[32]

Stephen Dowling runs the website Kosmo Foto (Previously Zorki Photo, renamed because the name Zorki was still being used in Russia[133]). He released his own branded B&W film in 2017, supplied by Foma Bohemia, the packaging of which is noted for its bold Soviet-era inspired artwork.[134]

Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Lomography is a globally-active organization dedicated to analogue, experimental and creative photography. Lomography procures films from film manufacturers to sell under the lomography brand. They uniquely offer film in 110 format.

Oriental is a Japanese brand of photographic films and papers owned by Cyber Graphics Co, Tokyo. The photographic films are produced by Harman Technology, UK and are similar to the Kentmere films. They were developed as a budget B&W film for the Japanese market.[150]

Polaroid Originals formerly known as the Impossible Project is a Dutch photography company founded in 2008 based in Enschede, Netherlands to re-introduce film for Polaroid cameras. It manufactures instant film for its own and selected original Polaroid instant cameras. Instant films are marketed by format rather than emulsion.

Rera is a brand of photographic film for 127 (4x4) format roll film cameras assembled in Japan by Kawauso-Shoten. Film is converted for 127 format and sold through main retailers.

Revolog is a small company based in Vienna, Austria which re-manufactures and sells a range of creative 'special effects' still camera films. Revolog take ISO 200 color film in 135 format and pre-expose the rolls with a unique effect.[155] In 2019 they also re-manufacture creative films for dubblefilm.[33]

The Rollei brand for photographic film is licensed to Maco (Hans O. Mahn GmbH & Co. KG, Maco Photo Products) a German-based supplier of photographic films. Headquarters in Stapelfeld, Germany. They offer a range of polyester* base black and white and colour films originally for aerial photography produced by Agfa-Gevaert and converted by Maco for still camera use and general purpose triacetate base RPX 100/400 black and white films from Harman Technology / Ilford Photo. (*Note: Polyester base films must be loaded in subdued light to avoid light piping effect).

Shanggong Shanghai Photosensitive material factory (formerly Shanghai ShenBei photosensitive material factory), established in 1958 in Shanghai, China produces a black and white film. It is part of the Shanggong group conglemerate.[164] Although relatively unknown outside China, the Shanghai film has been in production since the 1950s - but was mainly sold domestically. Production of the Shanghai film stopped in early 2015 for a new factory to be built - production restarted in summer 2016.

The company based in Saint Petersburg, Russia was founded in 2009 producing analog film products. It adopted the Silberra name in 2017 to introduce a range of Black & white films. Funding was sought through an indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to launch six new films. Three panchromatic films are available from launch based on Agfa-Gevaert Aviphot products. Two orthochromatic films were added in 2018. Silberra also offer cinema film from ORWO and Kodak in 135 cassettes for still use [166]

SPUR (Speed Photography & Ultra high Resolution) is a supplier of own brand specialist photochemistry and films based in Langerwehe, Germany. Two black & white films produced by Agfa-Gevaert are sold under their own brand.

Vincent Moschetti, the proprietor of the website OneYearWithFilmOnly.com released his own branded film in 2018 using a re-purposed B&W surveillance film stock.

The original Svema film factory and chemical plant in Shostka, Ukraine closed with final coating there c2000-3, however some of its assets were acquired by Astrum holdings a company founded in 1995. Astrum continued to convert films for retail sale from various sources including Forte and Agfa-Gevaert and until recently sold them under the Astrum name (film expiring up to 2019). Today they apply the Svema brand name to a range of films (Tasma for NK-2). The current range comprises polyester (thin) base films of the kind used for aerial/surveillance photography sold in bulk rolls and are converted/packaged by third parties for retail sale. Films are probably made by Agfa-Gevaert or Tasma. [181][182]

UltraFine is the house trade brand of photo retailer Photo Warehouse of California, USA who has been producing own brand products since 1979.[183] Photo Warehouse has historically offered three major Black and White Photo Films, Ultrafine Black and White Films 1979 to 2012, Ultrafine Plus Films 2002 to 2011, and Ultrafine Extreme Films from 2008 to the present day. The Ultrafine Extreme (eXtreme) B&W films are produced using a proprietary Contract Coating by GenAmerica United Corporation. The Films are available in ISO 100 and ISO 400 in 35 mm (135) and 120 format sizes. Uniquely the 135 films are still offered in 12 exp cassettes.

Yodica is a small company established in Milan, Italy in 2018, which produces and sells a range of creative 'special effects' still camera films. Yodica takes ISO 400 color film in 135 format and pre-expose the film with a unique effect. Films are not DX coded.[184]

• Photographic film
• List of discontinued photographic films
• List of motion picture film stocks
• film format

• Some facts and opinions about modern slow-speed high-resolution B&W films