B&H and USA label film...

["Editor - P.O.V. Image Service" <editor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Every roll of "USA" Kodak (vs. Grey-market) film that I have bought at
B&H was made in the US for the US Market...

The best proof of that is the "Pro Rewards points" attached to the boxes
that my Kodak VC 160 and VC 400 came in.  The "Pro Rewards" program is a
USA only program.

B&H sells film that is both made in the USA and abroad.  Even some film
made in the US is intended for export only though and may have a
slightly different color balance.  Similar to the different color
balance one finds in the blacks of Fuji emulsions meant for North
American (vs. Asian Market) sales.

Their "USA" film is USA made for the US market unless there is a pricing
category noted as "USA R".  The  "USA R" designation means it is
eligible for Pro Rewards as it is produce in the US for the US market.
If there are both "USA" and "USA R" choices available for the same
emulsion, the "USA" is USA made for export and therefore not "Pro
Reward" eligible.

Their "Grey" film is therefore not just composed of the film designated
as "imported" and marked as "IMP" in their pricing.  The "USA" film when
made in the US for export would, strictly speaking, qualify as "Grey."

To make this more confusing, the Kodak, "Pro Reward" program only
encompasses color negative emulsions.  That is why you will only see
"USA R" associated with professional color negative emulsions.

Finally, everyone should be aware that as a result of the massive Asian
economic downturn, much of the Fuji marked for US sales (particularly at
the amateur end of the market) is film stock produced overseas
originally earmarked for international consumption.   These emulsions
may even have the above-referenced minor regional color balancing
tweaked for the Asian market...  And that is film properly labeled for
US sales!  The only was to know is where the film was produced and for
which market, is from Fuji box serial number prefixes...

I would therefore suggest that there is negligible difference in the
hobbyist/amateur level emulsions between Grey and USA -- either way it
is a crap shoot, particularly with Fuji dumping unsold emulsion into the
US market.  However, there may be significant differences in emulsion
characteristics at the Pro end, particularly in terms of color balance.

But if you are really serious about color balance and true consistency,
I would suggest that buying "USA R" is not enough.  I would make sure
that you buy emulsion in as large a bulk purchase as you can anticipate
possibly using during the shelf-life (or fridge life) of the emulsion
and can afford.  Then, make sure the film is all from the same emulsion
lot (as noted on the film boxes).

Here is where a place like B&H that does large volume can really shine.
Ask them, and they can make sure that all the rolls of Emulsion X are
drawn from the same lot number, for no extra charge.  At a smaller shop
they simply are less likely to have enough film on-hand plus a large
enough additional margin to accommodate a large order and ensure that it
is all drawn from the same lot.

To the writer who suggested that all B&H's film is "Grey" - it simply is
not true, but I can see how the confusion regarding production sources
etc. could get started, given the way the production and marketing is
fragmented by the Manufacturers.  But, that is not the fault of B&H.  In
fact, B&H gives a shooter more options by allowing him/her to choose
from one of a variety of the available sources for a particular
emulsion.  The lot matching then gives a final measure of control.

The bottom line here is you really need to know the product you are
buying and given the many alternatives, specify exactly what you want
from the available/on-hand choices.

If all you want is to buy film and have the complexity of
distribution/marketing/etc hidden from you I would suggest simply
picking up your film at a drugstore or megastore.  The more you know
about the product you are buying, though, the more likely you are to
benefit from dealing with a vendor like B&H.

Lastly, in all the years I an my colleagues have purchased film from B&H
(at the store and in person) I do not know of a a single incident in
which someone paid for "USA R" film and got other that that, or
alternatively, paid for "USA" and received "Imported" film.

Thanks for your patience and I hope this clears up some things for many
out there.


Keith



--

{       The views expressed in the preceding are those of the        }
{       author, alone, and  are neither the responsibility of,        }
{          nor, should they be understood to represent the            }
{            official viewpoint of  P.O.V. Image Service.             }


                          P.O.V. Image Service
                 (Persistence of Vision Image Service)

                  "Your link to outstanding imagery."

           Please check out our phat web-site in progress at:

                http://www.p-o-v-image.com/


*
****
*******
******************************************************
*  To remove yourself from this list, send:          *
*         UNSUBSCRIBE INFRARED                       *
*       to                                           *
*         MAJORDOMO@xxxxx                            *
*----------------------------------------------------*
*   For the IR-FAQ, IR-Gallery and heaps of links:   *
*  http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm  *
******************************************************