Kodak has made a decision to decrease the price of its popular Tri-X black-and-white film by up to 30%. This move aims to make analog photography more accessible to a wider audience. The announcement was made through an Instagram story posted by Kodak Professional on the Kodak Alaris page, as reported by Digital Camera World and Kosmo Foto.
The price reduction specifically applies to the 135 format Kodak Professional Tri-X 400 Black and White negative films with catalog numbers 1590652 and 8667073. Depending on the region, customers may see a price drop of up to 30%.
Kodak Professional expressed its expectation that retailers will pass on this lower price to photographers globally as their inventories are restocked. If the full 30% reduction is implemented, customers in the United States would be able to purchase a 36-shot roll of Kodak Tri-X film for around $7, instead of the usual $10.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the price would decrease from £14 to under £10. This price cut could result in substantial long-term savings for photographers who frequently use Tri-X film.
It is worth mentioning that retailers may not pass on the entire catalog discount to photographers. However, increased competition within the market is likely to exert downward pressure on prices. According to Kosmo Foto, several British shops have already reduced the price of Tri-X, with some selling the film for £9.
Tri-X was originally introduced by Eastman Kodak in the 1940s under names such as ASA daylight 200 and tungsten 160 sheets. It was one of Kodak’s earliest high-speed black-and-white film stocks.
The film became available to photographers using 35mm and 120 format cameras in 1954. Over the years, Tri-X has undergone several modifications, including significant re-engineering in 2007 that led to finer grains and reduced silver content.
While digital photography has largely replaced traditional journalism, Tri-X continues to be a favorite among niche photojournalists and documentarians. It holds a special place in the hearts of photographers, as it has been used by renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, W Eugene Smith, Josef Koudelka, and Jane Bown.