Arista Premium 400, a black-and-white film, has ceased production. I think. What I know for sure: the only place in the world where you can get it — Freestyle Photographic Supplies — will stop selling it for good when stock runs out.
Arista is Freestyle’s house film brand. What a value: a 24-exposure roll of 35mm Arista Premium 400 is just $2.69. Their other black-and-white 35mm film, Arista EDU, remains available in 100, 200, and 400 ISO versions, each for under $3 a roll. But while Arista EDU comes from the Czech Republic, Arista Premium comes from the United States. The only US manufacturer of film is Kodak. Rumor has it that Arista Premium 400 is rebranded Kodak Tri-X!
Don’t worry — Kodak hasn’t stopped making Tri-X, thank God. Whatever arrangement Freestyle made that resulted in Arista Premium 400 has ended, is all.
I’ve shot enough Arista Premium 400 to believe the rumor. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck… Here, take a look.
I walked along the canal downtown last year with my Pentax Spotmatic SP. This waterfall is part of the Indiana State Museum.

The Spotmatic also went on a trip to Bridgeton to see the covered bridge.

I used Arista Premium 400 to test my Canon AE-1 Program. Here’s a shot from my back yard.

I took the AE-1 downtown to the Circle and photographed these carriages.

I put this film into my Olympus XA a couple years ago and took it to the Mecum old-car auction at the fairgrounds. I got some wonderful photos there.

Here’s another. I so enjoy these late-60s Fords.

I tested my Voigtländer Vitoret LR with this film, which transmitted every bit of contrast that interesting lens delivers.

I took these Voigtländer shots in Plymouth, a Michigan Road town.

Finally, I shot this film in my Yashica Lynx 14e last month up in Auburn, where it captured the chrome teeth of this old Dodge Charger.

It also captured the gleaming hood ornament and winedark finish on an old Auburn’s hood.

Because I buy the Tri-X rumor, I’ve lost only Arista Premium’s low price. I can just keep buying Tri-X at about a buck and a half more per roll. Before I start doing that, though, I’ll finish the six rolls of Arista Premium 400 chilling in my fridge.
Other films I’ve said goodbye to: Fujifilm FP-3000B and Kodak BW400CN.
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