35mm negative availability

[xtolsniffer]

Hi all,
I speak as a confused Englishman (there are a few of us about at the moment, for many reasons). My film of choice, at least for recording the family and friends has been Reala for some time, in 35mm in my Nikon F4. I have seen many rumours, some half-truths, and some obvious misdirections, but I ask you all, what exactly is the status of 35mm negative film at the moment in the UK? What can I still get and what, at least in the medium term, is still going to be there in my camera for the coming year?

I see much still available in the online shops but I need some sense of comfort that I'll still gain the excitement of that delivery of prints in the coming year.

ta!

 

[faustotesta]

Here i am speaking as a confused Italian man,
i don't know exactly what's the situation in the UK. I sent an email to Fuji Italia and i've been told that the 35mm Reala production
was about to cease (this was three months ago). 120 Reala is still in production.
And i also was told this is not only for Italy but for the entire globe.
Anyway the shop where i buy my analog stuff (www.fotomatica.it) has still plenty of it.
I've started to use Ektar 100, Portra 160 (VC and NC) and they are ok.
My personal taste says that Reala is a bit better.
I've read some posts here stating, more or less, that Kodak is about to be the main film company (especially C-41) and Fuji may be the main in slides.
My humble suggestion is to start and using something else.
Good luck

 

[perkeleellinen]

35mm Reala is no longer going to be imported into the UK (or the EU, I think). There's a lot still out there, mind, and I think you'll be good to find stock for a while yet. So far as I'm aware, the only other big cuts are Pro 800Z and Portra 400 NC/VC which are being replaced by a new 400 film. The status of 35mm negative film in the UK is reasonable at present, I think.

As for a replacement for Reala, it's a question many of us are asking. Perhaps Superia 200 or Gold 200.

 

[xtolsniffer]

That is not good news if it's no longer going to be available in 35mm. I have used some Ektar, I've gotten so used to Reala though that it's hard to imagine using anything else.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Yeah, I'm the same. I actually bought a medium format camera so I could still use Reala as it's going to be still available in 120. If I was you, I'd go and buy 20 rolls from 7dayshop, probably before the VAT rise too!

 

[xtolsniffer]

well, I have a fridge full of Reala in 120 for my RB67, but it's the 35mm availability that worries me. I've shot so much of it over the years that it's a concern what to shoot next if it's no longer there. I have to say though that any discontinuation all seems a bit 'smoke and mirrors' at the moment.

 

[AgX]

No Reala in 35mm.

This is Fuji's still photo range as presented at Photokina 2 months ago:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5042362476_75fd3c17c0.jpg

(photo by fellow member RobertV)

Sorry, can't find my printed copy at the moment.

 

[hpulley]

Fujifilm seems to be a poor bet at the moment. Astia, now Reala in 35mm gone. Good day to pick up 120 cameras but for how long will that be available?

 

[perkeleellinen]

well, I have a fridge full of Reala in 120 for my RB67, but it's the 35mm availability that worries me.

7DS have an offer on 35mm Reala at the moment, ten rolls for £30:

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=5749

 

[xtolsniffer]

No Reala in 35mm.

This is Fuji's still photo range as presented at Photokina 2 months ago:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5042362476_75fd3c17c0.jpg

(photo by fellow member RobertV)

Sorry, can't find my printed copy at the moment.

If that really is it, then those are pretty slim pickings indeed, though there are films missing there that don't seem to have any indications of being discontinued.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Part of the constant frustration with shooting film is that there's this ever present uncertainty, most notifications of discontinuance emerge as rumours, then conflicting statements from distributors, often followed by oblique statements from the manufacturer "it's in stock" "we'll continue to offer...", followed then by the official notification of death some months later.

 

[benjiboy]

I find at present the only way to ensure a consistent reliable supply of my favourite films is to buy enough to last for several years and deep freeze it.

 

[hpulley]

Reala was there in that picture however it is gone now?

I'm still shooting some old Fujicolor 400 NPH in 120 format at the moment. Still seems good.

 

[AgX]

Reala is shown on that display as type 120 only. Not as type 135.

 

[hpulley]

Reala is shown on that display as type 120 only. Not as type 135.

I looked too quickly, my mistake.

 

[benjiboy]

There's plenty of 120 Reala in the UK and Fuji UK will ship worldwide http://www.fujilab.co.uk/

 

[xtolsniffer]

Well, I seem to have spent more time that is healthy trawling through fuji websites and have reached the conclusion that no information on discontinuation on anything is confirmed. Fuljifilm.com doesn't even mention that it makes monochrome film as far as I can see. Until I learn to read Japanese I shall assume that it's all still available until I can buy no more!

 

[hpulley]

The Japanese site still lists Neopan 1600, Neopan 400 in 120, Astia and Reala in 35mm... so you are right, it is tough to tell.

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/monochrome/film.html
http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/reversal/index.html
http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/color/35mm/index.html

Though if you read the side bar it says some are discontinued...
http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0066.html

I've also received Japanese email responses to them about discontinuing some of these films so they have done so. Learn Japanese, it's fun!

 

[xtolsniffer]

well, I guess buy it, store it and shoot it, and find something else to worry about in the meantime.

 

[perkeleellinen]

If you pull the Japanese sites through google translate you can get a feel for what they mean. This link shows that Neopan 1600 and 35mm Astia are cut:

http://translate.google.com/transla...//fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0066.html

 

[xtolsniffer]

I did run it through Google translate, works amazingly well with Japanese, in French it's hillarious. Looks like Reala in 35mm is still there as far as I can tell.

 

[AgX]

That's the problem with Fuji statements. That display was at Photokina, an internationally fair aiming beyond Europe.
Thus one would expect informatioms given there there to be applicable beyond Europe too...

 

[xtolsniffer]

The closest I can find to any official announcement is here:

http://www.photographyblog.com/news/fujifilm_retires_three_films/

So looks like it really is true. Sigh. Any suggestions of an alterntive to Reala 35mm?

 

[perkeleellinen]

See here also:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[xtolsniffer]

Thanks for that, I'd missed that post.