A Fuji/Polaroid B&W Comparison

[Alex Hawley]

Playing with both Fuji FP100B and Polaroid Type 52 today. I thought this side-by-side scan of two prints might be informative.

The left one is FP 100B metered at box speed, 100. The right one is Polaroid Type 52, also metered at box speed, 400. No movement of the camera between shots. The Type 52 is a 4x5 sheet film and considered to be Polaroid's best B&W film. The Fuji is the smaller size pack film, hence some of this image is cut off because I framed it for 4x5.

The Polaorid print is slightly warmer in tone, perhaps due to the coating it requires. Other than the tone difference, my eyeballs can't discern a durn bit of difference in the print quality or tonal range.

Hats off for Fuji. Just wish they would make this stuff in 4x5, and, having my druthers, in 4x5 sheet film.

 

[wildbill]

Alex, they do make it in 4x5 but it's not for sale in the states. You can get it from megaperls/ unicircuits.com but the prices are outrageous. I think we should find the correct contact info for fujifilm imports and post it. Then everyone can let fuji know that we want the 4x5 sizes here. I've been shooting quite a bit of the fp100c45 and would love some b+w too.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Then everyone can let fuji know that we want the 4x5 sizes here. I've been shooting quite a bit of the fp100c45 and would love some b+w too.

That's kind of where I'm heading with this thread wildbill. I met and talked with the Fuji rep at the Foto3 conference and I just may send her an e-mail in a few days with reference to this thread.

 

[canuhead]

Alex, if you do contact the rep, you can add my voice to the chorus looking for Fuji 4x5 b/w in North America, Canada specifically

 

[maxbloom]

I can't imagine it hasn't crossed Fuji's mind to begin distributing 4x5 BW in the states.

 

[erikg]

I can't imagine it hasn't crossed Fuji's mind to begin distributing 4x5 BW in the states.

Hopefully they will think there is a market here. The color 4x5 stuff is great, and Hunt's has had a great deal on short dated film this summer. Helped my bottom line on shoots for hire.

 

[michaelbsc]

I can't imagine it hasn't crossed Fuji's mind to begin distributing 4x5 BW in the states.

But will they be willing to make it sheet film? The 4x5 packs are OK, but sheet film fits my style better.

MB

 

[keithwms]

Honestly, I think it would be a mistake for Fuji to get into individual sheet instant films. The manufacturing and packaging costs would probably be much higher per sheet, and quality control and storage would probably also suffer. Also, I just think the loose-sheet systems aren't nearly as reliable as the pack systems. I don't think I've ever had a bad pull from the Fuji stuff, and I've shot a fair amount of it, probably ~50+ packs or so. My success rate was always much lower with the polaroid films, to be honest.

I use -and adore- all the fuji instants in 4x5, including fp100c45, fp100b45, and fp3000b45. I get them from megaperls webshop, and it sure would be nice to be able to get them stateside, though I guess legal issues have prevented that so far. Anyway these films all generate beautiful little prints worthy of a frame.

I asked Fuji-san if they could kindly make an 8x10 peel-apart film and they said that it wasn't on the radar. Too bad.

 

[canuhead]

...
I asked Fuji-san if they could kindly make an 8x10 peel-apart film and they said that it wasn't on the radar. Too bad.

Now that I would love to see esp if b/w !

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

If Fuji is interested, there does seem to be a market here for 4 by 5 instant film. The last Polaroid Type 550 film pack holder on e-Bay sold for over $ 200.00. If e-Bay were not going to a "PayPal ONLY" payment system on 2008 October 16, I could continue to try. I may just get the Fuji pack film holder instead, even if it is smaller.

 

[Alex Hawley]

With respect to buying from Megaperls, their prices in USA dollars are significantly higher than the same product bought from a North American dealer. We can only surmise as to why this is or that their may be legal issues with Fuji USA. However, it would appear that the market for those other films, the one's not currently on the NA market, is there.

An 8x10 version would really be sweet. Not pack film, but individual sheets like Polaroid 8x10 was. Lord knows that there are enough Polaroid processors and holders already out there. Fuji wouldn't have to get into that product line in order to sell the film.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Just to clear things up. Fuji COLOR 4x5 pack film is officially available here. FP-100c45. This is their ISO 100 4x5 pack film (10 sheet packs) that fit into Fuji or Polaroid pack-film holders. It is (in my opinion) far superior in results to the discontinued Polaroid ISO 100 color peel-apart films. It is only the b/w and some other Fuji instant films that are not available in North America officially.