Discontinuation of FP100C

[Peter de Groot]

If the rumours are treu in that they stopped making it in as early as 2012 I really don't think they let the machines and space sit idly for al those year losing money because of the unusable space. But I hope I am completely wrong but I really don't see that they want to help out a third party. Just like they didn't want to sell stuff to Impossible or anybody else. I guess it is up to us to keep large format instant film alive by buying the stuff and not bitching and complaining when pruduction is slower then expected.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Looking at Fuji and the FP films is like looking at distant stars or galaxies: what we see now is what has already happened long ago.

Fuji has already scrapped or dismantled the facilities. Even if demand for the FP films increased by three magnitudes (1000x), Fuji wouldn't be able to change what's already been done unless the equipment has just been left idle, which is unlikely.

 

[fdonadio]

I was looking at the options available and I don't see many. In fact, it seems there's no option at all.

Impossible still doesn't make any film suitable for shooting with a 4x5 camera — but they do offer 8x10. New55 has an option, but only in B&W. And, boy, it's expensive!

Did I overlook something?


Flavio

 

[cmacd123]

Normal procedure when a product is discontinued is to have the companies own folks have a quick look to see if they can re-purpose it., then junk the rest.

Case in Point, many year ago one of my relatives worked as maintance forman in a beer plant, the plant closed and he was sent to Calgary. when he surveyed the plant there he decided that the old Battle washing machine here was in better shape and bigger. The called to see if he could get it shipped out and found that it had already been cut in half and sold to a scrap dealer in Montreal.

Second story. Philips electronics closed a CRT plant in Ottawa Ohio. plant made BIG 30 inch Colour TV tubes, and was equipped to build almost any CRT that Philips or Sylvania (the former owner) had ever made. The plant had been built before WWII. Most staff were laid off but some were kept on for several weeks to smash all the machinery with sledge hammers. No piece was to be bigger than a fist. Philips did not want a competitor getting a leg up even if the product was mostly out of fashion.

Third case, Kodak had two coating alleys left, the one in Building 38 and a fairly new one in an adjacent building, there were pictures her of that building being demolished and the (state of the art) coating line being converted in to twisted scrap Stainless steel.

One can assume that if the decion way made to discontinue the Pakc film, the equipment has been written off, both in the companies accounting (remember an accountant would be happy to take the amount received for the scrap and subtract the cost of getting it in a state that they can feel comfortable scrapping and all that the Disposal proceeds {Better if it is negative} and declare a loss between that and what the equipment was showing as deprecated book value. - that comes right off the income the rest of the business earns and if it reduces the income it also reduced the taxes) and physically.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

that's weird having couple of other threads where Fuji says that the Instax line is doing good, I don't understand

The Instax market is completely different from the FP100C market.

 

[Roger Cole]

Looking at Fuji and the FP films is like looking at distant stars or galaxies: what we see now is what has already happened long ago.

Fuji has already scrapped or dismantled the facilities. Even if demand for the FP films increased by three magnitudes (1000x), Fuji wouldn't be able to change what's already been done unless the equipment has just been left idle, which is unlikely.

There is no way to be sure of that. Even reading the above about the earlier low demand that picked up I see no reason to believe that they stopped production in 2012 other than that they COULD have. We have no indication whatsoever that they did, just speculation.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...

I would have never thought that a "lowly" Polaroid would have brought such excited anticipation to my 45 year photographic excursion. I'm sure in 1971 that I considered a 1964 Polaroid to be a ridiculous piece of junk unworthy of serious photographic use. Now, it's different. ...

Likewise with me. I bought my first serious camera in 1971 and considered Polaroid cameras and film to be inferior junk not worthy of my photography. Somehow in 2004 that all changed: I really began to appreciate the uniqueness of each Polaroid image, its tone, and the joy of simplicity.

 

[Roger Cole]

The instant film for me served two purposes. One, it's just fun, and I had some fun with it shooting photos of my now-ex wife's nieces, young girls who had never seen anything like that, or probably a print that wasn't squirted out of an inkjet from a digital file. Second and more importantly, to proof exposure on my 4x5 before committing an expensive sheet of 4x5 E6.

The first was fun but not essential (and I could do that by buying an Instax camera if I wanted.) The second I really only had need of because I bought some cold stored 4x5 E6. Now if I shoot color with the 4x5 (rare) it's either on 120 in a 6x7 rollfilm back or it's color neg, which can stand more overexposure than anyone would ever accidentally give it and still give superb results.

I wish we hadn't lost this stuff, but it's not a big part of my photography. I understand about those for whom it is, however.

 

[TheToadMen]

Polaroid missed the boat by not keeping up with the changing trends of digital medium, standing their ground with Polaroid medium, then they realised it was too late...

And then came Dead Link Removed - reopening the Polaroid factory in Enschede, The Netherlands and reinventing the whole production process with some old (but fine) workers from Polaroid

 

[chrisaisenbrey]

Here is some discussion about Impossible and Polaroid pack film 6 years ago:


https://www.flickr.com/groups/923673@N20/discuss/72157623868446895/


Especially this quote:


„The reason we're not "interested" is because our factory made INTEGRAL film not packfilm. Different materials, different equipment. Polaroid closed/tore down the packfilm factories and scrapped the equipment.

We were able to buy the 8x10 equipment because it's much smaller and portable, unlike an entire factory's worth of equipment making packfilm.“

 

[bvy]

Get it while you can! B&H, I've noticed, is inching the price upward at roughly a dollar a day. It's now $14.99/pack (up from $12.99 earlier this week). I'm sure they're not alone.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Get it while you can! B&H, I've noticed, is inching the price upward at roughly a dollar a day. It's now $14.99/pack (up from $12.99 earlier this week). I'm sure they're not alone.

i can haz FP-100C on futures market?

 

[Ektagraphic]

I was looking at the options available and I don't see many. In fact, it seems there's no option at all.

Impossible still doesn't make any film suitable for shooting with a 4x5 camera — but they do offer 8x10. New55 has an option, but only in B&W. And, boy, it's expensive!

Did I overlook something?

New55 is an option, but is still pretty much in it's early stages. The more of our support that they gain, it looks like the more products they will hopefully be able to offer in the future. They have also explained that the current price is what it is as they are offering the film to those who missed out on the Kickstarter, with a portion of that film sale going to supporting the project (which does look to have some growing debt). They are the next of kin in terms of non-integral type instant film, with a future that seems to look bright.

 

[BrianShaw]

If the rumours are treu in that they stopped making it in as early as 2012 I really don't think they let the machines and space sit idly for al those year losing money because of the unusable space. But I hope I am completely wrong but I really don't see that they want to help out a third party. ...

BINGO

 

[Ektagraphic]

BINGO

It would be so great if we are ever able to hear some commentary from Fujifilm on this.

 

[fdonadio]

New55 is an option, but is still pretty much in it's early stages. The more of our support that they gain, it looks like the more products they will hopefully be able to offer in the future. They have also explained that the current price is what it is as they are offering the film to those who missed out on the Kickstarter, with a portion of that film sale going to supporting the project (which does look to have some growing debt). They are the next of kin in terms of non-integral type instant film, with a future that seems to look bright.

I'm definitely going to try their film, someday. I don't have a Polaroid 545 holder, but I think I can get one for cheap.

I've read on their website that batches are not consistent and there are difference in sensibility (ISO). They're now marking the ISO on the box.

My main use for FP-100c is proofing. I still don't feel confident enough to shoot 4x5...


Flavio

 

[BrianShaw]

It would be so great if we are ever able to hear some commentary from Fujifilm on this.

Yes, wouldn't it. But as I always say about management decisions, "They don't owe us explanation, and most of the time when the do explain... Their either completely lying or telling half truths". Feel free to quote me!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Down here in Australia, we are quite bemused by the odd, two-faced commentary said by the Fujifilm PR machine in Asia, vs managers, in this case the one in charge of the show in Australia. Fuji says it's in film for the long run etcetera, then cuts a few emulsions (!). Meanwhile, the boss here in Australia says a similar thing, then they cull another emulsion (FP100c)! Seriously silly stuff and just plain bad PR. Do they take notice of their guffs? We're now bracing for the loss of an E6 emulsion, probably Provia. But wait! First Fuji-san will tell us it remains fully committed to film products (in their own pecularly contradictory way). Yes, really! Not.

 

[Roger Cole]

New55 is an option, but is still pretty much in it's early stages. The more of our support that they gain, it looks like the more products they will hopefully be able to offer in the future. They have also explained that the current price is what it is as they are offering the film to those who missed out on the Kickstarter, with a portion of that film sale going to supporting the project (which does look to have some growing debt). They are the next of kin in terms of non-integral type instant film, with a future that seems to look bright.

I'm sure the price will come down but I think their goal is still around $6 - $7 a sheet. I can see if you have a commercial use that might be fine but it's just too much for me.

But I applaud their efforts and wish them much success.

 

[NedL]

Price went up again at B&H. I guess I've "saved" $150 by ordering as soon as this thread appeared, but that's really a false way of looking at it... I don't think I would have ordered as many boxes at the new price. For me this film is just for fun. "Instant pinhole" is about playing around. Even though it's more than $1 a shot, it's not really an expensive habit... I go through about a box a month, more in the summer on vacation. When you think of it that way, it's not an expensive way to have fun. I'll miss it when it's gone, and integral film like 600 or sx-70 film is smaller so I'm not sure I'll try to modify a camera for IP film. 8x10 would be awesome, but not just for playing around like I do.

 

[bvy]

The organizer of the Change.org petition just posted this "petition update." Take it at face value, of course.

Mar 5, 2016 — Hi guys!
There are news that they must be confirmed.
In fact Fuji Japan is thinking to keep on producing Fp100c films after a big sales of these days.
This is only a rumor from Japan but is however a good news for us. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Roger Cole]

Let's hope it's true. Fuji has done this kind of thing before with Velvia and Neopan. The latter didn't last, but did come back for a while.

 

[Wayne]

Uh, oh. It's only been a week since the last rumor around here.

 

[Roger Cole]

I neither discount nor accept rumors at face value. In my years in online forums I've found on average probably 1/3 as true as rumored, another 1/3 are based on some truth but turn out somewhat different than the rumor, and the final third are utter BS.

We'll see.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

If the rumor is true, that's great news. I wish we could get FP-3000B back, because I really like it. Was there a similar outcry when it was discontinued?