Discontinuation of FP100C

Lionel1972 · Mar 14, 2016

A new hope :

http://savepackfilm.net/updates/

http://the.supersense.com/blogs/news/tagged/announcement

mooseontheloose · Mar 14, 2016

Lionel1972 said:
A new hope :

http://savepackfilm.net/updates/

http://the.supersense.com/blogs/news/tagged/announcement

It is a new hope, and I wish I was in Tokyo now, providing moral support while he's there, instead of being there last week! Last week the shelves (in stores and online) were full of packfilm, as of this past Saturday they were all sold out* (all the main camera/film stores that is, a few remnants remain in a few offbeat places). Although you can see in the photo below, who really rules the roost:

Tokyo Yodobashi Shinjuku Store, March 2016

*Silk versions of FP100C are all that remain

From the Fujifilm gallery and museum:

EdSawyer · Mar 14, 2016

The retail scumbags like B&H and others that have jacked the price on this is definitely a chicken$hit move and typical price-gouging asshattery I've come to expect from them. They did the same thing with Fp100C45 when that was becoming scarce. As recently as 6 months ago, fp100c was about $8/pack.

skorpiius · Mar 14, 2016

EdSawyer said:
The retail scumbags like B&H and others that have jacked the price on this is definitely a chicken$hit move and typical price-gouging asshattery I've come to expect from them. They did the same thing with Fp100C45 when that was becoming scarce. As recently as 6 months ago, fp100c was about $8/pack.

Holy crap just noticed that FP-3000b is at $38/pack,...and here I was mad that I paid around $20-23 a few months ago

Theo Sulphate · Mar 14, 2016

skorpiius said:
Holy crap just noticed that FP-3000b is at $38/pack,...and here I was mad that I paid around $20-23 a few months ago

There comes a point where being reasonable ends and pure greed takes over. I won't buy that film at that price (if I were shooting 8x10 color film, I understand the high price for that).

So, they can just sit on their unsold boxes.

Furthermore, this greed tarnishes the image people have of them. It's unnecessarily stupid since nothing has happened with FP-3000B; it's been discontinued for quite a while already.

RattyMouse · Mar 15, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
There comes a point where being reasonable ends and pure greed takes over. I won't buy that film at that price (if I were shooting 8x10 color film, I understand the high price for that).

So, they can just sit on their unsold boxes.

Furthermore, this greed tarnishes the image people have of them. It's unnecessarily stupid since nothing has happened with FP-3000B; it's been discontinued for quite a while already.

Such a dismal understanding of economics. If the film were not priced so high, you'd NEVER get it. Never. The supply would be wiped out instantly. Ever see a Soviet bread line? Same principle.

So your choices are pay for it at a high price or be unable to buy it. Your choice.

Prof_Pixel · Mar 15, 2016

RattyMouse said:
If the film were not priced so high, you'd NEVER get it. Never. The supply would be wiped out instantly.

..and be offered for sale on ebay at high prices by those who purchased it

bvy · Mar 15, 2016

I think I'll boycott every gas station that raises the price of gas when supplies dwindle.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 15, 2016

RattyMouse said:
Such a dismal understanding of economics. If the film were not priced so high, you'd NEVER get it. Never. The supply would be wiped out instantly. Ever see a Soviet bread line? Same principle.

As I mentioned before, when the price becomes too high, that gives other businesses or players in the market an opportunity to come in at a lower price. That's the market in action, working as it should and I think that will happen again in this case.

Note that nothing has changed with FP-3000B: it was discontinued years ago. I understand why it went to $29 over the last few years and why FP-100C is becoming more expensive now. I don't understand why FP-3000B should rise... (*)

When prices are at their (market-determined) correct level, both sides win: the seller makes a profit and is happy and the buyer gets the item at a price he is willing to pay. In the case of the $38 FP-3000B, neither is going to win and be happy: the seller has unsold and paid-for inventory and the customer has nothing. I'm hoping the usual market forces will bring prices down sooner rather than later.

(*) LATER EDIT: thinking about this further, I now see the interaction: the low ($8.00) price of the color film, while still being produced, kept the price of the b&w film down because owners of pack film cameras could always make the choice to use color rather than b&w. I mistakenly thought that b&w users wouldn't be doing that. At the moment, the naturally higher price of the discontinued color film still has a moderating effect on the b&w film, but not as much as before. I still think we're seeing more greed than true value. Time will tell.

Prof_Pixel · Mar 15, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
I still think we're seeing more greed than true value.

Of course, but it's still a matter of supply and demand. If I have something and you don't, if you want what I have (that nobody else has), you'll have to pay my price if you really want it.

Wayne · Mar 15, 2016

Prof_Pixel said:
Of course, but it's still a matter of supply and demand. If I have something and you don't, if you want what I have (that nobody else has), you'll have to pay my price if you really want it.

Or I could kill you, bury you down by the river, then go back and take everything of yours that I want. Not that I would, of course. But there are perils in price gouging.

nolanr66 · Mar 15, 2016

I never even heard of the film until they announced it was finished. I just shoot 35mm is all. There is nothing about photography that would make me spend foolishly however. It's just a hobby and sometimes hobbies come to an end due to the expense or your just tired of it. Anyway I would not buy a pack of that film for an inflated price. I would just move on.

Roger Cole · Mar 16, 2016

My ten packs arrived today and were lovingly placed in my film fridge.

skorpiius · Mar 16, 2016

Random trivia: FP-100C is delivered from Fuji in boxes of 50 packs.

fdonadio · Mar 17, 2016

skorpiius said:
Random trivia: FP-100C is delivered from Fuji in boxes of 50 packs.

And would one of those boxes fit a refrigerator shelf or I'd have to unpack to make them fit?

Flavio

Theo Sulphate · Mar 17, 2016

How long can FP film be refrigerated before the development chemicals no longer perform properly?

I bought only 5 packs of FP-3000B and five of FP-100C - so that's only 100 photos, but afterwards I have discovered I like this film a lot.

EdSawyer · Mar 17, 2016

I have FP100C45 from 2010 expiration that still work fine. I would say 5 yrs past expiration should be 100% viable no problem, based on my experience. Probably longer than that even.

skorpiius · Mar 17, 2016

EdSawyer said:
I have FP100C45 from 2010 expiration that still work fine. I would say 5 yrs past expiration should be 100% viable no problem, based on my experience. Probably longer than that even.

But did you refrigerate them or just store cool?

AgX · Mar 17, 2016

What is the difference??

skorpiius · Mar 17, 2016

well a refrigerator is close to 0C/32F, where as a cool room probably wouldn't go below 16c/60-something F

AgX · Mar 18, 2016

In times of energy-saving 16°C here is just under the temperature of an appartment, something that you would call a cool room. Definitions vary ...

Roger Cole · Mar 18, 2016

skorpiius said:
well a refrigerator is close to 0C/32F, where as a cool room probably wouldn't go below 16c/60-something F

Most refrigerators are about 35F in my experience. Getting too close to 0C/32F risks freezing and you specifically don't want that in a refrigerator or you'd put the food in the freezer.

Most freezers are closer to 0F/-17.8C. I'm heartened by the news above that this film actually does freeze well if done properly but can't really afford to stock up on enough for that to matter.

EdSawyer · Mar 18, 2016

mine were just at 50-60F, cool dry room.

bvy · Mar 18, 2016

Not the greatest news, though the Doc remains obstinately optimistic.

http://the.supersense.com/blogs/news/115126211-save-packfilm-travelog-no-8-no-but-yes

Wayne · Mar 18, 2016

He seems to have trouble in translation so let me clear up any confusion. The answer was a definite NO. The promise to pass his request higher up the ladder is called a platitude.

You're welcome. But I'm glad he tried.

Discontinuation of FP100C

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