DNP Photo Marketing Launches CENTURIA Film Series of Color Negative Film

kunihiko · Apr 18, 2007

http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

wirehead · Apr 18, 2007

Depends.

It could be rebranded versions of other films made by an existing coating plant (Agfa-Gevavert, Kodak, etc)

It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

It could suck.

It could do nothing but undercut Fuji/Kodak profit and make the market worse, not better.

Etc.

Jorge Orte Tudela · Apr 18, 2007

They're going to make also colour photo paper, as you can read here:

Dead Link Removed

They said they have adquired a color printing paper production plant from Konica Minolta, maybe they can also coat film there... I really don't know.

I hope they invest in research and development, I really would like to see a Dai Nippon original film, they make wonderful drum scanners and off-set inks.

kunihiko · Apr 19, 2007

>>It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

I agree this. This could be the biggest possibility, but still a good news.
Centuria films were on closeout during the re-organization, espcialy the Centuria 200 had been 100 yen(less than 1USD) film for a while.　DNP's new pricing must be better than before for kodak/fuji, if it was re-packaged old stock.

Ah, I've been using Centuria films with good results. It won't suck.

Steve Roberts · Apr 19, 2007

wirehead said:
Depends.

It could be rebranded versions of other films made by an existing coating plant (Agfa-Gevavert, Kodak, etc)

It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

It could suck.

It could do nothing but undercut Fuji/Kodak profit and make the market worse, not better.

Etc.

A bit of a "glass half empty" view, if I might say so!
Personally, I always liked Konica's colour neg films and was very disappointed when they ceased to be. Centuria 400 was my favourite in 35mm P & S applications and even though I've kept an eye on a well-known electronic auction site, I haven't been able to find any for a long time.
I look forward to trying the new films.

Steve

Steve Roberts · Apr 19, 2007

kunihiko said:
http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

I've never heard of DNP in this context before, and living where I do it will always mean Dartmoor National Park to me! However, the links to DNP's other web info suggest that it's no lightweight and perhaps one of Japan's many well-kept secrets. Maybe we know its products by another name in the UK?

Steve (again)

copake_ham · Apr 19, 2007

kunihiko said:
http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

It certainly sounds like good news to me.

Hopefully they will also export this "reclaimed" brand. I presume it is an asset sale spinoff by Sony as they rationalize the K-M acquisition?

Michael W · Apr 19, 2007

I wish they would reintroduce the Konica 3200 colour neg.
Massive soft grain & pastel colours.

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Apr 19, 2007

If this line sell OK hopefully see some more unique film come out of R&D - I liked the Konica Minolta film, still have two rolls left to develop.
The colour market is rather dominated by Kodak and Fuji, it's encouraging to see more players.

Ryuji · Apr 20, 2007

copake_ham said:
I presume it is an asset sale spinoff by Sony as they rationalize the K-M acquisition?

Sony did not acquire Konica Minolta. It's just that Konica Minolta sold its consumer camera division to Sony, color paper manufacturing plant to DNP, color processing machines and maintenance services to Noritsu, etc.

Dainippon always had its emulsion division, small but particularly focused on the printing films. In July 2006, they acquired Konica's color paper plant, and they were to resume manufacturing of color paper. However, this news of Centuria film was a bit unexpected because neither Kunihiko nor I thought they had the film plant in their hand. Even if they had a lot of leftover film, I don't think it would pay to sell it under their brand.

http://konicaminolta.jp/about/release/2006/0710_03_01.html

The plant transferred as a result of the agreement described in this press release does not have any R&D division or film manufacturing equipment.

At this point, my best guess is either (1) Konica Minolta is still quietly manufacturing color film and DNP Photo Marketing is selling them under their name or (2) the deals between Konica and DNP were not exactly as decribed in past press release.

kunihiko · Apr 20, 2007

Re-organization of Konica Minolta is bit complicated. To add to what Ryuji-san mentioned, fine chemical division(Hukushima site) also went to DNP, photo meter division went to Kenko, etc.
Konica Minolta's film plant is in Hino(Tokyo). KM still have the site. The film packaging division(Konica Minolta Packaging) at Hamura(Tokyo) was liquidated, though.

Snapshot · Apr 20, 2007

Well, I hope that this is authentic Konica film. I liked their Impresa 50 ISO film and would like to see its eventual return.

RoBBo · Apr 20, 2007

goldie said:
I wish they would reintroduce the Konica 3200 colour neg.
Massive soft grain & pastel colours.

Seconded, this and Impressa 50 are all I really care about, and honestly if they could still make those two films, they'd be filling holes in the market and doubt they'd have any trouble selling those in particular. I can't imagine anyone buying any other Konica films though, with what's available from Kodak and Fuji.

Ryuji · Apr 20, 2007

RoBBo said:
Seconded, this and Impressa 50 are all I really care about, and honestly if they could still make those two films, they'd be filling holes in the market and doubt they'd have any trouble selling those in particular. I can't imagine anyone buying any other Konica films though, with what's available from Kodak and Fuji.

Thirded.

I also think it's getting to the era where film manufacturers need to coexist by putting forth their strong products and not the market fillers for consumers who buy them because of pricing of brand loyalty.

I would use Impresa and perhaps 3200 speed film (which has short shelf life, unfortunately, due to large crystals), but I'd use Fuji and Kodak stuff for the most color needs. Konica's color paper is good quality stuff, though, with good record on permanence as well.

Samuel B · Apr 21, 2007

I believe DNP (Dai Nippon) have mostly been involved in making paper for dye-sub printers, and they took over Konica Minolta's paper making plant after Konica pulled out of the photographic market. I think they restarted making Konica RA-4 colour paper.

Not sure about the film, but I would be surprised if they were going to start making new Konica film at this point in time.

kunihiko · Apr 22, 2007

I just recieved a reply from DNP. It says,
"DNP Centuria film" is not made by Konica Minolta.
It is not made by DNP themself, but OEM. They cannot tell who the actual manufacture is.
DNP and Konica Minolta have discussed and agreed that DNP continue to use "CENTURIA" as DNP's brand name.

Ryuji · Apr 23, 2007

Then the film comes from south Ashigara village?

copake_ham · Apr 23, 2007

Ryuji said:
Then the film comes from south Ashigara village?

I'm clueless. But if what you say means it's made by the Jolly Green Giant - then who cares? News would be a new competitor entering into the color film market.

Guess this isn't it.

Ryuji · Apr 23, 2007

copake_ham said:
News would be a new competitor entering into the color film market.

I would be REALLY surprised if anyone does that. At least by a corporation of scale like DNP.

PHOTOTONE · Apr 23, 2007

I'll bet it is either sourced from Fuji or possibly Lucky in China. Lucky makes color negative film. This would not be a new source.

Ryuji · Apr 23, 2007

As in my previous post (rather cryptically) my guess is Fuji.

KM has been very serious in improving the image stability of color prints and then color films since mid 1980s. (Konica R&D had been very advanced in organic chemistry and synthesis of all sorts of dye couplers.) Their name Centuria is after the original concept that the image can last for a century. At this point, I'm not sure if the quality and permanence of Lucky color films are proven, and I would not think they would sell such products under the Centuria name. If they could work out the business issues, I think DNP selling films manufactured by Fujifilm would make good sense.

South Ashigara village (南足柄村=minami ashigara mura) is the old name of the place where Fujifilm has its emulsion plants and R&D center. They picked this site in early 1930s because this site was ideal for the plant that required a lot of clean water and clean air. In 1955 it became a town. In 1972 it became a city. It is located in Kanagawa prefecture, next to the city where DNP (ex Konica Minolta) color paper plant is located.

bob100684 · Jun 28, 2008

it's been a year

so has anyone tried this new stuff yet?

railwayman3 · Jun 28, 2008

Is there any connection with "Mitsubishi" film and colour paper?

I bought some Mitsubishi 35mm C-41 in Hong Kong about 10 years ago. It was cheaper than the main brands and gave good results.

I've also seen some professional portraits and wedding photos printed on Mitsubishi paper here in the U.K.

Aurum · Jun 28, 2008

I suspect like a lot of big Japanese companies, they have many parts and many interests. I always find it interesting, but slightly strange from a Western perspective that a company like Misubishi would encompass Electronics, heavy engineering, Aircraft, and Automotive products, as well as apparently film and paper. Western companies tend to stay more within their sector which could be considered either a strength or a weakness depending on POV.

Bit like Ilford taking over the JCB plant, and knocking out 35mm film under the famous earthmoving brand

PHOTOTONE · Jun 28, 2008

railwayman3 said:
Is there any connection with "Mitsubishi" film and colour paper?

I bought some Mitsubishi 35mm C-41 in Hong Kong about 10 years ago. It was cheaper than the main brands and gave good results.

I've also seen some professional portraits and wedding photos printed on Mitsubishi paper here in the U.K.

Yes, of course, Mitsubishi made a whole range of photo materials..b/w RC paper, Color paper, and films. The main reason you are not too familiar with them is that they did not do much advertising and marketing (that I am aware of), and their materials were sold direct to studios thru distributors, and not thru a retailer. They "more-or-less" catered to an industrial market.

DNP Photo Marketing Launches CENTURIA Film Series of Color Negative Film

Jorge Orte Tudela

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DNP Photo Marketing Launches CENTURIA Film Series of Color Negative Film