Fuji discontinues Velvia 100F and Velvia 50

[benjiboy]

Why do Kodak and Fuji make statements about their undying commitment to film, and in the next breath discontinue most of their films ? who do they think they are kidding ?.

 

[Roger Cole]

So, basically, all the really good slide films for large format are dead. I guess it's time to go back to b/w for large format work.
Unless another company is going to step up and deliver a large format color slide film.
I am saddened by this news.

Provia is arguably a better film for LF than Velvia anyway for the reasons Drew described and it remains available along with Velvia 100. Then there's Portra and Ektar, so color remains quite viable in LF.

 

[wogster]

So, basically, all the really good slide films for large format are dead. I guess it's time to go back to b/w for large format work.
Unless another company is going to step up and deliver a large format color slide film.
I am saddened by this news.

The issue is that there really isn't a market for large format transparencies now that publications don't want them and printing them is a pain now that Ilfochrome is gone. When there really isn't a market, then products tend to get discontinued....

 

[PhotoJim]

Why do Kodak and Fuji make statements about their undying commitment to film, and in the next breath discontinue most of their films ? who do they think they are kidding ?.

"Hi. We thought seriously about discontinuing film production entirely, but then we realized there would be no slide film available anywhere in the world once our existing stock sold out. So, instead, we've decided to delete our least profitable products, and retrench our resources in products that are still profitable. Ideal? Of course not, but we'd rather have some films than no films."

Take it for what it is - it's not ideal, but Fuji publicly declared that it wants to be in the film business as long as it's viable. Kodak's choice was to get rid of all E6 films; Fuji's choice was to keep what it could.

Also, Velvia 100 is an awfully good film. That's still available in sheet film. Delicious stuff. I just bought ten more rolls of 135-36 at B&H last month, and if I ever figure out my large format gear I'll certainly shoot some in sheet format.

 

[Brian C. Miller]

Take it for what it is - it's not ideal, but Fuji publicly declared that it wants to be in the film business as long as it's viable. Kodak's choice was to get rid of all E6 films; Fuji's choice was to keep what it could.

Kodak had two pro films, and one consumer film. I don't know the exact usage, but I'm sure they drop a film when its consumption drops below a master roll per year. How long was it after TechPan had been discontinued that we found out that they'd been cutting up one remaining master roll? A couple of years? I don't remember, really.

I ran a test between Kodak E100VS and Ektar 100, and a negative film just isn't a reversal film. The contrast of the reversal film can really cause something to pop out, while a negative film can have too much image noise in it because a dark background doesn't naturally fade out. The colors can come close, but not the natural film contrast. Some good stuff has been lost.

I'm glad that Fuji is keeping something. The Provia 50 is still going to be available in roll film for a while longer, so at least I can do panoramas after the sheet film is gone. My refrigerator freezer is 1/2 film now. *sigh*

 

[Yamaotoko]

...You'd be amazed how far "sort of good enough" gets you today.

Yep, and it frustrates me nearly every day! Seeing the work of others that would go in my round filing cabinet, but clients are satisfied because, well, "...it's good enough..."

 

[B&Wpositive]

I've used a fair amount of Velvia 50 in the past (the first version). But I only ever used one roll of Provia 100F. I've been meaning to use more of that. All I can say, is I'm thankful that Provia 100F will still be made in all sizes, as it reminds me the most of Kodachrome when shot under certain conditions (but without that color crossover). I am going to make a note to start using Provia 100F as my standard slide film.

As for Velvia 100F, I'll likely buy a few rolls to try it out (I think I shot a roll of it a long time ago). Velvia 50 thankfully continues in rolls.

I'll also be sure to try out Provia 400X (I used Sensia 400 in the past).

Looks like I'll be ordering a bunch of slide film soon.

 

[boinzo]

This is an interesting thread with a lot of good points made about the pros and cons of Velvia slide film. There are plenty of us that still actively shoot a lot of Velvia 50 in 4x5 myself included. I just love what this film does for the Australian landscapes I shoot.

While it's certainly true that the commercial reality for these products looks pretty grim I think we should be doing as much as we can to let Fujifilm know we want them to continue making this stuff. That includes sending them a clear message. By buying and shooting more Velvia and also by letting them know directly.

I have setup a petition here Dead Link Removed asking Fujifilm to reconsider. Please consider signing it and sharing it so we can at least try to have Fujifilm change their mind. Once you've done that...go and by a box of Velvia. If you haven't shot it in ages - give it another go. That is after all what will make the most difference in the end.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

This is an interesting thread with a lot of good points made about the pros and cons of Velvia slide film. There are plenty of us that still actively shoot a lot of Velvia 50 in 4x5 myself included. I just love what this film does for the Australian landscapes I shoot.

While it's certainly true that the commercial reality for these products looks pretty grim I think we should be doing as much as we can to let Fujifilm know we want them to continue making this stuff. That includes sending them a clear message. By buying and shooting more Velvia and also by letting them know directly.

I have setup a petition here Dead Link Removed asking Fujifilm to reconsider. Please consider signing it and sharing it so we can at least try to have Fujifilm change their mind. Once you've done that...go and by a box of Velvia. If you haven't shot it in ages - give it another go. That is after all what will make the most difference in the end.

So there you have it: another Australian has piped up. Velvia in 4x5 must be continued. Nothing out there captures the beauty of our wide brown land more succinctly than a sheet of riotous colour. I've signed the petition. Others, please quick-march and do the same. It needs to be a global push.

 

[robbalbrecht]

Yep, and it frustrates me nearly every day! Seeing the work of others that would go in my round filing cabinet, but clients are satisfied because, well, "...it's good enough..."

Me too..... We get that a lot in the video production biz.

 

[Darkroom317]

Have these films been globally discontinued in these sizes or is it just in the UK? I am confused. The Fujifilm USA website still shows all sizes as being available for Velvia 50 and 100F

 

[Diapositivo]

Those sizes that have been discontinued have been discontinued from production. Sale will last until all stock is sold so it is normal that discontinued sizes are still available and will continue to be for some time.

If you find some material to be important for your work a possible sensible option is to buy large quantities, to last for years of work, and freeze them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you find some material to be important for your work a possible sensible option is to buy large quantities, to last for years of work, and freeze them.

In this type of situation I rush out and buy up all that I can find and afford so that I can keep the hoarders from buying the product up!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Though 120 and 35mm is not affected, that hasn't stopped me from raiding my Velvia dealer!! Massive splurge yesterday and again today. All destined to join the chooks, peas and chips in the deep, deep freeze...

 

[Steve Roberts]

Something that won't have helped transparency film usage in the UK is that the GPO have revised their price structure for parcels so that a standard box of slides in two stacks of 18 plus bubble wrap envelope now costs over £3.00 to post back to the sender. I first became aware of this when The Darkroom's form suddenly included a standard charge of £3.00 postage per order. Clearly for an order of, say, three films this isn't too serious, but for a single film at a time (which tends to be my rate) it could be very expensive at £7.90 + £3.00 = £10.90. Consequently, with the film I shot over the weekend, I opted to spend 15 mins walking to my local E6 lab rather than line the pockets of the GPO. Spread over a batch of films sent in one go, I can live with the £3.00 charge and will do so, but for single films a) I'll save £3.00 and b) the walk will do me good!
I must reiterate that this situation isn't of The Darkroom's making and that their service is excellent, both in terms of quality and turnaround time, but that extra £3.00 plus processing plus the initial cost of the material makes slide use an expensive pastime and isn't likely to encourage many new users. (Oh - and no, I'm not patient enough to wait until I've saved up five films and send them off at once!)
Steve

 

[pukalo]

Steve, the answer is the Tetanal kit, or lucky you as you live in Britian, the Fuji Chrome 6 kit. Brings your costs down to approx 2 dollars (less than 2 pounds) per roll. Its super easy, you get fantastic results (never again scratched or damaged film), and turn around time almost as fast as digital. Shoot a roll, then take 1 hour in the evening to process at your leisure, maybe while enjoying some music.

 

[Roger Cole]

Same situation in the US for me. I've been using Dwayne's and postage (well "shipping costs" - I don't think in this case the postage itself is nearly this much, maybe half) is $4.50 for the first roll and $0.50 for each additional up to four. Five or more is "call" and I've not yet done so. I typically do tend to wait until I have at least three if not four rolls.

I'm seriously considering doing my own E6 again. I've done it in the past with no problems and I have a Jobo. The main reason I haven't is time. It is far quicker and easier to fill out the form and stick the film in a padded mailer then run it by the post office which is only a couple of miles from my house and has a 24/7 automated kiosk for mailing it. Compared to the time of mixing, temperature stabilizing then processing, plus cutting and mounting since I project mine it hasn't seemed worth it. I'd rather spend my far too limited darkroom time developing my backlog of black and white and printing my even bigger backlog.

 

[bishy]

Steve, have you looked at Peak Imaging. They offer a freepost box for sending film up to them, with a final charge of 10.44 for process and mount(same box and mounts as The Darkroom use).

I was not surprised to see Velvia 100F is to go, after such slow sales in the UK for a while now. Velvia 50 35mm/120 is safe thankfully, otherwise i would have needed to hoard a freezer full of the stuff.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

You complain about all that effort!? I have to get in my car, drive 77km, drop the film off, schedule it for their Tuesday or Thursday processing then collect it in the wee hours on the weekend when they drop it in the pigeon hole outside (keys supplied to clients). Overall cost for a roll to be processed is about $35.00 with petrol and generally extra rail fare on the weekend. So there! Chin up, you guys...

 

[Steve Roberts]

You complain about all that effort!? I have to get in my car, drive 77km, drop the film off, schedule it for their Tuesday or Thursday processing then collect it in the wee hours on the weekend when they drop it in the pigeon hole outside (keys supplied to clients). Overall cost for a roll to be processed is about $35.00 with petrol and generally extra rail fare on the weekend. So there! Chin up, you guys...

Phew! I'd give up photography and take up stamp collecting or taxidermy instead!

Thanks to bishy and pukalo for the ideas!

Steve