Fuji Kills Fujicolor Pro 800z (maybe)

david b · Jul 10, 2009

The British Journal of Photography is reporting that Fuji will cease production of Fujicolor Pro 800z in September

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=865280

Sirius Glass · Jul 10, 2009

Not a step in the right direction, but then Fuji did not ask me for my opinion.

Steve

brianmichel · Jul 10, 2009

It seems like the way things are going you will either be able to choose either kodak or fujifilm film, that's it, no types, just one holistic brand for the masses. Very sad

pgomena · Jul 10, 2009

Darn. I find I have fewer and fewer choices in high-speed film for occasional sports photography. This is not good news.

Peter Gomena

Jeff Kubach · Jul 10, 2009

I don't use high speed color film much myself, but still hate to hear about Fugi dropping it.

Jeff

2F/2F · Jul 10, 2009

You have to be shitting me. I love this stuff in medium format. I use it all the time!!! Portra 800 is nice, but is totally inferior for low light hand held shooting in artificial light.

Hopefully they will keep Superia 800 for 35mm, but not having it in medium format kills me!

T64 too, according to the e-mail that one guy got from Fuji.

I just have to know who these idiots who are not buying my two favorite Fuji films are. My next two favorites are Reala and Provia 400X. I hope they have a lot of life left.

jpeets · Jul 10, 2009

Upsetting news, but predictable, I think. Film has advantages in medium and large format over digital (that's why I use it), but for low light, film has been losing ground for years.

This is just a process of nibbling away at the range of products in film, to stay afloat. The low speed films will be the last to go. People still look at my large prints (up to 30X40 inches) from large format negs and cannot believe the image quality. Digital shooters peer and go quiet when I tell 'em how they are shot.

Film will persist where it has strengths. Still, it's sad to see any of our choices disappear. Given what's been happening over the last several years, you'd think we'd be used to it .....

kristopher_lawrence · Jul 10, 2009

Its sad but funny at the same time.

Kodak was bashed many times and fuji was pretending to become the "last man standing" in film buisiness. And now, Fuji kills 800z and Fujichrome T64 when kodak keep Portra 800 and Ektachrome 64T.

Its always sad when a product disapear, but maybe it will help to sustain Kodak sales of the equivalent hence keeping it alive.

2F/2F · Jul 10, 2009

jpeets said:
Upsetting news, but predictable, I think. Film has advantages in medium and large format over digital (that's why I use it), but for low light, film has been losing ground for years.

This is just a process of nibbling away at the range of products in film, to stay afloat. The low speed films will be the last to go. People still look at my large prints (up to 30X40 inches) from large format negs and cannot believe the image quality. Digital shooters peer and go quiet when I tell 'em how they are shot.

Film will persist where it has strengths. Still, it's sad to see any of our choices disappear. Given what's been happening over the last several years, you'd think we'd be used to it .....

The thing is that low light shooting is far from the only use for this film! It allows hand held medium format use where other films will not. It has unique and beautiful color and contrast. It is not overly sharp for some looks, like slower films are.

I have two friends who have entire portfolios done with this film for its unique look...and neither of them shot it for its ability to be used in low light.

Digital is certainly a choice for low light, but it does not look like this.

The way this is going, I had better learn to draw and paint if I want to get the look that I want and am used to.

2F/2F · Jul 10, 2009

kristopher_lawrence said:
Its sad but funny at the same time.

Kodak was bashed many times and fuji was pretending to become the "last man standing" in film buisiness. And now, Fuji kills 800z and Fujichrome T64 when kodak keep Portra 800 and Ektachrome 64T.

Its always sad when a product disapear, but maybe it will help to sustain Kodak sales of the equivalent hence keeping it alive.

Hopefully so. I just wish Kodak had not wasted their money on stupid redundant cartoon crap like Ektar 100 and a new T-Max that looks exactly the same as the old T-Max, when they could have redesigned Portra 800 to make it as good as Pro 800Z for artificial lighting, and 64T to make it as good as T64 in every way (reciprocity, accuracy, etc.).

Ian Grant · Jul 10, 2009

2F/2F said:
Hopefully they will keep Superia 800 for 35mm, but not having it in medium format kills me!

All formats.

When Fuji & Kodak dropped their specialist push process E6 films that was the nail in the coffin for much of my colour work with film, they were my mainstay films for shooting Rock concerts. Unfortunately at a professional level sales of fast films over 400 ISO have dropped to almost zero.

It also appears Fuji may drop some other films in certain formats as sales are too low.

Ian

2F/2F · Jul 10, 2009

Ian Grant said:
All formats.

Eh?

How about using a complete sentence, please, lest ye scare me to death! Are you saying that Superia 800 has been discontinued as well?

perkeleellinen · Jul 10, 2009

I'm worried about Superia 800, it's a favourite of mine.

Brandon D. · Jul 10, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Not a step in the right direction, but then Fuji did not ask me for my opinion.

Steve

THEY SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU FOR YOUR OPINION!!!!

Prest_400 · Jul 10, 2009

kristopher_lawrence said:
Its sad but funny at the same time.

Kodak was bashed many times and fuji was pretending to become the "last man standing" in film buisiness. And now, Fuji kills 800z and Fujichrome T64 when kodak keep Portra 800 and Ektachrome 64T.

Its always sad when a product disapear, but maybe it will help to sustain Kodak sales of the equivalent hence keeping it alive.

Since I read what Photo Engineer/Ron wrote in the Kodachrome thread when I asked about fuji I ended thinking that Fuji would stay straight.
Sad thing, seeing any emulsion go is bad, the film looks nice from what I seen.
I believe that Medium format and 35mm will end in a market like LF. Film will have a max. emulsion speed of 400...
I also believe that Fuji will end having most films as reversal (reala will stay) and negative for kodak.

mikebarger · Jul 10, 2009

Well 800 isn't as mainstream as other films, so I'm not sure it is as big of an impact as if it had been a 400. But, if you use it it's not good they're dropping it.

I've never used any of the 800's so not to much of an issue here.

Mike

nocrop · Jul 10, 2009

2F/2F said:
The way this is going, I had better learn to draw and paint if I want to get the look that I want and am used to.

That didn't work out so well for HC-B, though personally I love to paint and make litho and mono prints.

Back on topic, it's sad to see an emulsion go, but if the public isn't buying enough of the stuff to warrant production in the eyes of the producer, what do you expect? Maybe an unexpected run on Pro 800Z will change their minds. [holding breath]

Where's Fuji Natura? or Acros in sheet form? while I'm at it.

Photo Engineer · Jul 10, 2009

Both Kodak and Fuji put their consumer 800 films into disposable cameras. A lot is sold there, but the pro films are dropping in sales.

On another tack however, everyone seems to be giving Fuji a "pass" here again. Nocrop says it all! "if the public isn't buying enough of the stuff to warrant production in the eyes of the producer, what do you expect?" This same statement applies to Kodachrome so lets let the vitriol against EK temper itself or lets see some vitriol for Fuji.

Evenhandedness is the byword. No discrimination and no reverse discrimination.

PE

removed-user-1 · Jul 10, 2009

Noooo!!!

I love this film and I will be buying a brick of it ASAP.

Bruce Watson · Jul 10, 2009

Since Fuji and Harmon are gods, this must somehow be Kodak's fault. Everything bad that happens in film is Kodak's fault. I know this because I see it in APUG posts all the time.

So this will be interesting. Will Fuji continue to get a pass from the APUG community?

keithwms · Jul 10, 2009

That's too bad. Very nice stuff. I am not terribly surprised but I am disappointed. Guess I will be using 400x more now.

No Bruce, Fuji won't get a pass nor should they. But you will recall that when classic velvia was discontinued, there was quite a stink about that! And... voila, Fuji brought it back...

2F/2F said:
I just wish Kodak had not wasted their money on stupid redundant cartoon crap like Ektar 100...

Uh oh, here we go

B&Wpositive · Jul 10, 2009

Either they change their mind, or Kodak keeps making Portra 800.
I'd really like to see a 1600 speed color neg film with the quality of a 400 speed film, and make it available in 120.

Hopefully Fuji is just going to replace 800z with something better.

PhotoJim · Jul 10, 2009

I'm sad to see this film go (I have a few rolls in the freezer) but perhaps its passing will help Kodak to keep Portra 800 in production longer.

I was very disappointed to see Kodachrome discontinued but I certainly didn't get mad at Kodak. However, there is a difference: there are substitutes for 800Z, but none for Kodachrome 64. (Portra 800 is broadly similar to 800Z, but no film is like Kodachrome 64.)

Hopefully Superia 800 stays around awhile, although I am pretty sure you can't get it in 120 so it's not a perfect substitute.

clayne · Jul 11, 2009

Is Press 800 still available? I was always under the assumption it was really NPZ.

2F/2F · Jul 11, 2009

clayne said:
Is Press 800 still available? I was always under the assumption it was really NPZ.

It is nowhere close to NPZ.

Fuji Kills Fujicolor Pro 800z (maybe)

removed-user-1

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency