Fuji Kills Fujicolor Pro 800z (maybe)

clayne · Jul 11, 2009

Well good thing I have 2000 rolls of NPZ.

I'm kidding, I think I have around 10. Either way, this Fujifilm news caused me to just recently leap into a big flickr comment diatribe against digital cameras, the march of modern technology, how the semiconductor helped both improve and also fuck over modern product design and reusability, and, of course, "this new generation of kids growing up."

It seems like the news of any films' discontinuation just pisses me off since Kodachrome. It feels as if it's not about "film" anymore but about "the product." I'm sure with yet another film discontinuation press release both Nikon and Canon are sitting back, smoking their cigars, sipping their wine, and preparing press releases on the latest and greatest, obsolete in 3 years, chuck-it-in-the-trash-when-you're-done-we'll-just-make-new-ones, fictional D900 and 80D.

See? I'm doing it again, I can't even help it these days. I want maintainable and serviceable products back and it's never going to happen.

perkeleellinen · Jul 11, 2009

Isn't Fuji Press 800 the same film as Superia 800?

Matt5791 · Jul 11, 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.

Interesting point. I have recently been setting up a new specialist photographic retailer here in the UK - Fuji have been utterly useless in terms of communication, effort etc. Firstly they palmed me off onto a totally inappropiate wholesaler, and now I can't get hold of the Fuji sales rep at all on email. He promised to send the price list, and it has never arrived.

And they started off telling me how they were going to be the "last man standing"

Kodak, via their appointed UK distributor Photologic (which was set up about 3 years ago by ex Kodak directors and employees and already has a £15m turnover) has been almost as good as Ilford in terms of service, communication etc. - and because, as you would imagine, Ilford are pretty much faultless, this is saying something.

In my opinion the tables have turned and Kodak is far more likely to be the last man standing (for colour).

So the end result is that I will, at this stange and launch of the business, have no Fuji products listed.

In my opinion, it is hardly suprising that there is such a decline if the manufacturer can be bothered to actually sell the product - I should have been getting a phone call every few days from Fuji.

Frank Bunnik · Jul 11, 2009

I recently bought 5 rolls of (120) 800Z that I am going to use soon in India. Guess I have to buy some more when I come back before it is gone.

2F/2F · Jul 11, 2009

perkeleellinen said:
Isn't Fuji Press 800 the same film as Superia 800?

Yes, but neither are NPZ/Pro 800Z.

Superia and Press are respectively amateur and pro versions of the same emulsion, so there are differences. Thus the color balance is a little bit different, and the Press is 36 exposures per roll and can be purchased in 20-roll boxes with matching emulsions.

PhotoJim · Jul 11, 2009

The big difference is that you can't get Superia 800 in 120. You can get Superia 100, but even it is hard to find in 120 format. I think it is grey-market outside of Japan.

Prest_400 · Jul 11, 2009

PhotoJim said:
You can get Superia 100, but even it is hard to find in 120 format. I think it is grey-market outside of Japan.

fujilab.co.uk sells superia 100 & 400 in 120 rolls.
It was kind of curious when I found it. Superia and Reala in 120? I'd choose the second.

perkeleellinen · Jul 11, 2009

Reala and Superia 400 are easy to find in 120 format in the UK.

lns · Jul 11, 2009

(Bad word.) I am really ticked. This was a beautiful film that I use all the time. Not in summer, of course, but in winter. Why not keep it and kill the Superia?

All the news is bad lately.

-Laura

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2009

Originally Posted by Sirius Glass (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
Not a step in the right direction, but then Fuji did not ask me for my opinion.

Steve

Brandon D. said:
THEY SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU FOR YOUR OPINION!!!!

Thanks I needed that!

Steve

Sirius Glass · Jul 11, 2009

Photo Engineer said:
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

What he said. Hear! Hear!

Steve

mikebarger · Jul 11, 2009

I'm not going to buy Fuji products as a result of this action, wait...I don't use their stuff anyway.

Mike

Ektagraphic · Jul 11, 2009

Kodak's Portra 800 is ready to step up to the plate

Ektagraphic · Jul 11, 2009

Matt5791 said:
Interesting point. I have recently been setting up a new specialist photographic retailer here in the UK - Fuji have been utterly useless in terms of communication, effort etc. Firstly they palmed me off onto a totally inappropiate wholesaler, and now I can't get hold of the Fuji sales rep at all on email. He promised to send the price list, and it has never arrived.

And they started off telling me how they were going to be the "last man standing"

Kodak, via their appointed UK distributor Photologic (which was set up about 3 years ago by ex Kodak directors and employees and already has a £15m turnover) has been almost as good as Ilford in terms of service, communication etc. - and because, as you would imagine, Ilford are pretty much faultless, this is saying something.

In my opinion the tables have turned and Kodak is far more likely to be the last man standing (for colour).

So the end result is that I will, at this stange and launch of the business, have no Fuji products listed.

In my opinion, it is hardly suprising that there is such a decline if the manufacturer can be bothered to actually sell the product - I should have been getting a phone call every few days from Fuji.

Good luck with your buissness! I wish you well! Kodak's Professional Products division has wonderful customer service. For those of us in USA, you can get them by calling 1-800-242-2424 and dialing option 19.

mudman · Jul 11, 2009

Damn. I just started shooting with some of this. Beautiful colors.

Do you think Kodak Portra will be similar?

Ektagraphic · Jul 11, 2009

Kodak Portra is somewhat similar. I think that you will like it.

Robert Budding · Jul 12, 2009

I'm buying a new chest freezer. How long will Pro 800Z keep at -20 deg C (0 deg F)?

E76 · Jul 12, 2009

A long time, but not that long. Seeing as it's a high speed film, it's very likely that it will fog as a result of background radiation within several years.

WolfTales · Jul 12, 2009

*buys a set of pastels and searches for a cave wall...*

2F/2F · Jul 12, 2009

E76 said:
A long time, but not that long. Seeing as it's a high speed film, it's very likely that it will fog as a result of background radiation within several years.

Based on my experience with old Press 800, it will last at least a decade, and probably longer. The commercial freezer might even extend the life past this.

clayne · Jul 12, 2009

E76 said:
A long time, but not that long. Seeing as it's a high speed film, it's very likely that it will fog as a result of background radiation within several years.

In deep freeze it won't be significant for quite a long time.

BetterSense · Jul 12, 2009

Anyone thinking about stocking up might want to check out the Dallas photo/video craigslist page.

DanielStone · Jul 13, 2009

Ektagraphic said:
Kodak's Portra 800 is ready to step up to the plate

and its beautiful stuff too!!!!

clayne · Jul 13, 2009

Remember guys, Portra is not the same as NPS, NPH, and NPZ. Fujifilm has it's own look as do the Portras. Both are excellent films and I love each one for different reasons. So yes, this is a LOSS not a substitute we can swap in.

2F/2F · Jul 13, 2009

clayne said:
Remember guys, Portra is not the same as NPS, NPH, and NPZ. Fujifilm has it's own look as do the Portras. Both are excellent films and I love each one for different reasons. So yes, this is a LOSS not a substitute we can swap in.

Exactly.

Fuji Kills Fujicolor Pro 800z (maybe)

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