Fuji to bring back B&W film ?

Ste_S · Jul 25, 2018

For what it's worth, in an Instagram post by Tokyo Camera Style he mentions that Fujifilm are evaluating bringing back B&W film after user demand/outcry. Looks like a Japanese site called ITmedia news is carrying it ?

http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1807/25/news078.html

Probably the first time in a while that Fuji have commentated on film production ?

bvy · Jul 25, 2018

Time to throw a change.org petition out there and reinforce it.

RattyMouse · Jul 25, 2018

Ste_S said:
For what it's worth, in an Instagram post by Tokyo Camera Style he mentions that Fujifilm are evaluating bringing back B&W film after user demand/outcry. Looks like a Japanese site called ITmedia news is carrying it ?

http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1807/25/news078.html

Probably the first time in a while that Fuji have commentated on film production ?

Fuji brought back Neopan 400 for a second life. That hardly lasted and it was discontinued again shortly thereafter.

Fujifilm should really have set upon a stable product line to maximize the use of their production facility ages ago. It should have looked like this:

Velvia 50
Provia 100 & 400
Acros 100
Superia 200, 400, 1600
400H
160NS

All in both 135 and 120 size.

That should have been their core product line. Perhaps the E6 components would have to die since that seems to be pricing itself out of the market.

I'm not holding my breath for a rebirth of Acros.

Rick A · Jul 25, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Fuji brought back Neopan 400 for a second life. That hardly lasted and it was discontinued again shortly thereafter.

Fujifilm should really have set upon a stable product line to maximize the use of their production facility ages ago. It should have looked like this:

Velvia 50
Provia 100 & 400
Acros 100
Superia 200, 400, 1600
400H
160NS

All in both 135 and 120 size.

That should have been their core product line. Perhaps the E6 components would have to die since that seems to be pricing itself out of the market.

I'm not holding my breath for a rebirth of Acros.

Acros in Large format sizes, especially 4x5 , 5x7, and 8x10.

BAC1967 · Jul 25, 2018

Google translation of the article:

"Fujifilm Imaging Systems, which announced that sales of black-and-white photographic film will be terminated, was discovered on July 25, when it was reported to the company that it began studying film reproduction for black-and-white photography. Those who received a lot of voices wishing to reproduce from black-and-white photograph enthusiasts and others. We have not yet solved the problem of raw material procurement difficulties at this stage, and said that the company "just started the examination".

The company announced on April 6th, "We have worked hard to absorb costs such as improving production efficiency and cost savings, but due to the continued decrease in demand, stable supply became difficult," and black and white photographs Announcement end of sales of film for film and black and white photographic paper.

Black-and-white film is expected to be shipped in October, black-and-white photographic paper will be shipped from October to March 2019. Since all types of black-and-white film and black-and-white photographic paper are discontinued, recommended products for handover were "not".

After the announcement, a lot of voices wishing to reproduce from film enthusiasts and SNS generations who prefer analogue expression are received, and it is said that they began to study reproducing whether it can respond to it. However, we have not solved the problem of the difficulty in reducing the demand and procuring dedicated raw materials, and said, "We have only begun to consider, we can not speak at the present stage, such as release time" (the company)."

RattyMouse · Jul 25, 2018

Rick A said:
Acros in Large format sizes, especially 4x5 , 5x7, and 8x10.

Yeah, I totally forgot about large format. Sorry, not a shooter of that film so it slipped my mind.

darkroommike · Jul 25, 2018

So far, just vaporware, perhaps a ploy to keep people buying up existing stocks of all the film Fuji still makes. As for the other, it would be very nice, but I'll believe it when I see it.

faberryman · Jul 25, 2018

A short burst of demand following the announcement of Acros discontinuation isn't enough to change the production calculus. This is like when Kodak said it was considering bringing back Kodachrome following the blip of hype following its Ektachrome announcement. After reconsidering for about five minutes, they came out and said it wasn't feasible. No surprise to anyone. I suspect Fuji's consideration of reintroduction to be of similar duration. Just paying lip service to the idea. There are plenty of black and white film choices.

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2018

Well it would be nice, but I for one will not hold my breathe. If I held my breathe, Johnny Mathis would start singing "When Sonny gets blue".

RattyMouse · Jul 25, 2018

darkroommike said:
So far, just vaporware, perhaps a ploy to keep people buying up existing stocks of all the film Fuji still makes. As for the other, it would be very nice, but I'll believe it when I see it.

There's no need for extra help to sell Acros. Stock disappears pretty fast once it shows up. The recent batch of 120 film at B & H lasted all of 4 days.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 25, 2018

They have BW instant film recently introduced.

mooseontheloose · Jul 26, 2018

Well, Fuji does have a history of bringing back films that they have discontinued, so I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. That said, as per the article mentioned above, if they cannot find a way to reduce production while keeping the costs manageable, I doubt it'll happen. But I now have several years supply of Acros sitting in my fridge (no room in the freezer) so if they do bring it back I'll really have to start shooting more of it (or get a bigger freezer). It would be nice if they brought back both the 400 and 1600 films as well, but that's probably wishful thinking.

pentaxuser · Jul 26, 2018

So Fuji, after due consideration ceased production in late March of this year but in the ensuing 3 months has seriously reviewed that decision. If this is the case then I wonder what it expects to find in a re-examination that makes a re-start feasible? If there was a flaw in the case for ceasing production then did it not see it or did it make a major decision to cease production based on "marginal" factors? it all seems very strange.

I do not wish to appear cynical but if the Fuji consumer's adverse reaction to Fuji's original decision was strong enough to make it think it might impinge on its general reputation and thus overall revenue, then if I were Fuji I might be tempted to "let the customers down more slowly and gently" by hinting at a review, assuming of course, that the source at Tokyo Camera Style has real evidence of a re-think and is not "shooting the breeze" as you say over the pond

Any more details of the source's evidence and standing in the wider photographic world?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Ste_S · Jul 26, 2018

pentaxuser said:
Any more details of the source's evidence and standing in the wider photographic world?

If you read through the translated article posted above, it appears it was actually Fujifilm themselves talking to itmedia.co.jp

pentaxuser · Jul 26, 2018

Ste_S said:
If you read through the translated article posted above, it appears it was actually Fujifilm themselves talking to itmedia.co.jp

Well the translation leaves a bit to be desired in terms of its unequivocal nature but it seems to me that it can mean different things to different people. As the saying goes it looks to me to be a message for all seasons.

I delivered a similar message to my wife about getting a new three piece suite. It clearly wasn't unequivocal enough. I am recovering from my injuries on the new suite as I write this

pentaxuser

darkroommike · Jul 26, 2018

RattyMouse said:
There's no need for extra help to sell Acros. Stock disappears pretty fast once it shows up. The recent batch of 120 film at B & H lasted all of 4 days.

No offense but did I say "Acros"? I did not.

Fuji no longer makes Acros, the stuff that is showing up is stuff that was already in the manufacturing and supply chains, one that is gone, it is all gone.

My thought was that this is a ploy to keep people loyal to the brand, not some specific product, until Fuji completely bails out of the conventional film market.

Not the first time Fuji has done something similar.

It may also be a vaporware tease to gauge interest in a film revival or any of a number of other conspiracy theory scenarios that I decline to get into.

Like I have been saying about Ferrania and Ektachrome in 120 sizes, I'll believe it when I see it.

Sal Santamaura · Jul 26, 2018

Rick A said:
Acros in Large format sizes, especially 4x5 , 5x7, and 8x10.

Acros was never offered in 5x7. Since you're asking for not only a resumption of production, but a brand new SKU, how about requesting it in 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 too?

darkroommike · Jul 26, 2018

Sal Santamaura said:
Acros was never offered in 5x7. Since you're asking for not only a resumption of production, but a brand new SKU, how about requesting it in 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 too?

Something like Ilford's once a year ULF Ordering program?

mshchem · Jul 26, 2018

Fuji will make whatever makes them the most money. Fuji is an awesome company. Fuji never forgot how to be a photographic company, EK ended up just making film and paper, thus the current situation . Ask Nikon about mirrorless cameras and being late to the market.
The reaction to the withdrawal of black and white products may change minds. ???
Mike

Rick A · Jul 26, 2018

Sal Santamaura said:
Acros was never offered in 5x7. Since you're asking for not only a resumption of production, but a brand new SKU, how about requesting it in 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 too?

Hell yeah.

RattyMouse · Jul 26, 2018

mshchem said:
Fuji will make whatever makes them the most money. Fuji is an awesome company. Fuji never forgot how to be a photographic company, EK ended up just making film and paper, thus the current situation . Ask Nikon about mirrorless cameras and being late to the market.
The reaction to the withdrawal of black and white products may change minds. ???
Mike

Awesome company? Not in my eyes. I dont care about their office products, cosmetics, or other useless non photographic products. And their digital cameras are as overrated as they are over priced.

faberryman · Jul 26, 2018

RattyMouse said:
And their digital cameras are as overrated as they are over priced.

Have you used one or are you just going off specs?

RattyMouse · Jul 26, 2018

faberryman said:
Have you used one or are you just going off specs?

Many. I used Fujifilm digital cameras elusively before returning to film. Still own a few.

Sal Santamaura · Jul 26, 2018

Sal Santamaura said:
Acros was never offered in 5x7. Since you're asking for not only a resumption of production, but a brand new SKU, how about requesting it in 6-1/2 x 8-1/2 too?

darkroommike said:
Something like Ilford's once a year ULF Ordering program?

Rick A said:
Hell yeah.

OK you guys, perhaps my post wasn't clear enough. It was facetious sarcasm. Fuji, even if it 'reintroduces' Acros, will discontinue it again not too long after. The market is what it is. Fuji is the large corporation it is. Fuji film of all types will be completely gone in a few years. Face reality.

Anyone who like shooting first-tier-quality black and white film is best advised to patronize Kodak Alaris as long as Eastman Kodak's Bldg. 38 in Rochester keeps making it and/or HARMAN while its site lease remains in effect through 2025. After that, who knows. Enjoy what's out there. Or go digital.

faberryman · Jul 26, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Many. I used Fujifilm digital cameras elusively before returning to film. Still own a few.

I like the haptics of my XE2 and XT2. They handle like my film cameras so it's easy for me to move back and forth. Is there another camera that still has an aperture ring on the lens?

Fuji to bring back B&W film ?

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