FujiFilm Commits to stay with films....

[dwdmguy]

Perhaps taking advantage of Kodak's recent weakness....

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=870622

 

[mjs]

It's welcome of them to come out and specifically say what their plans are. A little certainty is a nice thing these days.

Mike

 

[Photo Engineer]

Just a note to remind you that this only mentions Instant products. It does not include conventional B&W or color.

In addition, Fuji does not market (AFAIK) any B&W chemistry in the US or Europe, and their color products are made by Hunt Chemical Co. just as Kodak makes theirs through Champion now. The reason I mention this is that the decision to stop making some B&W chemical products might be Champion's decision.

PE

 

[pentaxuser]

PE is quite right to point out the drawbacks of having a third party produce chemistry for you. Paterson had to drop colour chemistry when Champion withdrew from production in the U.K and went to Spain, I think. However while the Fuji spokesman start off specifically addressing the rumour which concerned B&W instant film only, he certainly appears to use the occasion to commit to film in general and I don't think he's have done that unless it was meant to be read that way.

If Fuji doesn't want to use the opportunity to commit to film as far as this is ever possible nowadays then it needs to fire its spokesman as he has done it no favours.

I think we can read some good news into this announcement beyond B&W instant film, tempered as always with realism about timescale

pentaxuser

 

[Christopher Walrath]

In late 05 I beleive, Kodak said they would be out of film completely within seven years. Then they reformulate a few films (ie. TMY-2) while letting others go (ie. Kodachrome). Now chemistry takes a hit (ie. larger packaging volumes).

I think it will wax and wan until things get sorted out. Don't put stock in the words but don't count them out either.

 

[AgX]

... [Fuji] color products are made by Hunt Chemical Co. just as Kodak makes theirs through Champion now. The reason I mention this is that the decision to stop making some B&W chemical products might be Champion's decision.PE

Hunt was bought by Fuji in 1989. So in contrast to Champion they are not independant.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Hunt was bought by Fuji in 1989. So in contrast to Champion they are not independant.

Yes, the situation is different, but similar in some regards. And they seem to only offer color under the Fuji name.

PE

 

[Photo Engineer]

In late 05 I beleive, Kodak said they would be out of film completely within seven years. Then they reformulate a few films (ie. TMY-2) while letting others go (ie. Kodachrome). Now chemistry takes a hit (ie. larger packaging volumes).

I think it will wax and wan until things get sorted out. Don't put stock in the words but don't count them out either.

Kodak has often said that they would be "the last man standing" in the film arena. I have never seen the quote you mention but several have said they heard the same and posted here on APUG. I can find no authoritative statement by EK regarding 7 years. In fact, I have never heard any comments about a time scale.

At the rate of decline in ALL analog sales, you could probably plot an intercept in a graph when film sales WW falls to nearly zero, but this would be meaningless as it almost never works that way.

In fact, that is why all analog companies are in trouble. These plots failed them!

PE

 

[Ian Grant]

There were issues over Fuji B&W products in the UK at one point due to agreements with Ilford who made certain products for them, so they weren't officially imported.

I've never seen Fuji B&W chemistry in the UK but back in the late 50's & early 60's it was advertised in the UK, but well before I began B&W processing.

The dropping of Kodak chemistry particularly larger packs has more to do with the way processing has changed, and in fact all companies have been doing this since the growth of Colour in the 60's. B&W sales were at their pinnacle in the 60's and dropped through the 70's, 80's & 90's as Colour grew & dominated the commercial & D&P markets.

Ian

 

[Alexander Ghaffari]

I am glad to read that article. I was a little worried about my peel-apart film, after reading some stories of doom and gloom some weeks ago.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I hope you right about FUJI!

Jeff

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

In late 05 I beleive, Kodak said they would be out of film completely within seven years. ......

Completely false! There has never been an official statement from Kodak about exiting film production. If there was, you could watch their stock drop horrifically, and see Fuji stock jump amazingly.

 

[john_s]

....The dropping of Kodak chemistry particularly larger packs has more to do with the way processing has changed, and in fact all companies have been doing this since the growth of Colour in the 60's. B&W sales were at their pinnacle in the 60's and dropped through the 70's, 80's & 90's as Colour grew & dominated the commercial & D&P markets.

Ian

I was peeved to discover that Ilford have dropped the 2.5L pack of Microphen, leaving only the rather expensive 1L packs. I suspect that this had more to do with steering customers to DD-X which is also expensive. Well, it steered me somewhere else. You win some, and lose some.

 

[Ian Grant]

Microphen was once available in 5 gallon (22.5 litre) packs, and Autophen the Ilford Commercial PQ version of ID-11 in 12 gallon(54 litre) packs so that tells you how big the shifts in usage are.

ID-68 (Microphen) is easy to mix from scratch and is interchangeable with Microphen.

Ian

 

[john_s]

Microphen was once available in 5 gallon (22.5 litre) packs, and Autophen the Ilford Commercial PQ version of ID-11 in 12 gallon(54 litre) packs so that tells you how big the shifts in usage are.

ID-68 (Microphen) is easy to mix from scratch and is interchangeable with Microphen.

Ian

Thanks Ian. I was wondering if the old formula Ilford Replenishing Developer which looks similar but with some small variations would be worth testing as well. It appears to have a lower pH.

I have Dimezone-S rather than phenidone, and was planning to substitute according to the relative molecular weights, i.e. 1.3x. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[Ian Grant]

I'd guess so.

The Axford Kendall Commercial developer is incorrectly stated to be Microphen in some US publications, but is a PQ variant of ID-11/D76, it was available as Autophen in both Powder & Liquid forms with 2 different replenishers, for topping up and bleed with large scale D&P lines.

Microphen/ID-68 was tweaked to give increased film speed by cutting the Sulphite level.

Ian

 

[Chazzy]

I'm glad that Fuji has clarified that they are not discontinuing those instant films, but it is unacceptable that companies should have to put out fires started on the internet by rumor-mongerers. APUG needs a formal policy about posting information on discontinuations: if the name and the position of the spokesman quoted are not available and the specific market to which the information applies is unknown, the post should be removed.

 

[aluk]

The name and position of the contacts as Fuji were posted for the Fuji notice, though... As is evident here, different salespeople in different markets do not always communicate with each other that well. A better solution would be to have the actual corporate representatives post here more frequently... Fuji have not even logged in to APUG since May, though they are listed as sponsors

 

[Chazzy]

The name and position of the contacts as Fuji were posted for the Fuji notice, though... As is evident here, different salespeople in different markets do not always communicate with each other that well. A better solution would be to have the actual corporate representatives post here more frequently... Fuji have not even logged in to APUG since May, though they are listed as sponsors

It would be wonderful to see Fuji and Kodak representatives pop in from time to time, if only for a few minutes. I think we would all agree that Simon Galley's contributions here have done the Ilford brand a lot of good with the considerable number of people who watch APUG.

 

[Dinesh]

I think it will wax and wan until things get sorted out. Don't put stock in the words but don't count them out either.

Thanks for being so definitive and clearing that up.

 

[john_s]

I'd guess so.

The Axford Kendall Commercial developer is incorrectly stated to be Microphen in some US publications, but is a PQ variant of ID-11/D76, it was available as Autophen in both Powder & Liquid forms with 2 different replenishers, for topping up and bleed with large scale D&P lines.

Microphen/ID-68 was tweaked to give increased film speed by cutting the Sulphite level.

Ian

And I suppose a little more speed also as a result of a slightly higher pH due to more borax and less boric acid.

 

[gr82bart]

Perhaps taking advantage of Kodak's recent weakness....http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=870622

These anti-Kodak posts disguised as something else serve no purpose.

Regards, Art.

 

[gr82bart]

In late 05 I beleive, Kodak said they would be out of film completely within seven years.

Chris, perpetuating rumours like this does every film photographer no good.

Regards, Art.

 

[gr82bart]

Mods, IMNSHO I think this entire thread should go to the Doom and Gloom area of the soap box.

Regards, Art.

 

[Ian Grant]

Art, perhaps you forget the other positive signals Fuji have made recently like the new Fuji/Cosina/Voigtlander 667 camera. In comparison Kodak showed a marked inability to launch it's much heralded new 35mm SLR, having to scrap the project.

Kodak blow hot & cold giving very contrary signals, that must make the stock markets nervous as well as committed film photographers.

Ian