Fujifilm Kills Two More Films

GarageBoy · Mar 2, 2014

I thought Neopan 400 died already with Provia 400X

BetterSense · Mar 2, 2014

I typically tell myself that one black-and-white film is as good as another, and it's mostly true. But we photographers know that it's not 100% true.bNeopan 400 was a quite different film. I already miss it because it's discontinued in 120. Actually, Neopan 1600 was a bigger blow to me, because Neopan 1600 was fine-grained enough to be an "everyday" film, unlike the 3200-speed offerings from Ilford and Kodak. We have lost so many good films I'm just numb to it. I just bought a bulk roll of HP5 and it will do me fine, but I will still dream of that weird fine-yet-prominant-somehow Neopan 400 grain.

RattyMouse · Mar 2, 2014

jun said:
It is all dependent on how much the product sells.

With Fujifilm's incompetent marketing group, you can be sure that film sales will be less and less each year. Fujifilm's brazen ignorance at how to sell film in today's world is stupefying.

Fujifilm's web site is woefully out of date and inadequate regarding their film line. It is plain embarrassing to look there.

Fujifilm discontinues films without notice. Neopan 400 in 120 size. Where are the price increases to try to keep this film alive? None, it's just gone. The market WILL pay higher prices for good quality films. Same with Provia 400X. Reala 100. The market is given no chance to try to save these films.

I used to think Kodak would exit the film business first. Not any more. Fujifilm's stunning level of incompetence is making me put money on them failing first.

jun · Mar 3, 2014

RattyMouse said:
With Fujifilm's incompetent marketing group, you can be sure that film sales will be less and less each year. Fujifilm's brazen ignorance at how to sell film in today's world is stupefying.

Really?
Well, then why Fuji has the succeed to "increase" the sales of the "Instax" film today(esp. Asian market)?
It is Fuji's marketing effort.
I won't discuss about what effort / how Fuji did to start increase the "Instax" market, it is just a waste of time.

This is somewhat similar that the Kodak has a strong influence in motion picture because they did the effort to that market.

But there are things that even you put an effort, but the result will not follow.
Unfortunately that is the reality.

For the argument of which is going to stay the market longer for the sliver halide products, I will just say, We'll see.

RattyMouse · Mar 3, 2014

jun said:
But there are things that even you put an effort, but the result will not follow.
Unfortunately that is the reality.

We will never know because of Fujifilm's brazen incompetence. They can't be bothered with an effort.

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 3, 2014

RattyMouse said:
They can't be bothered with an effort.

I think that was his point.

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 8, 2014

Iluvmycam said:
Isn't is sad that film photogrpahy has turned to this? I suspect it wont be long before we can only feed out cameras from outdated ebay film auctions.

Been hearing that for almost 10 years now online. No, I can't get B&W film at the corner drug anymore, in fact there are hardly any corner drug stores anymore either, but I can get plenty of Ilford and Kodak films from many, many places online and about 10 different retail places around the San Francisco bay area. And can still get Fuji Acros too. Plus a couple more brands. What's going to happen to Kodak? How long will Fuji still make Acros? Who knows. But it appears Ilford will still be around and if needed I can live on HP5+, FP4+ and Delta 100/400 if I ever had to. For now I got so much stashed in my freezer (Neopan 400, 100SS and 1600, Agfa APX 25/100/400 and even some HP3!) I hope I live long enough to use it all!

Photo Engineer · Mar 8, 2014

Interesting. We have drug stores on almost every corner here! Walmart, CVS, Eckerd, all within about 1 mile, and one in walking distance. One does not sell film.

BUT, the world economy is still in trouble and film is taking a big hit. I mentioned before that Fuji is now undergoing cuts due to their dropping the Motion Picture line. All negative films are now moving to EK as Fuji cuts back, just as all E6 is now in the hands of Fuji.

Many companies have stopped making photographic chemicals in favor of digital chemicals such as printer inks.

PE

Jaf-Photo · Mar 8, 2014

The saddest fact about us humans is that we never know the good things we have, until they're gone.

MattKing · Mar 8, 2014

Jaf-Photo said:
The saddest fact about us humans is that we never know the good things we have, until they're gone.

"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone?

<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px;">[video=youtube;94bdMSCdw20]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20&feature=kp[/video]

Sal Santamaura · Mar 8, 2014

Jaf-Photo said:
The saddest fact about us humans is that we never know the good things we have, until they're gone.

More sad is that, even when those things are already gone, most humans don't know how good they were. A spiral of declining taste has prevailed for decades and shows no sign of letting up.

ambaker · Mar 8, 2014

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot...

Where the hipsters stand around and take selfies.

I'll give up film when I start shooting glass plates....

Photo Engineer · Mar 8, 2014

The need to learn glass plate making and paper coating is approaching.

Take our workshop in 2 weeks and hear more about it!

PE

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 8, 2014

Sal Santamaura said:
More sad is that, even when those things are already gone, most humans don't know how good they were. A spiral of declining taste has prevailed for decades and shows no sign of letting up.

I remember my grandpappy saying something along those lines back when I was around 10 years old. I just turned 50 last year...

Photo Engineer · Mar 8, 2014

So, when are you guys going to learn how to make plates and paper?

Geez, how often do I have to mention this?

PE

Pioneer · Mar 9, 2014

It is more fun to whine. Takes a lot less effort.

I have been procrastinating up to this point, but this is the year that I coat and shoot my own film.

As for the workshop at Eastman House I will start saving for a trip. Maybe I can make it next year.

benjiboy · Mar 9, 2014

Ratty Mouse should change his name to Chicken Little

Photo Engineer · Mar 9, 2014

Well, if the products are cancelled, then it is hardly fair to call him Chicken Little. He just reported a fact. Just as I can say that the analog industry is taking a real hit right now.

BTW, a week or so ago, Kodak laid off about 30 people in the film plant here due to decreased demand!

PE

Richard S. (rich815) · Mar 9, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
Well, if the products are cancelled, then it is hardly fair to call him Chicken Little. He just reported a fact. Just as I can say that the analog industry is taking a real hit right now.

BTW, a week or so ago, Kodak laid off about 30 people in the film plant here due to decreased demand!

PE

Yell all we want at Kodak for their stupid management or Fuji for it's supposed moronic marketing department but as much as we might love film we're not buying enough. That's the bottom line, in more ways than one.

Roger Cole · Mar 9, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
Well, if the products are cancelled, then it is hardly fair to call him Chicken Little. He just reported a fact. Just as I can say that the analog industry is taking a real hit right now.

BTW, a week or so ago, Kodak laid off about 30 people in the film plant here due to decreased demand!

PE

See the threads here and on LFPF about increases in sheet film prices for Kodak B&W too. They've now pulled so far ahead of Ilford I'm about to switch from TMY-2 to HP5+. The price delta is just too convincing.

Hey Simon, any chance of bringing back Delta 400 in sheets, please please?

Interesting, the prices for 120 still seem quite comparable to Ilford. They seem to be trying to make up for reduced demand for sheet film by charging higher prices, like the kid who wants $500 for a glass of lemonade because he'll only need one customer.

Roger Cole · Mar 9, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Yell all we want at Kodak for their stupid management or Fuji for it's supposed moronic marketing department but as much as we might love film we're not buying enough. That's the bottom line, in more ways than one.

I'm buying, and shooting, way more than I have time to process. I have a backlog of 29 rolls, yes twenty-nine rolls, of black and white to develop, 22 in 120 and 7 in 35mm, plus maybe a half dozen sheets. And I have 12 rolls of color sitting here on my desk now ready to pack up and ship to Dwayne's. Exactly how much more should I buy? I'm a hobbiest. I shoot what I can afford and have time for (and way more than I actually have time to develop and print!)

Trail Images · Mar 9, 2014

Yell all we want at Kodak for their stupid management or Fuji for it's supposed moronic marketing department but as much as we might love film we're not buying enough. That's the bottom line, in more ways than one.

A lot to be said for this statement. However, in the past I've found it is in part how the marketing is laid out not just overall sales. Fuji had lost business with the constant vacillation on numerous products, especially transparency film in LF. Every time they started the rumor mill the gluten & hording buying began. Yes I was guilty too with constant fear factors. I know folks who bought huge freezers and packed them with Velvia & Astia. Both in the older QL's and then cut sheets. Then the inevitable dry spells that resulted in skewing projected sales. As such, how could any company gauge the customer needs going forward on a consistent basis with the constant peak and valley of sales. It only worsened then by the cause and effect of pushing LF shooters to moving to totally different products and or worse yet sell off of gear or shelving it.
I know at least 10 steady LF shooters who either used Velvia or Astia, not one used Provia. In the end, we all got Provia?

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 9, 2014

Roger Cole said:
I'm buying, and shooting, way more than I have time to process... Exactly how much more should I buy? I'm a hobbiest.

A master roll each month, Roger. Each and every one of us. And if any one of us can't hold that pace, misses just one month, then all the layoffs, the failed business models, the stock collapse, the bankruptcies, the patent debacle, the infrastructure demolitions, all of it, it's all our fault. Like it or lump it...

Ken

Roger Cole · Mar 9, 2014

Good points. Ilford benefits from being much more right-sized for the shrunken market and focused on monochrome only, but they also benefit from being very transparent and accessible. We asked for cool tone developer and a true IR film and Simon took it to the board and reported back. He had to report back "we can't do it, the market isn't big enough" but he heard our requests, took them up the line, and came back with a straight answer that didn't change three times in the next six months.

Roger Cole · Mar 9, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
A master roll each month, Roger. Each and every one of us. And if any one of us can't hold that pace, misses just one month, then all the layoffs, the failed business models, the stock collapse, the bankruptcies, the patent debacle, the infrastructure demolitions, all of it, it's all our fault. Like it or lump it...

Ken

What we really need isn't so much to each shoot more film, as most of the folks on here are probably die hard film hobbyists who buy all their circumstances allow, as to expand the base of users.

Get out there on your soapbox and preach the book of film, people! (Said only partially in jest.)

Fujifilm Kills Two More Films

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