Nothing new about this news, Pro 400 and 400H is different etc.
; said:
AFAIK, Pro 400 is 400H (the repackaging)
I was in Japan last December and could not find Fuji 160NS film *anywhere*. No where in Tokyo anyway.
As for Pro 400, it's consumer version
1.
Pro 400 and 400H are different product and not repackaged product, I have used both. It is clearly a different product.
Pro 400 negative was "adjusted" to Japanese needs and likes. But 400H was adjusted for oversees needs and likes.
Pro 400 is the Professional version of C41 film for Fuji, NOT consumer version.
I know 400H is expensive but usually the "discontinuing" films in Japan will be cheaper than the ongoing production films (e.g. I bought last production 120 roll of Kodak EPR / E100GP about USD 2.00 per roll in the past).
Please note that even Kodak produced E100"GP" (not E100G, E100GP is a modified version of E100G) ONLY just for Japanese market in the past.
2.
Fuji PRO160NS is an active product in Japan for the time being. You should find it out in Tokyo (if you find the right place) and I still see the product not only in Tokyo.
3.
Fuji did ONLY sell Pro 400 in the Japanese market, and never sold 400H in Japan.
But several years ago, they started experimentally selling 400H in Japanese market(there was no Japanese printed in the film box).
4.
I thought that the move mention above paragraph 3, that is concurrently selling Pro 400 and 400H, is the move to unify the product to single product worldwide for the 400 speed professional C41 film.
I bet it was a burden for Fuji to make a 400 speed C41 professional film specialized just only for the Japanese market.
If Fuji thinks that the Japanese market can accept 400H it was clear that they will quit selling Pro400 and sell 400H instead to unify the professional 400 speed C41 film worldwide.
The fact was:
I don't really know that Japanese customer really accepted 400H (although I have read the comment in Fuji's web that Japanese market accepted 400H) but anyway Fuji decided to go with 400H and cut off Pro 400.
That is what its all about.
Nothing new.
5.
For NEOPAN 400, we all know that Browine size (Oops, apologize we Japanese call 120 "Browine size") was already discontinued, so it was clear that it was a matter of time that 135 NEOPAN 400 will be discontinued soon.
That is all about.
Nothing new.
6.
Note that even that Fuji's Japanese Web site do NOT state that Velvia 100"F" is not discontinued in 120 size but if you go to Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku, there is a poster that states "production of Velvia 100F in Browine size(120) ceased, suggesting if you want, buy now".
Velvia 100F is still left and still sold in Japan, and with the much cheaper price than Velvia 100/50.
7.
Note that Fuji still provides not only 100 speed B&W film (ACROS) but still provides chemicals (prepackaged B&W developer, fixer, etc.) and B&W papers
(compare with other famous film maker that makes several B&W films but quit making B&W papers).
But it my understanding that Fuji's chemicals and papers are usually not available overseas.
Also note Fuji didn't established / conquer the B&W market even in Japan and in the heyday of film (Oh yes, Tri-X was more popular than NEOPAN in Japan).
Since there less actual player in the film market now, so the NEOPAN ACROS coming to light?
Currently, the Fuji's least profitable sector is the "Imaging" sector (I didn't say silver halide products).
If Fuji really wants, they can immediately kill the entire B&W product lineup.
It is my understanding that Fuji will provide the sliver halide products in the foreseeable future.
The question is that "what" product Fuji still provide in the foreseeable future.
I bet even Fuji can not definitely know what product can be provided in the foreseeable future.
I know there is a rumor about some product, but I won't write it here, since it is still a rumor.
It is all dependent on how much the product sells.
We know that "Cheki" ("Instax" in USA) is the growing product, for other silver halide product, I don't know.
To wrap it up, do use the product, do not spend so much time on the web for these kind of things.
