Fujifilm re-introduce Velvia 50

[Ailsa]

This is pretty astounding in this day and age. A case of people power, methinks...

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Official News Release from Fujifilm Professional
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Release Date: 7 November 2006


Fujifilm announces re-introduction of Velvia 50


Fujifilm Professional is delighted to announce that the company is planning to re-launch Fujichrome Velvia 50 into the UK market.

Production of Velvia 50 was halted at the beginning of 2005 when vital raw materials used in the production of the emulsion became unavailable. The re-launch of Velvia 50 is a further illustration of Fujifilm's continued commitment to the production and promotion of professional film.

Russ Gunn, Fujifilm Professional Product Manager, made this comment: "We have received many requests from photographers to restart manufacturing, as they had used Velvia 50 for many years and consider it unmatched in terms of quality and character. One of Fujifilm's main priorities is to nurture the culture of photography, so we have been reviewing the possibility of restarting production."

Gunn continued: "In response to these requests our research and development teams have been working hard to develop substitute raw materials and new manufacturing technologies that enable us to restart production of this famous emulsion. We are planning to re-introduce the new Velvia 50 in the spring of 2007. The characteristics of the new emulsion will mirror that of the previous product. Many photographers were understandably upset when we were forced to withdraw Velvia 50, and we are delighted to be able to announce its re-introduction."

An announcement of specific details, including price, formats and availability schedule will be made as soon as they are available. The existing range of Fujifilm Professional films will remain unaltered.

For further information, please visit www.fujifilm.co.uk/professional

ENDS

 

[Fintan]

Thats great news, thanks for posting this

 

[Steve Roberts]

This is pretty astounding in this day and age. A case of people power, methinks...

..... and perhaps a good time to pick up trade from those Europeans who may be turning away from Kodachrome 64 with its impending US-only processing (and in which group I may be forced to include myself).

Good luck to them!

Steve

 

[FrankB]

Outstanding news! Thanks for the post, Ailsa!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Interesting news. I might have to try some when the new stock appears, certainly different from what looks to become my standard colour film, Kodak Portra NC.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Who didn't believe in Second Comings? Kneel down in shame, ye unbelievers!

 

[naturephoto1]

Ailsa,

That is similar to what I was told at Photo Plus. I was told that Fujichrome Velvia 50 is gone due to the unavailability of materials. I was told that it was still rumor that a new Fujichrome Velvia 50 may be introduced in spring of 2007. The rep went on to say, that if a new Velvia 50 was introduced, it would in fact be a new film. As such, he would not say the film would produce the same results as the original.

I think however, that if Fuji does in fact reintroduce a Velvia 50 as a replacement for the original that Fuji will attempt that it be very similar in its performance to the original.

Rich

 

[BradS]

{jaw drops to floor} Wow! I never like the stuff much but if in fact they do reintroduce it, I think I'll trot on over to Keeble & Shuchat and buy a few rolls just to say "Thanks!".

 

[EdR]

The characteristics of the new emulsion will mirror that of the previous product.

Does this mean that we will see Velvia II images the right way round in our ground glass?

Brilliant news.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Velvia 50 does in no way compare to Kodachrome. Velvia has its own color pallet, and has its own strengths and merits, but the only similarity to Kodachrome is the ISO RATING, certainly not its look. I find it hard to understand why someone who wants to shoot Kodachrome would switch to Velvia, or vise versa.

 

[roteague]

I find it hard to understand why someone who wants to shoot Kodachrome would switch to Velvia, or vise versa.

Because of its color palette and response. I've shot both, but much prefer Velvia 50.

 

[dphill]

Please excuse my ignorance...

What chemistry would the new Velvia 50 use?
And would the labs that might process the film be, relatively speaking, commonly available?

Dan

 

[naturephoto1]

Hi Dan,

Fujichrome Velvia 50 should be an E6 Process or the Fuji equivalent.

Rich

 

[dphill]

Thank you Rich.

Dan

 

[Travis Nunn]

Can anyone point me to a Fuji news release that refers to the reintroduction of Velvia 50?

 

[naturephoto1]

Can anyone point me to a Fuji news release that refers to the reintroduction of Velvia 50?

Hi Travis,

I do not think that a press release exists. When I spoke with the Fuji Reps at Photo Plus, they indicated that it was still only a rumor. They have (had) not been informed of the new release. If released in spring, I was told that it would be a different film since some of the materials for the original were no longer available. Read my post on the first page. It is not definitive by any means. We can only hope that something does happen and that the new Velvia 50, if released, will be very close in performance to the original. However, be aware that Fuji is of the opinion that Velvia 100 is close in performance to the original Velvia 50.

Rich

 

[ben-s]

Can anyone point me to a Fuji news release that refers to the reintroduction of Velvia 50?

Hi Travis,
It's here: http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/presscentre/news/index.php?id=1312
The text is the same as the announcement here.

I'm absolutely over the moon about this - Velvia's my favourite colour film.

 

[Travis Nunn]

Thanks Rich. I just wanted to know how excited I should get. For now I'll just take a wait and see stance. ;-)

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Ailsa's first post in this thread contains the press release.

 

[Travis Nunn]

Thanks (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

Ailsa's first post in this thread contains the press release.

I read the original post, but I wanted to see it on Fuji's website before believing it rather than just reading a post on it. Call me crazy but I don't believe everything I read.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

It's not a post about the press release. It is the press release verbatim.

 

[Travis Nunn]

It's not a post about the press release. It is the press release verbatim.

My apologies David, I didn't see a direct link to the press release...

 

[srs5694]

FWIW, this is the second thread on this topic. The (there was a url link here which no longer exists) includes a link to a Fuji press release, but it's only in Japanese.

 

[naturephoto1]

Hi Travis,

Read the Fuji UK release carefully. They are planning to re-launch. They are working with new raw materials and new manufacturing technologies, etc. This is going to be a new film. Fuji is going to have to work very hard with the materials, etc. to get the film to perform very similar to the original taking into account the color, reciprocity and color change in long exposure, performance under different lighting conditions, grain size, grain structure, etc. Additionally of course the question is how long it will take to get the film into production, costs, etc. and it still may never come to fruition. But we can hope.

Rich

 

[tjaded]

Hi Travis,

They are planning to re-launch. They are working with new raw materials and new manufacturing technologies, etc. This is going to be a new film.

Unless the reason given for discontinuing was just an excuse, then we could expect things to take up right where they left off. I don't believe that to be the case, but it is a possibility.