Fujifilm re-introduce Velvia 50

[roteague]

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.

Even if that were the case, and I don't believe it was, it would still take Fuji a bit of time. From what I see, reading between the lines a bit, they were only making one or two runs a year anyway (the last Velvia 50 run was last December, and the stocks are just now running out). With that kind of volume, it would probably take sometime just to get everything ready to run again (I'm sure PE could elaborate more about this).

 

[Chazzy]

Can Panatomic X and Super XX be far behind?

 

[Dave Parker]

I received a letter in the mail today from the rep that I have delt with at Fuji for about 10 years now, pretty much saying the same thing, it is reality folks, they are saying the new velvia ISO 50 will be in the stores in the spring, with virtually all of the same properties as the old Velvia 50 had, I am looking forward to it, although I have over 400 rolls in the freezer of the old emulsion, it is good to see a FILM company respond to the needs of it consumers..

As far as the kodachrome comment in this thread, and I shot kodachrome for many years, in fact it was the first slide film I shot, I feel from a photographers perspective, it is a dead film and we are in the last grasps of kodachrome, we are small breed now a days and unless you know what a slide is, let alone a kodachrome slide, your not going to ask for it when you go into a photography store...

Dave

 

[copake_ham]

Wow! Glad to see it's now "official" in English too!

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

 

[naturephoto1]

Wow! Glad to see it's now "official" in English too!

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

Hi George,

We will have to wait and see when and if the film actually is released and how it actually performs. But, most of us hope it will with results very close to the original.

Rich

 

[Dave Parker]

Rich,

I have no doubts it will be released, and will reserve my judgement when I get to shoot it, the guy I deal with at Fuji, has never lead me on, so I suspect, I would have no reason to worry.

Dave

 

[3Dfan]

But, most of us hope it will with results very close to the original.

I hope it performs better than the original. The new velvia 100 beats the grain of the old 50 speed stuff (although I understand many feel it is inferior in other regards), so the new 50 speed version should outdo them both.

It's a good time for someone like myself who is just starting with slides because of all the improvements in chrome technology.

 

[copake_ham]

I hope it performs better than the original. The new velvia 100 beats the grain of the old 50 speed stuff (although I understand many feel it is inferior in other regards), so the new 50 speed version should outdo them both.

It's a good time for someone like myself who is just starting with slides because of all the improvements in chrome technology.

Interesting comment. I've never shot the 100 - I bought a box of 50 last winter and finally got to burn most of it this past Summer/Fall. Still have a few rolls to go.

I love the 50.

But maybe I should try some 100 now (down in Tucson, that is) and then see how the new 50 compares.

Anyway, looks like film (particularly chrome) ain't quite dead yet!

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I have two rolls of Velvia 50 in 120 left, but I've been curious about the other Velvia incarnations, though I'm certainly excited to hear Velvia 50 will return in some form, lots of points to Fuji for supporting film like this.

Velvia 100F, from what I've heard, was just terrible compared to Velvia 50, where as Velvia 100 was meant to be closer and with better grain, but still not spot on. Really all I've heard is a lot of broad opinion, does anyone have anything to add on the differences between these three film, and their pros and cons?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Velvia 100 is a little less saturated than the old Velvia 50.

Personally, I never really liked the super-saturated Velvia 50 look, but I think it works well in Super-8, because the magnification factor of projection counteracts tends to reduce contrast.

In the Japanese market there is an even more saturated E-6 film called "Fortia."

 

[Baxter Bradford]

Here is some relevant stuff from the APUG archive!

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

RVP100F works much better at ISO200. More contrast and colours warm up a bit too. It is how I normally use the emulsion. However the original RVP50 is still first choice.

 

[ajuk]

I don't think this is already on Silverprint, I don't think its out yet and I can't see it on there site.

 

[naturephoto1]

I don't think this is already on Silverprint, I don't think its out yet and I can't see it on there site.

Ajuk,

I am pretty sure that the posting was a joke. The film is still probably being tested.

Rich

 

[copake_ham]

I don't think this is already on Silverprint, I don't think its out yet and I can't see it on there site.

Ajuk,

I am pretty sure that the posting was a joke. The film is still probably being tested.

Rich

 

[kunihiko]

In the Japanese market there is an even more saturated E-6 film called "Fortia."

There WAS, actually.
Fortia was a limited number production, super saturated spring color special, mostly for cherry blossom ... something like that. I thought it's already sold out.

 

[BrianShaw]

I don't think this is already on Silverprint, I don't think its out yet and I can't see it on there site.

How can you believe what's on their web site??? Give them a ring and sk for it specifically. My friend told me that his friend read on the internet that there was some beta-test "new-and-improved" Velvia 50 that Silverprint has behind the counter. It's only available to "special customers".

 

[Dave Parker]

There WAS, actually.
Fortia was a limited number production, super saturated spring color special, mostly for cherry blossom ... something like that. I thought it's already sold out.

Fortia was a wild film, I bought a 1/2 dozen rolls from a guy in Japan on ebay, talk about sur real, that stuff almost made things look like a cartoon, very intersting film, but in my opinion was very limited in what you could use it for.

Dave

 

[naturephoto1]

Fortia was a wild film, I bought a 1/2 dozen rolls from a guy in Japan on ebay, talk about sur real, that stuff almost made things look like a cartoon, very intersting film, but in my opinion was very limited in what you could use it for.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Same idea with solarized photos and true round fisheye lenses. You can only take so much of the acquired taste. :rolleyes:

Rich

 

[celluloidpropaganda]

Wish I could get my hands on some Fortia. The photos I've seen have a look I remember from, uh, eating certain species of mushroom.

 

[braxus]

I still have some rolls of Fortia/ Fortia SP in the freezer. I was wanting to save them for a Hawaii trip to shoot beaches and sunsets with it. I shot a couple rolls of this stuff and it went from looking normal on overcast days to wild in sunny shots. Its hard to predict what it will do.

 

[Yaronecek]

Hurray. This is such great news... The new incarnation was such a dud.

 

[roteague]

Here is the US press release:

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/PRNewsDetail.jsp?DBID=NEWS_860801

"Valhalla, NY, November 14, 2006 - FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. is pleased to announce plans to re-introduce an ISO 50 Fujichrome Velvia professional film, tentatively named Velvia II. Fujichrome Velvia (RVP 50) was the first high color saturation, high contrast transparency E-6 compatible film when it was introduced in 1990 and was a favorite among photographers. Its discontinuation was announced last year due to difficulties in procuring some of the raw materials used to produce the emulsion.

"Since we announced the discontinuation of Velvia 50, we have been inundated with requests from photographers worldwide to continue production," said Christian Fridholm, Director of Marketing, Picture Taking, Imaging Division, Fujifilm USA. "They had used Velvia 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 took those requests very seriously."

As a result, Fujifilm research and development teams have developed substitute raw materials and new manufacturing technologies that enable the company to restart production. The new film is expected to be available in late spring 2007. The characteristics of the new emulsion will mirror that of the previous product.

"We are pleased to, once again, demonstrate our commitment to photographic film and to our photographer customers," concluded Fridholm. Specific details, including naming, pricing and shipment dates will be announced when they become available."

Emphasis mine....

 

[Fuji]

I can guarantee that Silverprint in the UK do not have any of the new Velvia 50 emulsion. First batches are not even produced yet.

Also, the press release on the last post seems like it was just copied from the original UK one. Still, at least the info is out there in the market.

 

[Alessandro Machi]

Spectra Film and Video in Los Angeles California was actually visited by some Fuji personnel last summer who were quite impressed with the enterprising company's use of Velvia 50 in both 16mm and Super-8mm formats.

A quickie shot of outside traffic in Super-8mm revealed astounding color reproduction, apparently the Fuji reps were pleased with what they saw. The super-8 and single-8 community added their voices to the save velvia campaign.

I guess the reason so few people here even consider shooting super-8 is that the transfer to video costs would probably be considered outlandish, and that money that could have been spent on print stock supplies.

Still, Super-8 cameras are plenty fun and with digital video editing they really do make a great combination, and they promote the consumption of identical film stocks that are popular in in the print world as well.

 

[braxus]

Now if only we could get Fuji to load Super 8 catridges with Velvia 50 themselves. It would make good competition with Kodak.