Fujifilm to get cheaper??

RattyMouse · May 11, 2013

I know, a normally stupid question, but with the yen now in virtual free fall, is it possible that Fujifilm's film might get a bit cheaper? On Friday the yen fell agains the dollar down to 101 yen per $1! That's amazing. I was just in Japan a few months ago and it was 90 yen to the dollar.

If the yen keeps dropping, might we see some film price relief from Japan?

lxdude · May 11, 2013

God, I hope so.

benjiboy · May 11, 2013

Don't hold your breath.

benjiboy · May 11, 2013

Don't hold your breath Ratty, Fuji now have very little competition now, it's not as if they are going to increase their market share by doing so it's just a chance for them to increase their profits.

ParkerSmithPhoto · May 11, 2013

At some point Fuji will cross the line where the price to value ratio is no longer appealing to film photographers, who have the choice to switch to another film product or digital. Ilford provides great competition, and Kodak looks to be shedding its liabilities and focusing on its core photography business.

When Acros sheets are nearly 75% more expensive than comparable Ilford products, many people will simply choose Ilford. Then, Fuji will drop prices. Competition works every time.

pdeeh · May 11, 2013

you can't switch to Ilford or Kodak if you're shooting colour transparency

brianmquinn · May 11, 2013

pdeeh said:
you can't switch to Ilford or Kodak if you're shooting colour transparency

True, but you could decide that you just can't afford to shoot E6 any more and switch to Kodak Ektar instead of Velvia or go digital.

ambaker · May 11, 2013

brianmquinn said:
True, but you could decide that you just can't afford to shoot E6 any more and switch to Kodak Ektar instead of Velvia or go digital.

Digi-who? Do they make sheet film?

I have digital cameras. I know how to shoot them. Film makes my heart sing. Digital doesn't.

Till it's gone or I can't hoist a film cam anymore, I will continue to shoot film.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

kb3lms · May 11, 2013

Film Prices

Fuji's prices will drop after a while, if they want to sell the stuff. Kodak announces a price increase every once in a while and the price goes up a for bit and then comes down again at retail. Lately, I get most of my film through Amazon. At the last increase, Ektar went up to $6-something a roll for 35mm. Now it's $4.99 again. (120 is $22.49 or something like that.) I just got a few rolls last week and the stuff is fresh with 2015 expiration dates. So it isn't like Amazon is discounting to get rid of it. Portra 35mm has gone through the roof, but by pennies at a time it is slowly coming down. Same with BW400, which I guess somebody uses. Reala in 120 is much more expensive than Portra. 120 superia is just a bit less than Portra and more than Ektar. So who's gonna buy the Fuji unless you really, really like it. Velvia is a different matter, of course, but it'll just spoil on the shelves so eventually the price pressure will move the pricing.

Noble · May 11, 2013

I already dropped Fuji ACROS. I used to buy it ten 120 rolls at a time when it was under $3 a roll. Now I use Kodak. I always felt bad using Japanese film while an American photo company struggled but when you are saving over a $1 a roll the price difference can't be ignored. Fuji has some guts thinking I'll buy their film over Kodak's just to save a few pennies.

RattyMouse said:
I know, a normally stupid question, but with the yen now in virtual free fall, is it possible that Fujifilm's film might get a bit cheaper? On Friday the yen fell agains the dollar down to 101 yen per $1! That's amazing. I was just in Japan a few months ago and it was 90 yen to the dollar.

If the yen keeps dropping, might we see some film price relief from Japan?

So the yen depreciated by about 10%. Well the price of ACROS is up almost 33%. For ACROS prices to return to where they were a year ago it would take currency manipulation on a scale that would have American nativists screaming bloody murder.

Photo Engineer · May 11, 2013

Fuji just announced a rather hefty price increase. Expect them to do so again this year. (MHO)

PE

Klainmeister · May 11, 2013

I dropped Fuji this year as well. For how good Ilford and Kodak stuff is, I can't justify buying from them as long as they seem unstable in terms of both pricing and availability. Taking Neopan 400 120 away really stung.

Pioneer · May 11, 2013

Photo Engineer said:
Fuji just announced a rather hefty price increase. Expect them to do so again this year. (MHO)

PE

+1 IMHO this will be a regular pattern for the next few years.

The difference between the dollar and the yen will have a small effect on prices in the US, but you probably won't notice it much at the price of a roll of film. I suspect the price increases will be far more noticeable.

Photo Engineer · May 11, 2013

If it gets so bad that 1 yen = 1 dollar (as it did nearly 100 years ago), then Fuji film is really going to cost! If it goes the other way, we will be in luck.

Either way is possible given the way the economy is going world wide, but the US is more likely to lose out.

PE

Richard S. (rich815) · May 11, 2013

It already has. Take some US dollars, go to Japan, and now you can buy more Fuji film than before with the same USD.

mgb74 · May 11, 2013

I don't know the cost structure for film, but as the value of the yen declines it costs more to buy the raw materials and pay for the transport.

okto · May 11, 2013

ParkerSmithPhoto said:
When Acros sheets are nearly 75% more expensive than comparable Ilford products, many people will simply choose Ilford. Then, Fuji will drop prices.

Or they'll just stop producing it. Fuji have clearly shown no commitment at all to film shooters. They can't even be bothered to have an official stance when they cancel a product, with their US product managers rarely able to say with certainty whether or not a particular product is actually discontinued.

brianmquinn said:
or go digital.

What about medium and large format shooters?

RattyMouse · May 11, 2013

Noble said:
I already dropped Fuji ACROS. I used to buy it ten 120 rolls at a time when it was under $3 a roll. Now I use Kodak. I always felt bad using Japanese film while an American photo company struggled but when you are saving over a $1 a roll the price difference can't be ignored. Fuji has some guts thinking I'll buy their film over Kodak's just to save a few pennies.

So the yen depreciated by about 10%. Well the price of ACROS is up almost 33%. For ACROS prices to return to where they were a year ago it would take currency manipulation on a scale that would have American nativists screaming bloody murder.

The Obama administration is already making public complaints to Japan about the fall of the Yen. The 10% depreciation you speak of has happened in just the last month. Recall that the yen used to be at 70 to the dollar last year or so. The fall has been far, far more than 10%.

RattyMouse · May 11, 2013

mgb74 said:
I don't know the cost structure for film, but as the value of the yen declines it costs more to buy the raw materials and pay for the transport.

That is not correct. As the yen declines, goods sold in dollars or other foreign currencies bring back MORE yen to Fujifilm. A declining yen is good for Fujifilm since most of their sales are overseas. Their recent year end financial statement alluded to this as their imaging solutions group gained over 2% in income just due to currency moves.

If all film raw materials were imported, then it would be bad for Fujifilm. It is very unlikely that this is true.

RattyMouse · May 11, 2013

okto said:
Or they'll just stop producing it. Fuji have clearly shown no commitment at all to film shooters. They can't even be bothered to have an official stance when they cancel a product, with their US product managers rarely able to say with certainty whether or not a particular product is actually discontinued.

What about medium and large format shooters?

This has nothing to do with Fujifilm's commitment to film, but rather is a typical action of a Japanese corporation. Ricoh's GXR camera has many fans, who now after 2 years of waiting, STILL have no idea if the camera is still in production. Ricoh wont announce anything to let customers know at all.

Japanese corporations can be very infuriating in their lack of communication.

Prof_Pixel · May 11, 2013

Photo Engineer said:
If it gets so bad that 1 yen = 1 dollar (as it did nearly 100 years ago), then Fuji film is really going to cost!

The last time I was in Japan (1968) I remember it was 360 Yen to the dollar

Photo Engineer · May 11, 2013

That is correct Fred.

PE

mgb74 · May 11, 2013

RattyMouse said:
That is not correct. As the yen declines, goods sold in dollars or other foreign currencies bring back MORE yen to Fujifilm. A declining yen is good for Fujifilm since most of their sales are overseas. Their recent year end financial statement alluded to this as their imaging solutions group gained over 2% in income just due to currency moves.

If all film raw materials were imported, then it would be bad for Fujifilm. It is very unlikely that this is true.

I'm thinking primarily of silver, which is likely to be the largest cost driver (at least for traditional b/w film). Since commodities are generally priced in US dollars or in Euros, it will take more yen to purchase a given quantity. I'm sure not all materials are imported

RattyMouse · May 12, 2013

mgb74 said:
I'm thinking primarily of silver, which is likely to be the largest cost driver (at least for traditional b/w film). Since commodities are generally priced in US dollars or in Euros, it will take more yen to purchase a given quantity. I'm sure not all materials are imported

That's a good point.

Jim Noel · May 12, 2013

ambaker said:
Digi-who? Do they make sheet film?

I have digital cameras. I know how to shoot them. Film makes my heart sing. Digital doesn't.

Till it's gone or I can't hoist a film cam anymore, I will continue to shoot film.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

AMEN! I belong to the same club.
Jim

Fujifilm to get cheaper??

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