Fujifilm Venus 800 axed

Arcadia4 · May 11, 2019

May 9th 2019. Official announcement from fujifilm ending manufacture of Venus 800 colour film. 135-27/36. (together with formal japanese announcement of the recent 30% price increase)

http://ffis.fujifilm.co.jp/information/articlein_0090.html

End of supply predicted to be December 2019 (but may be sooner). However european retailers that have been selling this as a parallel import have recently stated that suplies have dried up, prompting plenty of speculation. At the same time the single shot waterproof camera has also been axed

Superia 800 was axed in europe in 2016, so this is the end of colour 800 iso film from fuji.

trendland · May 11, 2019

Arcadia4 said:
May 9th 2019. Official announcement from fujifilm ending manufacture of Venus 800 colour film. 135-27/36. (together with formal japanese announcement of the recent 30% price increase)

http://ffis.fujifilm.co.jp/information/articlein_0090.html

End of supply predicted to be December 2019 (but may be sooner). However european retailers that have been selling this as a parallel import have recently stated that suplies have dried up, prompting plenty of speculation. At the same time the single shot waterproof camera has also been axed

Superia 800 was axed in europe in 2016, so this is the end of colour 800 iso film from fuji.

Sad to hear about - last ISO 800 I used was Vista800 (Agfa)! But I realy don't need high ISO much!
But if you realy like high ISO color negative film : here is the replacement product.. !

with regards!!!!!!!

Nzoomed · May 12, 2019

trendland said:
Sad to hear about - last ISO 800 I used was Vista800 (Agfa)! But I realy don't need high ISO much!
But if you realy like high ISO color negative film : here is the replacement product.. !
View attachment 223357

with regards!!!!!!!

Thanks Kodak, and Portra is a very nice film indeed

Huss · May 13, 2019

I am very happy using Lomo 800 film. Wonder who makes it?

ericdan · May 13, 2019

Huss said:
I am very happy using Lomo 800 film. Wonder who makes it?

country of origin is on the box. There's usually only one film manufacturer per country.

Ste_S · May 13, 2019

Huss said:
I am very happy using Lomo 800 film. Wonder who makes it?

It's Kodak VR 1000 from the same Chinese plant that makes Colorplus isn't it ?

Portra 800 is a non-starter for me at it's current eye wateringly high prices. A box of 120 Portra 800 is near enough double the cost of 400

perkeleellinen · May 13, 2019

Cheaper to push Portra 400 or even cheaper, underexpose by a stop.

perkeleellinen · May 13, 2019

I was a big fan of Fuji 800 films when I used to use P&S cameras - I liked that the speed would force the aperture to close more and thus the focus would be more accurate.

I moved from 800Z to Superia 800; both were really good. Never got to try Venus and I don't use P&S cameras any more. I'm fearful for Superia Premium, which I do use...

Wallendo · May 13, 2019

How prevalent was Venus 800? I have never seen it for sale by any US dealer or online. Rolls may have appeared on eBay, but I have always been hesitant to buy high speed films from overseas due to possible radiation exposure during shipping.

It's sad when any film is discontinued, but I wonder if this film will really be missed by many.

ME Super · May 13, 2019

It is sad to hear, but I much prefer the ISO 800 film to be in 120, as the grain is less apparent. I've had good luck exposing Portra 800 (in 120) at 1600 and developing normally. I end up losing a stop of shadow detail, but the photos are quite acceptable and usable.

Long live film!

trendland · May 13, 2019

ME Super said:
It is sad to hear, but I much prefer the ISO 800 film to be in 120, as the grain is less apparent. I've had good luck exposing Portra 800 (in 120) at 1600 and developing normally. I end up losing a stop of shadow detail, but the photos are quite acceptable and usable.

Long live film!

Hurra ME Super !!! In possible case of trouble the ISO 400 class films can be pushed!
I guess it is perhaps not the need of real ISO 800 much too often!
And to push ISO 400 up to ISO 640 should result possible characteristics of all remaining films
from good quality!

with regards

ME Super · May 13, 2019

True, trendland, but notice I said I expose Portra 800 at 1600 and develop normally, losing 1 stop of shadow detail. In order to get to 1600 with Portra 400, I have to underexpose 2 stops and either develop normally or push, losing 2 stops of shadow detail. Not the same as underexposing 1 stop. Sometimes I have that need for speed, especially when doing available darkness photography hand-held (or when my subject is moving).

cmacd123 · May 13, 2019

was that not the same film they sold as "superia 800"? I assume that was also what was supplied as "AgfaPhoto Vista 800"

Huss · May 14, 2019

I just got my shipment of Lomo 800 - dated 2022. Do not miss Fuji 800 as I prefer this. It is also available in 120.

ericdan · May 14, 2019

Huss said:
I just got my shipment of Lomo 800 - dated 2022. Do not miss Fuji 800 as I prefer this. It is also available in 120.

where is it made? what does the box say?

Arcadia4 · May 14, 2019

cmacd123 said:
was that not the same film they sold as "superia 800"? I assume that was also what was supplied as "AgfaPhoto Vista 800"

Venus 800 was the Japanese market version of Superia 800 (last update 2005) but it wasn't the same, possibly a later development - the datasheets indicate slightly differerent films though no doubt closely related;
https://www.fujifilmusa.com/shared/bin/AF3-068E.PDF
https://fujifilm.jp/support/filmandcamera/download/pack/pdf/datasheet/ff_superiavenus800_001.pdf
The Japanese sheet boasts least grainy 800 iso film in 2003!

The Agfaphoto Vista 800 predates fujis involvement as a supplier (from 2008) so is presumbably based on Ferrania Solaris FG 800 Plus

There was also a Venus 400 film..https://fujifilm.jp/support/filmandcamera/download/pack/pdf/datasheet/ff_superiavenus400_001.pdf

The market for Venus (& superia) 800 was no doubt aimed at users with zoom lens consumer compacts, but it also provided the film for the fuji waterproof single use camera (axed at same time). So along with the decline in use of consumer compacts it may be that a decline in sales of the disposables may have as much to do with the films demise, given single use camera sales have been a signficant part of total film sales volumes. Interesting post on these here; https://www.core77.com/posts/53666/Memories-Not-Disposable-A-History-of-Single-Use-Cameras

As Portra 800 is the only one of the Portra films not to have been updated in 2010/11 being a decade older (1998) its sales presumably arent high enough to justify this investment. This probably reflects d******s greater capabilities for low light shots and consequent reduction in sales for niche films for this kind of work, plus the ability to successfully push lower priced Portra 400 which some believe gives better results; https://carmencitafilmlab.com/introduction-portra-family/

Huss · May 14, 2019

ericdan said:
where is it made? what does the box say?

Box says made in USA for Lomo 800

MattKing · May 14, 2019

Huss said:
Box says made in USA for Lomo 800

And that could refer to where it was "confectioned", not where it was coated.

ericdan · May 15, 2019

MattKing said:
And that could refer to where it was "confectioned", not where it was coated.

Is that really so?
Didn’t know that.

Ste_S · May 15, 2019

ericdan said:
Is that really so?
Didn’t know that.

Usually it's the country which adds the most 'value' to the product that gets to add the 'Made in...' sticker.

I would hazard a guess at bulk rolls being coated by Lucky in China and then cut up and packaged in the USA.

Prest_400 · May 15, 2019

MattKing said:
And that could refer to where it was "confectioned", not where it was coated.

ericdan said:
Is that really so?
Didn’t know that.

Ste_S said:
Usually it's the country which adds the most 'value' to the product that gets to add the 'Made in...' sticker.
I would hazard a guess at bulk rolls being coated by Lucky in China and then cut up and packaged in the USA.

Lomography had an agreement/collaboration with Kodak Alaris and I would believe that it's just toll coated in Rochester using a lower end/older formula. Not many players left in color film sadly. The 35mm says made in USA and 120 says made in China. Lucky ceased to produce color film long ago and they made only a 200 film, I do wonder, if coated in US and spooled in china, who is doing it. Shanghai perhaps?
I tend to prefer Portra 400 and haven't yet tried pushing it, nor I have tried Lomo 800 in 120 despite wanting to.

abruzzi · May 15, 2019

Kodak makes a consumer grade color 800 film. They don't sell it as is, but they put it in their disposable cameras. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what Lomography is selling.

Huss · May 15, 2019

abruzzi said:
Kodak makes a consumer grade color 800 film. They don't sell it as is, but they put it in their disposable cameras. I wouldn't be surprised if that is what Lomography is selling.

As a consumer of this excellent film, I appreciate that.

Yesterday a high school kid bought a pro box of Portra 400 (5 pack) at Samys while I was waiting to pick up my film. I tried to explain to him that it was for Professionals only but he did not pay much attention.

ME Super · May 15, 2019

Huss said:
As a consumer of this excellent film, I appreciate that.

Yesterday a high school kid bought a pro box of Portra 400 (5 pack) at Samys while I was waiting to pick up my film. I tried to explain to him that it was for Professionals only but he did not pay much attention.

Good for him! I shoot lots of "Professional" film (Ektachrome, Provia, Velvia, HP5+, etc.) and I'm no professional. Could be he just likes Portra 400. The more sales Kodak gets for Portra 400, the more likely they are to keep making it!

Agulliver · May 15, 2019

The price of Portra is indeed eyewatering. But the Lomo 800 colour negative film is excellent and is of Kodak origin. I have 5 rolls of Superia 800 frozen, I find it great for concerts. I do prefer it to the Lomo branded film but the latter is perfectly acceptable...and is also available in 120.

Fujifilm Venus 800 axed

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