I just ordered Fuji Neopan 1600

Helinophoto · Mar 9, 2012

Hi

I don't wan't to start a rumor here, so I'll keep to facts and keep the speculations to a minimum, but:

The Fuji Neopan 1600, seemingly discontinued a long time ago and is still listed as discontinued most places, seem to be available.

I just ordered myself 50 rolls from a store in the UK and while talking to the rep there, he said that they had plenty and could easily get more as *Fuji had put it back into production -for now anyway- * as he worded it.

I have sent a query to B&H about this, to see if they know/can check or verify.
As of now anyway, the film seem to be possible to get hold of from a few places in the UK.

- I've already received 5 rolls of Fuji Neopan 1600 from the UK in another order I made last week.
The 1600 was added more or less at a fluke when I ordered a bunch of Acros and Neopan 400. I mostly thought it was an error in the web-shop, but to my surprise, 5 rolls of Neopan 1600 was in the box in the shipment, expiration date 07 2012.

I plan to use it with Spur SLD and Ilford's Microphen for the most part, but I may even try some in Tetenal Ultrafin as well, I've had really nice results with Neopan 400 in that dev.

Just wanted to inform.

Helinophoto · Mar 9, 2012

Overwelming response, no wonder Fuji keep killing awesome films

Chris Lange · Mar 9, 2012

If this is true, I'm buying a case of the stuff as soon as I can. It's my favorite 35mm film of all time...

Helinophoto · Mar 9, 2012

Send an enquiry to http://www.processuk.net/ and ask, that's where I ordered my 50 rolls today. (I didn't order everything they had, those rolls surely will keep me supplied for a long time coming)

They also have it in http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/fuji-neopan-1600-35mm-36-1069-p.asp , but based on the text there I am unsure on how much they have.

http://www.fujilab.co.uk also have it, even £1 cheaper than other places, but they don't ship outside the uk.

jbwpro · Mar 9, 2012

Any word on availability in the states.. I agree with the above - Such a fantastic 35mm film

removed-user-1 · Mar 9, 2012

Thanks for the info, if Neopan 1600 is available, I'll have to get some. One of my favorite fast films ever!

EDIT: I don't want to start a rumor either, but the film is listed on Fuji's USA site as a 20-roll pack, and I found a vendor selling it in the states. I've never heard of East Coast Photo but there it is.

sandermarijn · Mar 9, 2012

Helinophoto said:
I mostly thought it was an error in the web-shop, but to my surprise, 5 rolls of Neopan 1600 was in the box in the shipment, expiration date 07 2012.

Sorry, but that date does not inspire confidence in a resurrection scenario. Maybe the shop is just trying to rid old stocks before it goes out of date?

Still a good deal for you!

Helinophoto · Mar 9, 2012

Perhaps, I don't know how long a high-iso film normally last, I don't think my Ilford 3200 had an extremely long exp time (1 year?).
Deep frozen though, I am not worried that they will keep for years.

I am glad I got hold of some. The acros and neopan's have really knocked the socks off just about anything I've tested so far, love the stuff. =)

Ben Marks · Mar 9, 2012

Great film, but I was a 1 or 2 roll-a-year user. Its high sensitivity and its short use-by date were linked in my mind. Alas.

Helinophoto · Mar 9, 2012

Well, I found this discussion on flickr interesting http://www.flickr.com/groups/ishootfilm/discuss/72157624898671019/

tocalosh · Mar 9, 2012

have a look at http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=113399
They have it for a great price, just a bit short dated

pentaxuser · Mar 9, 2012

I don't think 7day shop will export beyond the U.K.. It doesn't really matter now for the OP as he has placed an order with Process Supplies but anyone else looking to order Neopan 1600 both within and outside the U.K. should look at Mathers of Lancashire.

Cheapest in the U.K. that I can find and Mathers will export.

pentaxuser

pentaxuser · Mar 9, 2012

I should add that if you are prepared to order in blocks of 5 films and are within the U.K. Channel Islands or Eire then tocalosh is absolutely correct about 7dayshop. No-one but no-one will get anywhere hear matching its price

pentaxuser

bowie · Mar 12, 2012

Neopan 1600 have been available in UK all the time, but with the incredible high price. Seems that the latest price drop is because of the short expiry date. I have never seen neopan 1600 with longer expiry date than 7.2012.
I love neopan 1600. This negative is a reason for me to keep 35mm equipement. My newborn daughter will have pictures from her birth taken on neopan 1600
Shame on Fuji to kill that incredible stuff, shame on users not to use it...

perkeleellinen · Mar 13, 2012

My son's birth last October was shot on Neo 1600 and all through the winter I photographed him on it.

Helinophoto · Mar 13, 2012

bowie: I think it may be related to the "buy American" attitude perhaps, check out the review sections on Tri-x and Neopan 400 and 1600 on B&H and count the number of reviews per film. You will notice that, in the US at least, Kodak have/had a serious natural stronghold.
The Neopans, while well liked and loved by those who've actually tried it, were/are largely overlooked, at least if you count no. of reviews on B&H as a representative statistic.
- In Europe it may be a different story, I don't know.

I've tried tri-x and the only format I can tolerate it in (until now) is in 120.
I can't understand the ravings and attention that film gets in 35mm: IMO it's muddier grainier, has a lower detail level and worse acutance, compared to neopan 400.
Then you have Neopan 1600, which (even though speed estimates vary, depending on the dev. used), knocks the socks off the Delta and the TMax in devs like Spur SLD. That film is being cut because of low demand(!)

I have a feeling they will cut neopan 400 as well pretty soon, seeing how "everyone" likes that dang Tri-x so much, even when Kodak is barely hanging on by their finger nails.

By the way, I did receive an answer from B&H two days ago (the mail was mis-placed to my spam-folder). They basically gave the standard answer that the film is discontinued by Fuji USA.
- Personally, I believe it IS discontinued, because as bowie states, the exp. date is "always" 07/2012 on the few scraps found here and there.

My 50 rolls are now on the way and will be put into cryo-sleep immediately, hopefully they will last a little while beyond their due-date.

perkeleellinen · Mar 13, 2012

Helinophoto said:
I have a feeling they will cut neopan 400 as well pretty soon

It's already gone in 120 - how long can a film hang on in one format? Perhaps the story of 1600 tells us as does the story of 800Z. I fear for Reala and 160S for the same reason.

I've read lots of times online how it's 'not worth' shooting 1600 as 400 pushed 'looks the same' or even looks better - well not in my darkroom. The same reasoning around the new Portra 400 will probably kill off Portra 800.

bowie · Mar 13, 2012

perkeleellinen said:
My son's birth last October

Congratulations!

Helinophoto said:
My 50 rolls are now on the way and will be put into cryo-sleep immediately

I have done the same, my refrigerator is full
In fact, I am a good example of a person, who had been overlooking neopan 1600, since my friend gave me one roll. I have shot it months later and was blown away!
BTW, what is your development receipt? I use D-76 and intend to try another developer. Is Xtol a good choice?

xtolsniffer · Mar 13, 2012

I shot the births of both my children on Neopan 1600 in a Nikon F3, so I have very fond memories of this film. It does still seem to be pretty freely available. It would seem an odd film to cut as I would have thought there would be a demand for it, it's not that there is a direct replacement. Delta 3200 is good, HP5 pushed to 1600 is ok, T-Max P3200 is good but in my experience (using XTOL) neopan 1600 does just have the right 'look' for the types of situations that you would use this film in, which for me is ambient light interiors. Quite contrasty but not over the top, reasonably fine grain for the speed and just the right speed that I need.

Helinophoto · Mar 13, 2012

bowie said:
Congratulations!
I have done the same, my refrigerator is full
In fact, I am a good example of a person, who had been overlooking neopan 1600, since my friend gave me one roll. I have shot it months later and was blown away!
BTW, what is your development receipt? I use D-76 and intend to try another developer. Is Xtol a good choice?

I plan to buy a mini-freezer where I can deep freeze it.
I deep freeze every film, but keep a small stock of 10 films in the fridge, to be ready for use.

The developer I plan to use is Spur SLD for Neopan 1600 and Microphen for the 400 (and perhaps do a few tests with the 1600 in Microphen as well).
I have done tests with the 400 in tetenal ultrafin 1:25 (14 minutes) and the results were great, but I'm not planning to use Tet. Ultra with the 1600.

bowie · Mar 13, 2012

xtolsniffer said:
my experience (using XTOL) neopan 1600 does just have the right 'look'

What is your detailed receipt? Stock? 1+1? agitation? Looking for a good point of start for my own experiments, so your support is appreciated

Helinophoto said:
I plan to buy a mini-freezer where I can deep freeze it.
I deep freeze every film, but keep a small stock of 10 films in the fridge, to be ready for use.

This is what I also do I have quite big stock of frozen stuff (not only neopan 1600).
I have been forced to borrow space capacity in my friend's freezer

Matt5791 · Mar 13, 2012

Fujifilm UK had quite a lot of 1600 still in their stock when I asked about 4 months ago - several thousand rolls. But they do say that it has ceased production. I would imagine this stock has been considerably depleated now.

xtolsniffer · Mar 13, 2012

bowie said:
What is your detailed receipt? Stock? 1+1? agitation? Looking for a good point of start for my own experiments, so your support is appreciated

I use XTOL one shot at 1:1, agitation is bang on the counter a few times, then invert a few times, then three inversions every 30 seconds. Times are 7 and a half minutes at 20 C or 7 minutes at 21 C. Seems to work for me.

Helinophoto · Mar 14, 2012

Ohh.....

Just got the package from the delivery-man.

And to prove it:

\o/ Now i need a new freeezer

sandermarijn · Mar 14, 2012

No you don't, you're in Norway.

I just ordered Fuji Neopan 1600

removed-user-1

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