Interesting news about Fujicolor Pro

Photo Engineer · Mar 9, 2010

Ian Grant said:
We had it better in the UK, I used Kodak, Fuji, Agfa, Ferrania & Orwo colour films and Pavelle paper, and Ansco was available but I never tried it, Konica/Sakura once tried never again. Of all the Fuji E4 film was the best IMHO, although KII was good when the weather was good.

But the reality was that K25 and also C41 and E6 was such a huge sea-change in terms of quality, we have to hope that the market stabilises and we get left with a range of films that caters for our core colour film needs.

Ian

Ian;

At the time I could get the above color products, I could get just about any B&W product from Agfa, and DuPont and even some from Ilford IIRC. In fact, DuPont Varigam paper was quite popular at that time. In addition, in about 1960, Agfa color products became available here. You see, with color it was the proprietary processes that were the problem. No one wanted to invest in Agfa or Fuji or Konica proprietary processes in the face of C-22.

So, I used a lot of unmasked Agfa that I bought here, and when I was in SEA used a lot of unmasked Konica and Oriental color film. Their processes were very similar to the Agfa process with minor changes.

PE

Scott_Sheppard · Mar 10, 2010

Everybody:

I have had face to face meeting with Fujifilm this week and this is the deal.

160s, 160c, 800z and T64 in "ALL SIZES" also Neopan 400 in 120 - GONE...

With the possibility of some more (chrome) (I have no idea what is for sale in Japan now or in the future)

If you want some of this film you better go buy it NOW !!

I commented on this thread days a go but I guess no one believes...

I will have a interview on this very topic very soon.

This is what happens when people don't BUY film !!

I will update everybody on this topic soon.

So NOW go buy some film and SHOOT IT !!

Thanks

Scott

Ektagraphic · Mar 10, 2010

WOAH!!!! Portra is THE film....I hope Kodak doesn't jack up the prices......I feel sorry for those of you that were faithful users of all of these films.

Ian Grant · Mar 10, 2010

Thanks for clarifying Scott, the OP was right.

It's not hard to see why Kodak have launched Ektar in all formats with the rapid demise of E6 processing in the last 2 years. Both Fuji & Kodak must have large stocks of E6 films which is why Fuji haven't yet announced specific E6 films being discontinued.

It would be interesting to see the BJP article predicting the demise of E6 within a year, (my copy is waiting my return to the UK).

Ian

mikebarger · Mar 10, 2010

Boy, I can only guess how much bashing of Fuji is going to follow in this thread. Fuji, do they it even have a business model? Why don't they listen to their customers and their petitions. Last man standing? Oh, this isn't Kodak dumping a bunch of film.........tongue in cheek.....

Mike

lilserenity · Mar 10, 2010

Ian Grant said:
Thanks for clarifying Scott, the OP was right.

It's not hard to see why Kodak have launched Ektar in all formats with the rapid demise of E6 processing in the last 2 years. Both Fuji & Kodak must have large stocks of E6 films which is why Fuji haven't yet announced specific E6 films being discontinued.

It would be interesting to see the BJP article predicting the demise of E6 within a year, (my copy is waiting my return to the UK).

Ian

I was expecting E6 to dwindle pretty sharply at some point but Fuji discontinuing 160S/C is a bit of a shock to say the least. I had assumed C41 volume was enough to pick up where E6 would leave off.

As for the BJP article, it doesn't predict the end of E6 in a year, it's what one lab said to them, but they have other labs saying that volume has dropped off but it's still profitable, just, and not an essential part of their business so whilst it's not loosing gobs of money they'll keep on doing it.

Vicky

MikeSeb · Mar 10, 2010

Mike, it'd be nice for a change to hear Fuji's lack of analog "commitment" bemoaned!

But this is bad news for all film lovers regardless of brand loyalty. And Kodak would be remiss not to carefully "adjust" its pricing in response to any sustained uptick in Portra demand.

MikeSeb · Mar 10, 2010

Mike, it'd be nice for a change to hear Fuji's lack of analog "commitment" bemoaned!

But this is bad news for all film lovers regardless of brand loyalty. And Kodak would be remiss not to carefully "adjust" its pricing in response to any sustained uptick in Portra demand.

lilserenity · Mar 10, 2010

Scott_Sheppard said:
160s, 160c, 800z and T64 in "ALL SIZES" also Neopan 400 in 120 - GONE...

I commented on this thread days a go but I guess no one believes...

Thanks for the comment Scott, in fairness though it was a bit vague and in the face of a thread full of speculation it read as another speculative comment.

Do you know if Reala is safe? If it is, at least we have that for 100 speed 120; Superia/Fujicolor 100 is only available here in 35mm and is too saturated for what I want in any instance.

I can see myself in a few years needing a digital camera for colour Shame they're so cumbersome and all the electronics (working in IT this is) just scream at me "liable to failure and to end up in the scrap heap when dead", as opposed to my mechanical Autocord and Leica M2 which can be fixed up by a skilled pair of hands and technician.

Anyway, this disappearance of 160C and 160S is a big shock. Seems to conflict a little with their repackaging list which seemed to show 160S continuing...

Vicky

Michael W · Mar 10, 2010

Scott_Sheppard said:
I have had face to face meeting with Fujifilm this week and this is the deal.
160s, 160c, 800z and T64 in "ALL SIZES" also Neopan 400 in 120 - GONE...

If I read this correctly, Fuji will not have any colour negative emulsions available in sheet sizes. In 120 it will be 400 pro (and maybe Reala). And in B&W medium format their only offering will be Acros. What a butchering.

AgX · Mar 10, 2010

Scott_Sheppard said:
Everybody:

I have had face to face meeting with Fujifilm this week and this is the deal.

160s, 160c, 800z and T64 in "ALL SIZES" also Neopan 400 in 120 - GONE...

Scott,

I am part of "everybody", but I am not situated in the USA; so, which market are you talking about?

Erik Petersson · Mar 10, 2010

Good question. Is this discussion about end of production or end of marketing these films in certain geographical areas?

Ian Grant · Mar 10, 2010

lilserenity said:
I was expecting E6 to dwindle pretty sharply at some point but Fuji discontinuing 160S/C is a bit of a shock to say the least. I had assumed C41 volume was enough to pick up where E6 would leave off.

As for the BJP article, it doesn't predict the end of E6 in a year, it's what one lab said to them, but they have other labs saying that volume has dropped off but it's still profitable, just, and not an essential part of their business so whilst it's not loosing gobs of money they'll keep on doing it.

Vicky

My own experience in Birmingham was that E6 had begun to dwindled to a trickle 5 years ago, so much so that the lab I used were just doing 3 runs a week instead of continuous processing.

Staff in the lab knew turnover was barely enough to keep the business profitable so I wasn't surprised to find it closed when I returned a year ago.

Thanks for your comments about the article, I'm sure that a few labs will remain but it'll be a handful. I checked both Kodak & Fuji's list of Pro labs (in the UK) on Sunday and many no longer process E6 some don't offer a processing service at all for any films.

Erik Petersson said:
Good question. Is this discussion about end of production or end of marketing these films in certain geographical areas?

It will be global and based on production, but stock levels will be higher in some markets than others,

Ian

lilserenity · Mar 10, 2010

Ian Grant said:
My own experience in Birmingham was that E6 had begun to dwindled to a trickle 5 years ago, so much so that the lab I used were just doing 3 runs a week instead of continuous processing.

Staff in the lab knew turnover was barely enough to keep the business profitable so I wasn't surprised to find it closed when I returned a year ago.

Thanks for your comments about the article, I'm sure that a few labs will remain but it'll be a handful. I checked both Kodak & Fuji's list of Pro labs (in the UK) on Sunday and many no longer process E6 some don't offer a processing service at all for any films.

Ian

Hi Ian,
It's a good article which went to the effort of asking big labs rather than doing a Google search, the new BJP is just a wonderful read. You'll enjoy it I am sure.

I haven't taken E6 into somewhere for processing over the counter for years. Probably the last over the counter E6 I did was in 2004, since then everything is mailed out either to The Darkroom in Cheltenham if I wanted the mounted (which is most of the time) or Genie in Wandsworth if just the strips are fine.

I expect in terms of E6 what we'll be left with is something like Velvia 50 and a more standard colour balance film such as Ektachrome 100G / Provia 100F (not that Provia is in any way a delicate film in colour palette to my eyes!)

Vicky

lns · Mar 10, 2010

Scott_Sheppard said:
Everybody:

I have had face to face meeting with Fujifilm this week and this is the deal.

160s, 160c, 800z and T64 in "ALL SIZES" also Neopan 400 in 120 - GONE...

....

I love and use nearly all of these films. They are excellent products, the best. Still, I am not surprised, because I am pessimistic and sad about the future of color film in general.

Neopan 400 in 120 is a heck of a film, and I cannot understand that being discontinued. That to me is the most ominous news. It indicates a weakness in what I would have assumed is the stronger, steadier part of the business.

-Laura

Scott_Sheppard · Mar 10, 2010

AgX said:
I am part of "everybody", but I am not situated in the USA; so, which market are you talking about?

What has been discussed is here is USA, I do not believe that all of these emulsions have been cut from the Japanese market.

I will go over this in detail at a later time.

Remember we are talking "PRO" emulsions here, NOT their consumer brothers where there mite be a overlap of product.

Fujifilm DOES have a commitment analog photography and we should be very happy that ANYBODY makes such a fine quality product in this day and age.

These consolidations are brought on by NOT BUYING FILM...

I will keep you updated on what's up and there is no reason to FREAK out and do a Chicken Little dance and scream the SKY IS FALLING !!

At this point we are very lucky that Fujifilm and the rest of the manufactures make film at all anymore !!

Have a GREAT day and go buy some FILM... TODAY !!

marylandphoto · Mar 10, 2010

If Kodak follows suit by canceling Portra, we won't have much left in the way of Pro color negative film. I, for one, shoot mostly E6 (K14 until recently), and thought that I'd be switching to C41 at some point due to its demise. Now, I'm wondering how much C41 will be left when I finally get there.

mikebarger · Mar 10, 2010

It's not a good deal for color, I only use a few rolls of 120 and 220 C41 a year (have lifetime supply in freezer). But if color and C41 processing goes away I'll move to another form of capture for color prints.

I hope I'm in as safe of a camp as there is in B&W Tri-X in 120 and HP5+ in 4x5. Sure hoping those are the last one's standing.

Mike

BetterSense · Mar 10, 2010

Neopan 400 in 120 is a heck of a film, and I cannot understand that being discontinued. That to me is the most ominous news.

What I don't understand, is why it was cheap, and then discontinued. Wouldn't you think that the price would have gone up steadily and THEN it be discontinued? It was just about the cheapest high-quality 120 film available in the states, and apparently wildly popular, and then discontinued? Why were they not making money off of it, and if not, why didn't they raise their prices into Ilfodak levels?

FedericoMP · Mar 10, 2010

Scott_Sheppard said:
This is what happens when people don't BUY film !!

So we are being punished for not buying a roll a day instead of Fuji trying to modify his "stock techniques".

Erik Petersson · Mar 10, 2010

Aren't we all buying film? All of us who are reading this?

lilserenity · Mar 10, 2010

Erik Petersson said:
Aren't we all buying film? All of us who are reading this?

Absolutely, but I don't blow it on crud, so my volumes might not be high but I shoot at least 100 rolls of film a year, and a lot of that has been 160S.

There is the faint hope that 160S isn't out in the cold in the UK too but we will have to see.

Vicky

manualcrank · Mar 10, 2010

But why keep 400H and dump 160S/C? A rumor I've heard is they're about to introduce a new slow flm to compete more effectively with Portra and Ektar. If so, perhaps by dumping the old films they're rationalizing their product line?

Ektagraphic · Mar 10, 2010

Where did you here this?

naugastyle · Mar 10, 2010

lilserenity said:
Do you know if Reala is safe? If it is, at least we have that for 100 speed 120;

I don't have the link now but this has been discussed here before. Reala in 120 is already discontinued.

Interesting news about Fujicolor Pro

Photo Engineer

Scott_Sheppard

Advertiser

Ektagraphic

Ian Grant

mikebarger

lilserenity

MikeSeb

MikeSeb

lilserenity

Michael W

AgX

Erik Petersson

Ian Grant

lilserenity

lns

Scott_Sheppard

Advertiser

marylandphoto

mikebarger

BetterSense

FedericoMP

Erik Petersson

lilserenity

manualcrank

Ektagraphic

naugastyle

Interesting news about Fujicolor Pro

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