Interesting news from Fujifilm

[Xmas]

Sorry, just forgotten:
The latest serial numbers reported from the F6 have been in 36,000 range.
So in the time period when the main digital marketing strategy has been "film is dead, you must switch to digital because soon you cannot buy film anymore" nevertheless such a number of a higher priced film camera have been sold.
If that was possible, it may probably be possible to sell a bit more cameras in an era of a film revival......

Look at the markets of mechanical watches and turntables. Lots of new, high(est) quality products after the revival has started.

Best regards,
Henning

Hi Henning

Does your F6 have a four character code in the cassette chamber?

This can be decoded eg for FM2 into month and year independent of top plate serial which can be swapped after damage in FMs.

A friend ordered a F6 via a UK dealer and when he opened the box it had a letter in English thanking him for ordering a F6 cause it kept him in work, (as well as the F6).
The film Leicas are also built in small batches rather than in a production line.

If you have what might be a date code in yours I can ask for his serial and date, he bought his late some time in '10-'11 I think.

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

Noel

 

[redstarjedi]

Hello friends,

just short, but interesting news from Fujifilm:

http://photoscala.de/Artikel/Neue-Q...ient-viel-Geld-mit-analogen-Sofortbildkameras

Short summary in English:
The photographic part of Fujifilm, "Imaging Solutions", has published the economic data of the last quarter.
- Sales of digital compact cameras are significantly decreasing.
- Turnover of optical devices for smartphones are decreasing.
- Sales of X-Series cameras are robust.
- Sales and income from Instax instant cameras and film remain in a very strong boom: Fujifilm is selling more Instax instant cameras than digital cameras. They are expecting sales of 5 million (!) Instax cameras in 2015 (3,87 million last year).
- Increasing sales of photobooks.

The positive turnover of the "Imaging Solutions" has been mainly due to the very strong and continuing boom of the Instax system.

Probably even more interesting: The mid-term strategy of the Imaging Solutions (text in English):
http://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/pdf/investors/other/ff_presentation_20150520_001.pdf

There will be further investments in silver-halide technology, with a focus on Instax and colour photo paper.

If the Fujifilm people were clever (sadly currently they are not) they would use their success with Instax to promote also their standard photo film portfolio:
Their Instax marketing is very good and very successful.
They have contact to millions of Instax film shooters.
From a marketing perspective that is a dream situation, a "goldilocks" scenario, which could be easily used (with very low costs) to significantly improve the sales situation of their standard film portfolio, too.
Fujifilm, wake up!

Best regards,
Henning

Another thing to consider is that at least in the US, there is a growing market for old contax 645s in the wedding photography field. They sell at prices equal to or greater than when they were new, after adjusting for inflation. If i were a camera manufacturer i wouldn't look at 35mm but at new medium format systems. Fuji does this, every few years they make a medium format camera, and then discontinue it. I just don't see new 35mm cameras being produced considering how many are out there, and how much cheaper it is to buy a new one over even repairing an old one. My Contax RX died, so i was going to get it repaired. It would have cost 240 before parts, i bought it for 80 bucks. Instead i got a mint Contax AX for 200.

Now this might be a bit tangential, Zeiss has regained the Contax name, i day dream about a Contax resurrection that would be a hybrid of digital and analog. A digital contax G3 with renewed parts and support for the contax G2, and resumed production of the contax 645?

 

[Henning Serger]

Hi Henning

Does your F6 have a four character code in the cassette chamber?

This can be decoded eg for FM2 into month and year independent of top plate serial which can be swapped after damage in FMs.

A friend ordered a F6 via a UK dealer and when he opened the box it had a letter in English thanking him for ordering a F6 cause it kept him in work, (as well as the F6).
The film Leicas are also built in small batches rather than in a production line.

If you have what might be a date code in yours I can ask for his serial and date, he bought his late some time in '10-'11 I think.

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

Noel

Hello Noel,

thanks for the offer.
No, there is no coding in the F6 film chamber.
The F6 has just a simple, straight, not coded serial number on the body.

In 2007 journalists of the French photo magazine "Chasseur d'Image" visited the Nikon factory in Sendai in which all Nikon professional cameras are made.
At that time 200 F6 per month were made.
In 2012 another report about the Sendai factory was published online:
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Gallery/291358,factory-tour-inside-nikons-camera-plant.aspx/1
At that time 50 Nikon F6 were made per month.
I am now waiting for my second F6 coming from the factory. It will take quite some time, because the distributor is collecting orders before sending all collected orders to Nikon (benefit is a very fair price).
Of course I am curious what serial number mine will have

Best regards,
Henning

 

[pentaxuser]

In 2007 journalists of the French photo magazine "Chasseur d'Image" visited the Nikon factory in Sendai in which all Nikon professional cameras are made.
At that time 200 F6 per month were made.
In 2012 another report about the Sendai factory was published online:
http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Gallery/291358,factory-tour-inside-nikons-camera-plant.aspx/1
At that time 50 Nikon F6 were made per month.

Best regards,
Henning

A drop from 200 per month to 50 per month over 5 years doesn't sound very healthy. Maybe the 2015 number is higher. What is it?

If you have mentioned it then I apologise but if there is an improvement in numbers then it will do no harm to mention it again in a simple sentence. This often stays in people's minds when it isn't mentioned in a much longer post.

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Henning Serger]

Another thing to consider is that at least in the US, there is a growing market for old contax 645s in the wedding photography field. They sell at prices equal to or greater than when they were new, after adjusting for inflation.

I know. Interestingly the Contax 645 is much cheaper in Germany. At least the latest offers I've seen some months ago.

Now this might be a bit tangential, Zeiss has regained the Contax name, i day dream about a Contax resurrection that would be a hybrid of digital and analog. A digital contax G3 with renewed parts and support for the contax G2, and resumed production of the contax 645?

Zeiss has said sometime ago that they have currently no plans to enter the camera market again. They will focus on lenses.
Don't forget, the digital camera market is in a significant decline with (too) much manufacturers and a murderous competition and low margins under big pressure.
A resumed production of the Contax 645? Very unlikely, because the former manufacturer, Yashica, has left the camera business.
But I do agree that a camera like the Contax 645, probably improved in some fields, would be very attractive for lots of film photographers.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

A drop from 200 per month to 50 per month over 5 years doesn't sound very healthy. Maybe the 2015 number is higher. What is it?

We don't know exactly, because since 2012 no new data has been published.
Based on the serial numbers of new cameras over the last years which were published by the buyers, the production seems to have been more or less stable in the last three years.
But of course that is not a precise method of calculation.
Only Nikon really knows the exact demand and production.
The fact that it is in production at least indicates that the demand is sufficient enough to continue.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Henning Serger]

A resumed production of the Contax 645? Very unlikely, because the former manufacturer, Yashica, has left the camera business.
But I do agree that a camera like the Contax 645, probably improved in some fields, would be very attractive for lots of film photographers.

Just an addition:
An "improved Contax 645" is almost already on the market: The Mamiya Leaf 645 DF. If this camera gets the possibility to also use film backs again....then we have it.
Just a little step.
So film photographers who want / need a new, modern 4,5x6 medium format film camera should talk to Mamiya and show demand.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

I think, Henning is whistling in the dark (as a German proverb has it) and I guess he knows it, too. He asks his critics for dependable figures and data, when in fact he is not able to give them himself. Whenever it comes to hard facts, he becomes quite vague - with the exception of the Fuji/Instax figures - and some of his previous predictions haven't been proved yet - just think of Ferrania whose film production was meant to have started 2 months ago - the latest! and Henning was/is a staunch representative of the Ferrania Faith. I have my doubts if we will ever see Ferrania films on the market.

People nowadays do not want to go back to film, as charming as this idea might be. Those digital natives might perhaps give film a try in a lomo way, but I'm pretty sure they would not want to buy a new film camera and I am deeply convinced that neither Canon nor Nikon nor Sony will introduce a new film-based camera in the next years - although it would be very easy for them. Each of those companies would just have to re-introduce their last model (Nikon F6 is even still in production!) without any changes, as they had reached the status of near-perfection when production stopped (can there be a better equipped camera as e.g. Canon EOS 3 or Nikon F6?). But they will not do so for a little group of young photographers who just want to taste or test film once in a while. What's more, the big lab chains have already started to decrease their analogue equipment. Nowadys you have to wait for 1-2 weeks for a film to be developed, if you can't rely on a mini-lab.
So, let's be realistic and hope that film based photography will somehow survive (just as vinyl records did) in a little niche.

 

[rbultman]

So, let's be realistic and hope that film based photography will somehow survive (just as vinyl records did) in a little niche.

I'm interpreting your opinion as a continued downward slide towards the day when you can't get film developed anywhere and even the likes of Nikon and Cosina stop making film cameras. If I am to "be realistic", what from your post would give me any "hope that film based photography will somehow survive"? Should I just stop using film now and start making digital negatives?

You can still buy new 35mm and LF cameras. Cosina cameras are not Lomo cameras. One of the reasons I got back into film was because of the higher quality of film over digital, IMO. It was certainly not because of any Lomo sensibilities.

 

[pentaxuser]

If I am to "be realistic", what from your post would give me any "hope that film based photography will somehow survive"? Should I just stop using film now and start making digital negatives?

There is just a small danger that threads like this will swing wildly between a "new dawn for film" and "films is as good as dead. Neither may represent the reality. You must decide what to do but if I like "Carrot Cake" then I'll keep eating it until there is no realistic chance of obtaining it at all.

I think we are a long way from there being no hope for film. It might depend on how long you intend to live

pentaxuser

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Nowadys you have to wait for 1-2 weeks for a film to be developed, if you can't rely on a mini-lab.

Interesting observation. The last set of four rolls of E-6 120 I sent to a lab for processing was delivered back into my hands in exactly 46 hours. This included a round trip of about half way across the continental USA. The lab was Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas. I live an hour northeast of Seattle, Washington.

This is an amazing testament to the efficiency and professionalism of the staff at Dwayne's. It also offers a similar testament to the efficiency of the US Postal service and their employees. I'm guessing my rolls were in the lab's hands for less than 24 hours. And the quality of the processed transparencies was outstanding.

Perhaps you should seek out a different lab for your own film processing?

Ken

 

[Alan Klein]

I use LTI Lightside in NYC for 120 film and they have a day turnaround. That's for both color and BW.

 

[wblynch]

I still have wonderful E-6 labs nearby that I can drive to or mail in. In my youth it was expected that one would drop off or mail away their film and receive the finished results about a week later.

'Fotomat' was the first quick turnaround (about 3 days) option most of us in the US got. That was in the late-late 1960s to the early 1970s.

We all survived. The recent instant gratification attitudes haven't reallY improved our happiness so much. People take pics on their phones, look at them immediately, then never see them again. What is the point of that? I don't mind waiting a few days or a week for high quality 'permanent' prints or slides.

Plus the joy of finding a surprise in the mailbox does bring happiness to my life.

 

[wblynch]

Oh yes, and I still can walk into a local 24 hour store and buy Fujifilm color film right off the shelf! That makes me happy too.

 

[redstarjedi]

I still have wonderful E-6 labs nearby that I can drive to or mail in. In my youth it was expected that one would drop off or mail away their film and receive the finished results about a week later.

'Fotomat' was the first quick turnaround (about 3 days) option most of us in the US got. That was in the late-late 1960s to the early 1970s.

We all survived. The recent instant gratification attitudes haven't reallY improved our happiness so much. People take pics on their phones, look at them immediately, then never see them again. What is the point of that? I don't mind waiting a few days or a week for high quality 'permanent' prints or slides.

Plus the joy of finding a surprise in the mailbox does bring happiness to my life.

What lab do you use for E6? NCPS? they stopped mouting slides

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

Interesting observation. The last set of four rolls of E-6 120 I sent to a lab for processing was delivered back into my hands in exactly 46 hours. This included a round trip of about half way across the continental USA. The lab was Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kansas. I live an hour northeast of Seattle, Washington.

This is an amazing testament to the efficiency and professionalism of the staff at Dwayne's. It also offers a similar testament to the efficiency of the US Postal service and their employees. I'm guessing my rolls were in the lab's hands for less than 24 hours. And the quality of the processed transparencies was outstanding.

Perhaps you should seek out a different lab for your own film processing?

Ken

Lucky you! I could get C41 within hours if I went to the Minilab downtown, but it Would cost me about twice as much as in the drugstore which sends the films to Germany's biggest lab chain, which treats films nowadays as secondclass items. And the Minilab doesn't do E6, but sends it away to .... The big lab chain. So obviously the situation in the US or at least in parts of the US is still quite good.

 

[Xmas]

I think, Henning is whistling in the dark (as a German proverb has it) and I guess he knows it, too. He asks his critics for dependable figures and data, when in fact he is not able to give them himself. Whenever it comes to hard facts, he becomes quite vague - with the exception of the Fuji/Instax figures - and some of his previous predictions haven't been proved yet - just think of Ferrania whose film production was meant to have started 2 months ago - the latest! and Henning was/is a staunch representative of the Ferrania Faith. I have my doubts if we will ever see Ferrania films on the market.

People nowadays do not want to go back to film, as charming as this idea might be. Those digital natives might perhaps give film a try in a lomo way, but I'm pretty sure they would not want to buy a new film camera and I am deeply convinced that neither Canon nor Nikon nor Sony will introduce a new film-based camera in the next years - although it would be very easy for them. Each of those companies would just have to re-introduce their last model (Nikon F6 is even still in production!) without any changes, as they had reached the status of near-perfection when production stopped (can there be a better equipped camera as e.g. Canon EOS 3 or Nikon F6?). But they will not do so for a little group of young photographers who just want to taste or test film once in a while. What's more, the big lab chains have already started to decrease their analogue equipment. Nowadys you have to wait for 1-2 weeks for a film to be developed, if you can't rely on a mini-lab.
So, let's be realistic and hope that film based photography will somehow survive (just as vinyl records did) in a little niche.

Rebuilding a factory and reengineering an emulsion is more complex than driving down town and getting fast food.
Film is however not like vinyl.
That is two strikes?

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

I'm interpreting your opinion as a continued downward slide towards the day when you can't get film developed anywhere and even the likes of Nikon and Cosina stop making film cameras.

Sorry, but I didn't say that. I said, I think that film will survive but on a very low level, just like now.

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

This article by the German weekly "Der Spiegel" (similar to TIME and NEWSWEEK) depicts the situation in Germany quite well:
http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/gadgets/analoge-fotografie-fotofilme-sterben-aus-a-1050747.html

For your information: a 4/6" print costs 9cts here in Germany if you order it via a drugstore that sends it to CEWE, probably Europe's biggest chain of photo labs. The quality you get is much worse than 5-10 years ago. The pictures are automatically processed and "digitally optimized" which normally means, that color saturation is much too high and the pics tend to be quite grainy.
If you go to a minilab in one of the few still existing retail stores, you have to pay 59 cts for the same size and will most likely get a decent print. The costs for developping differ also very much: the drug store chains charge from 0.95€ to 2.85€, the minilab chrages 5,95€. Just to put you guys from overseas in the picture.

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

Sorry! Double posting

 

[wblynch]

I mostly use Data Chrome (http://data-chrome.com/) in Irvine Ca. They do wonderful work and if I time it right I can drop off and pick up on the same day.

I also use TheDarkroom.com in San Clemente sometimes and they also do wonderful work. Their prices are slightly higher than DataChrome but The Darkroom offers scans which I sometimes want.

I haven't used NCPS in a while and wasn't aware they no longer mount slides.

Famous Dwayne's in Kansas still does great E-6 for good prices, I have heard. When you're mailing out, it's not necessary they be right down the street.

What lab do you use for E6? NCPS? they stopped mouting slides

 

[redstarjedi]

I mostly use Data Chrome (http://data-chrome.com/) in Irvine Ca. They do wonderful work and if I time it right I can drop off and pick up on the same day.

I also use TheDarkroom.com in San Clemente sometimes and they also do wonderful work. Their prices are slightly higher than DataChrome but The Darkroom offers scans which I sometimes want.

I haven't used NCPS in a while and wasn't aware they no longer mount slides.

Famous Dwayne's in Kansas still does great E-6 for good prices, I have heard. When you're mailing out, it's not necessary they be right down the street.

I've used datachrome and they are excellent. I send off my film on monday it's back to me by friday, sometimes thursday and i live in los angeles. Sadly, they can't scan at a higher resolution at datachrome. I've considered not mounting, and giving me a uncut roll and going to my local lab to scan. However, i wants mounts and mounting by hand seems tedious.

 

[Xmas]

This article by the German weekly "Der Spiegel" (similar to TIME and NEWSWEEK) depicts the situation in Germany quite well:
http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/gadgets/analoge-fotografie-fotofilme-sterben-aus-a-1050747.html

For your information: a 4/6" print costs 9cts here in Germany if you order it via a drugstore that sends it to CEWE, probably Europe's biggest chain of photo labs. The quality you get is much worse than 5-10 years ago. The pictures are automatically processed and "digitally optimized" which normally means, that color saturation is much too high and the pics tend to be quite grainy.
If you go to a minilab in one of the few still existing retail stores, you have to pay 59 cts for the same size and will most likely get a decent print. The costs for developping differ also very much: the drug store chains charge from 0.95€ to 2.85€, the minilab chrages 5,95€. Just to put you guys from overseas in the picture.

Fuji still make silver halide paper you can get an enlarger for free and a print tube for some € paper.

 

[Thomas.Goehler]

Fuji still make silver halide paper you can get an enlarger for free and a print tube for some € paper.

That's not the point.

 

[Xmas]

That's not the point.

Oh yes it is...
Unless more people start using AgX colour paper... It is a dwindling market?

Cibachrome has already disappeared?
It was an easy process to use even with primitive equipment, it only needed a perfect transparency.

If a friend wanted six transparencies printed I could do a perfect set of 8x10s over a weekend. Instead of watching TV.

I did not need a lab, and I'm not a good printer.