That's like Nikon which makes binoculars, microscopes, and medical imaging equipment.
Fuji has leveraged its knowledge of photographic film into products as diverse as face shields for medical use and high quality cosmetics.
Kumar
That's like Nikon which makes binoculars, microscopes, and medical imaging equipment.
Fuji has not said anything officially about discontinuing the manufacture of Fujichrome. But it is widely believed that the film being sold now is from the last few master rolls. Like every company in Japan Fuji also faces a shortage of skilled technical staff. This is in addition to market forces.
Kumar
They've gotten a LOT of mileage out of it if that were to be the case, given the Fujichrome freezer rumor's been circulating for the better part of a decade now.
I honestly don't buy it, I doubt Velvia 50, 100 and Provia 100 had such a large coating run as to still provide "fresh" film in 2025 (judging by the presence of said films with late 2027 expiry dates in European stores).
....... (judging by the presence of said films with late 2027 expiry dates in European stores).
My 35mm Provia 100f film that I bought last week had January 2027 as the expiry date. Who has "late 2027" on a recent purchase?
Maybe they’re lying about the expiration dates??
Maybe they’re lying about the expiration dates??
What's there to lie about? They convert film from master roll / pancakes and stamp +2 years (or whatever) from the date of conversion. Like everybody else does.
If exp. dates would be based on coating dates, it would mean that Fuji coats a ridiculously small amount of E-6 material practically every month. Now, THAT, would be insane.
If a production run of Fujichrome means shutting down production of Instax for the duration of the Fujichrome run, then the "cost" of the slide film run for Fuji may rest mainly in the loss of Instax profit and revenue.
That's like Nikon which makes binoculars, microscopes, and medical imaging equipment.
I get the fun factor but am with you that is relatively insulting to "hey get this toy simulating the real thing we don't make anymore!"Why would they when they are selling plastic cameras with one inch sensors that simulate the film experience for $800+? I'm so mad about this, sorry.
Remember, for potential US users, once tariffs seriously kick in, it certainly won't help the Fujichrome outlook. Time to get used to Ektachrome.
The question of Fujichrome (and Fujicolor) production comes up regularly but never reaches any solid conclusions. In the absence of meaningful data, especially from Fuji themselves, we are left with two options: 1) Buy everything we can find if/when we can find it, or 2) Accept our future now and find an alternative (Ektachrome, quit photography, etc…).
One thing that’s not clear (again no help from the company) is what’s in it for Fuji. Ektachrome at least has the occasional Hollywood production to help subsidize still photography needs. Fuji does not.
So Fuji must be doing one of several things: 1) Producing new film while making acceptable profits selling it, 2) Producing new film while losing money, doing so for unknown altruistic reasons, or 3) Selling off frozen master rolls because they represent resources already consumed and accounted for, therefore any sales are profit with minimal effort and investment.
I really don’t know what is the case, but I can’t believe #2 is true.
Also, I’m no business major, but it seems like companies today are less interested in niche products or customers unless they are extremely profitable per unit produced. If you have to dedicate people to a project then you put your best, er, “human resources” on the project that will return the greatest “shareholder value”. That kinda suggests #1 isn’t what’s happening. So… frozen master rolls?
Maybe one day Fuji will be kind, or possibly unkind, enough to put an end to our speculation, but don’t wait. Just buy Fujichrome and use it.
$35 per roll today will seem like a deal in a year or two, whether fresh film is available or not. It wouldn’t surprise me to find there are future resellers with home freezers full of the stuff already anticipating the end. Honestly, that’s a no-lose deal if you can afford to wait it out.
Thank you all for making me have more hope. Now can we get some NPH too?Some years ago, Fuji's chairman made a public statement saying that the company was committed to film. Japan still has enthusiastic 80 year old photographers with Pentax 6x7 cameras hanging around their necks...
Kumar
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