Message to Fuji

Maine-iac · Feb 24, 2006

Dear Friends at Fuji,

Thank you for your commitment to supplying high quality films and papers for traditional photographers.

I particularly love ACROS 100 and it has become my standard medium-speed film for medium format work.

I would love to use it for my 4X5 work too, but since it only comes in ready-load form, it is too expensive for many of us who are "professional amateurs" rather than "professional professionals." Please consider packaging it in 50 or 100 sheet boxes and reducing the price accordingly. I'll bet there are a lot of others like me who would be happy for such a move.

Thanks,
Larry Kalajainen

sanderx1 · Feb 24, 2006

Maine-iac said:
I particularly love ACROS 100 and it has become my standard medium-speed film for medium format work. I would love to use it for my 4X5 work too, but since it only comes in ready-load form, it is too expensive for many of us who are "professional amateurs" rather than "professional professionals." Please consider packaging it in 50 or 100 sheet boxes and reducing the price accordingly.

Fuji already makes Acros in 4x5, they just don't distribute it outsidfe of Japan. Ifyou want to send a message it should probably be to your local Fuji - or possibly the Fuji European HQ - asking them to import it.

Magnus W · Feb 24, 2006

4x5 Acros is available Dead Link Removed .

-- MW

TimVermont · Feb 24, 2006

How about 13x18 cm or 5x7" availability? Every once and a while I dip into my stash of 8x10" Acros that I cut down to 5x7" for a special subject. I would love to not handle it as much.

dancqu · Feb 24, 2006

Magnus W said:
4x5 Acros is available Dead Link Removed .

Have any experience with Megaperls? How have S&H
costs run to the US of A? They have SINGLE weight,
5 x 7 included, projection speed paper
in double Graded VC. Dan

avandesande · Feb 24, 2006

J&C have you tried fuji?

dancqu said:
Have any experience with Megaperls? How have S&H
costs run to the US of A? They have SINGLE weight,
5 x 7 included, projection speed paper
in double Graded VC. Dan

Paddy · Feb 24, 2006

4x5 Acros/20 sheet boxes; these are available in Japan, for even less than what Megaperls sells them for, but'chya gotta git'cher self over there first ;~)

Mongo · Feb 24, 2006

I just wish they'd get rid of the *#&%%^ing hole in the film. I know it's there for hanging the negatives to dry, but the last thing I want in the image area of my 4x5s is a hole. What were they smoking the day they made that decision?

peter_n · Feb 24, 2006

dancqu said:
Have any experience with Megaperls? How have S&H
costs run to the US of A? They have SINGLE weight,
5 x 7 included, projection speed paper
in double Graded VC. Dan

Dirk at Megaperls provides a range of shipping, if you want it quick you pay for it, 3 or 4 weeks to the USA and its a lot less expensive. My experience has been excellent for my purchases of Fuji bulk roll film. I'm just a customer - no connection etc.

~Peter

gbock · Feb 24, 2006

Too bad that through Megaperls 8x10 Acros comes out to $5 per sheet. YIKES! I wish Fuji USA would sell Acros in 4x5 and 8x10. I bet there would be lots of takers.

BarryWilkinson · Feb 25, 2006

gbock said:
Too bad that through Megaperls 8x10 Acros comes out to $5 per sheet. YIKES! I wish Fuji USA would sell Acros in 4x5 and 8x10. I bet there would be lots of takers.

I would also like to test Acros 8x10, I'm sure there would be a European market for this product. However, buying it from Japan direct incurs UK import duty, VAT and UK handling charges,that comes to about $8 per sheet. I stiil have to pay postage on top of that.

I could probably buy 7x17 FP4+ form J&C for the same price.

Barry
UK

Dirk-san · Feb 25, 2006

Film will get more scarce, more expensive and selection limited. Best to get used to it sooner than later. Anyone expecting anything different?

colrehogan · Feb 25, 2006

Dirk-san said:
Film will get more scarce, more expensive and selection limited. Best to get used to it sooner than later. Anyone expecting anything different?

I'm already used to this with the current state of LF (read 8x10) IR film. It seems to be vanishing again. I'm going to have to get myself a freezer for film and put it on our screened in porch.

rbarker · Feb 25, 2006

colrehogan said:
. . . I'm going to have to get myself a freezer for film and put it on our screened in porch.

Ah, but Diane, once you realize the value of the contents of the film fridge, you'll want to reinforce the walls of the porch and add a vault door.

Papa Tango · Feb 25, 2006

rbarker said:
Ah, but Diane, once you realize the value of the contents of the film fridge, you'll want to reinforce the walls of the porch and add a vault door.

Ralph, thank you for my first good laugh of the day!!! It becomes even more scary when one starts to add up the cost of all the equipment and little gizmos that make up the darkroom.

I went to put together an inventory of stuff for insurance claim purposes (hoping never to need it) and was completely astonished at the cost once it was computed for both real and replacement costs. My insurance agent made a solid recommendation that I increase the casualty loss amount in case of diasaster. Much of it was not even covered...

At the least Diane, put a chain and padlock around it. You have already told us that it will be just sitting and waiting out on the porch...

BarryWilkinson · Feb 25, 2006

Dirk-san said:
Film will get more scarce, more expensive and selection limited. Best to get used to it sooner than later. Anyone expecting anything different?

Sorry if my post came across as a whinge, it was just meant to be a statement of fact.

Barry

rbarker · Feb 25, 2006

BarryWilkinson said:
Sorry if my post came across as a whinge . . .

No problem from my perspective, Barry. $8/sheet is cheap. Think about $15-$20 per for 8x10 Polaroid, while hoping you cleaned the rollers in the darned processor well.

Dirk-san · Feb 26, 2006

BarryWilkinson said:
Sorry if my post came across as a whinge, it was just meant to be a statement of fact.

Of course you are absolutely right. Still, photography has always been an expensive thing to get into. In the "good old days" it was said that "film is cheap"; this is about to change. But is has never been cheap overall.

The good news is that film gear will get cheaper... which, errr, includes our investments -- mmh, guess we can't win.

Message to Fuji

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