New Fuji Neopan ?

[Poisson Du Jour]

There was plenty of time to stock up. Acros is gone and never coming back, but there are equally wonderful high resolution films still offered from tmax to pan f to adox.

[...]

Yes. Those two films, but especially PAN F+50 (despite its intemperate nature) are my present go-to for short-ish exposure pinhole work, but I do have three boxes of 120/ACROS in deep freeze storage for a project slated for mid-2020.

 

[Ste_S]

If I remember correctly, Fuji Neopan400CN was discontinued, in 2018 I think.

Must still be a fair of bit of unsold stock around then, readily available in 35mm and 120 here in the UK still

 

[lxdude]

I doubt it, with so many fantastic fine grained b&w films what for? As long as they continue to produce transparencies I will be happy

Its excellent reciprocity characteristics for low-light and night-time shooting (which I do a lot of) are the biggest reason I have for mourning its passing, followed by its all-around balance. I seldom used filters with it during the day, usually preferring its look when unfiltered. Both simplified its use, and I very much liked the results.

 

[macfred]

If I remember correctly, Fuji Neopan400CN was discontinued, in 2018 I think.

I sold several rolls of Neopan 400CN in the UK this year - Exp.date is 2019.

 

[pentaxuser]

It appears that when it was made, Ilford made it. Now that it is gone( or has it?) is there any cause for concern given that Ilford XP2 Plus is still made. I suppose there might a concern if Neopan 400CN was different from XP2 Plus. Is it /was it?

pentaxuser

 

[macfred]

Though Ilford always said they don't rebadge their film and that the Neopan 400CN was made to Fuji's specs one can find no source about those specs ...
For me as a long time user the results are looking identical. Here's a comparison between those two films with histograms - no differences as far as I can see.
https://figitalrevolution.com/2017/04/07/ilford-xp2-super-vs-fuji-neopan-400cn/

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks, macfred. The test seems pretty convincing to me for all practical purposes and as a picture taker that is enough for me

pentaxuser

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

It appears that when it was made, Ilford made it. Now that it is gone( or has it?) is there any cause for concern given that Ilford XP2 Plus is still made. I suppose there might a concern if Neopan 400CN was different from XP2 Plus. Is it /was it?

pentaxuser

Ilford did not manufacture ACROS 100. Production was fully by Fujifilm, which has had B&W manufacturing ability for many years.

 

[MattKing]

Though Ilford always said they don't rebadge their film and that the Neopan 400CN was made to Fuji's specs one can find no source about those specs ...
For me as a long time user the results are looking identical. Here's a comparison between those two films with histograms - no differences as far as I can see.
https://figitalrevolution.com/2017/04/07/ilford-xp2-super-vs-fuji-neopan-400cn/

I see some real (if somewhat small) differences between those two histograms .
More importantly though, I don't know that a film scanner's output analyzed with photo processing software is likely to predictably and reliably reveal differences between two similar chromogenic films.

 

[foc]

Though Ilford always said they don't rebadge their film and that the Neopan 400CN was made to Fuji's specs one can find no source about those specs ...
For me as a long time user the results are looking identical. Here's a comparison between those two films with histograms - no differences as far as I can see.
https://figitalrevolution.com/2017/04/07/ilford-xp2-super-vs-fuji-neopan-400cn/

I agree but Fuji have always told me that Neopan 400CN was made to "their spec" by Ilford. I asked for specs but they were never forthcoming except being told to check the technical sheet. I have always maintained that this "their own spec" was purely a marketing ploy. If you can think of the logistics of film manufacturing (colour or B&W) and how complex it is, emulsion confection etc and I can not see how "their own spec" is viable economically.

I believe that they use the same master roll but just change the name/barcode on the edge markings, and pack differently.

 

[MattKing]

Considering the fact that the film manufacturers used to make slightly different emulsions for different geographic areas because of the different market preferences, the likelihood of Harman making different emulsions for different distribution chains doesn't seem too far-fetched.
Particularly since both Harman and Fuji say that they are/were different.

 

[pentaxuser]

Ilford did not manufacture ACROS 100. Production was fully by Fujifilm, which has had B&W manufacturing ability for many years.

Yes I understand your point about Acros and was not trying to say that Ilford had anything to do with the production of Acros. I was simply referring to Fuji's chromogenic film Neopan 400CN. My post was initially a question about how much concern we need to have about the discontinuation of Fuji 400CN when there is still Ilford XP2 Plus. macfred answered that by his post on comparison between histograms for Fuji 400CN and Ilford XP2 Plus

pentaxuser

 

[AgX]

Considering the fact that the film manufacturers used to make slightly different emulsions for different geographic areas because of the different market preferences,...

As Foc indicated, what was economically viable in the heydays not necessarily is so today.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

a question about how much concern we need to have about the discontinuation of Fuji 400CN when there is still Ilford XP2

Easy answer: use plenty of 400CN in quantities that keep production going.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Ilford did not manufacture ACROS 100. Production was fully by Fujifilm, which has had B&W manufacturing ability for many years.

. Where did this come from or why? Who said or alluded to Acros being made by Ilford?

 

[lxdude]

And then, suddenly and unexpected, there was Acros II.

 

[pentaxuser]

So looking back on the origins of this thread and the many and wayward routes it has subsequently taken are we safe to conclude that, without wishing to seem harsh, this has been a nothing thread similar to the kind of discussion that we all enjoyed in the pub/bar last night but today i.e. the next day, we are having difficulty remembering what brought it about and what it really was all about

pentaxuser

 

[IzzyCat]

suddenly and unexpected

Yes, absolutely.

I'm back to lurking, thanks for the reception.

 

[wyofilm]

Yes, absolutely.

I'm back to lurking, thanks for the reception.

You can learn a lot on this site and even have pleasant conversations. Other times? You will get barked at.

 

[pentaxuser]

You can learn a lot on this site and even have pleasant conversations. Other times? You will get barked at.

I think the problem with all the "I heard or read somewhere that a new X film is about to be produced or a previous Y film is about to be re-started is that we have heard it so often. When there is no source of information then the the thread inevitably "drifts" and in terms of a conclusion or even meaningful direction becomes a "nothing thread" The real answer to such threads is (a) either it produces a host of like beliefs or (b) produces a credible source of information and without such it dies a death within a few posts. However Photrio and nature abhors a vacuum and we get this kind of thread.

The way it went is not the fault of the OP rather it is our collective fault for not asking for (a) or (b) to happen and if it doesn't then the thread is quietly declared dead and buried by the negative effect of no postings.

When Frank Sinatra posts a thread on Photrio that starts: "Have you heard it's in the stars, next July we collide with Mars" we can either ask for his source for this information or we can continue the conversation with talk of aliens and what was found at Roswell.

If we follow the latter course as we did here then this is not the fault of the OP but maybe we do need to consider just asking for more information from the OP or any OP on such matters as this and if it isn't forthcoming then the thread dies.

pentaxuser

 

[mshchem]

I feel for our members that are loyal Fujifilm customers. Kodak is always just one step from going broke. Ilford seems to have been purchased by some smart folks. Adox seems to have found a niche. Foma makes great paper, I've never shot their film.

There's a bit of me that wants to say bugger off to Fuji, but that would be silly. If for no other reason is that Fuji is the only company with the critical mass to support film come hell,or high water.

 

[wyofilm]

When I think Fujifilm I think Foreigner's song Cold as Ice

You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love
You never take advice
Someday you'll pay the price, I know.

But come on, we know we are the who will pay the price.

 

[mshchem]

When I think Fujifilm I think Foreigner's song Cold as Ice

You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love
You never take advice
Someday you'll pay the price, I know.

But come on, we know we are the who will pay the price.

Yeah, I hear you. I love film. As long as I can buy nice black and white film and paper, that's all I ask. We need young people.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

IzzyCat's original question was a perfectly reasonable one. He wanted to know about Fuji film. I am not sure why some people jumped on his question. By the way, what happened to Poisson? He has been gone since April. Did the moderators ban him?

 

[Arklatexian]

So looking back on the origins of this thread and the many and wayward routes it has subsequently taken are we safe to conclude that, without wishing to seem harsh, this has been a nothing thread similar to the kind of discussion that we all enjoyed in the pub/bar last night but today i.e. the next day, we are having difficulty remembering what brought it about and what it really was all about

pentaxuser

+1