"new" Fujifilm Fujicolor 200?

[BradS]

I’ll volunteer to get it back on track. I had some time yesterday so I checked a few of my usual local (Boston, MA) haunts. I intended to pick-up a pack, but no Fuji 200 anywhere to be found. I did come across a few $27.99 3-packs of Superia 400 at one drugstore chain with a 1-2024 expiration date.

I live out in the country, about seven miles from the city of Sonora. There is a Walmart in Sonora.
The Walmart in town always has a small stock of Fuji Superia XTra 400 three packs priced at $19 for the three pack of 36 exposures.
My son lives in the SF Bay Area...the Walmart in the city where he lives offers the same 3-packs of Superia XTra for the same price.
Until a few years ago, these stores also carried a fairly decent selection of Fuji and Kodak films - including Gold 200 and FujiColor 200.
Now, they only have the 3-packs of Superia XTra and a bunch of Instax stuff.
Maybe, check your local Walmart?

 

[AgX]

Our discussion ended so far that it might be a solution Fuji just took for the american market. But this already is pure speculation.
Unless we get some more information from Fuji or reports of places with the rebranded Kodak film appearing, this discussion is at its end I assume.

 

[Ten301]

I live out in the country, about seven miles from the city of Sonora. There is a Walmart in Sonora.
The Walmart in town always has a small stock of Fuji Superia XTra 400 three packs priced at $19 for the three pack of 36 exposures.
My son lives in the SF Bay Area...the Walmart in the city where he lives offers the same 3-packs of Superia XTra for the same price.
Until a few years ago, these stores also carried a fairly decent selection of Fuji and Kodak films - including Gold 200 and FujiColor 200.
Now, they only have the 3-packs of Superia XTra and a bunch of Instax stuff.
Maybe, check your local Walmart?

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I did check two Walmarts yesterday. Same here, they now usually only stock Superia 400. Both were out of stock. So I went on Walmart’s website to check all their stores in my area; same story. I guess the supply has pretty much dried up, at least in my area, with the the exception of a few odd drugstores here and there. The new Fuji 200 stock hasn’t made its appearance here yet, but most places other than dedicated photography shops have stopped carrying 200 speed film in my neck of the woods.

 

[Ten301]

Unless we get some more information from Fuji…

From Fuji? I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Is this thread about tyres or film? I lost track

The thread had been about film speculation but then people got tired, so the subject was retired. Understand now?

 

[Arcadia4]

Fujifilm response to questions from petapixel-
‘With the welcome shift in market demand for color film driven by younger generations (i.e., GenZ/Millennials) discovering, and revitalizing film photography, Fujifilm is pleased to have introduced in December 2021 the updated release of “FUJIFILM 200” (ISO200 color film) in single roll and three packs.

To address the new target audience for consumer film, Fujifilm has updated the packaging of the film to appeal to the Gen Z/Millennial audience. The new product packaging includes friends celebrating and having fun – situations to use film to capture the everyday moments.

Fujifilm works with a pool of valued partners around the world as part of the production process to ensure we can continue to deliver high-quality imaging products to delight customers.

Fujifilm is pleased to continue the legacy of analog photography and film so all generations can experience the joy of photograph’


Conclusion, whether its a short term fix due to pandemic and shipping issues or a longer term commercial arrangement, reading between the lines it looks like kodak gold for now, at least in the US. Of course we only know this as fuji published the datasheet unlike say for colorplus.

 

[AgX]

From Fuji? I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that.

Fujifilm response to questions from petapixel-

Fuji's response does not make us wiser at all... even if we put emphasis on that "pool of valued partners around the world as part of the production process"...
I mean, Fuji would not put a Kodak data sheet to their film, if it was not basically a Kodak film.

It remains the question, is this a local, is this a temporary rebranding?

 

[foc]

I would still like to see a side by side comparison of processed negative strips of the new Fuji 200 and Gold 200.
Can anyone provide that?

 

[BradS]

Does it really matter? Even a tiny bit? If so, why?

I mean, geeez….it’s just another consumer grade color print film. Buy a box or a three pack, try it. If you like it use it. If not, don’t. Why all the hand wringing and gnashing of teeth ????

 

[Ten301]

Does it really matter? Even a tiny bit? If so, why?

I mean, geeez….it’s just another consumer grade color print film.

Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but there are not many consumer grade color print films left, so when “just another” one possibly disappears, it does matter.

Kodak and Fuji, that’s it. And the latter, despite lukewarm pronouncements, doesn’t seem too committed to film. Given its past behavior and lack of communication, if Fuji announced tomorrow that it was discontinuing every remaining film it manufactures and pulling out of analog altogether, could anyone here say they would be truly surprised?

So yes, this is a big deal. I prefer Gold 200’s color palette over Fuji C200, but that’s just me. Others have different preferences. The film photography world will be a pretty boring place if, in the end, the only choice we have is Portra.

 

[MattKing]

I think it actually might be a good sign.
Would Fuji bother if they were intending to not make a 200 ISO colour negative film in the future?
Everything is disrupted right now. This seems like a stopgap measure, not a business plan.

 

[brbo]

I am sitting on a 44-roll stash of Fuji 400H Pro and my other set of crossed fingers is waiting for re-introduction of that emulsion before I run out.

Jump ahead of Fuji, buy Ultramax 400 and put it in your empty 400H boxes.

 

[Don_ih]

It seems like it's either a temporary move, since they are likely having supply issues due to current reality, or they are no longer able to fruitfully manufacture the film themselves, also due to current reality. Yes, film sells. But they may not be able to produce at the rate which remains profitable. Like Kodak, all their machinery was made to manufacture miles of the stuff.
Also, all their people are busy making cosmetics.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I think it actually might be a good sign.
Would Fuji bother if they were intending to not make a 200 ISO colour negative film in the future?
Everything is disrupted right now. This seems like a stopgap measure, not a business plan.

I'd agree - and it may well be that the Kodak product had other benefits in the immediate term (environmental compliance?).

 

[brbo]

I also see this as an extremely effective way to keep Kodak Alaris' markup policy in check. Imagine Fuji reintroducing the "new" 400H Pro (Portra 400) and managing to keep it at 25% less than Portra 400 (as it currently seems to be the case of C200 vs Gold 200). Eastman Kodak would still earn the same (or even more) per meter of film produced by supplying Fuji instead of/in addition to Alaris. And if Fuji is doing confectioning in-house, Eastman Kodak can keep the coater running without clogging their confectioning line.

 

[Agulliver]

It seems like it's either a temporary move, since they are likely having supply issues due to current reality, or they are no longer able to fruitfully manufacture the film themselves, also due to current reality. Yes, film sells. But they may not be able to produce at the rate which remains profitable. Like Kodak, all their machinery was made to manufacture miles of the stuff.
Also, all their people are busy making cosmetics.

Or Instax film....

Perhaps I am an optimist, but I see this as Fuji wanting to retain a presence in the market during a time when they're unable to actually manufacture much C41 film. Perhaps riding out the pandemic as best they can and hoping to manufacture more colour film products in a couple of years time.

If they really wanted out, they'd simply exit. Temporarily offering a rebadged product under their name keeps the Fuji brand in minds during these turbulent times.

 

[BradS]

I too see it as an extremely good sign for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Arcadia4]

Interestingly the revised package pictures indicate that kodak are almost certainly doing the confectioning, the revised film catridges have kodak ‘landscape’ markings compared to fuji standard ‘portrait’ orientation.

I agree with sentiments above thats its a good sign fuji are willing to set historic rivalry aside to stay in the film market

 

[spark]

Note that the product in question is labeled "FUJIFILM 200", not Fujicolor 200.

 

[MattKing]

Note that the product in question is labeled "FUJIFILM 200", not Fujicolor 200.

And has both French and Spanish (I think) writing on the boxes.

 

[AgX]

Note that the product in question is labeled "FUJIFILM 200", not Fujicolor 200.

Interesting observation, this difference already showed up at the datasheets, but I overlooked it...

And has both French and Spanish (I think) writing on the boxes.

Which may be seen as another hint at the Americas. Or just something of being international...

 

[cmacd123]

Which may be seen as another hint at the Americas. Or just something of being international...

English and French markings are required in the Canadian market, English and often Spanish is found in the USA market, and of course Spanish is required in the Mexican Market. Most of south America is Spanish except for Brazil. for the european market one would expect English French German and Italian I would expect. (and perhaps Spanish.)

 

[AgX]

The Kodak made Fuji 200 CN film now has arrived at german retail.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I don't want to start rumors but with first Acros being made by Ilford, then this, and they seem to "discontinue' films when they run out. I wonder if they are even making film anymore? Maybe they did a Polaroid. Made a bunch then put it on ice so to speak. They are now running out and nothing new seems to be coming from them, pandemic or not. Gotta wonder. Then there is the comment I read recently by someone at Kodak who said they are pretty much the last remaining manufacturer of color film. I'm hoping it isn't true.

By the way, there is no color film by me except for I saw a multi pack of Kodak at a Walgreens for $30. I think they were 24 exposure rolls too. Ouch.

 

[MattKing]

Then there is the comment I read recently by someone at Kodak who said they are pretty much the last remaining manufacturer of color film. I'm hoping it isn't true.

A more accurate description might be that, with the exception of Instax, Eastman Kodak may be the only one who is currently manufacturing colour film.
We are living in times of tremendous disruption. There are many things not happening now that may resume in the future.