Outlook for Fujifilm fp100c?

[mehguy]

Does anyone think the fp100c is gonna be discontinued soon? The 3000b and 100c 4x5 was already discontinued, is fp100c gonna be around for much longer?

 

[vdonovan]

It's hard to get information out of Fujifilm because they are HUGE and, as the West Coast Fujifilm rep told me last year, "they don't even know that they are in the film business." Film is such a small part of their business it doesn't even appear as a line item in their financial statements.

Regarding instant film, he believed that the vast majority of the consumption of FP-100c is for passport and visa photos in developing countries. Amateur photographic use in the US and Europe is tiny compared to the passport and visa business. Over time, who knows when, these smaller countries will convert to digital and stop using FP-100c. When that happens, Fuji will end production, according to the Fujifilm rep that I talked to. There won't be enough amateur use in the US and Europe to keep it going, and it sort of competes with their own very successful instant film product, Instax.

So, not any time soon, but eventually. I would guess within 4-5 years.

 

[ValoPeikko]

Time to stockpile then.. Which is something I would hate to do as I don't own a "expendable" fridge to fill with film (at least yet). I would hate to see it go as for me Fuji FP-100C is non-replaceable part of my workflow for some works. Reclaiming negatives and scanning them gives results which are very hard to come by using either 4x5 nor using digital. Or at least it would take much more work to get to the end product.

Currently I'm working on a book illustrations which use only FP-100C as material. If in few years this material would be gone, I'd be sorry to say I couldn't do a sequel nor to do anything similar.

 

[mehguy]

It's hard to get information out of Fujifilm because they are HUGE and, as the West Coast Fujifilm rep told me last year, "they don't even know that they are in the film business." Film is such a small part of their business it doesn't even appear as a line item in their financial statements.

Regarding instant film, he believed that the vast majority of the consumption of FP-100c is for passport and visa photos in developing countries. Amateur photographic use in the US and Europe is tiny compared to the passport and visa business. Over time, who knows when, these smaller countries will convert to digital and stop using FP-100c. When that happens, Fuji will end production, according to the Fujifilm rep that I talked to. There won't be enough amateur use in the US and Europe to keep it going, and it sort of competes with their own very successful instant film product, Instax.

So, not any time soon, but eventually. I would guess within 4-5 years.

4-5 years seems a bit short. I believe developing countries will be on this film for the next 10-15 years. Why replace something if it aint broken?

 

[analoguey]

Met a fujifilm rep At a trade show last week. He didn't know they made peel apart instant film - this when they're promoting the instax range there!
I told him about the FP100C and asked that they also sell that in India. Got the response that they don't have it, so I took the time to explain what it was, size and how good it looked. Also explained how it's sold elsewhere and I have to import it - when Fuji can sell it as a side thing w Instax range.
He has promised to get back, but I'm still waiting.


(for my money, instax has *horrible* metering and colors)

 

[AgX]

What does "horrible metering" mean?

 

[analoguey]

What does "horrible metering" mean?

Should've mentioned that I was referring to the camera on metering. The film itself doesn't have the pop that I see in fp100c.

On the couple of pics snapped there Light Green turned out as a wicked mix of brown and green and less said about skin tone reproduction the better. (instax wide, the camera was called, I think)

 

[mehguy]

Met a fujifilm rep At a trade show last week. He didn't know they made peel apart instant film - this when they're promoting the instax range there!
I told him about the FP100C and asked that they also sell that in India. Got the response that they don't have it, so I took the time to explain what it was, size and how good it looked. Also explained how it's sold elsewhere and I have to import it - when Fuji can sell it as a side thing w Instax range.
He has promised to get back, but I'm still waiting.


(for my money, instax has *horrible* metering and colors)

So basically, half of fujifilm's executives dont even know they make money off of film?

 

[nwilkins]

Hey ValoPeikko, just want to make sure you know that the FP100C shouldn't be frozen. Would hate to see you buy a ton and then ruin it all. It will be hard to stockpile a lot for this reason. The FP3000b (sadly just discontinued) can however be frozen.

 

[ValoPeikko]

I know That's why fridge, not freezer. But yes it's a problem since it doesn't last too long even there. I've heard that it gets dry over time, haven't witnessed it my self since I only shop for small amounts (like ten boxes or so) which are gone pretty quickly. Oh well, when it's gone it's gone. But I would hate to see that day coming. Specially since it has quite unique qualities which are pain to get by any other means (combination of large negative size, wicked colours and relatively easy post processing). Besides I have no interest to do C41 nor E6 in sheet size at home.

 

[nwilkins]

yeah it's just that as you said it will be hard to stockpile it for any length of time. i am so sad about fp3000b

 

[analoguey]

Update on this:

Met a fujifilm rep At a trade show last week. He didn't know they made peel apart instant film(fp100c) - this when they're promoting the instax range there!
I told him about the FP100C and asked that they also sell that in India.
He has promised to get back, but I'm still waiting.

I got a call from another Fuji rep who was quite happy to know that there are active film shooters in India - and those who like shooting fp100c too. He told me as someone else mentioned that because no one shoots passports with film anymore, fp100c lost out a few years ago in India - and seemingly didnt have enough Amateur market to sell it.
He has said he would try arranging for some of the fp100c to be available, so waiting to hear back from him!

Should've mentioned that I was referring to the camera on metering. The film itself doesn't have the pop that I see in fp100c.

On the couple of pics snapped there Light Green turned out as a wicked mix of brown and green and less said about skin tone reproduction the better. (instax wide, the camera was called, I think)

This should have this caveat: All this while it was shot indoors in bad fluorescent lighting - it could very well be good in daylight, but metering for florescent light indoors was off. So probably the Fujifilm show folks should have had better lighting in their stalls!

 

[EdSawyer]

Fp100C is fantastic and hopefully it sticks around a while. I have a stockpile of FP100C45 that I will be using up over the next couple years, it's a shame that is no longer available, also I miss FP100B in both sizes. :-/

 

[nwilkins]

it seems like every other type of polaroid film is getting remade these days. I wonder if someone will try and revive the peel apart film someday. would love to see the black and white come back. but it might not happen until after Fuji officially discontinues FP100c?

 

[vdonovan]

it seems like every other type of polaroid film is getting remade these days. I wonder if someone will try and revive the peel apart film someday. would love to see the black and white come back. but it might not happen until after Fuji officially discontinues FP100c?

It would take a major miracle to revive peel-apart film. Fujifilm has the only remaining machinery on the planet for production of peel-apart film (Polaroid's was destroyed after their bankruptcy). Who knows what will happen to this machinery when Fujifilm stops production. I can't imagine it would be worth the investment to restart production for such a tiny market.

The Impossible Project pulled it off, of course (or are at least they haven't gone broke yet), but the potential market for integral films is much larger, and the cost of manufacture is much lower than for peel-apart film.

 

[EdSawyer]

Hopefully Fuji does the smart thing and keeps the machines going! No sense worrying about restarting it when they have a well-sorted setup already cranking it out. If anything, they should promote it more, restart the 4x5 line and keep things rolling. ;-)

 

[analoguey]

Speaking to the Fuji rep it seemed to me that the problem isn't actually supply but logistics, by that I mean the network - retail and distribution between the manufacturer and customer. Like an army marching on its stomach, this seems to be killing more usage of film than the lack of current demand. Imho.

 

[nwilkins]

yes vdonovan I know - I can't imagine anyone being able to revive it but I can keep hoping!

 

[AgX]

, and the cost of manufacture is much lower than for peel-apart film.

Integral films are the technically more complicated films.

 

[vdonovan]

Integral films are the technically more complicated films.

I think you are certainly right. Victor McElheny's biography of Edwin Land talks a lot about the invention of the integral films. Among the goals was to use chemistry (the opacifying layer) to simplify the mechanical complexity of instant film. With no individual paper components, the film could be made on a coating line, with no mechanical assembly required. This made it cheaper to manufacture and less prone to malfunction.

 

[AgX]

You cannot make integral film in one coating pass. It is very complex in its design and still in its manufacture.

 

[analoguey]

Is integral Film The peel off fp 100c or the developing out instax?

 

[AgX]

"Integral film" at instant photography means a film where negative and positive part form an encapsuled package, with automated ceasing of development. Amongst others it means Instax films.

 

[analoguey]

I see, thanks!
Reg instax , I only speak from one demo - but there doesn't seem to be a negative part/output of the process

 

[Ektagraphic]

I don't have the answer to any of this, but I know one thing. FP-100C is a fantastic, nearly magical analog product, and I hope that it stays away for very many years to come. I find so much deep enjoyment and satisfaction in being able to use my peel apart type Polaroid cameras. These small prints document so many parts of my life so nicely. It is my hope Fuji is able to make a bit of cash enough from production to remain satisfied, or perhaps an executive has a liking for peel apart or some sort of saving grace! I have often wondered though, if there is a connection with any other products, as when some of the Fuji Black and White products were discontinued, we lost FP-3000B...They need to get the negative for the pack films from some place....That's just thoughts, no fact.