velvia 50 experation date question

[OrientPoint]

I think Fuji is doing with their E-6 and C-41 films what they did with their instant films earlier in this decade. They stop making the product, tear down production, but don't announce that fact until stocks are relatively low and close to the last expiration dates. Now it's these roll films that are already discontinued and never coming back. Buy what you need now knowing that maybe there will be product with expiration dates a few months (not years) younger than what you can get now, but that's it.

With FP3000b (ISO 3200 black and white instant) they announced discontinuance in 2013, with just about every "last" pack having a 2015 expiration date. Boxes were expiration dated fours years from production, so the bulk of what they were selling at discontinuance had been made two years earlier, in 2011. A few boxes dribbled out with 2016 and 2017 dates (2012 and 2013 production), which I would assume was them burning off stocks of chemicals.

With FP100c (ISO 100 color instant) they announced discontinuance in 2016 and the latest boxes seem to be 2018 expiration. I think FP100c is also 4 years from production to expiration, which implies they pulled the plug on it in 2014, more than a year before they announced anything. The timing also explains why when approached about selling the production equipment to another entity they just shrugged and shook their head. You can't sell what you no longer have.

I have a mini-stash of E-6 and Acros 100. I'll enjoy it while it lasts and pray Kodak stays in business. Kodak is the only other company that can produce stock comparable with Fuji.

 

[GarageBoy]

Fuji not announcing anything until the film is long gone seems to be the trend... Use it while you can, and consider it a gift that it's available after you expect it to be

 

[xtolsniffer]

It's amazing that given the number of people who must be involved in the Fuji E6 film production cycle from raw materials supply through to packaging the final product, that no-one leaks information of whether it's still running or not. Some security services must be envious of how little inside information is disseminated from inside this company.

 

[ITD]

It's amazing that given the number of people who must be involved in the Fuji E6 film production cycle from raw materials supply through to packaging the final product, that no-one leaks information of whether it's still running or not. Some security services must be envious of how little inside information is disseminated from inside this company.

Where would they leak it? If they came on here and couldn’t provide evidence from 'official' sources, they wouldn’t be believed.

 

[railwayman3]

It's amazing that given the number of people who must be involved in the Fuji E6 film production cycle from raw materials supply through to packaging the final product, that no-one leaks information of whether it's still running or not. Some security services must be envious of how little inside information is disseminated from inside this company.

Maybe......but has anyone any reason to leak the info. It's not unusual for staff to have confidentiality clauses in their contracts, but, in any event, the discontinuation of one particular product is probably no big deal to an average worker at most businesses.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I'm confused. Should I stock up on Velvia 50 120 or not?

 

[xtolsniffer]

Where I work it doesn't seem possible to keep anything secret for more than 15 minutes....

 

[MattKing]

Where I work it doesn't seem possible to keep anything secret for more than 15 minutes....

You work at the White House????

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I'm confused. Should I stock up on Velvia 50 120 or not?

No. Just use and replenish any and all E6 films at a steady pace.

 

[1kgcoffee]

I'm confused. Should I stock up on Velvia 50 120 or not?

If you like it, stock up now. There will be no time after an announcement. You know how popular artists sell out venues in minutes after the tickets are online? That's what will happen to Velvia. You'll still be able to get it, but at a steep premium.

Any Fuji film you like should be stocked up on as Fuji has already discontinued large format and pro packs for many films. There is only consolidation in the future.

 

[B.S.Kumar]

Film is now a very small part of Fujifilm's business. Over the last one year, Velvia 50 has been out of stock intermittently at almost all the distributors from whom I purchase film to fulfill my orders. Last year I had a 6 week wait for the 8x10 format. 120 and 135 are generally available easily. Shipping of 4x5 is occasionally delayed. All the Velvia I have sold in the last couple of months have had expiration dates of early 2020. I would recommend steady purchases over a period of time, so that you build up stock.

Kumar

 

[xtolsniffer]

You work at the White House????

Oh no, we don't have unresticted access to our Twitter account...

 

[braxus]

I too read Fuji scrapped their film production machinery a while back and what we are seeing is the remaining stock running out. Velvia 50 is my favorite film of theirs, so I guess I better order up some more rolls of it.

 

[B.S.Kumar]

I too read Fuji scrapped their film production machinery a while back and what we are seeing is the remaining stock running out. Velvia 50 is my favorite film of theirs, so I guess I better order up some more rolls of it.

Let me know if you'd like to buy!

Kumar

 

[RattyMouse]

Is Fuji's version of "Building 38" being demolished now?

 

[braxus]

It was just a rumour I read guys, so don't take it as gospel. But it would explain why things at Fuji are happening as they are.