Velvia, Does it make sense for me??

[Trail Images]

the way that they run their company it seems that there isn't really "room" for any kind of negotiating or offering them a bulk purchase, it's hard enough to even get information for the reps, let alone actually talking to somebody at the company and striking a deal for a bulk purchase.

Of course you're correct Stone, I recall our pleading during the petition drive. Although being cordial & professional about the issue at the time, it really did fall on deaf ears in the end.
Additionally, any communication between Fuji Japan and Fuji USA seems totally disconnected. So, sadly it is what it is and apparently no change seen going forward.

 

[StoneNYC]

Thank you! It looks pretty bare in the 400H department so that's a concern for me. I really want to shoot 15-20 rolls of that film. I could go get my own stock and bring it to Japan, but that would necessitate a trip across town and take 2-3 hours. I'd rather get my own there if possible. Maybe I'll bring more Astia than I originally planned, just in case I can't get the 400H that I want.

It's my suspicion that 400H is the next to go... They not only stopped making it in 8x10 they removed it from 4x5 as well, they at least kept Velvia50 in 4x5 in Japan...And even kodak still makes 4x5 Portra in both 160 and 400.

So 400H must be soon to go. Good luck!

 

[RattyMouse]

It's my suspicion that 400H is the next to go... They not only stopped making it in 8x10 they removed it from 4x5 as well, they at least kept Velvia50 in 4x5 in Japan...And even kodak still makes 4x5 Portra in both 160 and 400.

So 400H must be soon to go. Good luck!

You could be right, but I find it almost impossible to believe that Fujifilm would exit the color negative market for 120 film. I dearly hope that this does not come to pass. I'll up my consumption to 20 rolls this trip to try to help them out.

 

[StoneNYC]

You could be right, but I find it almost impossible to believe that Fujifilm would exit the color negative market for 120 film. I dearly hope that this does not come to pass. I'll up my consumption to 20 rolls this trip to try to help them out.

They may also have been holding out for kodak to fold, now that kodak has partnered with lomography that probably won't happen so now everything is up in the air.

 

[mnemosyne]

Film availability in Kyoto

Yodobashi / Multimedia Kyoto (just opposite the north side of Kyoto station right next to Kyoto tower); from Gion (depending on your exact location) it's either better to take the city bus or the subway from Sanjo Keihan. You go to Karasuma Oike on the Tozai line and change their on the Karasuma line wich takes you to Kyoto station.

You can check through Yodobashi's website if a film is in stock at a certain location or not, but you will have to be able to display/read Japanese. Right now they have remaining stock of 400NH in 120 format in Kyoto, but only "little" 残少

In a pinch:
"Camera no Naniwa"
on Shijo on the right hand side somewhere between Kawaramachi and Imadegawa, about 10 minute to walk from Gion. They are a camera dealer with a lot of used stuff (worth a visit) but usually have some limited supplies of film also.

OR (probably better to purchase film ...)

there is a nice camera shop on Kawaramachi, unfortunately I cannot tell you the name right now, on the right hand side when you walk from Shijo to Sanjo, also about 10 minutes walk from Gion, very friendly people, again a lot of used stuff (also medium/large format) and also some basic supplies of film

 

[RattyMouse]

Yodobashi / Multimedia Kyoto (just opposite the north side of Kyoto station right next to Kyoto tower); from Gion (depending on your exact location) it's either better to take the city bus or the subway from Sanjo Keihan. You go to Karasuma Oike on the Tozai line and change their on the Karasuma line wich takes you to Kyoto station.

You can check through Yodobashi's website if a film is in stock at a certain location or not, but you will have to be able to display/read Japanese. Right now they have remaining stock of 400NH in 120 format in Kyoto, but only "little" 残少

Did you mean 400H or is there really a film called 400NH? I'm not sure I know all of Fuji's Japanese films so I'm not sure if there even is a film called 400NH.

Bic camera sells film, right? I can't remember if they do or not.

 

[mnemosyne]

Did you mean 400H or is there really a film called 400NH? I'm not sure I know all of Fuji's Japanese films so I'm not sure if there even is a film called 400NH.

Bic camera sells film, right? I can't remember if they do or not.

sorry, that was a typo by me. It should be 400H of course. I am about to hop on a plane this morning, but I hope to find the time to send you the instructions for the off the beaten track walk in Higashiyama/Okazaki.

Oh, and in the first post, the directions to Camera no Naniwa, it should read "between Kawaramachi and Karasuma", Imadegawa is elsewhere...

 

[mooseontheloose]

Did you mean 400H or is there really a film called 400NH? I'm not sure I know all of Fuji's Japanese films so I'm not sure if there even is a film called 400NH.

Bic camera sells film, right? I can't remember if they do or not.

In Kyoto? No. Bic Camera seems to have abandoned the film/paper market altogether here. The Osaka branch has a very small selection, but if you were going to Osaka for film, then the Yodobashi there would be better.


Yodobashi Osaka branch, November 2014

 

[DREW WILEY]

When color printing I'm a lot more nitpicky about the film base than the emulsion per se. For example, some Fuji sheet films were mfg on
dimensionally-stable polyester base, while others were on inferior acetate, which would get out of registration with the printing masks. I've
never particularly liked any kind of Velvia for printing Ciba, but did successfully use it numerous times. Post-Ciba I've switched to color neg,
and the combination of Ektar film and Fujiflex Supergoss "paper" gives me a very similar look to Ciba, but easier to print.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Ok. Forget about what I said about Bic. I think I dismissed them early on because they had such a lacklustre variety compared to Yodobashi. But I was just there and they have a few rolls of Delta 3200 and XP2 but nothing else (400h in 35mm only, I forgot to check TMAX400). I'm at Yodobashi now. They have about 4 5-packs of 400H and TMAX400. Six rolls of 3200 and no XP2. That's 120 size.
Yodobashi
Bic

 

[RattyMouse]

Thank you Moose. Looks like Kyoto's film stock is pretty awful compared to Tokyo. I dont see any TMAX400 in your pic. I was planning on that being my primary black and white film.

They sure have tons of E-6 available. I really wonder how much longer Fujifilm is going to make those films. Not much sales there.

 

[mooseontheloose]

No worries. I know what it's like to worry about film stocks when travelling. It's really disappointing to see how decimated the film cooler is compared to when I first moved here 8 months ago. I think they must keep a very short supply of stock -- but why I don't know. Before my trip to Borneo this summer I wanted some Tri-X or HP5+ and they were completely sold out. For weeks. Yet I could have next-day delivery from the online store. It doesn't make any sense.

I just hope they continue to stock a variety of films, and not just Fuji, which is what smaller chains (like Camera no Kitajima) and stores tend to do. Even though I mostly shoot black and white, I'm glad that slide film is readily available, and that when I go to get it developed I'm asked if I want Fuji or Kodak processing. Not sure how long that will last though.

As for the 400H, assuming the 4 5-packs are still there when you arrive in Kyoto, that would give you 20 rolls to shoot with, plus 20 more with TMAX 400.

 

[RattyMouse]

Thanks again Moose. Maybe film sales are so good during this peak time that supplies are low? One can hope that this is the reason. I am thinking to buy all my film here in China. That means a 2 hour journey tomorrow that I wasnt expecting but I have to be absolutely sure that I have the film that I want. This trip is too important to take chances. On the plus side, I think I'll pick up a box of Reala and shoot that one more time. Such a great film. Not much of it left sadly.

I should not worry about my film getting scanned twice by airports. I've done it lots of times without any effect.

 

[mnemosyne]

They had a notice on display at Yodobashi recently that supply of Kodak films is sketchy at the moment. However, when I was there Kodak films seemed to be generally available in all formats.
Also, if you plan to shoot Tmax 400 you might consider bringing it from China, as it (as well as Trix) has become VERY expensive in Japan, at least at Yodobashi. It is double the price of Tmax 100, around 4.000 Yen for a box of five rolls. I assume it has to do with the weak Yen and the lack of competition after Neopan's demise.
Oh, and be careful when it seems that a film is out of stock at Yodobashi. There was no HP5 in 35mm on the shelves there the other day and I asked one of the sales guys there and he confiremd that they had no stock. Later, when I stood at the cashier, where they stored the "actual film" (on the shelves they have just empty dummy boxes), voilà, plenty of HP5 in 35mm lying around in the refrigerator there. Same with Portra 800. Nothing on the shelf, but lots of it in the fridge behind the cashier.

I am off the plane now and will write you a PM shortly.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I agree with mnemosyne - the Kodak films are expensive - I was a little shocked when I looked at the prices. However, the boxes I told you about where what was in the refrigerator, not the empty boxes on the shelf (with the exception of single rolls, which are only kept on the shelf). However, I didn't think they would appreciate me taking photos of it behind the counter!

 

[StoneNYC]

Ok. Forget about what I said about Bic. I think I dismissed them early on because they had such a lacklustre variety compared to Yodobashi. But I was just there and they have a few rolls of Delta 3200 and XP2 but nothing else (400h in 35mm only, I forgot to check TMAX400). I'm at Yodobashi now. They have about 4 5-packs of 400H and TMAX400. Six rolls of 3200 and no XP2. That's 120 size.
View attachment 99021 Yodobashi
View attachment 99022 Bic

Question...

In America, those kinds of shows are usually reserved for refrigeration in supermarkets, and they use different shelving for regular store stock, my question is are those films being refrigerated?

Also it's amazing to me that these stores even exist, they have nothing like this where I live, even at the biggest photo supplier in the country B&H Photo doesn't have shelving that are so beautiful and full stuck in this manner, they are fully stocked, but they don't have the display like this.

Very cool!

I wish I could get Velvia50 in 8x10 and Acros100 in 8x10 and not worry it will be the "last batch" crazy what the world has become, just when I get into the best part of my film career and they take away my favorite films...

 

[mnemosyne]

I agree with mnemosyne - the Kodak films are expensive - I was a little shocked when I looked at the prices. However, the boxes I told you about where what was in the refrigerator, not the empty boxes on the shelf (with the exception of single rolls, which are only kept on the shelf). However, I didn't think they would appreciate me taking photos of it behind the counter!

Sorry for the confusion, I was talking about the situation at Yodobashi Osaka/Umeda, not in Kyoto. There they have no client accessible film fridges, only the dummy boxes. You have to take the dummy boxes to the cashier and there you get the real thing. This is where you might be tricked into thinking that a certain film is out of stock, when you see an empty shelf. It seems that the situation is a bit different from store to store.

In regard to the Kodak prices I found that thanks to the weak Yen they are generally in line with the prices in Germany (although the VAT rates are dramatically different), so I didn't find them objectionable. The exceptions are Tri-X and Tmax 400 which are double the price of Tmax 100 and also roughly double the price of what you would pay here in Germany. Of course I have no idea what Rattymouse would pay for the same film in Shanghai.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Question...

In America, those kinds of shows are usually reserved for refrigeration in supermarkets, and they use different shelving for regular store stock, my question is are those films being refrigerated?

Also it's amazing to me that these stores even exist, they have nothing like this where I live, even at the biggest photo supplier in the country B&H Photo doesn't have shelving that are so beautiful and full stuck in this manner, they are fully stocked, but they don't have the display like this.

Very cool!

I wish I could get Velvia50 in 8x10 and Acros100 in 8x10 and not worry it will be the "last batch" crazy what the world has become, just when I get into the best part of my film career and they take away my favorite films...

Stone,

These refrigerated shelves are pretty common (or used to be) in Japanese photo shops. Even mom and pop shops might have a small cooler (bar fridge size) somewhere in the store. The stores I used to frequent would have 2 or 3 coolers, now most are down just to one, if any. Usually the five-packs and large format films are empty boxes on the shelf, you have to take the box to the counter to get the actual product (same goes for some papers, especially large sizes, but of course they're not refrigerated). But single rolls are available to grab right out of the cooler. Interestingly, it's impossible to buy Ilford products in any kind of pro pack (Fuji and Kodak yes). Not sure why. In Japan you rarely get much of deal buying in bulk, but since I would buy a lot of Ilford it would be frustrating to have 50 individual boxes in my shopping basket. Not complaining though - very happy to have it around.

If you haven't seen this website, it gives you a good idea of what the Yodobashi (Shinjuku I think) in Tokyo used to look like, up until a couple of years ago. The last time I was there it was down to one long cooler against the wall (but still fully stocked).

 

[RattyMouse]

I struck out big time today, wasting 2 hours going across town to buy film. No 400H, no TMAX400, no TMAX100. All four film stores were 100% out of stock.

Very, very disappointing.

 

[mooseontheloose]

That sucks Ratty. Although I guess in the larger picture that means people are buying film!

I'm sure however you'll find most of what you need (if not exactly what you want) in Kyoto unless your bad luck follows you here. Unfortunately we don't shoot the same film stock otherwise I may have been able to help you out. Just go to Yodobashi and Bic once you arrive in Kyoto (I'm assuming on the train) - both are right next to the station. Film is on the first floor in Yodobashi, second floor in Bic (in both cases against or near the back wall). If you have any problems feel free to send me a pm.

 

[RattyMouse]

That sucks Ratty. Although I guess in the larger picture that means people are buying film!

I'm sure however you'll find most of what you need (if not exactly what you want) in Kyoto unless your bad luck follows you here. Unfortunately we don't shoot the same film stock otherwise I may have been able to help you out. Just go to Yodobashi and Bic once you arrive in Kyoto (I'm assuming on the train) - both are right next to the station. Film is on the first floor in Yodobashi, second floor in Bic (in both cases against or near the back wall). If you have any problems feel free to send me a pm.

Thanks Moose. I'll check out those stores. I know them well from my last trip to Kyoto. I stayed at the New Miyako hotel last time which is right near that area. Sadly, I get in near midnight so will have to come to the area the next day. My hotel this time is closer to Gion.

 

[StoneNYC]

Stone,

These refrigerated shelves are pretty common (or used to be) in Japanese photo shops. Even mom and pop shops might have a small cooler (bar fridge size) somewhere in the store. The stores I used to frequent would have 2 or 3 coolers, now most are down just to one, if any. Usually the five-packs and large format films are empty boxes on the shelf, you have to take the box to the counter to get the actual product (same goes for some papers, especially large sizes, but of course they're not refrigerated). But single rolls are available to grab right out of the cooler. Interestingly, it's impossible to buy Ilford products in any kind of pro pack (Fuji and Kodak yes). Not sure why. In Japan you rarely get much of deal buying in bulk, but since I would buy a lot of Ilford it would be frustrating to have 50 individual boxes in my shopping basket. Not complaining though - very happy to have it around.

If you haven't seen this website, it gives you a good idea of what the Yodobashi (Shinjuku I think) in Tokyo used to look like, up until a couple of years ago. The last time I was there it was down to one long cooler against the wall (but still fully stocked).

Thanks, just so you know Ilford doesn't make Propac's anymore, they decided that it was just more cost-effective to make the individual boxes and people could buy what they wanted to, and it cut out an additional packaging products, simplify the line. Makes sense.

 

[mnemosyne]

I struck out big time today, wasting 2 hours going across town to buy film. No 400H, no TMAX400, no TMAX100. All four film stores were 100% out of stock.

Very, very disappointing.

It is possible to order film for local pick up in a Yodobashi shop through their online shop. I have never done this, but did want to let you know as a possible way to make sure that you will have "your" film available when you arrive in Kyoto. You will have to create an account in their online shop and I assume they don't have an English version of their site, so their might be obstacles involved in your case.

 

[RattyMouse]

Well, just to bring a close to this little saga, I was able to buy my 400H and TMAX400 here in Kyoto. The funny thing about this is that the light here is, as mentioned in this thread long ago, not very suited to ISO50. At 1 pm I was shooting 400 speed film just to keep my shutter speeds up. I'm not sure how much Velvia 50 I'll get a chance to shoot! I do have a few rolls so hopefully some.

On a down side, the film display here at Yodobashi is a shell of its former self. Last time I was in Kyoto 3 years ago, there was 3 times as much film on display in a much larger area.