What is going on with Fujifilm Velvia and Provia availability?

[armadsen]

At the current exchange rate, that's slightly cheaper than in the US. B&H lists 35mm Provia at $35.95, which is €30.29 right now. Velvia 50 in 120 is $75.95 (€63.98), but they haven't had it in stock for months.

 

[Dr. no]

I’m heading to Japan next month…any recent first-hand news n film availability and pricing there?

 

[mshchem]

I have quite a bit of Fujichrome in stock. If I had a wish it would be Velvia 100 in 120.

 

[brbo]

I’m heading to Japan next month…any recent first-hand news n film availability and pricing there?

In bigger cities you can easily find a place that sells film, they have a wide selection. Prices similar or 10-20% more expensive than in Europe. You can't buy more than 2 or 3 rolls of Fuji film at a time.

 

[armadsen]

Provia in 4x5 has just come in stock at one of my local stores for the second time in the last 2 or 3 weeks. I randomly checked B&H just now, and they have it in 35mm. The last time I got it from B&H was about 4 weeks ago. The local store I frequent most has had Provia in 35mm the last few times I've been there, too. I wonder if supply is loosening up just a little bit?

 

[ChrisGalway]

I just ordered 2 boxes of Provia 100f in 120 size from Retro in the EU. No idea of the expiry date, will update when I get them in 7-10 days time.

 

[miha]

@armadsen Would you mind sharing the expiration date on the Provia you got from B&H?

 

[armadsen]

@armadsen Would you mind sharing the expiration date on the Provia you got from B&H?

It’s in the freezer with other rolls, but I believe it was 09/2027.

 

[miha]

It’s in the freezer with other rolls, but I believe it was 09/2027.

Thanks. My past experience buying Fujichrome was similar, usually around a year and a half before expiration. I always thought that was a bit short. I seem to remember that slide films back in their heyday often had longer shelf lives, if I’m not mistaken.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

About to head off to Big Town (and methinks in a hurry...) to collect two packs of RVP50 in 120, both with an expiry of 01/2027; I anticipate one pack will definitely be consumed next month, the other will go into deep freeze storage.

Have not seen any Fujifilm here Downunder with 9/2027 expiry as mentioned in this thread — all considerably earlier stock.

 

[abruzzi]

Last weekend I bought 2 boxes of 4x5 Provia from Badger Graphic. They had more and they had it in 8x10 as well, but not for long. I got a bit worried because it took them a bit to ship, but they got it in the mail yesterday, so I'm good. I wasn't looking for it and haven't been, but I stumbled across it while pricing an 8x10 wide angle bellows for my Canham, so I couldn't help myself..

 

[armadsen]

Regarding 120 Fujichrome, which I haven't seen in stock for a long time now (unlike sheet and 35mm), I've had a backorder at Adorama for some pro packs of Provia in 120 since June, 2024. They send an email every few weeks saying it's still on backorder. Today I got this email (emphasis mine):

Thank you for placing an order with Adorama.

Regarding the following item:

Item Number FJRDP31205 - FUJICHRM PROVIA RDP-III 100F 120 5-PACK

We were notified by the manufacturer that the product you ordered will
not be available for another few months, therefore we are canceling
your backorder. Please check with us at a later date to see if it is available and reorder at that time.

Might just be boilerplate, but anyway, it's new.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Keep kicking the dead horse. You never know.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

Regarding 120 Fujichrome, which I haven't seen in stock for a long time now (unlike sheet and 35mm), I've had a backorder at Adorama for some pro packs of Provia in 120 since June, 2024. They send an email every few weeks saying it's still on backorder. Today I got this email (emphasis mine):



Might just be boilerplate, but anyway, it's new.

In the absence of availability of RDPIII, you could substitute Ektachrome 100 — it is a more versatile emulsion with an interesting palette that can be modulated in strength. Provia is now a dated emulsion and while it is favoured for its natural rendition of nature (particularly) and push-pull characteristics, along with being reciprocity-free at very long exposure , in many applications it has been overtaken by E100. Mind you, neither Kodak or Fuji's offerings are reasonable in price now, and foretold price rises later this month could tip yet more dedicated users off E6.

 

[armadsen]

In the absence of availability of RDPIII, you could substitute Ektachrome 100 — it is a more versatile emulsion with an interesting palette that can be modulated in strength. Provia is now a dated emulsion and while it is favoured for its natural rendition of nature (particularly) and push-pull characteristics, along with being reciprocity-free at very long exposure , in many applications it has been overtaken by E100. Mind you, neither Kodak or Fuji's offerings are reasonable in price now, and foretold price rises later this month could tip yet more dedicated users off E6.

I have shot Ektachrome a fair amount. I strongly prefer Provia. Personally, I have years worth of frozen Velvia and Provia, so so far the infrequent supply hasn’t caused a problem for me. I post here because the whole story around Fuji and their weird film marketing and distribution these days is interesting.

 

[loccdor]

Velvia and Provia work very well with milkier vintage lenses due to their extra punch. I could see the more neutral and subdued E100 pulling ahead with very contrasty modern lenses, and Sensia works well with those too. I'd guess I have 5 years worth of Sensia and maybe 2 years worth of the other stuff all put together.

I abhor Provia when used with for example 2010s lenses made for digital cameras, unless the lighting is soft you get no midtones.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

I abhor Provia when used with for example 2010s lenses made for digital cameras, unless the lighting is soft you get no midtones.

The only time I can leverage extra punch from RDPIII (If it is the film I am stuck with at any time) is by using lenses with known, inherently high contrast e.g. Canon's L-series and the Pentax 67 system's 'firecracker' APO/ASPH lenses — none of which are from or in the digital ecosystem. RDPIII does provide a soft, pleasing, almost ethereal rendition for pinhole photography, the anathema in terms of effect with scenes made on E100 (modified exposure) or for even more punch and pizazz RVP100. It is also a good choice for long exposure star-trails, but it does run to a heavy purple cast.

As for Sensia, I have not seen that film since 1995 here in Australia! I do recall from shooting it on an assignment on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific that it had lush, beautifully nuanced greens and browns, but it was too grainy for my tastes. It did not print well (relative to Provia, Velvia, Ektachrome) on the Ilfochrome Classic (Ciba) materials, requiring a lot of masking to tone down the contrast.

______________________________________________________________________________
• Provia 100F; 8 minute exposure (Zero Image 69 MF pinhole camera)

 

[mshchem]

120, does Fujifilm make anything in 120? I can't imagine dedicating the factory space for just 120 Fujichrome. There can't be adequate volume. There's no color negative film or black and white.

???
I think it's done in 120.

 

[ChrisGalway]

120, does Fujifilm make anything in 120? I can't imagine dedicating the factory space for just 120 Fujichrome. There can't be adequate volume. There's no color negative film or black and white.

???
I think it's done in 120.

I have 2 boxes of 120 size Provia 100f on their way to me from Retro in Belgium. It exists, but as Armadsen points out, the supply is very irregular and unpredictable. I last got Provia in 120 size from Retro in February 2025, and had an alert with them 13 months before I heard from them again last Friday! So my maximum likelihood prediction is that I'll get another couple of boxes from that company in April 2027! Of course I'm on the alert list of around 7-8 suppliers ... always hopeful.

I have a quite a few boxes in the freezer, but since I like to use only in-date film, I need to keep buying a couple of boxes every 3-4 months to keep up a regular supply. I use 6-7 boxes a year roughly.

It's a crazy situation, but what can we do? Ektachrome 100? No thanks, I prefer the colour of Provia and anyway Ektachrome is a silly price here in the EU, it's hard to find it at less than €100 a box (+ shipping). I generally pay around €55-€60 a box (+shipping) for Provia.

 

[miha]

What do you all slide shooters do with them - project or scan them? I project mine.

 

[ChrisGalway]

What do you all slide shooters do with them - project or scan them? I project mine.

I view mine (stereo pairs) in an optical viewer, usually set to "warm white" LED illumination. So no digital processing, hence there is a noticeable difference between Provia, Velvia and Ektachrome, and each person has their own preference.

 

[Taylor K Nankervis]

What do you all slide shooters do with them - project or scan them? I project mine.

Scan-to-print.

What I have done since I mastered Ilfochrome Classic printing from 1988 (ceasing that work in 2010, also printing from Kodachrome and early Ektachrome).

hence there is a noticeable difference between Provia, Velvia and Ektachrome, and each person has their own preference.

There will always be a "noticeable difference" in myriad lighting / display situations, even prints from any and all of these films will easily show their own unique palettes (none of Fuji's offerings are similar in terms of one vs the other's palette).

I generally set rules for work that is destined to showcase my genre of photography: composition, atmosphere and full colour saturation are prerequisites, importantly too, no visible evidence of human presence, passage or interference (so I don't reveal where I am going — at least, not without some decent mollycoddling e.g. maybe a delightful cucumber and rose gin with lamingtons...

 

[loccdor]

As for Sensia, I have not seen that film since 1995 here in Australia!

I bought around 50 rolls of Sensia 100 a couple years ago in 35mm, averaging something like $10 per roll with expiration from 1996 to 2007. It "expires better" than any other slide film I've tried, I guess because it's designed for non-professionals. Unfortunately, the prices aren't as affordable anymore.

However since I am hybrid process slide film casts are more easily color corrected than the old way. And a little bit of purple can help some scenes appear more nostalgic or emotional.

 

[Prest_400]

120, does Fujifilm make anything in 120? I can't imagine dedicating the factory space for just 120 Fujichrome. There can't be adequate volume. There's no color negative film or black and white.

???
I think it's done in 120.

I keep thinking it's no good for Fuji overall that they are not producing C41 film across the different formats by assuming that is the volume lead, rather than E6.
Many pros loved 400H and having some sort of 400 C41, even if it would be a reformulated Superia, would be a good sign. They do have that Fujicolor 100 and Superia premium 400 but only for the Japanese market plus whatever is provided in Asia as well.

Recently Fuji FIlm Hong Kong announced that they were selling it there again.


They do invest in INSTAX and announced increased investments, we know what happened with the peel apart equipment sadly... OTOH, Fuji made 220 as late as 2014-2015 and it was about the latest available.

Regarding 120 Fujichrome, which I haven't seen in stock for a long time now (unlike sheet and 35mm), I've had a backorder at Adorama for some pro packs of Provia in 120 since June, 2024. They send an email every few weeks saying it's still on backorder. Today I got this email (emphasis mine):

Might just be boilerplate, but anyway, it's new.

Also, some people tend to point at the listed prices. But I reckon that the intermittent availability makes it such that they were still honoring the older backordered lower price and unlike Kodak or Harman, were not applying the continuous price increases. For some reason Japan has the most up to date pricing and heck, whenever 120 E6 is available in europe, it had been lower than that. As I was writing this, googled around and found Fuji Japan.
So about 120-140€

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Reminds me of @Alan Edward Klein who had written a tale about 2 dealers with Ektachrome pricing and availability. It's listed cheap and not available, or pricy but in stock!

 

[miha]

Scan-to-print.

Why slide film then?