Why is Fuji 4x5 film so much more expensive?

Ektagraphic · Nov 23, 2011

Hello-

Why is the Fuji 4x5 instant film over 4x the price of the 2.25x3.25 size film which is only close enough to half the size of the 4x5? Is it a supply and demand issue or because maybe Fuji only makes the 4x5 once a year?

Patrick

tomalophicon · Nov 23, 2011

Not sure. FP3000B45 has been discontinued FYI.

jp498 · Nov 23, 2011

I wish the 4x5 were more closely priced to the smaller stuff too. I suspect it's a volume issue.

Even still, it's cheaper than shooting and commercially processing a traditional negative.

Pgeobc · Nov 23, 2011

When you double each dimension, you quadruple the area. That means 4x the amount of materials, expecially silver.

Ektagraphic · Nov 23, 2011

tomalophicon said:
Not sure. FP3000B45 has been discontinued FYI.

According to Fuji, here in the US, it is still available.

tomalophicon · Nov 23, 2011

Ektagraphic said:
According to Fuji, here in the US, it is still available.

http://translate.google.com/transla...//fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0132.html

Ektagraphic · Nov 23, 2011

So Fuji won't be making black and white instant film? That is terrible.

tomalophicon · Nov 23, 2011

Ektagraphic said:
So Fuji won't be making black and white instant film? That is terrible.

They will still make the 3000 in the smaller sizes, just not in 4x5.

Ektagraphic · Nov 23, 2011

I was just about to get the 4x5 holder to be able to start to shoot the black and white 4x5 often.

Robburrito · Nov 23, 2011

Ektagraphic said:
Hello-

Why is the Fuji 4x5 instant film over 4x the price of the 2.25x3.25 size film which is only close enough to half the size of the 4x5? Is it a supply and demand issue or because maybe Fuji only makes the 4x5 once a year?

Patrick

Well, first off you have the size of the film wrong- the smaller packfilm is 3.25x4.25 (actual image size smaller, of course). It's not that far off of 4x5 size- which makes the price of the full 4x5 packfilm even more ridiculous.

I shoot the smaller packfilm in my Speed Graphic with a polaroid 405 back and it works fine. I decided to go that route instead of the full size 4X5 precisely because the price difference was so great. Shooting a pack of 3.25" packfilm is no more expensive than a roll of 120 color film with processing factored in.

canuhead · Nov 23, 2011

Ektagraphic said:
I was just about to get the 4x5 holder to be able to start to shoot the black and white 4x5 often.

you still can, just order a boatload of the film and a holder and you're probably good for a couple of years

I have some 100C45 and may get some more but if it's eol'ed, may not be much point but it's nice to use though...

tomalophicon · Nov 23, 2011

The C is still being made as far as I can tell.

Prices on Ebay etc... haven't started to rise as of yet.

canuhead · Nov 23, 2011

apparently the 100C45 has been discontinued (still lots of stock though) but they haven't yet released anything official like they did for 3000B45

F/1.4 · Nov 23, 2011

It's all about volume, Kodak/Fuji moves alot more 35mm/120 than 4x5 or 8x10 sheets.

PHOTOTONE · Nov 24, 2011

I have experienced shortages of FP100C45 in the past, and I have not ever been able to contact anyone who can tell me anything. I do think that stocks are shipped from Japan sporadically, therefore there can be shortages at the vendors in the USA. Since Fuji is the ONLY ONE now that makes the peel apart instant print material, it would seem likely they would keep at least the color version going. What with the resurgence of interest in instant prints as an art form, it makes sense.

Why is Fuji 4x5 film so much more expensive?

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