End of Velvia for LF

[Oren Grad]

Maybe they can be encouraged to move to an annual run (or pre-order only) of sheet film like Ilford do or ULF and oddball sizes? That would seem to be a reasonable request and doable.

What Harman/Ilford is doing is different. Their sheet films are all in regular production. All that they are doing in the special order period is changing the cutting masks to allow them to cut different sheet sizes from the master rolls that they are already producing.

Restarting coating of an emulsion that has been out of production is a more difficult and expensive proposition. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but at the least the logistical and cost hurdles are going to be higher.

[EOTS]

Well, according to the annoucements of Fujifilm UK, the RVP50 emulsion is not going out of production
(whereas the 100F version does go out of production).

RVP50 will only be discontinued in sheet film.
The emulsion itself won't be stopped in the roll film formats...

So I guess perhaps it's not so different from the Ilford case?!

Best regards,
Martin

[Oren Grad]

Well, according to the annoucements of Fujifilm UK, the RVP50 emulsion is not going out of production
(whereas the 100F version does go out of production).

RVP50 will only be discontinued in sheet film.
The emulsion itself won't be stopped in the roll film formats...

So I guess perhaps it's not so different from the Ilford case?!

Not really. Sheet film and roll film are coated on different bases, which require separate R&D/QC/testing programs to assure quality. Harman/Ilford has emulsions that are available on acetate roll film base but are no longer or never were coated on polyester sheet film base - for example, Delta 400 and Delta 3200. They do not offer these as sheet film even to special order, though I suppose if you were rich enough to pay for the R&D they might consider it. Even then there are no guarantees, because at this point overall sales are so low that (re)introduction of an additional emulsion is likely to cannibalize sales of remaining products, potentially resulting in a net economic loss across the product portfolio overall.

[EOTS]

OK, that explains it!

[pdmoylan]

Frustrating turn of events. I love the greens of Velvia 50. At least Velvia 100 will still be made. It is far too magenta but that can be fixed.
Haven't been succesful in matching the greens in PS using 100 though. Oh well.