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View Full Version : Fujifilm's plans to change film lineup



Dirk Rösler
21-Feb-2010, 06:17
FYI

this is from the current issue of Asahi Camera. Fuji is discontinuing or contemplating to do so (I say so because no dates are provided at all) for the following:

* Neopan Presto 400 120 size (the column notes the seeming contradiction given the 6x7 folder it released last year)
* 12 and 24 exposure rolls for 35mm film will be gradually phased out
* Acros 100 in 11x14 size (special order)
* Provia 100 F 11x14 (special order)
* Pro 160 NC 120
* T64 reversal 4x5 sheet film
* T64 reversal 4x5 QL
* T64 reversal 8x10

Presto 400 (Neopan 400) will continue in 135. All 120 film now in production will only be sold in boxes of 5 from now on.

Note: no mention of Quickload other than T64

r.e.
21-Feb-2010, 06:20
I didn't know that 12 exposure rolls of 35mm film even existed.

krzys
21-Feb-2010, 07:01
I think they were designed for half frame cameras.

Roger Vadim
21-Feb-2010, 08:38
They must be crazy, Neopan 400 & 160 NC are their high-end films, still massive in use by pros and amateurs alike... don't get the logic behind contemporary economics (speak: shareholder value...)

mikebarger
21-Feb-2010, 09:02
Wondering what kind of number represents massive related to film sales?

r.e.
21-Feb-2010, 09:17
Is the reference to Pro 160NC, which I assume is an error, supposed to be to 160C or 160S?

Dirk Rösler
21-Feb-2010, 15:33
160NC is the Japanese product name, probably corresponds to 160C

Songyun
21-Feb-2010, 15:42
Is Astia 810 still available in Japanese market?

Dirk Rösler
21-Feb-2010, 17:42
Yes, Astia 100F is available in 8x10

Songyun
21-Feb-2010, 18:36
Yes, Astia 100F is available in 8x10

only in Japenese market? i can not find any here in U.S.

Dirk Rösler
21-Feb-2010, 23:50
Sorry, no idea. All I can say that it is available here as a standard item, I cannot speak for other places.

BetterSense
22-Feb-2010, 07:24
Neopan 400 is my favorite 120 film by a solid margin. I have been hoping that it would be offered in sheets some time, but I guess that was even more optimistic than I had thought. I'm not even sure what film I will switch to. Some of the deletions are understandable, such as the ULF and tungsten films, but I can't figure out how Fuji is going to completely discontinue their only 400-speed film in medium format. I can understand manufacturer's consolidating their line down to one film of each speed glass, but when you don't even have a 400 speed film I'd say you are pretty much finished. I don't have enough money to lay in a freezerful but I will buy a year or two supply next time I get paid.

Pete Roody
22-Feb-2010, 07:39
Dirk,

Is 4x5 Acros Quickload still an available product in Japan?

JRFrench
22-Feb-2010, 12:33
Dirk's still selling it so I guess its still available.

http://www.japanexposures.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=65

rguinter
22-Feb-2010, 18:03
Looks like I'll have to buy a bigger film freezer. T64 RTP is an absolute favorite of mine for city lights after dark.... Bob G.

benrains
22-Feb-2010, 19:24
They must be crazy, Neopan 400 & 160 NC are their high-end films, still massive in use by pros and amateurs alike... don't get the logic behind contemporary economics (speak: shareholder value...)

They didn't say anything about the 220 variants of the same, which is what I'd guess most of the pros would be using. (Although obviously the lack of the 120 will hurt folks using older or simpler cameras that require the paper backing.)

Dirk Rösler
22-Feb-2010, 19:37
Don't panic (yet), this seems a loose consideration reported in a magazine. Who knows what'll happen... I'll keep watching. Still no sign of the end of QL anywhere either, and that was "official"

Armin Seeholzer
23-Feb-2010, 11:07
Still no sign of the end of QL anywhere either, and that was "official"

Thanks Dirk, please tell us if you hear something new re. stop production of a Fuji film!

Thanks in advance, Armin

Dirk Rösler
24-Feb-2010, 01:59
Neopan 400 in 120 seems history. Very disappointing.

healyzh
24-Feb-2010, 11:06
I didn't know that 12 exposure rolls of 35mm film even existed.

It's a shame 12 exposure rolls aren't more available. In the past year I've seen one roll, and that was at a Ritz Camera store closing sale. They were good for testing basic functionality of a camera. Even 24 exposure rolls are getting hard to find. Sometimes 36 exposure really is too much. In some ways I wish I could get 24 exposure rolls of Ektar 100.

Ash
24-Feb-2010, 12:10
So long as Pro160S keeps going I'm happy

Dirk Rösler
24-Feb-2010, 18:03
There is now a news release on this: http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0029.html

Main points: Neopan 400 is gone in 120. Most films in 35mm and 120 are packed in new quantities (no more 20 packs, mainly 3 and 5 packs). T64 reversal film products discontinued in sheet formats. They have updated their product listings accordingly.

Once again, no sign of discontinuation of Quickload or other sheet film (except the special order 11x14 reversal films).

SW Rick
24-Feb-2010, 20:03
Once again, no sign of discontinuation of Quickload or other sheet film (except the special order 11x14 reversal films).

How then to reconcile Fuji UK, Fuji USA, declare it discontinued and going out of production by April, and no correction or retraction? Inmates running the asylum?

Fuji seems to have studied marketing and public relations at the Toyota Institute.

mcfactor
25-Feb-2010, 16:47
I agree with Ash, I love the 160s

dalton
27-Feb-2010, 05:56
Fuji also recently discontinued the 4x5 Pro 160S in 50 packs. It is now only available in 10 packs, which makes the film about 20% more expensive than it used to be.

I switched to Kodak.

Allen in Montreal
27-Feb-2010, 07:50
....... Inmates running the asylum?.......
.

I think that statement applies across the board as they try to grasp where the future lies, how to make the most cash in the short term with little regard for the long term.
But it appears to the user, they are laying a brick road that leads to their own death sooner, rather later. The number of Gafs of late is of Olympic proportion. :mad:

Robert Hughes
27-Feb-2010, 13:59
Generally I'm all for innovation and new ideas. But with the film companies, I just wish they had a conservative mindset running the show. Sometimes it's fine to just let things be as they are.

Dirk Rösler
27-Feb-2010, 16:10
Generally I'm all for innovation and new ideas. But with the film companies, I just wish they had a conservative mindset running the show. Sometimes it's fine to just let things be as they are.

Not when you're loosing money... lots of it. Conservative wisdom dictates that this should not happen.

Sevo
27-Feb-2010, 16:41
Yes, but the black and while market has already consolidated and downscaled decades ago, and should sturn out a profit if accounted separately - it is very unlikely that a 400ASA b+w film is the loss leader, unless there are factors apart from the economic crisis at the back of it. Neopan 400 may be their last cubic grain material (assuming that the film in their instant products is flat crystal), so that eliminating it would allow them to close down whatever dedicated facilities for cubic grain emulsions it requires - but for that, eliminating 120 will not suffice, they will also have to kill 135.

hmf
27-Feb-2010, 17:00
There is now a news release on this: http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0029.html

Main points: Neopan 400 is gone in 120. Most films in 35mm and 120 are packed in new quantities (no more 20 packs, mainly 3 and 5 packs). T64 reversal film products discontinued in sheet formats. They have updated their product listings accordingly.

Once again, no sign of discontinuation of Quickload or other sheet film (except the special order 11x14 reversal films).

Did anyone see anything about this in the Fujifilm USA website? I couldn't find mention of Neopan 400 being discontinued.

Jim Burk
3-Mar-2010, 15:03
I heard that all T64 will be discontinued in July of 2010, not just the sheet film.

Paul Droluk
3-Mar-2010, 16:36
I queried Fuji directly, regarding Neopan 400 in 120, and received the following response...

"Thank you for contacting Fujifilm, USA's Contact Center. Please allow us
to assist you.

At this time, we do not have plans to discontinue the Neopan 400
professional black and white film in the 120 format.

We sincerely hope this information has been beneficial to you. If you
should have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact us again. It would be our pleasure to assist you.

Thank you for your interest in Fujifilm products and services."

Dirk Rösler
4-Mar-2010, 05:25
Yeah, and "at this time" the world is a happy place. You are speaking to customer service, they're the last to know about a corporate strategy decision. In Japan it is off the shelves and discontinuation notices plastered all over the place.

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/jan/monochrome/film.html

Under Neopan 400 there is (*1) on 400 Presto for 120 format. In Japanese, on the bottom of the chart it explains what *1 mean: "Upon exhaustion of inventory, offer of this item will be discontinued."

This is the note in all the retailers:


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4405383527_2a7c277b70.jpg

(n,vs) sale, selling, marketing, (P)
販売 [はんばい]

(n,vs) completion, conclusion, (P)
完了 [かんりょう]

dave_whatever
4-Mar-2010, 06:25
Unless you're speaking to Fuji in japan you can't rely on anything. Fujifilm Japan is the organ grinder, regional distributors like Fuji in the US or UK are just the monkeys. For example recently Fuji UK said that there were no plans to discontinue Quickloads....then a few weeks later the discontinuation of Quickloads is announced.:rolleyes:

Dirk Rösler
6-Mar-2010, 16:27
Not to freak anyone out, but this was posted earlier on filmwasters.com (http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2795.msg26314#msg26314) by someone stating to work for a camera store (In the US I assume), allegedly a product update to retailers:

OK...here's the official Fuji list:
The following are now gone, with no replacement:
Color 160s and160c in 35, 120, 220, 4x5, 8x10, and 4x5 quickload
Color 800z in 35mm 5pack, 120 and 220
Velvia 50 4x5 quickload
Velvia 100 4x5 quickload
Velvia 100F 4x5 quickload
Astia 100F 4x5 quickload
Provia 100F 4x5 quickload
T64 in all formats
Neopan 400 120
CDUII in all formats

The following have had package changes:
Velvia 50, 100, 100F 4x5 and 8x10 are now in 20 sheet boxes
Velvia 50, 100, 100F are now in 5-packs

Astia 100F 4x5 now in 20 sheet boxes, 120 now in 5-packs.
Provia 100F 4x5 and 8x10 now in 20 sheet boxes; 120 now in 5-packs

RXP 120 now in 5-packs

Arcos 100 120 now in 5-packs, 4x5 now in 20 sheet boxes.

The Acros 4x5 in 20sh boxes doesn't make sense as it has always been, though. It doesn't really match with what was announced in Japan, but there has been talk before about dropping QL and changing sheet film packages from 10 to 20 sheets.

Sal Santamaura
6-Mar-2010, 18:37
...The Acros 4x5 in 20sh boxes doesn't make sense as it has always been, though...In the US only grey market Acros has been in 20-sheet boxes. Officially distributed loose sheet (since early last year, if I remember correctly) 4x5 Acros is 10 sheets per box:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/636062-REG/Fujifilm_15952595_4x5_Acros_Neopan_Black.html

Dirk Rösler
6-Mar-2010, 19:41
Thanks Sal, wasn't aware of that.

Well, that indirectly confirms that Quickload is finished too as discussed a while back.

rphenning
8-Mar-2010, 08:29
Not to freak anyone out, but this was posted earlier on filmwasters.com (http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=2795.msg26314#msg26314) by someone stating to work for a camera store (In the US I assume), allegedly a product update to retailers:

OK...here's the official Fuji list:
The following are now gone, with no replacement:
Color 160s and160c in 35, 120, 220, 4x5, 8x10, and 4x5 quickload
Color 800z in 35mm 5pack, 120 and 220
Velvia 50 4x5 quickload
Velvia 100 4x5 quickload
Velvia 100F 4x5 quickload
Astia 100F 4x5 quickload
Provia 100F 4x5 quickload
T64 in all formats
Neopan 400 120
CDUII in all formats

The following have had package changes:
Velvia 50, 100, 100F 4x5 and 8x10 are now in 20 sheet boxes
Velvia 50, 100, 100F are now in 5-packs

Astia 100F 4x5 now in 20 sheet boxes, 120 now in 5-packs.
Provia 100F 4x5 and 8x10 now in 20 sheet boxes; 120 now in 5-packs

RXP 120 now in 5-packs

Arcos 100 120 now in 5-packs, 4x5 now in 20 sheet boxes.

The Acros 4x5 in 20sh boxes doesn't make sense as it has always been, though. It doesn't really match with what was announced in Japan, but there has been talk before about dropping QL and changing sheet film packages from 10 to 20 sheets.


their only color film in 120 will be 400H? wow.