A tragic loss! Neopan 400!

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apparently Neopan 400 in 120 is getting discontinued because of enviromental issues.

This is very very sad news.
 
I don't understand why Fujifilm USA still has it listed under products available! Is there a specific date they will be discontinuing it?

Fujifilm Neopan 400 Professional film is a black & white film capable of attaining superior image results from high-speed film characteristics.

* High-speed black and white film with superior image quality.
* Push processing capability to EI 1600.
* Available in 35mm and 120 formats.
* Extremely fine grain, excellent sharpness.
Click to expand...
 
I ordered 20 rolls a bit ago from freestyle. They had only 7 to ship then, and the rest was delivered a bit later when they had new shipment. That was last week, and now the website says it's out of stock and the next shipment is the end of march. Probably I should stock up more...
 
There are some "information" on a certain German photog forum that Fuji would introduce a new version as soon as they get the environmental issue sorted out.

I wonder if it's the same environmental thing that happened to Foma 200?
 
The day they stop making Neopan in 35mm will be the day film photography is over for me!

It's not looking good for fast MF black and white film ... I'm no fan of HP5 so only a couple of other choices left!
 
This was the film I was hoping to be the last to be discontinued in MF.
If there is going to be released a replacement I'd consider it a small miracle (in current discontinuance trend).
 
I was tipped off about this late last year and stocked up with 500 roll's.

Apparently the issue is to do with some chemical used on the 120 film to reduce the static between the film and the paper backing. I got that info from the Neopan Flickr group.

All the information from my contacts in Japan say that at the moment Fuji has no plans for a replacement for this film.

The film was officially discontinued about 2 weeks ago though this info has not been handled very well by Fuji.
 
Pickett Wilson said:
I guess there is no incentive to spend money for R&D on the static problem for a niche product.
Click to expand...

I suspect that is not the REAL reason. Fuji makes a number of other 120 films, right? The antistatic stuff is probably used on all of them. I bet they just don't sell much Neopan 400, which has never been as popular as many other 400 BW films like Tri-X, Tmax 400, and HP-5.
 
Both Kodak and Fuji are primarily digital companies. I suspect they want to get shed of film as quickly as possible. So perhaps they are simply killing off their film products a little at the time. Fujifilm has certainly not been forthcoming in this current round of discontinuations.

I think Keith's observation that the day they kill off this film in 35 is the day film photography is over for him is telling of how tenuous many people's relationship is with film. I often see people observe that there are dozens of B&W films still being sold. But, I'm not sure that really means anything to individual photographers.
 
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The curious thing to me, Juan, is why you would make a post twice the length of mine to bitch about my post? Do you really think anything I say is going to change the future of film to the extent that you must defend it? I'm just a distant distant voice in the wilderness. ;)
 
The real danger to film's future can be seen in the drift over the last couple of years in the forum, as more and more regular posters have moved more to digital and shoot fewer and fewer rolls of film. m4/3 has accelerated that transition greatly. If someone makes an affordable digital RF, film would really be in trouble here.

As for not repeating my opinion, the bag and strap threads would be dead if people listened to your advice! ;)
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
I suspect that is not the REAL reason. Fuji makes a number of other 120 films, right? The antistatic stuff is probably used on all of them. I bet they just don't sell much Neopan 400, which has never been as popular as many other 400 BW films like Tri-X, Tmax 400, and HP-5.
Click to expand...

I thought that too at first, but the statement makes sense. There was no Neopan 400 in 120 format manufactured since May 2009 when PFOS had been put on the list of prohibited pollutants. Why is Fuji announcing it only now means they might try to find replacement. The only B&W film in 120 is now Across, which is modern film (like other C-41 and E-6 films) unlike Neopan. And difficulty of manufacturing process might imply why there had never been Neopan 1600 in 120 which would sell very well.
 
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