any news that Velvia will be discontinued?

[noimmunity]

RVP 50 or 100 135/36...I was just told so on the phone by a distributor in France, but it sounded to me more like conjecture...
Heavens, that would really $#@#!

 

[rxmd]

...to be replaced with Velvia mode on the new digitals 😛 😎

 

[pixelatedscraps]

I thought Velvia 50 got discontinued a long time ago...huh.

 

[ruby.monkey]

It was replaced by a new version a few years ago.

 

[sevo]

I would not bet on the future of either of the Velvia 100's - the time when one maker could successfully have five different ISO 100 daylight slide films are obviously over. Fuji already dropped Astia and consolidated the studio range towards Provia, and will sooner or later do the same with Velvia. That is, the Velvia 100 and 100P films sitting between Velvia 50 and Provia are predictably doomed.

But they will probably have Velvia 50 around until they drop slide film for good, which won't happen that soon (even Kodak, globally smaller in slide, financially on the rocks and without another profitable branch to see them through a restructuring of their film production, still has some slide films left).

As to local distributors dropping films, that is another matter - but given that there are Fuji distributors in every major EU region, quite a lot of them would have to do so before you would have to resort to overseas imports. Fuji Germany has a big film catalogue and claim that they can special order everything Japan can deliver, and Fuji UK actively promote film - even if Fuji France should develop another stance, you can still get hold of the stuff.

 

[HHPhoto]

Fuji already dropped Astia

Astia was only discontinued in 135 format.
120, 220, 4x5" and 8x10" are in production.

That is, the Velvia 100 and 100P films sitting between Velvia 50 and Provia are predictably doomed.

That is pure speculation, and not based on facts.
Fuji USA said last year, that they have seen an increase in sales in the Velvia line of 20%.

The Lomographic Society see an increasing demand for slide films. That's why they have recently introduced another slide film under the Lomo label.
The LSI is meanwhile one of the biggest sellers of photo film worldwide.

Regards,
Jan

 

[Pickett Wilson]

An increasing demand for slide films? That seems unlikely.

 

[bwcolor]

I'm doing my part. Love Velvia 50 and really like 100.

 

[sevo]

Astia was only discontinued in 135 format.
120, 220, 4x5" and 8x10" are in production.

Are they? They obviously still are being packaged - we'll see whether they are still being cast if the expiration dates don't keep pace. Astia in 135 was not announced as discontinued until they could not ship it any more, i.e. until their stores had run out of confectioned film. This must have been months after the last master roll in 135 strength was cut and packaged, and perhaps even years after it had been cast - from the outside, only the expiration date can give us some hint whether the current "production" (cutting and packaging) of roll and sheet Astia is off master rolls cast in the past (like in the end phase of 135) or from new production.

That is pure speculation, and not based on facts.
Fuji USA said last year, that they have seen an increase in sales in the Velvia line of 20%.

Which might be explainable by Kodak losing market shares in their home market over their reduction of slide film types. Similar figures for Europe or Japan would be more significant.

 

[HHPhoto]

Are they? They obviously still are being packaged - we'll see whether they are still being cast if the expiration dates don't keep pace. Astia in 135 was not announced as discontinued until they could not ship it any more, i.e. until their stores had run out of confectioned film. This must have been months after the last master roll in 135 strength was cut and packaged, and perhaps even years after it had been cast - from the outside, only the expiration date can give us some hint whether the current "production" (cutting and packaging) of roll and sheet Astia is off master rolls cast in the past (like in the end phase of 135) or from new production.

Sevo, sorry, I must say it again: You are only speculating without having facts.
Facts are
- there is an official Fuji statement that Astia 100F is in production in 120, 220, 4x5" and 8x10" format
- I am using Astia on a regular basis in 135 and 120, and my recent purchases all have expiration dates further in the future, which proves your speculation wrong

Which might be explainable by Kodak losing market shares in their home market over their reduction of slide film types.

Unlikely, because Kodaks alternatives to the Velvias are the Ektachrome E100VS and Elitechrome Extra Color 100.
Both are in production.
The discontinuation of E200 will not have an effect on Velvia demand (the films are too different), but most probably will have a positive effect on Provia 400X demand.

Cheers, Jan

 

[tlitody]

said it before but I'll say it again.
It is the fuji regional importers who control supply unless fuji have made an official annoucement about film being deleted. Often regional importers will cease ordering if required volumes are not sufficent and tell their dealer network film is no longer available. But that DOES NOT mean no longer in production because in other markets demand may be sufficient for regional importers to continue to order it.
Europe having 600 million people and one regional importer is likely to keep getting the stuff whereas the US with only 300 million people will lose supply sooner although with that many people I would have thought there is plenty of demand. Depends on what minimum order requirement is for that region.
Then country importers order from regional importers so some countries in a region may get it and others won't. They have minimum order requirements too so if they can't meet those they tell dealer network its no longer available so it could be available in the UK but not in Finland for example.
But fuji have been setting up online shops so that country importers get the demand direct as photo dealers have dropped film cameras and don't stock film.
IMO fuji have done more to keep supply going than any other film manufacturer. But if people just aren't buying the stuff then supply is shut off and eventually manufacture will cease.

I have no idea of status of Velvia but just cos a local rep says its not available doesn't mean its ceased production.

Spoke to a main London photographics shop yesterday. They said sales of Imacon scanners are down to about 1 every 4 months for them. That tells a story about pro use of film.

 

[Matus]

I do not know whether the Velvia 50 gets discontinued or not, but having 3 similar films (Velvia 50, Velvia 100, Velvia 100P) does not sound reasonable to me. I would not wonder if Fuji would keep only Velvia 50 or Velvia 100. The 100P is a bit strange film anyhow.

But who am I to guess - I have expected the Astia to stay. Fuji probably expected people to switch either to Provia or Pro160, but they probably switched to E100G instead 😎 (I would if I used that kind of film more often)

 

[Zonan]

Rodney Lough, who shoots 8x10 professionally for his landscape photography business and is on Fuji's advisory board, has said that they have discontinued 8x10 Astia, the emulsion he used exclusively. I suspect he might be in a position to know, but who can divine what Fuji is/isn't doing.

 

[PatrickONeill]

...having 3 similar films (Velvia 50, Velvia 100, Velvia 100P) does not sound reasonable to me...

surely you meant 100F, never heard of 100P.

---

I can foresee them dropping one of the 100's. I always have to go online to figure out the differences between the two.

... going to get a propack of the 100 😀

 

[Coldkennels]

I can foresee them dropping one of the 100's. I always have to go online to figure out the differences between the two.

The 100F isn't as rich. Not really a classic Velvia film; it always seems Provia-esque to me. I've heard good things about the 100, but never seem to be able to get my hands on it over here. Shame; I'd love to give it a try.

And to whoever doubted the increased demand for slide films: Lomographers love the stuff and buy heaps of it purely for cross processing. I don't know the numbers, but I don't see how demand can't have increased in the last few years. There's a lot of people using Holgas these days.

The only problem with this, of course, is that if they're only using it for cross processing, it doesn't help with the gradual decline of availability of E6 processing, which worries me more than anything. I'd probably give up shooting colour altogether if the only process available was C41.

 

[Georgeboosh]

I've heard good things about the 100, but never seem to be able to get my hands on it over here. Shame; I'd love to give it a try.

.

Try 7dayshop.com. They have both velvia 100 and 100f in 120 & 135 and shipping is free.

 

[HHPhoto]

The only problem with this, of course, is that if they're only using it for cross processing, it doesn't help with the gradual decline of availability of E6 processing, which worries me more than anything. I'd probably give up shooting colour altogether if the only process available was C41.

Don't worry, afaik there are enough E6 labs in Great Britain doing quality E6 processing and mail order, e.g. Peak Imaging.
You may have a look here:
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum40/89830-e6-processing-labs-uk.html

In Germany there are more than 40 Labs doing E6, and this number has been stable for the last two years.
Germany is indeed the paradise for slide film shooters.
Not only more than enough quality E6 labs, but lots of manufacturers of slide projectors (Braun, Reflecta, DHW/Rollei, Götschmann, RBT), slide mounts, screens and so on.
Even new products are introduced (recently new excellent mounts from Diaspeed and a new projector from Braun).

Regards, Jan