BW Fuji instant film: Starting a petition?

[Andrea Taurisano]

Give me your 2 cents on this one: Is it worth to try and start a petition, ex. Facebook page, to ask Fujifilm to reintroduce FP 3000b and / or more BW instant film?

Would you share it and help spreading if, say, I started it?

And does it have a chance to achieve goal?

 

[Ezzie]

I would, gladly!

 

[brbo]

yes
yes
no

 

[Spanik]

No, No, No. There is plenty of b&w film around already, and Impossible have b&w already. And Fuji isn't really interested in film anymore, they drop each year sizes and emulsions. So asking them for something they even need to develop has no chance at all.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

No, No, No. There is plenty of b&w film around already, and Impossible have b&w already. And Fuji isn't really interested in film anymore, they drop each year sizes and emulsions. So asking them for something they even need to develop has no chance at all.

Well, plenty of b&w film for instant cameras? Not to my knowledge. As for FP3000b: it wouldn't need to be developed, just its production to be restarted. Or maybe I'm missing something her.

But even assuming that they're not interested in making more pack film exclusively for a bunch of vintage camera enthusiasts, I would guess that since they're making their own Instax cameras (even launching new models almost each year), making at least a BW film for those Fuji Instax cameras could get them more camera buyers too. But here too, I may be missing something.

 

[HHPhoto]

Yes
Yes
and
we will see......

Facts are
- Impossible has less than 5% of the instant film market; more than 95% of Instant film sales are Fujifilm, especially Instax

- Impossible is still not profitable, they burn money with every sold film pack: When their investor loose interest in burning money, they will be gone (let's hope he has enough money for the next 3-4 years when they intend to reach break even point)

- Instax film is Fuji's most successful photo product, much more successful than their digital business

- Fuji intend to sell 5 million Instax cameras this year, that is much more than all of their digital cameras together

- they do invest in Instax in the future.

Here are all the facts and current data:
http://photoscala.de/Artikel/Neue-Q...ient-viel-Geld-mit-analogen-Sofortbildkameras

http://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/pdf/investors/other/ff_presentation_20150520_001.pdf

Cheers, Jan

 

[mfunnell]

But even assuming that they're not interested in making more pack film exclusively for a bunch of vintage camera enthusiasts, I would guess that since they're making their own Instax cameras (even launching new models almost each year), making at least a BW film for those Fuji Instax cameras could get them more camera buyers too. But here too, I may be missing something.

In this I think you might be right. A couple of years ago (November 2013) I shot a couple of rolls of Tri-X at a Melbourne Cup party, where most of those attending were so-called Millenials. I don't think anyone expected actual photographs from my funny old film camera - but all (and I do mean all) decided, on seeing them, that "black and white has something". They weren't "just being nice" to an old bloke: the number of requests I had for prints was substantial. And I do think they were interested: "how did you get them to look like that?"; but not that interested: LC29 and Ilford Rapid fixer in the hotel room sink interested precisely nobody.

That suggests to me that BW instant film might work for an actual market...

...Mike

 

[__jc]

Would be great if they could do SX-70 film again!

 

[robert blu]

Thanks Andrea for bringing the interest in this special film, very unique in its characteristic to our attention.

A petition could be done but I'm afraid there will be no positive answer.

Time ago we already made a petition asking Fuji to stop the discontinuation of the FP3000b with no result, you can read about it here.

Anyway we can try, crossing fingers. And maybe a 100 iso B&W...hmm too much !
I only hope they do not stop production of the actual peel apart color film...

robert

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

Hmm, I see. That petition only gathered 12 thousand supporters, while it's obviously other numbers they are considering in their market analyses.. Not sure a new petition would be so much more successful, but things (I mean, even much sillier things) shared on Facebook can spread like fire in dry grass, so am temted to give it a try, as long as the largest possible number of forumers are willing to share and help the fire spread.. Mandela used to say "It always seems impossible until it's done" (which I actually read on the dark slide of an Impossible film package).

I personally am interested in pack film, not Instax, but as a very last option, if pack film MUST disappear, I would be buying Instax b&w film and a Belair (to replace my Land Cameras).

 

[robert blu]

Unfortunately it s a question of numbers, figures I'm afraid.
I'm as well interested in the FP3000, I have only less that 10 pack at home 🙁 and trying is worthwhile. I'm not on FB sorry but if I can give a support I?ll do!

robert

 

[Black]

As much as I would extremely happy if Fuji were to restart production of FP-3000b, no petition is ever going to make that happen. Its a sad state of affairs, but it just isn't going to happen.

You would (sadly) be better off hoping that they may eventually produce a B&W film for their Instax line (wide would be good).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I begrudge giving my money to Fujifilm as they are killing off the "film" aspect of their company more and more every year.

Impossible's film may be pricier, but at least their hearts are in the right place. It would be nice if Impossible could find a way to create pack film - but I think that is hoping for a little too much. The Gen 2 Impossible B&W is far better than their earlier stuff, with fairly quick development and no need to shield the film after ejection.

I'll continue supporting Impossible.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

You would (sadly) be better off hoping that they may eventually produce a B&W film for their Instax line (wide would be good).

..

Impossible's film may be pricier, but at least their hearts are in the right place. It would be nice if Impossible could find a way to create pack film - but I think that is hoping for a little too much. The Gen 2 Impossible B&W is far better than their earlier stuff, with fairly quick development and no need to shield the film after ejection.

I'll continue supporting Impossible.

Chris, I'm completely with you on these. BTW, took a look at your page. Wonderful photos. Hope your ongoing projects continue to produce lovely stuff like that.

 

[Black]

Chris, I'm completely with you on these. BTW, took a look at your page. Wonderful photos. Hope your ongoing projects continue to produce lovely stuff like that.

Thank you very much, Andrea. That means a lot given I purchased your 9289 book (i.e I like your work very much too 😉)

 

[HHPhoto]

Hi,

just as an addition to my former post:

It probably makes a lot of sense to create a petition for BW Instax film.
Because
- really lots of Instax users are interested in a BW film
- as Instax is booming, Fuji is probably much more open minded for a product which could increase the growth of their Instax line.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Mackinaw]

.......Impossible is still not profitable, they burn money with every sold film pack: When their investor loose interest in burning money, they will be gone (let's hope he has enough money for the next 3-4 years when they intend to reach break even point)......

I read someplace several months back (I believe APUG), that the break-even point for Impossible Project was selling one million packs of film per year. IP did this for the first time last year and is now profitable. Or did I read wrong?

Jim B.

 

[HHPhoto]

Jim, yes and no.
The former Impossible CEO Florian Kaps said in 2012 (when I remember correctly) that they would need 1 million packs p.a. to reach break even.
But the strategy there changed with the new CEO:
More investments in R&D for quality improvements, less investment in marketing, more investments in new products (a new camera is announced, too).
Higher investments - higher costs - more sales needed for a return on investment.
On the official factory tour in May they told all that.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Mackinaw]

Interesting. Did they happen to mention what the new break-even point is?

I like IP films, especially the new 2.0 stuff, and really hope the company succeeds.

Jim B.

 

[HHPhoto]

Interesting. Did they happen to mention what the new break-even point is?

No, only that they probably need another three years to reach it.
Luckily they have a long-term oriented investor, so the financial basis is given.

Cheers, Jan