Film documentary: Inside Fujifilm

[Skiff]

Tip:
Excellent film documentary about Fujifilm (and its history):

http://video.toggle.sg/en/series/inside-the-storm-s2/ep2/475145

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Thanks for the link, was interesting and enjoyable.
Am sure the usual suspects will chime in about never buying Fuji film again because they are money grubbing corporate monsters who refuse to lose money on our behalf by making all the film stocks we want, all 12 of us.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Thanks for the link, was interesting and enjoyable.
Am sure the usual suspects will chime in about never buying Fuji film again because they are money grubbing corporate monsters who refuse to lose money on our behalf by making all the film stocks we want, all 12 of us.

Indeed. Critics of the company's relationship with its film products and perceived lack of commitment to same, conveniently overlook the facts that it continues to make transparency films only recently re-embraced by Kodak. I was as delighted as most people who appreciate reversal films at Kodak's recent announcement that they will be re-commencing the manufacture of Ektachrome later this year and praised them for this. The real hero though, is Fujifilm who have never stopped making it. This in the context of them no longer being a producer of motion picture films, unlike Kodak, which would, if the consumption of that tanked and they ceased making it, drop their still films like a hot potato. There's no doubt Kodak are committed to producing film. Motion picture film. Their still products are along for the ride unlike Fuji which have stuck it out, largely without thanks.

 

[brbo]

... unlike Fuji which have stuck it out, largely without thanks.

I've thanked Fuji for EVERY single roll with my $$$. I can hardly believe that Fuji is giving out most of their film for free...

 

[Skiff]

Thanks for the link, was interesting and enjoyable.

You are welcome.

Am sure the usual suspects will chime in about never buying Fuji film again because they are money grubbing corporate monsters who refuse to lose money on our behalf by making all the film stocks we want, all 12 of us.

Yes, I fear that, too. There are so much people full of negativity and hate.......🙁

 

[Colin Corneau]

... There's no doubt Kodak are committed to producing film. Motion picture film. Their still products are along for the ride unlike Fuji which have stuck it out, largely without thanks.

By your logic, then, Fuji could easily have kept its Neopan films (and FP line of instant peel-apart stock). You know...just along for the ride with its hugely successful X series (and related cosmetic stocks, among others).

Yes, let's decry the irrational hatred of one company by engaging in it with another...

 

[Skiff]

Indeed. Critics of the company's relationship with its film products and perceived lack of commitment to same, conveniently overlook the facts that it continues to make transparency films only recently re-embraced by Kodak. I was as delighted as most people who appreciate reversal films at Kodak's recent announcement that they will be re-commencing the manufacture of Ektachrome later this year and praised them for this. The real hero though, is Fujifilm who have never stopped making it.

Exactly!

This in the context of them no longer being a producer of motion picture films, unlike Kodak, which would, if the consumption of that tanked and they ceased making it, drop their still films like a hot potato. There's no doubt Kodak are committed to producing film. Motion picture film. Their still products are along for the ride unlike Fuji which have stuck it out, largely without thanks.

Yes, film production at Kodak is dependant on motion picture film production. All other film manufacturers today (including Fujifilm) are fortunately not dependant on movie film.
I hope the demand for both movie and still film will continue to grow in the coming years.
I want all film manufacturers to have a sustainable future.

For me the very important statements from Fujifilm's CEO Komori in this documentary are:
- there is an analogue revival
- Fujifilm is committed to continue film production
- for them photography is an essential culture of mankind which has to be preserved, and they feel it is their mission to preserve it.

To see their help in saving the pictures of the Tsnunami victims was very heartwarming. Wonderful initiative!!

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

By your logic, then, Fuji could easily have kept its Neopan films (and FP line of instant peel-apart stock). You know...just along for the ride with its hugely successful X series (and related cosmetic stocks, among others).

Yes, let's decry the irrational hatred of one company by engaging in it with another...

Perhaps you missed the part where I complimented Kodak on their decision to re-commence making Ektachrome? I shoot a bit of their colour negative and think Tri-X and TMAX 100 are both wonderful films. I don't hate Kodak, at all actually.

Please, feel free to detail the parts of my comments about Kodak's relationship with film that are irrational.

Are you trying to say that they've actually been making reversal films all these years and I did not know it? Or seriously suggesting that the scale of their manufacturing facilities would be conducive to profitable long term still films production in the absence of motion picture stock? Are you suggesting that Fuji actually didn't stop making motion picture film and keep making all three main types of film (C41; E-6 & black and white), anyway?

Your comment about Fuji films being along for the ride with their X series is amusing but to suggest that the company's facilities for making quantities of photographic film is as co-dependant on digital camera manufacture as Kodak's still films output is on its motion picture stocks is facile.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting to see how Fuji managed not only to survive but to thrive! Fuji's CEO committing to "protecting the legacy of photography" it is not only an altruistic objective...I suppose it has a lot to do with maintaining brand name recognition at an acceptable cost.

 

[kgb144]

Thanks for the link; informative and interesting. As a recent convert from Nikon digital to Fujifilm digital the strategy and commitment is clearer and why Fujifilm now has my business.

The cleaning and restoration of photographs lost in the tsunami was a very generous and thoughtful action in support of communities who had lost everything. I had not heard of this before I watched the film.

ft

 

[HHPhoto]

For me the very important statements from Fujifilm's CEO Komori in this documentary are:
- there is an analogue revival
- Fujifilm is committed to continue film production
- for them photography is an essential culture of mankind which has to be preserved, and they feel it is their mission to preserve it.

To see their help in saving the pictures of the Tsnunami victims was very heartwarming. Wonderful initiative!!

+1.

And in addition to that:
Several times Mr. Komori emphazises how important it is to have a physical, real photograph in your hands (print, slide).
Fujifilm is the market leader in production of real photo paper, silver-halide process RA-4.
That is a huge market with several hundred million m² sold each year.

And I find another detail very important:
Let's look at the scene where they visited the Instax film production, the converting / finishing line.
Every second (!) one finished film pack left the machine.
And the employee said that they are producing the whole day, 24h, several shifts because of the very high demand.
That means more than 31.5 million film packs a year!
And that only from one packing machine. Maybe a second or third line is also running there.
And that was only the Instax mini colour line.
Then in addition we have the Instax Wide line, and the Instax mini Monochrome line.

Very impressive.

I am using an Instax Wide 210. I like the Instax Wide format.
The film is very good, unfortunately the camera is quite limited in its capabilities.
The results could be much better with an improved camera.

Dear Fujifilm, please listen:

Please give us much better cameras for the Instax films, especially for the Wide format film!
A sophisticated camera with a really good glass lens (e.g. Tessar-type like).
You can do that.
You have produced similar cameras in the past, like the Fuji Fotorama FP-1.
Thanks in advance!

Cheers, Jan

 

[Skiff]

I am using an Instax Wide 210. I like the Instax Wide format.
The film is very good, unfortunately the camera is quite limited in its capabilities.
The results could be much better with an improved camera.

Dear Fujifilm, please listen:

Please give us much better cameras for the Instax films, especially for the Wide format film!
A sophisticated camera with a really good glass lens (e.g. Tessar-type like).
You can do that.
You have produced similar cameras in the past, like the Fuji Fotorama FP-1.
Thanks in advance!

Cheers, Jan

I can completely agree!

I am using the Instax wide format professionally at weddings. It works fine.
But it could do much better if I had a better camera: More robust, better light meter, better flash capabilities and especially with a much better lens.
The Instax film quality is very good. But unfortunately it cannot be fully exploited / used by the current (cheap, entry level) Fujifilm cameras.

If Fujifilm (or Nikon, Cosina, whoever) could give me such a significantly improved camera, I would buy it at once!!!

And Fujifilm:
As someone, whose professional work is also based on films like Provia 100F, Velvia 50, Velvia 100, Provia 400X, Acros 100, Pro 160 NS, Pro 400H, I would really extremely appreciate if you would care much more for your excellent standard photo films!
Start marketing them again!!
Improve the distribution situation.
Start to offer these films at your worldwide Fujifilm Wonder Photo shops.
Join the whole film revival much more actively!

 

[Skiff]

If Fujifilm (or Nikon, Cosina, whoever) could give me such a significantly improved camera, I would buy it at once!!!

And Fujifilm:
As someone, whose professional work is also based on films like Provia 100F, Velvia 50, Velvia 100, Provia 400X, Acros 100, Pro 160 NS, Pro 400H, I would really extremely appreciate if you would care much more for your excellent standard photo films!
Start marketing them again!!
Improve the distribution situation.
Start to offer these films at your worldwide Fujifilm Wonder Photo shops.
Join the whole film revival much more actively!

I just want to add an important aspect:
Fujifilm is focussed on the DSLM market in their digital operations. So far they have done relatively well in that market, at least in comparison to their competitors. Fine.
But:
The DSLM market is - and will be even much more in the future - an extremely difficult and competitive market. The DSLM market volume is much smaller than the compact camera market volume, and much smaller than the DSLR market volume. And is has declined in the last years, too.
And there are lots of competitors: Canon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon, Leica, Pentax, Sigma, YI, Hasselblad. All are active in the small DSLM market.
And this brutal competition will certainly increase in the coming years. It will becoming much harder to make a profit in that segment.

The situation in the film market is much different:
The market is increasing again.
And there is only one real competitor: Kodak (and a bit Ilford).
Therefore a much much easier market for Fujifilm to increase business and profits if they change their strategy and become more active in the standard film market again.

 

[Muju79]

Therefore a much much easier market for Fujifilm to increase business and profits if they change their strategy and become more active in the standard film market again.

...and exactly 2 days ago they've announced officially the production end of their RC paper.

 

[Prest_400]

...and exactly 2 days ago they've announced officially the production end of their RC paper.

This is why, despite loving Fuji's products, it feels that their stance on film is unstable. Say commited, axe something.
?

I had some Provia (and 400H, Portra) back from the lab and it is outstanding.

 

[Skiff]

...and exactly 2 days ago they've announced officially the production end of their RC paper.

Source?? Probably again fake news.
I cannot found any official Fujifilm statement saying that.
And I highly doubt it, because Fujifilm is world market leader in RA-4 RC paper, producing more than 200 million m² p.a. !
And the demand for RC photo book paper is increasing for years. Some time ago Fujifilm even introduced new papers for that application. And they announced an increasing R&D budget for RA-4, too.