Finally some good news for US film users

[HHPhoto]

Finally, a film manufacturer is doing something that will encourage people to use their products!

Other things they all could do: 1) put a little money into promoting film as an alternative medium (e.g., on college campuses); 2) set up a lab (like Ilford has) or invest in or somehow support labs; 3) make high-quality color film and print development chemicals for home users in convenient, reasonably-priced kits and sponsor/run classes on processing; 4) work with camera manufacturers and/or repair people to help make sure reasonably-priced high-quality film cameras are available, possibly even some new ones.

I agree with all of this.
But just for your information concerning your point 2) 'set up labs':
FujiFilm has already done this in Europe in 1998, and since then they are running several huge volume labs on an industrial scale (branded as Fuji Eurocolor). In these labs millions of films are developed each year (C-41, E-6 and BW), and hundreds of million prints are made p.a. on RA-4 silver-halide paper there.
Fuji Eurocolor has contracts with some drugstore chains and with local photoshops.
Besides there is also an even bigger player in this game, CeWe in Germany, and three smaller players than Fuji Eurocolor, German companies OrwoNet, allcop and dplab.

The whole lab infrastructure in central Europe, especially Germany, is much better compared to the US.

Cheers, Jan

 

[joeswe]

I agree with all of this.
But just for your information concerning your point 2) 'set up labs':
FujiFilm has already done this in Europe in 1998, and since then they are running several huge volume labs on an industrial scale (branded as Fuji Eurocolor). In these labs millions of films are developed each year (C-41, E-6 and BW), and hundreds of million prints are made p.a. on RA-4 silver-halide paper there.
Fuji Eurocolor has contracts with some drugstore chains and with local photoshops.
Besides there is also an even bigger player in this game, CeWe in Germany, and three smaller players than Fuji Eurocolor, German companies OrwoNet, allcop and dplab.

The whole lab infrastructure in central Europe, especially Germany, is much better compared to the US.

Cheers, Jan

While I generally agree with Jan that we are still in a relatively comfortable position here in Germany, I cannot exempt Fuji's operations here from some criticism.
Their E6 dev service (not scans) is great and really excellent value, but I find the rest of their services to be quite lacking.
It starts with the fact that the Fuji lab in Germany will not serve end customers directly with C41 services. One has to send in the film thru a local shop and there are none in my area that work together with Fuji (it seems the market is split up regionally and wherever I go here, the stuff ends up at Allcop).
I once managed to get a C41 film developed at Fuji, but wasn't really impressed with the quality of the prints and scans. Same is unfortunately true for the quality of the E6 scans they offer (that is a service available directly to end customers), resolution is low (still okay for web purposes), but what really puts me off is that the colors are completely out of whack, while contrast and saturation are pumped up excessively, making them basically useless even for web or print use ... When you see these results, you don't have to wonder why people turn away from film ... I think a company with the expertise of Fuji could and should do much better!

 

[mwoenv]

Maybe my point 2 is not really valid. In the U.S. also, Fuji operates regional labs that get film sent to them from Walmart and probably other sources (supermarkets, pharmacies). But about 5 years ago, before I started doing my own color film and prints, I had some color prints made by Fuji via Walmart from 35mm negatives and was not impressed, i.e., I think one must use a pro lab to get good results.

 

[alienmeatsack]

Their pricing seems to be on par with most online and local to me labs that involve developing and medium sized scans.

I think it's pretty close minus shipping with Walgreens color scans prices, and is about what the local places here charge as do the online places I've used.

I'd certainly trust them with their own films especially. I'd probably try them for prints but nothing else since i do my development at home. But I am curious just the same and it's very cool to see them getting into the game here.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

What's the going rate to on getting your film developed at a shop in the US? I'm supposed to relocate next year. Right now, I'm paying about $5.50 for Negatives (B&W, or Color), although T-Max is about $8. Reversal is about $8 as well. They also charge a few bucks to push. Seems way cheaper than what you guys have.