Fuji Discontinues Velvia 100 in U.S.

[Mark Wood]

I posted that email message from Speed Graphic simply to see if that rumour had appeared through any other channels. For what it's worth, I sincerely hope it's not true, as I use a lot of Fuji Provia.

Several times over the years, I've kept my patience when I've had posts contradicted on this forum. My particular favourite was when I was told I was wrong when I was trying to be helpful by telling someone that the strap lug protectors on an M6 are secured inside the camera top plate. That was despite the fact that my M6 had just been returned from Leica, who had replaced one of these and I had the email from Leica in front of me, telling me this is how it's done!

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I'll dig in, thank you, and stand by my previous post, 100%.
By all means share useful information. Passing on unsubstantiated rumours is an unhelpful thing to do. I'll continue to call out such if and when I see it on this forum and am unapologetic about that.

 

[f.hayek]

Heard similar rumors over the years, most recently when I dropped by Adorama and one of the old hands told me the same tale without attribution. Fujufilm's outsourcing of Acros II to Ilford just stoked the rumor mill.

The truth only Fujifilm knows, and they ain't tellin'...

 

[bluesun267]

Mark Wood, I'm not sure if you made your initial post in 100% good faith, but I'm open to hearing more.

On first read, the post appeared to be someone just spreading an unsubstantiated rumor on a forum where it would be most likely to illicit a negative emotional response from its members. And it seemed right that you be called out for it.

Now that I re-read it I think Sarcophilus harrisii's reaction was perhaps slightly over harsh, though I stand with him in his view that the repeating of such unsubstantiated rumors is profoundly non-productive.

Thankfully this is just film, and not life or death, but if you can handle my rather non-black and white response, I feel your post was made half out of curiosity and half 'click bait' if that makes sense. Such is the nature of the internet, where us physical beings try to make connections in a virtual landscape not necessarily of our own design.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Few of the landscapes where we engage, virtual or otherwise, are of our own design. But in all them, respect and courtesy should be the rule. And sometimes that can mean life or death.

 

[Mark Wood]

Mark Wood, I'm not sure if you made your initial post in 100% good faith, but I'm open to hearing more.

On first read, the post appeared to be someone just spreading an unsubstantiated rumor on a forum where it would be most likely to illicit a negative emotional response from its members. And it seemed right that you be called out for it.

Now that I re-read it I think Sarcophilus harrisii's reaction was perhaps slightly over harsh, though I stand with him in his view that the repeating of such unsubstantiated rumors is profoundly non-productive.

Thankfully this is just film, and not life or death, but if you can handle my rather non-black and white response, I feel your post was made half out of curiosity and half 'click bait' if that makes sense. Such is the nature of the internet, where us physical beings try to make connections in a virtual landscape not necessarily of our own design.

I feel I should respond to this, with my last post on the subject. Yes, my initial post was made entirely in good faith and certainly with no intention whatsoever that it would act as "click bait." It saddens me greatly to think that this would be the immediate view of some but that seems to be the nature of internet forums in general. I know that the continued production of film is a highly emotive subject, it certainly is to myself but I also took the email which Speed Graphic sent to everyone on their mailing list, in good faith too.

I also strongly dislike the "from a reliable source" anonymity when these rumours appear but my view was that as this had come from a well-known and respected dealer (one that seems to be constantly increasing its provision of film-related materials too), it would be of relevance to explore this further. There are, or at least they were, contributors to this forum who are in or who have, connections in film retail and I simply wondered whether they may be able to provide any constructive comments or insight. Nothing more devious, complex or inflammatory intended.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Mark is a gentleman and conducts himself as one. Let's all try to emulate that behavior here on RFF.

 

[raid]

I may have some 100 ft rolls of Velvia in the freezer. Maybe I need to get back to bulk loading.

 

[james.liam]

Can always buy Velvia directly from Japan

 

[HHPhoto]

An odd remark today at the end of the email sent out to people on the mailing list for Speed Graphic, a well-known photographic equipment supplier in the UK:

"Lastly, we heard from a reliable source that Fujifilm have already made their final roll of film. So much for being the 'last man standing' in film manufacturing! It's likely that stock in Europe and then the USA will dry up first, leaving Fuji just serving the home market. They already have Japan-only films in their catalogue."

I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned anywhere else if it really is true.

It hasn't been mentioned elsewhere because it is just a stupid lie.
Period.
People or companies spreading such lies should definitely be avoided!!

Fujifilm has introduced new film products in the last three years, like
- several new instant film products
- newly designed 3-packs for C200 and X-Tra 400 for the North American market
- reintroduction of X-Tra 800 in Quicksnap underwater SUC
- Acros II.
- has started marketing for film again
- has made an official statement to global public and distribution channels on Photokina 2018 that photo film production is continued.
If you would have planned to leave a market, you definitely would not introduce new products and start marketing again.

By the way: Fujifilm is making double (!) the revenue with their analog products compared to their digital products (see their published financial reports).
Maybe they may pull the plug on their digital products, as this market is declining, but certainly not on the growing film market.

Cheers, Jan