Fuji film price hike in the offing

Fujifilm is a huge company, imaging (film and digital) account for 16% of this revenue. Of this, 33% is digital (5% of total) and film is the remaining 67% (11% of the total). Most of that film is instax (and instax cameras), it doesn’t leave much space for traditional film. In fact they don’t even mention film in their financial documents. I doubt they’ve made any for ages, and are just increasing the price as it runs out. Based on all that, they’re not a viable solution for traditional film.

https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/investors/guidance/index.html
https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/pdf/investors/finance/materials/ff_2018q4_001.pdf
 
Maybe they’re just sick of storing the stuff and want it gone. I can see the board meeting now: “we told them we were going to raise the prices by 20% and they didn’t stock up, let’s tell them we’re going to raise it all by 30% and see if they stock up this time!”
 
steveyork said:
Seems that when they stopped marketing B&W film they signaled their long term intentions.
Click to expand...


Yes, absolutely right. The minute Fujifilm started cutting their core product line, I knew that they had lost all commitment to non INSTAX film.


Some think that a new $10 brochure and a web page that took all of a week to make signifies a new commitment to film, but the facts say otherwise.
 
They didn't even bother to include their patented "Fuji stays fully committed to film" that accompanied their previous announcements of discontinued film products or price increases.

Now, they end their press releases with ominous "Fujifilm will continue to study the market demand, and make adjustments to product assortment...". Since higher prices will inevitably bring lower demand we can begin to speculate what film will get the axe next...
 
Ted Striker said:
Both my kids have INSTAX cameras. They love shooting film.
Click to expand...

My daughter too, she burns a pack a week usually and loves it.

I think it’s the perfect camera for kids. She has learned more about composition and lighting in a week than she did in a year shooting with a P&S digital. The developing time makes the feedback almost immediate, with just enough of a delay to get disappointed when it doesn’t work like you imagined and just enough cost to make you do better the next time.
 
brbo said:
They didn't even bother to include their patented "Fuji stays fully committed to film" that accompanied their previous announcements of discontinued film products or price increases.

Now, they end their press releases with ominous "Fujifilm will continue to study the market demand, and make adjustments to product assortment...". Since higher prices will inevitably bring lower demand we can begin to speculate what film will get the axe next...
Click to expand...


I think most people now fully understand that Fujifilm is exiting the traditional film market. Read over at DPR at the comment section for this story. It's 90% or more anti-Fujifilm. People used to think that they stood behind their words and were committed to film. No more.
 
michaelwj said:
My daughter too, she burns a pack a week usually and loves it.

I think it’s the perfect camera for kids. She has learned more about composition and lighting in a week than she did in a year shooting with a P&S digital. The developing time makes the feedback almost immediate, with just enough of a delay to get disappointed when it doesn’t work like you imagined and just enough cost to make you do better the next time.
Click to expand...


100% agreed!
 
michaelwj said:
............... In fact they don’t even mention film in their financial documents. I doubt they’ve made any for ages, and are just increasing the price as it runs out. Based on all that, they’re not a viable solution for traditional film.

https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/investors/guidance/index.html
https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/pdf/investors/finance/materials/ff_2018q4_001.pdf
Click to expand...

It would seem to me that it’s a personal decision whether or not Fuji is a viable solution for film, a decision which should be based upon whether we prefer a Fuji film stock to any of the alternatives or not. And not a decision based on raw emotion (vide “**** Fuji!” If I prefer a Fuji emulsion to any available alternative, it’s the only viable solution for me.

I loved ACROS, and bought all I could afford and froze it. But, there are a couple of other available, quite different, emulsions I enjoy using as well, so I won’t quit shooting B&W when all my ACROS is gone. On the other hand, there is no digital sensor equivalent, nor is there a film emulation equivalent for either Velvia or Provia (imo, not going to argue about it here). Nor have I been that thrilled with my results from the new Ektachrome so far. So, if I want the “look” of Velvia or Provia, it’s Ektachrome and digital color which are not “viable”. (I am not saying I don’t think digital color renditions can be excellent, only saying that, if you like Fuji reversal films, they are the only game in town, as even the Fuji digital emulations of same don’t come very close at all. At this point, anyway.)

As much as I love Fuji transparency films as a tool, I’ve got a price point at which I will probably give up transparency film and default mostly to digital color, with a smattering of Ektar and 400H here and there, about both of which I’m ambivalent as digital emulations of these two are pretty close.

A 30% price hike is a toll I am unlikely to pay, love or no love. There’s a limit, and that’s likely it, for me.
So, I just bought as much Velvia and Provia as I could afford, which in 4x5 wasn’t that much, and will fill the freezer. When it’s gone, it’s gone. sic transit gloria mundi. Far from any desire on my part to “**** Fuji!”, I thank them for giving me the opportunity to use this film, while it lasted:)
 
Seems now is about the right time to put my 50 Fujifilm 120 and 220 rolls up for trade in the classifieds... ;)


Edit: DONE!
 
johannielscom said:
Seems now is about the right time to put my 50 Fujifilm 120 and 220 rolls up for trade in the classifieds... ;)


Edit: DONE!
Click to expand...

Now is pretty much the worse time. Wait at least till new prices kick in...

edit: Unless your intentions are purely philanthropic in which case why wouldn't you just donate the film? Preferably to me ;)
 
Rob-F said:
Well, I think Fuji's plan is an Aberration, and a Distortion of proper marketing. They are Exposing themselves to criticism, and their thinking is Underdeveloped. I think they should Rewind. If they keep this up, they will only sprocket themselves.
Click to expand...

We can only hope. But the way things are doing, Fujifilm will probably just keep raising prices until they are standing instax of cash.
 
I've read it here and decided to buy a brick of 35mm Velvia 50. Found the best price (plus shipping) at Unique Photo (USD ~15 a roll. UPS shipping)
Anyway, I himk the days of wanton shooting are over. Not too long ago I had paid $7.00 a roll., or $100 for 100 ft. roll.
 
Yes, no need to get emulsional, what with rabid Foma at the mouth invectives of **** Fuji. Just go stock up before the price increases.
 
We must all Tri-X times harder to encourage Fuji and other manufacturers to keep on producing film. That way we will have a Pan-opoly of choice.
 
Perhaps current prices are bellow profitability. Digital cameras and smartphones have created a big tilt and shift in the market. Prices may rise and fall as a result.
 
With all the film discontinuations and price hikes, Fujifilm has done a lot of Harman damage to their name. I know they are a diversified company, but if their film manufacturing division dyes off, they should consider changing their name to simply Fuji.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom