Fuji Pro NS 160 Sheet Film Discontinued...interesting article regarding film

[jsrockit]

Here:

http://www.thephoblographer.com/201...60-discusses-the-future-of-film/#.V5t72_mANBc

I found this interesting...

18 million rolls sold last year compared to 860 million in 2002-2003 but of the 18 million, most of the volume is made up of single use cameras!

 

[Mackinaw]

That’s amazing. From 860 million rolls of film down to 18 million. No wonder Kodak went bankrupt and why Fuji’s been constantly downsizing their film selections.

Jim B.

 

[BillBingham2]

...... No wonder Kodak went bankrupt and why Fuji’s been constantly downsizing their film selections.

Jim B.

IMHO, Kodak started going bankrupt after Walt Fallon, none of the Presidents/CEOs were engineers, all financial people. They lost the product vision and were focused on the next 10K report. The invented digital photography and didn't understand how to capitalize a disruptive technology.

Good to read the market seems to have found the bottom, now it's time to grow the niches.

Great read JR, thanks!

B2 (;->

 

[Mackinaw]

IMHO, Kodak started going bankrupt after Walt Fallon, none of the Presidents/CEOs were engineers, all financial people. They lost the product vision and were focused on the next 10K report. The invented digital photography and didn't understand how to capitalize a disruptive technology..........

Won’t argue that, but it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that the film marked contracted by about 98% over a 10+ year period. Just amazing.

Jim B.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I'm flumoxed to why pro160ns, which is an awesome film, isnt readily available in the united states. Only place that sells it is mel pierce. Would be nice if BH and adorama and Freestyle would get this film. (i'm talking about 120 at this point). I didnt even know they made it in 4x5

As a followup, I have a hard time believing what the photoblographer has to say, as when they spoke about films available recently, they left out portra 800. When I brought this to their attention, they insisted portra 800 has not been made for years and was discontinued long ago.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

I'm flumoxed to why pro160ns, which is an awesome film, isnt readily available in the united states. Only place that sells it is mel pierce. Would be nice if BH and adorama and Freestyle would get this film. (i'm talking about 120 at this point). I didnt even know they made it in 4x5

As a followup, I have a hard time believing what the photoblographer has to say, as when they spoke about films available recently, they left out portra 800. When I brought this to their attention, they insisted portra 800 has not been made for years and was discontinued long ago.

Agreed. I also struggle with the single use figures. They are near impossible to find everywhere I go. Maybe if Fuji wanted to sell some film, they wouldnt restrict the film to just being sold in Japan.

 

[Spanik]

Agreed. I also struggle with the single use figures. They are near impossible to find everywhere I go. Maybe if Fuji wanted to sell some film, they wouldnt restrict the film to just being sold in Japan.

From all I see, read and hear, Fuji isn't interested in film anymore.

 

[robert blu]

When I go in a touristic place, like Venice (the italian Venice!) I see everybody taking photos.
This is what I saw years ago, before the digital era. The only difference is that years ago all the "touristic/holidays/family" photos were taken on film. I think this is part of the equation in the collapse of the film market. Touristic and family snaps were a huge share of the market.
robert

 

[ChrisLivsey]

I found this interesting...

Fuji believe 18 million rolls sold last year in the US
compared to 860 million in 2002-2003 but of the 18 million, most of the volume is made up of single use cameras!
Bold added by me from the original.

Without accurate quoting that looked like a world wide figure, it's USA and believe.
That quote is also not new it was used here in August 2015: http://time.com/4011238/the-future-of-film-photography-instant-toy-cameras-and-small-scale-labs/
Which is odd as that OP link posted page says it was an exclusive to them.

 

[Prest_400]

When I go in a touristic place, like Venice (the italian Venice!) I see everybody taking photos.
This is what I saw years ago, before the digital era. The only difference is that years ago all the "touristic/holidays/family" photos were taken on film. I think this is part of the equation in the collapse of the film market. Touristic and family snaps were a huge share of the market.
robert

Indeed, just as now it's easy to see how most shoot with cellphones rather than cameras (plenty of DSLRs). I do see an occasional film camera (Barcelona) but it's mostly cellphones. Now it is relatively rare to see digital P&S.
That market does not count anymore, aside for attaining economies of scale in manufacturing, which would be fantastic for the oversized manufacturing capacities of Kodak and Fuji.

Disposable is an interesting market but not much said about it though!
Edit: Fuji has the problem of What? where? and how? it is selling its C41 range. 160NS was not distributed worldwide, EU had 120 and Sheet and Japan had the whole range, including 220. How they still kept manufacturing it in 220? When 400H seems to be more hyped and may be more useful with 220

 

[jsrockit]

Fuji believe 18 million rolls sold last year in the US
compared to 860 million in 2002-2003 but of the 18 million, most of the volume is made up of single use cameras!
Bold added by me from the original.

Without accurate quoting that looked like a world wide figure, it's USA and believe.
That quote is also not new it was used here in August 2015: http://time.com/4011238/the-future-of-film-photography-instant-toy-cameras-and-small-scale-labs/
Which is odd as that OP link posted page says it was an exclusive to them.

I'll believe Fuji over someone that doesn't work there.

 

[HHPhoto]

More positive than negative aspects

More positive than negative aspects

Hi,

focussing on the relevant aspects in this article there are fortunately more positive than negative news:
Negative:
- Discontinuation of Pro 160 NS sheet film. It is an excellent film, and have been so far the cheapest colour sheet film. From now on the Fuji reversal sheet films are the cheapest ones, as Kodak has massively increased their prices for their CN sheet films, being now the most expensive options.

Positive:
+ US photo film market with 18 million films p.a. stronger than expected (last calculations have been lower).
+ Fuji is realizing increasing demand in the US for professional film (probably mainly 135 and 120 format; at least that is what other manufacturers are reporting for their increasing demand).
+ Significant demand for single use cameras, too.
+ Fuji US is re-introducing Superia 200, 400 and 800 as 36 exposures rolls in the US market.

By the way, Fuji has just these days published their financial data for the last year:
1. Their analogue sector had a growth of +4%.
2. Their digital sector had a decline of -14%.
3. Their analogue sector had a total sales volume of 2.44 billion dollars!!
4. Their digital sector had a total sales volume of only 987 million dollars.
More details:
http://photoscala.de/Artikel/Fujifilm-Geschäftszahlen-Mit-analoger-Fotografie-zum-Erfolg

If you compare the Fuji financial data with the analogue business of Eastman Kodak, Kodak, Alaris, Ilford you immediately see how extremely tiny they are compared to Fuji.
And you immediately see that this stupid "Fuji-non-film" hate and bashing campaign is absolutely nonsense and has nothing to do with reality.

Cheers, Jan

 

[jsrockit]

And you immediately see that this stupid "Fuji-non-film" hate and bashing campaign is absolutely nonsense and has nothing to do with reality.

Jesus Christ, who was bashing? None of us want to see film go away... AT ALL! We are not the zealots here.

 

[HHPhoto]

Jesus Christ, who was bashing? None of us want to see film go away... AT ALL! We are not the zealots here.

Well, please open your eyes and just look at JCH and his fellows, lots of other bloggers, thousands of people in the forums (unfortunately here as well) and the numerous facebook film photography groups.
Fuji bashing, spreading misinformation about Fuji and even requests / callings to completely boycott Fujifilm are very popular for quite some time.
Those people don't care about that by this behaviour they damage the whole film market, and in the end even kill the last manufacturer of the highest quality reversal films ever made. Killing an essential part of photographic culture.

The film market absolutely needs all current film manufacturers: Fujifilm, Kodak, Agfa, Ilford, Foma, Impossible, InovisCoat, Adox.

Fuji has several unique films in their portfolio with benchmark parameters: No other manufacturer has that technology to make such films:
For example the Velvias with their unique colours and unsurpassed resolution at lower object contrasts, Provia 100F with its precise colour rendition and unsurpassed long exposure qualities (outstanding Schwarzschild effect). Acros with its unsurpassed long exposure qualities, too.
The Superias with the best sharpness, resolution and fineness of grain of all amateur negative films.
Just to name some unique qualities, there are even more.

It would be a tragedy to loose all that!
Shoot more film, shoot also Fuji film, with rising demand Fuji probably will do the same thing they have done in the last years with Instax: Invest again in more products.
Demand is the decisive factor!
And bashing Fuji, avoiding them is completely counterproductive.

Cheers, Jan

 

[jsrockit]

HHPhoto... it's only the internet, who cares? Do you really think people will boycott? Most people who talk about the death of film aren't going to buy it anyway. No amount of pro-film praise is going to change that.

The reason I posted this article is because I was surprised, not by the numbers, but by the fact that single use cameras were still a player. I'm still surprised.

 

[Prest_400]

HHPhoto... it's only the internet, who cares? Do you really think people will boycott? Most people who talk about the death of film aren't going to buy it anyway. No amount of pro-film praise is going to change that.

The reason I posted this article is because I was surprised, not by the numbers, but by the fact that single use cameras were still a player. I'm still surprised.

+1. There's self selection bias also. At least the hilarious heated times of Film vs Digital are left mostly behind and the pragmatic is to use both as desired, being complementary.

I also found disposable to be a surprise. Not that much however in that the ones who shoot and talk film rarely use these cameras and its numbers will be silent. I haven't seen any in the streets BTW.
Maybe some lomo factor too.

 

[Aristophanes]

When I go in a touristic place, like Venice (the italian Venice!) I see everybody taking photos.
This is what I saw years ago, before the digital era. The only difference is that years ago all the "touristic/holidays/family" photos were taken on film. I think this is part of the equation in the collapse of the film market. Touristic and family snaps were a huge share of the market.
robert

The sheer volume of vernacular film sales heavily subsidized the high-end film manufacture, and similarly transferred to camera sales and manufacture.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

There's an account I've followed on IG for a long time @676plustax and it's all disposable camera stuff. Kind of related to the topic haha. But yeah, I didn't think there were that many people still using disposables. I still remember buying them as a kid in the 90s and shooting the hell out of them on family trips. I still just don't think Fuji is interested in really producing film and they are kind of just here right now but not making advances. I'm not a fan of them at all for their practices that don't make sense but I'm not a FujiFilm exec so I don't know what goes on around there.

 

[HHPhoto]

HHPhoto... it's only the internet, who cares?

Unfortunately the internet is nowadys the biggest source of misinformation about film. Unfortunately hundreds of millions of people out there indeed think film is not available anymore for years (we all know the experience being out there shooting film and then get the comments "hey, there is no film anymore.....").
And therefore a lot of people do care. Especially, as in this case, prominent internet bloggers (with lots of fanboys who blindly follow their "gurus") permanently spread misinformations.
Unfortunately that does have negative impacts on film.

Do you really think people will boycott?

Yes, unfortunately. Misinformed people are doing that. Ask the distributors. They will confirm. I've talked to a lot of them. They are really frustrated by all the misinformation and bashing.

The reason I posted this article is because I was surprised, not by the numbers, but by the fact that single use cameras were still a player. I'm still surprised.

I am not surprised as we are talking about the US market in this article. Single use cameras have been much more popular there than in lots of other markets.
Example: In the film record years about 170 million SUC were sold in the US alone.
But only 5 million in Germany at the same time (despite its relative unpopularity here you can still get them in every drug store chain shop in Germany; people buy them).

SUCs are used in vacancies, at the beach, the underwater models at the sea for skin-diving / snoring. Good for young kids for snapshots, too.
And they are quite popular at weddings: On each table 1-2 SUCs for the guests so that they can make snap shots of the party.
They are even sold as wedding-cameras in special wedding outfits.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Prest_400]

Unfortunately the internet is nowadys the biggest source of misinformation about film. Unfortunately hundreds of millions of people out there indeed think film is not available anymore for years (we all know the experience being out there shooting film and then get the comments "hey, there is no film anymore.....").
And therefore a lot of people do care. Especially, as in this case, prominent internet bloggers (with lots of fanboys who blindly follow their "gurus") permanently spread misinformations.
Unfortunately that does have negative impacts on film.



Yes, unfortunately. Misinformed people are doing that. Ask the distributors. They will confirm. I've talked to a lot of them. They are really frustrated by all the misinformation and bashing.



I am not surprised as we are talking about the US market in this article. Single use cameras have been much more popular there than in lots of other markets.
Example: In the film record years about 170 million SUC were sold in the US alone.
But only 5 million in Germany at the same time (despite its relative unpopularity here you can still get them in every drug store chain shop in Germany; people buy them).

SUCs are used in vacancies, at the beach, the underwater models at the sea for skin-diving / snoring. Good for young kids for snapshots, too.
And they are quite popular at weddings: On each table 1-2 SUCs for the guests so that they can make snap shots of the party.
They are even sold as wedding-cameras in special wedding outfits.

Cheers, Jan

I have to agree about the idea. Probably spread during the latter peak digital 5 to 10 years ago and stuck. Interestingly despite internet people still think so.

Down here in Spain disposables are quite available as the low tier films (fuji c200 and kodak color plus) but I have not seen them on the field.
Last year I did use a quicksnap marine and it was fun... Too bad they stuck at the 27 exp rolls.
Instaxes seem to be also quite popular in weddings, and the idea of disposables I don't know. Phones sweeped away the low end P&S'.

Also the internet does not much good when different things happen in some markets...
Batch not imported to US = ides of worldwide discontinuation

Still, it is curious some of the Japan only stuff is quite unreachable despite all the infrastructure for small sales.



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