Fujifilm price increases

[shadowfox]

It's a sunk cost.

Film revenues are now so small they don't even make the annual financial statements.

Roll film is inconsequential to the company's bottom line. They have a very small sideline bi with he Instax.

Again, if it's a cost (sunk or not), what purpose does that serve?

I still think there is a sentiment or attachment to film somewhere high up in the decision making tree. Either that or a small bet that film will undergo a resurgence in a small scale but enough to make it worthwhile to keep the plants running.

I understand institutional shareholders, but operational decisions are still made by an executive team somewhere.

 

[Spanik]

Can be several reasons:
- if it doesn't make loss, then it adds to the bottom line
- commitments to other parties (they still make cameras for others)
- keeps knowledge inside
- advertising, marketing
- buys goodwill

 

[HHPhoto]

Oh my god, the usual nonsense here from people who don't know the market and manufacturing situation. Our usual "doom and gloom sayers": Their outlooks have been proven wrong in the last years, but they continue repeating the same stuff again and again....

The facts:
1. Fujifilm has a bigger photo film production than Kodak. They are still able to make even niche products like FP100c, Superia 1600 and the slide films.
Kodak stopped all niche film products.

2. Instax film is Fuji's most successful photo product, much more successful than their digital business.

3. Fuji intend to sell 5 million Instax cameras this year, that is much more than all of their digital cameras together.

4. They do invest in Instax in the future.

5. Here are all the facts and current data:
http://photoscala.de/Artikel/Neue-Qu...ortbildkameras

http://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/p...150520_001.pdf

Fujifilm Europe said that the price increase is Japan only, at least Europe will not be affected.

Thank you! Good to hear.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Spanik]

Your points 2, 3 and 4 all relate to Instax which is indeed a good product for Fujifilm. But those price increases are for the not-instant film products. And the european prices do have already increased, about 30-50% since my previous order about 6 months ago.

 

[HHPhoto]

Yes, but the point is, that not another price increase will follow here in Europe.
And that is simply good news.
Stop lamenting, go out and shoot film. More demand is the best we can do for keeping the lines running and prices stable.

 

[Spanik]

Don't worry, got a enough in the freezer to last a year or 3. I hope by then Ferrania is up and running and making something faster than 100iso.

 

[HHPhoto]

Well, I do hope on Ferrania, too. They have my support.
But I am also a realist:
Ferrania cannot be a replacement for Kodak or Fuji, only a supplement. From a technological point of view, they are about 25-30 years behind Kodak and Fuji, concerning the quality parameters of their films.

We should not forget: In the film era Fuji, Kodak (and Ilford) were leading in technology. Then Agfa a little bit behind in color (and on the same level in BW as Ilford).
Then with a significant distance behind Konica, then Ferrania, then Lucky.

It is very important for us to keep both Fujifilm and Kodak running. And Ferrania then can fill several market gaps.

Cheers, Jan

 

[brbo]

Yes, but the point is, that not another price increase will follow here in Europe.
And that is simply good news.

Ever?

Stop lamenting, go out and shoot film. More demand is the best we can do for keeping the lines running and prices stable.

Unfortunately, it's not. Like every Provia 400X shipment to Europe in the last 2 years was sold within days/weeks. Every next shipment was more expensive and sold even faster.

On average I spend more euros on Fuji products (film) than their average digital enthusiast. But spending even more will not prolong the availability of Fuji films that I'm interested in.

 

[swatch]

Have not considered what Fuji will spend each dollar they earn from film production...likely not on developing a new film for us. Acros is excellent and I will keep using this film until it's end of production if it would

 

[kiss-o-matic]

The yen taking a pounding (and no sign of it letting up) are the most likely factors. Also worth noting that it looks like they're re-discontinuing Provia 400x. I just sold a bunch. Do I stock up? Hmm...

 

[HHPhoto]

Unfortunately, it's not. Like every Provia 400X shipment to Europe in the last 2 years was sold within days/weeks.

Well, Provia 400X had already been discontinued in Europe about two years ago. All further coming shipments to Europe were not official shipments by Fuji, but inofficial imports by some distributers like Macodirect.
And these imports have been very difficult, only very small volumes and therefore of course more expensive.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

Have not considered what Fuji will spend each dollar they earn from film production...likely not on developing a new film for us.

Their income got in development of new Instax cameras (like 90 Neo Classic, Instax 300) and in development of new real silver-halide (process RA-4) photo paper for photo books (presented at Photokina). There has also been an official announcement that Fujifilm has rised their R&D budget for silver-halide photo-paper recently.
R&D of silver-halide paper is very close to film. So if the demand for Fuji standard photo film recovers in the future (similar to the development of Instax film), there is a realistic chance of re-introduced films in the mid-term, and new films in the long term.
Don't forget:
The demand for Instax film had its low in 2004. Since then the demand has increased by a factor of 40 (!!!).

The film revival is in our hands:
- Shooting more film
- getting other photographers interested in film.
Imagine: If every film shooter get only 2-3 other photographers also interested in using film, then we have a solid film revival.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

The yen taking a pounding (and no sign of it letting up) are the most likely factors.

The weak yen makes it easier for them to keep prices stable in Europe and the US.

Cheers, Jan

 

[kiss-o-matic]

The weak yen makes it easier for them to keep prices stable in Europe and the US.

Cheers, Jan

But these were for prices hikes in Japan. Honestly, most of these companies just maximize profits either way. I've lived in Japan from 74/$1 to 148/$1. They always seem to adjust when they need to not lose money, but it rarely goes in the favor of the customer.

I'm going to Japan next month. I might buy like 50 rolls and freeze them. 400x is magical stuff.