Fujifilm, Rollei closed their factories

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kiemchacsu

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In its hay day the Fuji operation was producing 200 million rolls of film per year ... that's one plant! :eek:

It makes you realise how big the industry was at its peak ... and I'd be curious to find out what Ilfords total production per year is currently ... does anyone know?
 
No film has been produced in Tilburg for 15 years, so that is not really meaningful regarding the current state of film.
 
The current state of film seems to be better represented by the fact that I can't get film processed at my local Walmart anymore. They won't even send it off.

Niche industry,
 
It seems that film consumption is not high enough to justify profits on making film cameras. I'd better buy now a second Rolleiflex to have for spare parts just in case...

This has been more or less well expected. Film does have a lot of supporters, but not enough to introduce an attractive profit to camera makers.
 
New films being announced every few weeks at the moment. Even whole film factories (Ferrania) being resurrected! Some people prefer seeing the glass half full, some half empty. Choose which you want to be.
 
Fuji in Tilburg, the Netherlands stopped already a long time ago with film manufacturing. Last years they did some RA-4 papers and ..... pharmacy.

I just took a full box of OEM Fuji Superia 100 135 films from their "old" Tilburg factory. 256 pcs in one box left in one of the freezers.

16088740351_2be044c782.jpg



About F&H, DHW - Rollei (Germany) it is a pity they could not makes things profitable.
A too small niche market with too high costs.
 
mani said:
New films being announced every few weeks at the moment. Even whole film factories (Ferrania) being resurrected! Some people prefer seeing the glass half full, some half empty. Choose which you want to be.
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Yes - I'm always glad to see new film production. The problem I see is, we may run out of cameras as they wear out. Hopefully, in the near future, someone will decide to put some film cameras in production.
 
bsdunek said:
Yes - I'm always glad to see new film production. The problem I see is, we may run out of cameras as they wear out. Hopefully, in the near future, someone will decide to put some film cameras in production.
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Leica and Cosina continue to make film cameras. I think even Fuji is (the Klasse, unless it's been discontinued). Oh, and I believe the Nikon F6 is still in current production (amazingly). And that's just in 35mm film land.
 
bsdunek said:
The problem I see is, we may run out of cameras as they wear out.
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At the weekend I was using an M2 that was manufactured 50 years ago. I'd say my M6 has about 40 or 50 year's worth of use in it still. Plenty of film cameras still being produced, as Nikku pointed out.
So I'm not sweating it.
 
My Fujica ST901 is now something like 40 years old and going strong, plus I have two backups and two ST8801s. My Contax II was made in 1939. Even my 1984 Kiev is still usable, along with my 9x12 and 120 film folders.

I don't think cameras will be the problem, just the film.
 
To add to the gloom and doom, what's the status of photographic papers? Even if you are able to continue with your film camera, the outlook for darkroom prints is another concern.
 
Darthfeeble said:
To add to the gloom and doom, what's the status of photographic papers? Even if you are able to continue with your film camera, the outlook for darkroom prints is another concern.
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There are several makers of black and white left - that will stay. Colour is another matter - that is currently only kept alive by being the most relevant digital mass print medium. If the print demand from consumers continues to decrease, those that still want prints may have higher demands regarding print size and turnaround speed regardless of price - in which case they'll turn to inkjet...
 
bsdunek said:
Yes - I'm always glad to see new film production. The problem I see is, we may run out of cameras as they wear out. Hopefully, in the near future, someone will decide to put some film cameras in production.
Click to expand...

Do you know why they stopped to make them in quantities? Because made one never get too old as digital ones and many of them are build to last for very long time.
And they have made them in some numbers.

FED-2 - 1.632.600.
Smena - 8(m) - 21.041.191.

And new film cameras are still made by Leica and Cosina, not to mention Lomography plastic-fantastic.


Darthfeeble said:
To add to the gloom and doom, what's the status of photographic papers? Even if you are able to continue with your film camera, the outlook for darkroom prints is another concern.
Click to expand...

Are you serious? Even in soviet Ontario I could get new and plenty of Ilford and Kentmere. If I dare little more here is free delivery by BH of Slavitch, Oriental and else.
 
kiemchacsu said:
I've not seen these were discussed here
Rollei is putting their stuff for auction
Link here

http://petapixel.com/2015/03/13/rolleiflex-factory-to-be-liquidated-at-auction-heres-a-look-inside/

Auction site:

http://www.proventura.de//insolvenz...uction/2669/bildkatalog/seite/18/#bildkatalog

Older story of Fujifilm film factory in Europe

http://petapixel.com/2015/01/05/fuj...ajor-film-factories-europe-heres-look-inside/

So, the old question: what is happening with film industry?
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Well, there's a question that's never been asked before.
Hang on to your hat, because this may blow your mind.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=the+future+of+film+photography
 
I live very close from the Fuji's Ashigara site. I occasionally visit there because I can enjoy beautiful cherry blossom in early spring along the river flowing next to it. And every time I visit there, I am asaulted by some intangible feelings like,

"Are they really producing films in here?"

or

"How much price inclease am I going to suffer this year?"


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Fujifilm Ashigara Site - Minamiashigara, Japan

3110786093_8ec5749245.jpg

Fujifilm-mae Station - Minamiashigara, Japan
 
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Speaking of new film cameras, Leica is even producing a run of meterless M cameras. Of course since it's Leica it won't be available for most of us but still it is comforting somehow even if I would never dream of dropping that much coin on a hobby.

As for film, it is not available locally (within 25 miles) at all. But in our modern world B&H or Freestyle are just a mouse click and a few days shipping away, plan ahead.
 
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