Fujifilm's confirms its commitment to FILM!

[eia41]

I received today the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of Fujifilm Professional's customer publication "Connect". And here is the great news: Fujifilm declares its commitment to the continuation of its film production, confirms the return of Velvia 50 in the Spring and launches a website dedicated to film users:

www.choose-film.com

To quote "...February 2007 sees the launch for a major new iniative to promote traditional film within the professional and entusiast (that's us!!) markets"

The site will provide "...a host of benefits. Members will be able to create their own profile web page that will carry a gallery of their images, a blog, links and contact details..."

"...one of Fujifilm's main priorities is to nurture the culture of photography..."

What encouraging news for those of us still dedicated to film, and what a wise move on the part of Fuji in not allienating its customer base. Could it be that the "miracle of digital" has lost some of its shine, or is it a case of horses for courses?

Whatever it is, I for one, will sleep much better tonight!!!

Best regards to the worldwide film-brotherhood.

 

[Tuolumne]

Everything old is new again. Mark my words: film is the new digital.

T.

 

[BronicaLee]

oh yeah! Velvia 50, sweet mama...

 

[peter_n]

They made a similar statement at around this time last year. That was in a press release though.

 

[Xmas]

ManGo

They still may do movie reels... we need someone who is bilingual to search the Ja sites?

Noel

 

[lZr]

Ya, I like declarations, but why twice in ayear?

 

[Taqi]

I'm always wary of these kinds of announcements - it's like the directors at a football club after a 5-0 hammering - "the board fully supports the manager" then a week later he's kicked out the door. However Fuji did recently reverse its decision to stop production of Single 8 film, apparently under pressure from the domestic Japanese market. Perhaps they think there is only room for one major player in the global film market, and they have decided it is going to be Fuji, not Kodak. Kodak may indeed have come to a similar decision.

 

[Athena]

I'm always wary of these kinds of announcements - it's like the directors at a football club after a 5-0 hammering - "the board fully supports the manager" then a week later he's kicked out the door. However Fuji did recently reverse its decision to stop production of Single 8 film, apparently under pressure from the domestic Japanese market. Perhaps they think there is only room for one major player in the global film market, and they have decided it is going to be Fuji, not Kodak. Kodak may indeed have come to a similar decision.

Actually, over the last several months, both Fuji and Kodak have introduced new film products. Kodak made a splash by introducing its new Portas via a far over-subscribed "freebie" offer. And Fuji's commitment to the new Velvia 50 is news not only for film users generally, but also for "chromistas" specifically.

All this suggests there's still plenty of life left in film photography! 🙂

 

[Taqi]

All good news - particularly the velvia - beautiful film and it finds its way into Single 8 cartridges as well..

 

[amateriat]

Someone's still making single-8 movie film? Sweet Jehosephat, maybe the Apocalypse isn't quite around the corner after all.

Of course, there are days when I can't get a fix on which end is up in the world of film. But since it's what I use over 90% of the time, I cross my fingers and march – plod? – onward.

Cheers for Fuji, of course! (But, Rochester, I want my Portra and E200, y'hear?)


- Barrett

 

[ifirdauzi]

Hope press release including Neopan SS and Across
* it's hard to find SS 400 nowadays*

 

[IGMeanwell]

Someone's still making single-8 movie film? Sweet Jehosephat, maybe the Apocalypse isn't quite around the corner after all.

- Barrett

In fact Single 8 and Super 8 is now a trend in Wedding cinematography

http://www.fiftyfootfilms.com/

Pretty cool if you ask me

 

[darkkavenger]

Thank you for the link, I registered there. Bulk film might become a new "way of life" for me....

 

[mike goldberg]

Marketing hype or not... I was glad to see eia41's post.
Please post contact info for subscribing to Connect.
In Israel, Fuji is way ahead of Kodak.

I miss Tri-x, but the commercial development/scanning issues
are such, that Kodak 400 C41 works out better for me. In any
event, from what I see of demand for film processing in a
well known 1-hour Lab in the nearby mall...
Fuji color print film use is very much alive.

Cheers! 😀 mike

 

[Keith]

Marketing hype or not... I was glad to see eia41's post.
Please post contact info for subscribing to Connect.
In Israel, Fuji is way ahead of Kodak.

I miss Tri-x, but the commercial development/scanning issues
are such, that Kodak 400 C41 works out better for me. In any
event, from what I see of demand for film processing in a
well known 1-hour Lab in the nearby mall...
Fuji color print film use is very much alive.

Cheers! 😀 mike

C41 is a good thing for an entry level enthusiast like myself. I buy kodak bw400cn and Fuji Superia 400 from a Hong Kong eBay seller for a third of the price I can buy it locally. Processing at the local Kodak one hour has been spot on so far at $5 per roll. The girl at the one hour was telling me that some days they are lucky to process six rolls which worries me in regards to their commitment for ongoing services considering all businesses need to operate profitably ... I suspect if their C41 processor went pphht they would think carefully about spending money on it!

Brisbane now only has a couple of pro labs that cater to film users ... when you consider it's one of Oz's larger cities ... that's a worry! It's all very well for Fuli to bang on about their future film commitment but what happens when there are no labs to process it ... we're not all darkroom junkies! 🙁

 

[Pherdinand]

A tad off-topic, but here's a video on 16mm black and white reversal film (!!) made in 2003 (!!!). It's a gem on youtube, i'd say. You can read about how it was made by the description. It's funny and inspiring, worthy of 10 minutes of my life.

 

[Socke]

Nice movie!