Is new Walgreens really Fuji??? The conclusion is ...

[dmr]

Well, I just picked up the first roll of the new Walgreens 200 on the way in this morning. A few obvious conclusions:

1. In a typical daylight scene, the grain is smoother and much tighter than the old Walgreens/Agfa 200. At first glance, it appears that the colors are more saturated than the old W/A 200.

2. In an available light scene, this may not be a fair comparison. I never really shot the W/A 200 this way. I did try the W/A 800 (awful) and the W/A 400 (strange and gritty) in available light and I did not like them. I did a couple quick shots at night (actually early morning) and found this film to be MUCH cleaner and smoother than either of the old W/A films. (I'll test the new W/F 400 as soon as I find it in the 4-pack.)

3. Looking at the negatives, in partcular the markings on the edge, this is definitely not Kodak and it's definitely not Agfa. What appears to be the give-away is the distinctive color stripe on the negative edges. I'll let you make the final conclusion from the negative scans below. 🙂 🙂 🙂

The first frame below is a daytime shot with the new 200, facing northeast. The second is a guestimated 1/15 wide open, as I stopped to pick up our department's requisite Fattening Friday Fix. 🙂

The third is a scan of Genuine Fuji<tm> 200 (HQ?) on the top and the new Walgreens film on the bottom. This is 2 separate scans pasted together, levels adjusted for clarity in the edges. Compare in particular the color stripes and the codes on the opposite edge.

I'll let one of you others say it. 🙂 🙂

When I picked these up, they had the single packs of the new Japanese 400 marked with some kind of a special price tag for $3.49. (HUH???? I can get Real Fuji much cheaper!) They had some 4-packs of 400, but these were clearly the Agfa. When the Japanese stuff appears in the 4-packs I'll give that a try and report on it.

OBTW: When I picked these up, I did notice that the one hour photo section of this Walgreens had been rearranged. I asked the guy about it and he very proudly pointed to their shiny new Fuji Frontier 550 minilab. He said it can do like 4000 prints per hour or something (forget the exact number). It does appear with this, that Walgreens is definitely not abandoning Fuji in any way. 🙂

 

[bmattock]

Yep, looks like Fuji. Well, 'made in Japan' really doesn't mean much else for film these days, eh? I was by my local Walgreens this weekend, getting some of the last of my Studio 35 (Agfa) 200 processed. I noticed that a) the film section has REALLY shrunk now - there is maybe a half-yard of display space in what used to be 2 yards easy. b) The two 'print from your memory cards' kiosks are both newly-replaced by Fuji machines. c) There are two minilabs - both Fuji's. d) They have the new 'Made in Japan' Studio 35 ISO 200, but the box design has changed and it is a whopping $4.99 EACH ROLL!!!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dmr]

They have the new 'Made in Japan' Studio 35 ISO 200, but the box design has changed and it is a whopping $4.99 EACH ROLL!!!

That's gotta be a mistake. Here it's $4.99 for a 4-pack.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

My Walgreens still has some of the old Studio 35 (Agfa) 400.
Time to make some more room in the fridge and stock up!

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[bmattock]

That's gotta be a mistake. Here it's $4.99 for a 4-pack.

I didn't see any ISO 200 4-packs, but the ISO 400 4-packs were $6.99. Kodak Gold ISO 200 is $6.49 for a 24 exposure roll here. I guess the Kodak price increase has hit the retail level.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Socke]

IKodak Gold ISO 200 is $6.49 for a 24 exposure roll here.

$6.49 for one roll?

Wow! If these prizes come to my place I better order the Canon 5D soon, no need to think about a ZI any longer.

 

[danwilly]

My local Walgreens has 8-packs of 200 speed, Agfa, for the sale price of $4.99. Normal price is $5.99. So do the math, that is about 65 cents a roll. I am a big Walgreens fan, both for purchasing film and processing.

 

[danwilly]

I should have added the one-hour processor at my local Walgreens is an Agfa digital processor.

 

[bmattock]

Seems like Walgreens is going through some kind of transition, eh? Prices different everywhere. I went to their website, do not see the prices that I found at the store yesterday. So who knows?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ampguy]

yup

yup

Yesterday the walgreens I went to wanted to charge me $6 for negs and CD, and an extra $0.99 for a contact 4x6, so I went to Longs and got it all for $3.99/roll.

Not quite sure I understand the fascination with walgreen's film. I always find Fuji branded multi-packs at the marts on sale for about the prices above. Am I missing something? Did the guy in Pecker use Walgreens film or something??!! 😀

Seems like Walgreens is going through some kind of transition, eh? Prices different everywhere. I went to their website, do not see the prices that I found at the store yesterday. So who knows?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Not quite sure I understand the fascination with walgreen's film. I always find Fuji branded multi-packs at the marts on sale for about the prices above. Am I missing something? Did the guy in Pecker use Walgreens film or something??!! 😀

When Agfa went kerblooey, Walgreens ran specials on their "Studio 35" house-brand film, which was (most agreed) Agfa Vista. Prices varied, but often dropped to less than a buck a roll. And many people liked the relatively subdued but accurate colors of Agfa Vista color print film. So it was a great film to go out and burn on a budget.

It appears that Walgreen's stock of old Agfa film is about gone now, so we see people wondering what they will use for a 'house film' next. There are really only a couple of choices - Ferrania, Kodak, and Fuji, as far as I know. I don't think there is anything else made.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dmr]

Kodak Gold ISO 200 is $6.49 for a 24 exposure roll here.

OUCH! Around here it's often $7-8ish for a 4-pack at Target'

My local Walgreens has 8-packs of 200 speed, Agfa, for the sale price of $4.99.

I haven't seen the 8-packs for a long time. I picked up 48 rolls of that around the first of the year when it was $4.99 for 8. I've shot almost all of it -- well, I did give some away a couple times.

I am a big Walgreens fan, both for purchasing film and processing.

Actually, I have to admit that Walgreens is one place where I have few complaints, both for photo and for general stuff. They dropped Fuji branded film about a year ago, but I can get that for a good price at both Target' and {yeah, I know} Wally World if I have to. Most of them around here are now 24x7 and the one right on the way for me actually has photo open 24x7. Now that I know they have Fuji film for a decent price I'm sure I'll buy more film from them.

 

[rbiemer]

I've been following folks' Walgreen's expeiences as related here at RFF since they are building one(and possibly two) here in my hometown.
They have started demolition on the business that they are replacing and I figure about a month from when that is done they'll be open.
I'm looking forwrad to this as it will give the other places her some competition.
I stopped using CVS for anything photgraphic--except buying film, Ekerds here has always done a poor job and is simply tough to get to anyway(extremely poor site design), Kinney Drugs is indifferent at best. The grocery stores can't even tell me who they are sending the film to.
So Wal-mart has been the only choice for a while now. OK job but having another option will be good.
I will be interested to see how a new store is set up photo-wise.
Rob

 

[ywenz]

Kodak Gold ISO 200 is $6.49 for a 24 exposure roll here. I guess the Kodak price increase has hit the retail level.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

That can't be correct. Way too much for a 24pack.

 

[ch1]

I've been following folks' Walgreen's expeiences as related here at RFF since they are building one(and possibly two) here in my hometown.
They have started demolition on the business that they are replacing and I figure about a month from when that is done they'll be open.
I'm looking forwrad to this as it will give the other places her some competition.
I stopped using CVS for anything photgraphic--except buying film, Ekerds here has always done a poor job and is simply tough to get to anyway(extremely poor site design), Kinney Drugs is indifferent at best. The grocery stores can't even tell me who they are sending the film to.
So Wal-mart has been the only choice for a while now. OK job but having another option will be good.
I will be interested to see how a new store is set up photo-wise.
Rob

Walker,

You should visit Tucson sometime. They have one, possibly two, Walgreens every ten blocks or so!

You never tell folks that you live near the new Walgreens because there are at least ten of them opening every day! 😉

 

[bmattock]

That can't be correct. Way too much for a 24pack.

From their website:

Kodak High Definition 35mm Color Print Film, 400 Speed 24.0 exp. $6.49
Kodak Max 35 mm Color Print Film Versatility, 400 Speed $7.49 (36 exposure)
Kodak Max Versatility Plus 35mm Film for Color Prints $5.99 (24 exposure)

I do not find Kodak Gold 200 listed on their website, but I saw it on the shelf yesterday for the same $6.49 price they're showing for "HD 400." I'll have to stand by my memory and say that's correct. However the next time I'm there I'll check again and post if my memory is faulty. I'm not making it up, however.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

EDIT: 35mm Black & White Film
by Kodak
24.0 exp. $11.49

OUCH

 

[clarence]

and it is a whopping $4.99 EACH ROLL!!!

Sounds like prices in the shops in the UK!

Clarence

 

[KoNickon]

I checked my local Walgreens last night and it's the new film, Made in Japan, and based on the negs. scanned above it's obviously Fuji -- good news. A four-pack of the 200 is going for $4.99; according to the card on the rack the sale will run through the end of June. The film's expiration date is mid-2008.

I do all my 35mm C-41 stuff at this store. They have a Fuji Frontier machine and have been doing excellent work for me for some time. I figure if they keep selling film to me and others, they'll keep carrying it!

 

[rbiemer]

I recall reading somewhere on-line that the Fuji Frontier machines could do fairly high res scans by adjusting the output print size?
In other words, if the operator sets the print size at(IIRC) 13"x18" before scanning negs, the scan is at a high resolution(3000 dpi? can't remember). The scan dpi is tied to the print size. So if one were to then skip any prints you could get a decently high res CD?
Any one know about this?
Rob

 

[Socke]

Before I switched to DSLR for my partypictures I shot three or four rolls every weekend and had them developed and printed at the local Wallmart on monday. Then spent monday and tuesday evening scanning the prints so the pics where online on wednesday.
All in all I spent around 20 to 30 Euro a week to get some pictures on our website and the magazin.