seany65
Well-known
According to Ja Lim of Lomography, they have no definite plans to re-stock either their Colour 400 asa 120 film or their colour 200 asa Tiger 110 film.
If anyone wants them to keep making/stocking these films they should ask them about it, and of course, put forward positive arguments for continued production.
If anyone wants them to keep making/stocking these films they should ask them about it, and of course, put forward positive arguments for continued production.
dwojr
Well-known
I would be very surprised if the 400 in 120 format would be discontinued. Seems like such a basic film to keep in stock. It is a really good film too.
I wonder how much 110 film they sell though. That seems much more niche and likely to be discontinued to me.
I wonder how much 110 film they sell though. That seems much more niche and likely to be discontinued to me.
Huss
Veteran
Places I'm looking at have the 110 film in stock
seany65
Well-known
@dwojr: That's what I'm hoping, especially considering that it seems fuji will soon stop producing film. That's one big competitor soon to be out of the way.
I don't suppose they sell a lot of Tiger 110, but I'm hoping it's more than their silly Lobster and silly Peacock film and they'll see the sense of dumping those and keeping the Tiger.
I wonder how many of their silly Lubitel 166+ cameras they sell? At £289 I wouldn't buy one if I was a millionaire. Similarly for many of their other silly-priced cameras.
@Huss: The only place I can find that has any in stock in Britain is Wex, and i presume they'll sell out fo it soon.
I don't suppose they sell a lot of Tiger 110, but I'm hoping it's more than their silly Lobster and silly Peacock film and they'll see the sense of dumping those and keeping the Tiger.
I wonder how many of their silly Lubitel 166+ cameras they sell? At £289 I wouldn't buy one if I was a millionaire. Similarly for many of their other silly-priced cameras.
@Huss: The only place I can find that has any in stock in Britain is Wex, and i presume they'll sell out fo it soon.
Skiff
Well-known
Fujifilm will not stop producing film. That is total internet BS.
They are by far the biggest photo film producer in the world. They are even producing more instax film than Kodak, Ilford, Foma, Adox etc. together are producing conventional film!
The traditional Lomography business is almost dead. They have had a very sharp decline since 2012.
They have only survived because of entering the instant business with cameras for Fuji instax.
And because of entering the lens business with selling lenses to (mainly) digital photographers.
And they don't have any own film production! They are completely dependent on other, real film manufacturers like Kodak and Foma.
And their 120 films are converted by a Chinese subcontractor. This whole business is very difficult and complex. Maybe they have to stop because of problems with such suppliers.
css9450
Veteran
Skiff
Well-known
The best thing we can do is keeping production running by demand. By regularly buying and using these unique and outstanding films.
In the end sufficient demand is the only factor that can keep our favorite products alive.
No matter what manufacturer.
Also Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Adox can only continue production if there is enough demand.
It's in the hands of us photographers.
Prest_400
Multiformat
I wonder if Acros was discontinued due to component issues, like Neopan 400 et al were back in the day. Perhaps something ran out and, bleh, "not worth the issue of reformulation".
True that there could be a self fulfilling prophecy in E6. At the moment they are still making it... but fresh coating or from stock we don't know...
May guess this Lomo discontinuations may be due to supplier issues.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
True that there could be a self fulfilling prophecy in E6. At the moment they are still making it... but fresh coating or from stock we don't know...
May guess this Lomo discontinuations may be due to supplier issues.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
seany65
Well-known
@skiff: Thanks for the info. I hope you're right about Fuji not stopping film production. I had got some of the info about this (o the possibility) on this forum. Perhaps I misunderstood?
How does the Chinese manufacturer 'convert' 120 film?
I wonder who made their Tiger and Orca 110 film? I wonder if it's possible to get them to market it themselves?
@Skiff: You're right about the buyers needing to keep up demand, it's the main reason I started this thread.
How does the Chinese manufacturer 'convert' 120 film?
I wonder who made their Tiger and Orca 110 film? I wonder if it's possible to get them to market it themselves?
@Skiff: You're right about the buyers needing to keep up demand, it's the main reason I started this thread.
Skiff
Well-known
A 'converting' company gets raw film from the film manufacturer ( so called master-rolls or jumbo rolls).
The technical term 'converting' means / includes the following steps:
- slitting the master-roll into 'pancakes' (in the case of rollfilm 56mm wide film pancakes)
- cutting the pancakes into film stripes with the length of one 120 rollfilm (80cm long)
- exposing the film type and frame numbers onto the films
- combining the films stripes with the backing paper
- packaging the films.
AFAIK the only remaining company in China which is able to convert rollfilm is Shanghai. So maybe (or probably) they are doing this service for Lomography. But that is a guess. I don't know for sure.
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seany65
Well-known
Thanks for the info skiff.
It had occurred to me that you may have meant 're-badging' the film, but it seems to me be be not far short of actually making the film.
It had occurred to me that you may have meant 're-badging' the film, but it seems to me be be not far short of actually making the film.
Faintandfuzzy
Well-known
It is rather a stretch to claim Fuji is the biggst because of Instax. Removing Instax from the equation, Kodak is by far the largest producer. Fuji is slowly exiting conventional film. That isnt internet BS.
Skiff
Well-known
No.
The global market for instax film is now more than 40 million film packs p.a.. And it is significantly increasing.
The whole market for conventional photo film (all film manufacturers together) is less than 30 million films p.a.
So far there is absolutely no real evidence for that. No reliable source.
Fujifilm is concentrating on the films with sufficient demand. Films that can be produced in a profitable way.
brbo
Well-known
This thread is not about Instax. Why do you ALWAYS have to bring Instax into discussion when people are asking about C-41, E-6 or BW films in formats that have absolutely nothing to do with Instax?
Skiff
Well-known
css9450
Veteran
Quoted for emphasis. I agree completely.
Skiff
Well-known
What you also both overlook is the following:
The Fujifilm film factory in Japan and its coating machine inside is huge. You need demand and product volume to keep it running.
Integral instant film like instax has a color negative film base in it. This essential film base is coated on the same coating machine as the conventional films.
So because of instax this huge coating machine can be run at sufficient capacity, and can be kept in operation. And can be also used for conventional film production.
Without instax probably the demand is too low to keep the coating line running.
And another factor: Via instax young people discover the medium film. And some of them go further and start using conventional film, too.
So even if you don't use instax you partly benefit from the positive side effects.
The Fujifilm film factory in Japan and its coating machine inside is huge. You need demand and product volume to keep it running.
Integral instant film like instax has a color negative film base in it. This essential film base is coated on the same coating machine as the conventional films.
So because of instax this huge coating machine can be run at sufficient capacity, and can be kept in operation. And can be also used for conventional film production.
Without instax probably the demand is too low to keep the coating line running.
And another factor: Via instax young people discover the medium film. And some of them go further and start using conventional film, too.
So even if you don't use instax you partly benefit from the positive side effects.
pyeh
Member of good standing
Skiff,
I too was getting a bit tired of hearing about the Instax side of Fuji's film sales, but with your explanation above on how it ties in with conventional film production, I see why you put so much emphasis on it.
I too was getting a bit tired of hearing about the Instax side of Fuji's film sales, but with your explanation above on how it ties in with conventional film production, I see why you put so much emphasis on it.
pyeh
Member of good standing
On the other hand, if total annual conventional film sales is only 30 million rolls, then that's pretty depressing. That's not even 3 million film photographers worldwide, I'd say. Probably half that.
Skiff
Well-known
Thanks Peter.
I just try to have a look "at the whole picture" of the industry.
Eastman Kodak needs movie film production to keep photo film production running.
And Fujifilm currently needs instax film production to keep photo film production running.
I want to understand how the market currently really is.
And what challenges the manufacturers have to face to keep production running.
In my opinion for all of us film enthusiasts it works best to avoid prejudices and have an objective view to the situation. And any bashing of the real manufacturers (those who are really producing film, and not only repackaging expired old warehouse stock) is not really helpful at all I think.
We should instead support all of those companies really producing film (or building up new film production), like Ilford, Kodak, Fujifilm, Foma, Adox, Polaroid Originals, Film Ferrania.