Neopan 1600: Status?

[NickTrop]

The B&H site doesn't say "out of stock", it doesn't say "back ordered". It says "discontinued". The product page does not link to their shopping cart - you can't buy it there. B&H is probably (guessing) the largest seller of this film stock in the US. If they could get more, I'm sure they would. It's possible that this is a mistake but that doesn't jibe with the environmental information, now common knowledge, that caused Fuji to cease production. Hey - don't shoot the messenger.

 

[jljohn]

I recognize that Freestyle is not the spokesman for Fuji either, but I called yesterday and asked very specific questions. I was told that Fuji Neopan 1600 is not in stock, to their knowledge it has been discontinued by Fuji, and that they do not have a purchase order out for any more Neopan 1600.

I don't know if both Freestyle and B&H are wrong, but if I cannot reliably get a particular film at a reasonable price from a US supplier, I will find another film that can do the job and learn how to use it.

 

[NickTrop]

I recognize that Freestyle is not the spokesman for Fuji either, but I called yesterday and asked very specific questions. I was told that Fuji Neopan 1600 is not in stock, to their knowledge it has been discontinued by Fuji, and that they do not have a purchase order out for any more Neopan 1600.

I don't know if both Freestyle and B&H are wrong, but if I cannot reliably get a particular film at a reasonable price from a US supplier, I will find another film that can do the job and learn how to use it.

So that makes both Freestyle and B&H both wrong. Sorry kids, wishful thinking... Another one bites the dust, it seems. And it's a real shame - that was a damned good film. Damned good. 🙁

And by the way, the line "Has it not occurred to you that it is B&H who have discontinued it and not Fuji Japan" has indeed not "occurred to me" because it's - well, more than a wee bit silly on its face...

 

[Mackinaw]

......And it's a real shame - that was a damned good film. Damned good....

Agreed, Neopan 1600 was my favorite high speed 35mm film.

I'm hoping beyond hope that Fuji will tell us otherwise, that the film's still in production, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Jim B.

 

[pphuang]

A very similar thing happened a few years ago. Neopan 1600 was marked as "discontinued" by B&H on their website. I called the store and spoke to them, they specifically told me that the film was being discontinued by Fuji and was no longer available.

Once all was said and done, it turned out that there was a "misunderstanding" between Fuji and its suppliers, and the film was not being discontinued. The website was updated after about 1 week.

Time will tell - although I imagine that, eventually, it will happen. I just hope that now is not the time...

So that makes both Freestyle and B&H both wrong. Sorry kids, wishful thinking... Another one bites the dust, it seems. And it's a real shame - that was a damned good film. Damned good. 🙁

And by the way, the line "Has it not occurred to you that it is B&H who have discontinued it and not Fuji Japan" has indeed not "occurred to me" because it's - well, more than a wee bit silly on its face...

 

[tlitody]

I recognize that Freestyle is not the spokesman for Fuji either, but I called yesterday and asked very specific questions. I was told that Fuji Neopan 1600 is not in stock, to their knowledge it has been discontinued by Fuji, and that they do not have a purchase order out for any more Neopan 1600.

I don't know if both Freestyle and B&H are wrong, but if I cannot reliably get a particular film at a reasonable price from a US supplier, I will find another film that can do the job and learn how to use it.

Since you have all the facts would you like to tell us whether its been discontinued by Fuji USA or by Fuji Japan instead of just Fuji which could be either.

 

[semilog]

Since you have all the facts would you like to tell us whether its been discontinued by Fuji USA or by Fuji Japan instead of just Fuji which could be either.

That sort of rudeness is unnecessary. Kindly desist.

 

[jan normandale]

I think the easiest way to scotch a rumour is to post a source.... feel free to contribute.

 

[tlitody]

That sort of rudeness is unnecessary. Kindly desist.

I think that is a perfectly reasonable question and whats more it the only question which will answer to the differing opinions in this argument.

Will you kindly desist from making wild assumptions about the demise of films without verifying your facts.

 

[flip]

Fear brings out the best in everyone.
My take:
some stores in USA think it's discontinued
stores in Japan and elsewhere don't
If you need insurance against fear, buy internationally
If you don't, then do the only thing any one of us can do - wait patiently and see.

 

[semilog]

I think that is a perfectly reasonable question and whats more it the only question which will answer to the differing opinions in this argument.

Will you kindly desist from making wild assumptions about the demise of films without verifying your facts.

Please re-read the text you quoted, and re-read what you actually wrote. I think that if you take a deep breath, you may find that you were out of line.

Most of us are not making wild assumptions. Rather, we are trying to figure out what is going on with a film that for some of us is a favourite. At present it looks very much like Neopan 1600 is, in the U.S. at least, not available.

If you have information that will help to resolve the question, we would all be grateful if you would share it.

 

[semilog]

Fear brings out the best in everyone...

One reason that many of us are concerned is that high-speed materials like 1600PR have a short storage life, even in the cold. We can easily store ISO 100 material for five years and have it still be very usable, but not ISO 800 material. This makes it pointless to stockpile the stuff.

 

[tlitody]

Please re-read the text you quoted, and re-read what you actually wrote. I think that if you take a deep breath, you may find that you were out of line.

Most of us are not making wild assumptions. Rather, we are trying to figure out what is going on with a film that for some of us is a favourite. At present it looks very much like Neopan 1600 is, in the U.S. at least, not available.

If you have information that will help to resolve the question, we would all be grateful if you would share it.

No one has information that Neopan 1600 has ceased production so how can they post it.

 

[semilog]

No one has information that Neopan 1600 has ceased production so how can they post it.

You might have a point if the text you quoted had made that claim, but it didn't.

Still wondering: do you have any actual facts to add to the discussion?

 

[tlitody]

You might have a point if the text you quoted had made that claim, but it didn't.

Still wondering: do you have any actual facts to add to the discussion?

Not content with spreading rumours you want proof of the non existence of a Fuji annoucement that production has ceased. That is like a court saying it is the responsibility of the accused to prove their innocense instead the accuser having to prove their guilt. Well I understand your menatality now. And it is you making the claims that the film has ceased production even though a lot of people are telling you that they can easily get supplies of it and fuji has made no announcement. I suggest you have a little think about that.

 

[sepiareverb]

It appears that the only "facts" we have are that B&H has the film listed as discontinued and Freestyle doesn't have the film listed at all anymore.

As usual there is no "official" word from Fuji.

I bought 50 rolls. I'll shoot them, and if I can get more when those are gone I'll be happier than if I can't.

I really don't know why anyone would bother looking for facts at RFF.

 

[semilog]

Not content with spreading rumours you want proof of the non existence of a Fuji annoucement that production has ceased.

Reading comprehension issues, much?

That is like a court saying it is the responsibility of the accused to prove their innocense instead the accuser having to prove their guilt.

This is so orthogonal to the rest of the conversation that no logical reply is possible.

Well I understand your menatality now.

No, you don't.

You don't know me, you've never met me, and it's clear that you have not even carefully read what I've written.

You would do well not to claim that you understand someone else's "menatality" on the basis of sparse postings to a thread about a 35mm black and white film. People might think you're shallow if you do that.

And it is you making the claims that the film has ceased production even though a lot of people are telling you that they can easily get supplies of it and fuji has made no announcement. I suggest you have a little think about that.

Actually, if you'd bothered to read the thread, you'd see that I bought 15 rolls locally in Seattle, yesterday. And that the expiry date on the boxes was much later than posted on the Adorama site.

 

[sepiareverb]

Only here could a query about the status of a film become a fight. Pathetic.

Until people can refrain from posting guesses instead of quotes from the manufacturer this thread is going to be a waste of everyones time.

Has anyone else in the US emailed Fuji USA? Has anyone in Japan emailed Fuji Japan?

 

[sepiareverb]

Any bets as to whether this thread will be closed before 9am EST tomorrow??

 

[v3cron]

I called Fuji USA a few months back after B&H started listing it as gone. They confirmed over the phone that all of their interesting (to me) neg films are gone: neopan 1600, superia 1600, press 800, 800z, and probably more that I'm forgetting. That's from Fuji's mouth. You can call to verify it is still true.

They are getting really close to losing me as a customer entirely as soon as the Impossible Project becomes viable and starts making peel apart film. And I guess I'm still stuck with them for now for RA-4 paper. Jerks!