Neopan 400 in 35mm---- end of life!

[J. Borger]

Bad news from Calumet in the Netherlands today.
They can't order/deliver Neopan 400 in 35mm anymore ... it's marked "end of life" in their system.
This realy sucks because it is by far my favourite iso 400 film in 35mm!
Yes i can probably get is elsewhere but i do not know if it is worth to invest any longer in a product that's almost gone.
Adox better hurries up with their Pan 100 and 400 Agfa APX clones.

 

[Keith]

If Fuji discontinues Neopan 400 I'm going to punish them by pounding my X100 to a pulp with a sledge hammer when it finally gets here ... and I'll make sure someone videos me doing it so I can post the clip on You Tube!

They wouldn't dare ... would they? 😛

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

But... will it blend ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zcdoa0XCFo

 

[gerikson]

Yes i can probably get is elsewhere but i do not know if it is worth to invest any longer in a product that's almost gone.

Film is meant to be used. Why not grab what's left and shoot that?

 

[semilog]

Film is meant to be used. Why not grab what's left and shoot that?

Because Kodak and Ilford deserve your support.

More generally, I'd say that we've had many false alarms like this one in the past, and I'd want a lot more evidence than this before NP400 is declared dead.

 

[Rayt]

I dare say I like Neopan 400 more than TX or TMY!

 

[Scheimpflug]

Because Kodak and Ilford deserve your support.

So does Fuji. 🙂

 

[bwcolor]

I love Neopan 400, but I'm in favor of these companies narrowing down their product line so that they can make money. If they don't turn a profit, then we will find yet another company leaving film behind. If I had to have a last film in the Fuji line, it would be Velvia 50. I can't find a good replacement for this film by going to another manufacturer. Neopan 400 gone, I'll shoot TMY-2.

 

[Paddy C]

If I had to have a last film in the Fuji line, it would be Velvia 50. I can't find a good replacement for this film by going to another manufacturer. Neopan 400 gone, I'll shoot TMY-2.

What about Provia 400X? That's my choice. But then, I've never been in to Velvia.

 

[bwcolor]

I purchased my first Provia 400X.. in the freezer. Really looks like a great film.

 

[B.J.Scharp]

Indeed, I'd rather have Provia 400X too. But bwcolor does have a point that if Fuji has to cut down, I'd rather they do it in their B&W line than in their slide film. T-Max and Delta are similar enough to Neopan to replace it, but no other manufacturer makes something like Velvia, or a 400-speed slide film like 400X.

 

[jalLee2001]

I agree completely on the Provia 400 comment. Actually there are rumors all over the place that Fuji will focus on slide film, Kodak B&W and C41. I think that smaller mfg will spring up. I did hear that the Agfa equipment was purchased by a smaller company, is that ADOX?

 

[jonmanjiro]

I might be made to eat my words down the track but I really don't think Neopan 400 is going anywhere anytime soon. It's still readily available in the shops here in Tokyo and Yokohama.

 

[Mister E]

If they kill Neopan 400 the only film Fuji will make I care at all about is Velvia 50. I need to ship your 100 rolls out Jon!

 

[mgd711]

I spoke to a mate off mine at Fuji and he confirmed that Fuji will be discontinuing a range off films in the very near future but that Neopan 400 was not one off them.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I spoke to a mate off mine at Fuji and he confirmed that Fuji will be discontinuing a range off films in the very near future but that Neopan 400 was not one off them.

What's getting the chop, Mike?

 

[igi]

Nooooooooooo!!!

 

[Keith]

Well ... Fujifilm's percentage of total sales courtesy of film was 3% in 2006 and it would have to be a fair bit lower than that now plus they've diversified into cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and who knows what else.

In 2006 their only stated future film committment was to colour film, so if they totally abandon black and white in the next few years I wouldn't be at all surprised.

 

[thegman]

I for one, hope that Fujifilm remains in profitable areas of the film market. If Neopan 400, and indeed 1600 are loss-making products for them, for how long should they keep making them simply because we want them to?

Personally, I think other people make better BW films, and other people certainly make better C41 films, the only area (for me) where Fujifilm excels is in E6. If the rumour is true that they will focus on that, power to them. If that means we get a new E6 film from them, all the better. Surely it's best they invest in areas which are profitable (even growing, if you believe what you read about Velvia), than throw good money after bad in markets where Kodak, Ilford, and others are making better, or at least extremely similar products.

 

[Mister E]

There will be no new E-6, I am pretty sure of that. Fuji hasn't added any films to it's lineup since Provia 400X which was almost 9 years ago? Kodak in the meantime has redone it's entire Portra and TMax lineup as well as added Ektar.

I completely prefer Fuji films. I think we'll have another 10 years of Velvia, at least I hope so. No idea about anything else.