Black
Photographer.
Some mug has started a petition via Change.org for Impossible to save Fujifilm's FP-3000b pack film via some crazy Kickstarter thing 
https://www.change.org/petitions/im...sible-banner-funded-by-a-kickstarter-campaign
I'm sure every signature will be welcome, even from those photographers who'll never use the film
https://www.change.org/petitions/im...sible-banner-funded-by-a-kickstarter-campaign
I'm sure every signature will be welcome, even from those photographers who'll never use the film
charjohncarter
Veteran
I signed, but really I want them to bring back FP-100b.
kzphoto
Well-known
Here's the problem with this: after all the R&D, marketing, startup costs and other ephemera are accounted for, how much will this film cost? What will the profit margin look like on such a niche product ? There isn't enough demand and there are not enough users to invest so heavily in a new product line, for a company as small as TIP.
Everyone's best bet? Ilford. They have the resources and the capital to pull off such a venture. Their supply on demand manufacturing method should (fingers crossed) keep production costs much lower than if TIP were to buy the machinery.
Ultimately I want more choices in Pack film and I want pack film around, but I won't support it at more than $2.00/shot. At that price I can develop and scan at home, and be just as happy.
Everyone's best bet? Ilford. They have the resources and the capital to pull off such a venture. Their supply on demand manufacturing method should (fingers crossed) keep production costs much lower than if TIP were to buy the machinery.
Ultimately I want more choices in Pack film and I want pack film around, but I won't support it at more than $2.00/shot. At that price I can develop and scan at home, and be just as happy.
vdonovan
Vince Donovan
I hate to say it, but I think the instant-film-as-we-knew-it era is about to be over. In Polaroid's heyday, instant films (both pack and integral) were produced in such huge quantities that Polaroid (and Fuji) could afford continuous and extensive quality control. Fuji still does with its Instax films, which look great and are very reliable from shot to shot.
While small players like Impossible and New55 may be able to assemble instant film, it will always be manufactured in very small quantities. Fuji's discontinuing FP-3000b proves that there is just not a market for a volume producer of instant pack film. And, as we've seen with Impossible's integral film, small quantities mean high cost and poor quality. These will always be novelty products.
I shot some outdated 8x10 Polaroid recently and was amazed at the quality of the material, with crisp, beautiful tones across the image, consistent from shot to shot. While I admire Impossible for re-introducing 8x10 instant film, they will never reach that level of quality.
However much I love instant peel-apart films, I believe the world where they could thrive and be refined is gone forever.
While small players like Impossible and New55 may be able to assemble instant film, it will always be manufactured in very small quantities. Fuji's discontinuing FP-3000b proves that there is just not a market for a volume producer of instant pack film. And, as we've seen with Impossible's integral film, small quantities mean high cost and poor quality. These will always be novelty products.
I shot some outdated 8x10 Polaroid recently and was amazed at the quality of the material, with crisp, beautiful tones across the image, consistent from shot to shot. While I admire Impossible for re-introducing 8x10 instant film, they will never reach that level of quality.
However much I love instant peel-apart films, I believe the world where they could thrive and be refined is gone forever.