The end of Fuji film?? NOPE - False Alarm

[sevo]

Therefore for all of you Kodak and Fuji BW film shooters: Shoot also color film to keep BW film alive.

That is unreasonable. Even if it would work out (even today, amateurs heavy into black and white are no relevant market for C41 film makers), you'd be deviating part of your support away from what you want to sustain. In the worst case, the makers might even believe colour to be more in demand, and drop black and white accordingly...

 

[Keith]

Keith, if you really want to keep film alive, then change your behaviour!
Because you often told here that you have (almost) stopped shooting color film. Therefore you are part of the problem. If you don't shoot film by yourself you have no right to complain about the current film market.

Only shooting some BW films is not enough to keep film alive!

You like Neopan 400, right?
If you want Neopan 400 in future production then the best you can do is not only shooting Neopan 400, but also using Fuji Provia, Velvia, Superia, Pro 400H etc.

Why that? Because the BW film production at Fujifilm and Kodak is dependant on the color film production. 90-95% of the photo film production at Kodak and Fuji is color film, BW is a niche in comparison. Color film is needed to run the lines at their planned capacity.
With only BW film that is not possible.

Therefore for all of you Kodak and Fuji BW film shooters: Shoot also color film to keep BW film alive.

I have totally stopped shooting colour. Decent colour film is expensive and processing in Oz is ridiculous price wise.

As for 400 black and white, I'm currently using Ilford ... who don't produce a colour film. So where does Ilford stand with you?

They seem to be doing OK and appear to be in film for the long haul ... with no interest in colour!

 

[tunalegs]

Keith, lots of folks get very defensive when the end of film is discussed. A mod even thought he had to change my title, suggesting it was a false alarm, when my title only asked a question. I just wondered if the demise of motion picture film for Fuji would lead to the end of film production in general for them (notice the two question marks at the end of my title).

The mod obviously thought I was threatening to single handedly kill film production. 🙂

It's probably because your thread is a few months late, and so confusing to those who already know and read about this a while ago. It is also probably because false reports, speculation, and mis-reading things have had negative effects in the past. For instance when somebody claimed a Kodak representative said that a certain emulsion was discontinued (it wasn't) and that "news" showed up it seems on every film related forum on the internet, and even made its way back to Kodak.

The mod was just being helpful. :angel:

Keith, if you really want to keep film alive, then change your behaviour!
Because you often told here that you have (almost) stopped shooting color film. Therefore you are part of the problem. If you don't shoot film by yourself you have no right to complain about the current film market.

Only shooting some BW films is not enough to keep film alive!

You like Neopan 400, right?
If you want Neopan 400 in future production then the best you can do is not only shooting Neopan 400, but also using Fuji Provia, Velvia, Superia, Pro 400H etc.

Why that? Because the BW film production at Fujifilm and Kodak is dependant on the color film production. 90-95% of the photo film production at Kodak and Fuji is color film, BW is a niche in comparison. Color film is needed to run the lines at their planned capacity.
With only BW film that is not possible.

Therefore for all of you Kodak and Fuji BW film shooters: Shoot also color film to keep BW film alive.

It should be pointed out that Fuji being allied with other companies and manufacturing products other than photographic film, doesn't really have to rely on color film sales to subsidize black and white production. Kodak is a different story, but they've already discontinued their slide films, so there's not much for me to do with them anymore. Given that they've axed every product of theirs that I used, I'm frankly no longer feeling like I'll miss them when they go.

 

[zuiko85]

In 2003 there were threads to the effect that film was dead.

I continued to shoot film

In 2005 there were threads that film was dead.

I continued to shoot film

In 2007 we were told that film was disappearing.

I continued to shoot film


In 2009 they (whoever 'they' are) said "...look, don't you guys get it? Film is dead!

I continued to shoot film.


Now almost 2013 and and I just ordered paper and developer from Freestyle.
I still have plenty of film.

 

[jsrockit]

The problem is that the digital marketing guys and fundamentalistic "doom and gloom preachers" permanently start such threads spreading misinformation.

Anything to back the digital marketing guys part of this up?

 

[Skiff]

I have totally stopped shooting colour.

So then it is as I said. With this consumer behaviour you are part of the problem, causing the problems in the film market.
Not shooting film but nevertheless always complaining about the demise of film don't get together.
Therefore we cannot take your complaints serious.

As for 400 black and white, I'm currently using Ilford ... who don't produce a colour film. So where does Ilford stand with you?

Ilford is also active in color. They are converting huge amounts of Fuji RA-4 paper for Fuji (cutting and packaging).
Same is the case with Foma.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

So, Skiff, you a film company guy?

 

[willie_901]

Film is not only alive and well, film will remain alive in well. The transition of film into a niche product is nearly complete. Most of the damage is done. As each decade goes by, less and less new photographers will even realize film is an option. To offset this effect, a small but significant percentage of new photographers will start to use film for a variety of reasons.

The only real impact is film costs will slowly and steadily increase. Unlike glass plates, you can't manufacture your own film in a darkroom. Long-term (5-20 years) film storage is practical in some cases and pointless in others. Degradation to long-term, cosmic-ray fogging is highly dependent on film types and hoarding in not a universal solution.

Processing is not an issue for dedicated film photographers. Even C41 self-processing is not particularly difficult with relatively simple temperature control methods. p-Phenylenediamine, the C-41 development agent, is also used in hair dyes and plastic manufacturing. So this chemical is not likely to disappear. As we know B&W development is even less problematic. For instance hydroquinone also has commercial uses besides film development.

Anyone who wants to use film will be able to do so for a long, long time.

 

[MikeL]

Pickett, with all the threads you've started on the demise of film or film companies, you seem to have a real passion for the topic. With all your knowledge and focus on it, have you thought about organizing your focus into a book?