UPDATED 7 Mar 2010Â (see below)
Fujifilm has announced some changes in their product line affecting the following film products:
- Neopan 400 (Presto) 120 size is discontinued with immediate effect (does not affect availability in 135 format)
- 12 and 24 exposure rolls for 35mm film will be gradually phased out
- Acros 100 in 11×14 size (special order) discontinued
- Provia 100 F 11×14 (special order) discontinued
- Pro 160 NC 120 discontinued
- T64 reversal 4×5 sheet film, T64 reversal 4×5 Quickload and T64 reversal 8×10 sheet film discontinued
There will be some gradual changes in the packaged quantities of some films, for example single packs will become 3 packs or 5 packs; in the case of 120 format the 20-packs will be withdrawn and only 5-packs remain. We will reflect these changes in our web shop over time as appropriate and where applicable.
In the meantime, the best way to ensure long-term availability of film is to continue shooting it!
Update 7 Mar 2010:
It appears that retailers in the US have received the following notice:
OK…here’s the official Fuji list:
The following are now gone, with no replacement:
Color 160s and160c in 35, 120, 220, 4×5, 8×10, and 4×5 quickload
Color 800z in 35mm 5pack, 120 and 220
Velvia 50 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100 4×5 quickload
Velvia 100F 4×5 quickload
Astia 100F 4×5 quickload
Provia 100F 4×5 quickload
T64 in all formats
Neopan 400 120
CDUII in all formats
The following have had package changes:
Velvia 50, 100, 100F 4×5 and 8×10 are now in 20 sheet boxes
Velvia 50, 100, 100F are now in 5-packs
Astia 100F 4×5 now in 20 sheet boxes, 120 now in 5-packs.
Provia 100F 4×5 and 8×10 now in 20 sheet boxes; 120 now in 5-packs
RXP 120 now in 5-packs
Arcos 100 120 now in 5-packs, 4×5 now in 20 sheet boxes.
I asked our film buyer at Pro Photo Supply today if he had heard anything about Neopan 400 120 going away here in the States. Fuji USA told him “No” and also said that they had heard nothing from Japan about it being discontinued. Is Presto a different emulsion from the Neopan we get over here?
So long and thanks for all the images.
Jim,
I’ve used both, its the same film with just a different name.
Perhaps the news hasn’t trickled through to the regions yet. Their release is clear on that.
http://fujifilm.jp/information/articlead_0029.html
Go to 黒白フィルムthen on the right column is just a dash on the line of the 400.
Most disappointing news regarding film in a while.
Yeah, with the inventory that they have left of Neopan do you really think they would tell people, it’s EOL? Not in a million years. This is product marketing 101. Got to move these refrigerators. I just bought 100 rolls from B&H. Now I need a freezer from Costco. 🙂 Thanks Fuji for the memories.
Our film buyer was still a bit skeptical that this is really going away…then I reminded him that the photo industry lies like hell all the time (remember those “great new formats” called Disc and APS?). Yeah…so he said he’ll order several hundred rolls, if not more. I’ve already bought 20, a few of which will be given to friends in Tokyo this May.
I’d love to be wrong on this one, of course, but it doesn’t look good. The film they make for export has different packaging etc. (for a start it is not called Presto) so there may be well more in the pipeline, for now.
It would be nice if they were getting together a new film for the market but I doubt it. Ektar started as a 35mm film and as the demand increased it is now available in 120 and even 8×10 formats. If Fuji were to introduce a new film it seems odd that they’s start from 120. And even stranger not to release said fictional future film with their 6×7 camera.
A fellow can dream though.
Neopan 400 is Presto. The emulsion is code 400PR (PR == Presto). Whether it’s called Neopan or Neopan Presto, they’re the same thing. *However*, I too am skeptical of this still, for some reason. It just doesn’t seem to make sense to discontinue this popular 120 film.
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Fujifilm USA officially announced today that Neopan 120 400 is discontinued.
Christopher Layne: “It just doesn’t seem to make sense to discontinue this popular 120 film.”
Then this move would be within character for the company that recently completed its renaming to “Fujifilm”:
1. It takes the trouble to (co-) design/manufacture, and to sell, 5,000 examples of a 120 folder.
2. It wins a good reputation for its DSLRs, stops developing them, and then stops selling them.
3. It wins a good reputation for its sensors and then uses them almost exclusively for slippery little digicams that would appeal to ladyfolk who want them for their handbags — except that these handbags already contain cellphones which do the job OK.
4. It pays for ads on the back pages of the big photo mags and then uses them for its “Klasse” film camera, which I suppose appeals to the millions who want an auto-everything widish 35mm camera but don’t realize the Hexar is just fine and that cheap examples are abundant.
Well, Fujifilm seems to be transforming itself into a cosmetics company. アスタリフト is marketed to ladies “of a certain age” that they hope to reduce by one third. The hell with photography (aside from the business of making prints from cellphone content), there’s gold in them thar wrinkles!
WTFstop!!!
Fujifilm obviously has its corporate brains rusted!!!
Ross Gunn, Fujifilm UK: “In the case of Neopan 400 120 our hand has been forced by environmental concerns over one of the raw materials used in its production.”
That makes sense (sort of…maybe).
On the other hand, there’s far more E-waste from computers, monitors, and digital cameras to worry about, isn’t there? A lot of this waste is sent to China and India, where the junk is broiled to extract the gold and other metals, often by child labor and typically without any protective masks or gloves.
According to an individual who reportedly got in contact with Fujifilm JP, they claim the material they can no longer use is called PFOS and apparently illegal for manufacture use.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/neopan/discuss/72157623596550024/#comment72157623478226823
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanesulfonic_acid
Ok…then why aren’t they discontinuing 35mm Neopan? Film is usually manufactured in large sheets, and cut (and perforated, if it’s 35mm) for the various formats. Hmmmm…
Personal opinion? This smells like the work of the Accounting Dept. at Fuji >_<
No, there are differences between 135 and 120 – base, backing paper to name just two. PFOS is used as an anti-static agent.
Fuji has handled this so poorly that it is a textbook case of how to confuse your client base and how to alienate paying customers.
The left hand doesn’t know what the right one is doing. The various threads and links posted in other fora demonstrate Fuji is unable to stay on the message and be consistent. Their execution has alarmed film based photographers and they have not come out of the weeds to publicly clarify their position.
Fuji will reap what they have sown, mixed messages and confusion in the market place. Ultimately they are the biggest losers by their own hand
Dirk –
Rumours in the UK about 35mm Reala being killed off:
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=873759
Any confirmation from Fuji JP?
Seems like there is a mistake. There is no “Superia Reala”. The Japanese release clearly states the change from a 5-pack to a 3-pack, not discontinuation.
This is one badly communicated product change.
The Reala we sell at Pro Photo Supply is indeed labeled Superia Reala. Note that this film is not on the US Fuji “Hit List.” Thanks for the clarification on the PFOS and difference in the film base issue with Neopan. I wonder if that is why Neopan 120 is less expensive than Kodak and Ilford films? And yes…this is really one badly communicated product change. This is the Photo Industry at its finest! (For years, I have told my customers, “If Retail was a package of bacon, the Photo Industry would be the odd strip.” 🙂
Reala is called “Superia Reala” in the UK. I just got confirmation from Fuji UK that Reala 35mm is discontinued.
I wonder if that means it’s not being imported or if it’s now dead. Any information from Japan would be great. This is worrying!
As I said already the Japanese release clearly states the change from a 5-pack to a 3-pack, not discontinuation. The only thing they will stop are 24 exposure rolls.
Fuji couldn’t have made a worse mess out off this if they tried.
It’s a complete shambles… I’m just happy though that I’ve enough Neopan 400 120’s to last me through the best part of the next decade.
Just need to guarantee my supply of Rodinal 🙂
I have used the Fuji Neopan 400, 120 for the past 18 years. About 300 rolls a year. Just as background.
Nothing I have tried and tested comes anywhere close to matching the grain, sharpness and feeling of what I considered the best black and white film made.
Fuji can count on me to never buy any other product that they associate with. It is a small protest and will of course do no good. But it is all I can do. Hope others do the same.