available film stocks?

[mr8mm]

Which companies are actually producing film stocks? We know Kodak will be producing stocks for some time into the future but what about other sources for film material? Does Fuji still actually manufacture fresh film material or is Fuji simply selling some remainders from a warehouse? I contacted Fuji USA and they claim the following slide films are being sold, Velvia 50, Velvia 100 and Provia, as 35mm 36 exposure carts. I have inquired about buying meterware but the only reply was silence. I have heard rumors about people claiming for $200000 Fuji would make a special run. I have also seen where Kodak might consider a special production for some high price. Is Agfa actually manufacturing fresh film or is this just stored film being sold off? Foma and Film-O-Tec are apparently producing black/white film but what other companies have film stock production. What is the status of Foma and Film-O-Tec as viable companies?

Kodak claims film sales have fallen 96% in just a few years. Is demand for film actually at zero and no company can make a profit from film production? If anyone out there has any knowledge about these questions, please let us know.

J.S.

[aj]

Foma is doing quite well. Although I am not spelling their financial reports.
They manufacture a range of products for industry and classic photography.
They were as one of the few on Photokina in Köln.

Agfa 200D comes from the Antwerp factory. It is an air recon film. Considering the effort Wittner put in one would assume there is good stock and fresh production. Are films still used for military or law enforcement photography? Considering all parameters involved replacing 15cm wide roll film with a sensorchip isn't all so easy. The film is also moving during exposure to compensate for the speed of the aircraft. Is Kodak still in air recon film?

[bolextech]

Kodak's figure of 96% probably includes all print stocks.
As you can guess, prints have virtually disappeared from the cinemas.
As for shooting stocks, I would think the decline is slightly less dramatic.
In the small gauges, I hear that the decline in sales has tapered off and the current level of usage is relatively stable.
In fact, Kodak's sales of super8 film is the only sector that might have seen a slight increase in the last few years.

Regarding the companies you mentioned, you've probably found out that all of them engage in a culture of secrecy about the details of their operations. There seems to be a lot mythmaking in this business. Only through direct personal contact with the decision makers in these companies can you hope to get anything close to the truth.

ADOX is apparently doing very well with their B&W super8 films.

What a lot of people are asking for right now is a low speed, fine grain, color reversal stock.
At the moment, this is the big missing link. I think this is what Ferrania are trying to do.

Jean-Louis

[doug]

What a lot of people are asking for right now is a low speed, fine grain, color reversal stock.
At the moment, this is the big missing link. I think this is what Ferrania are trying to do.

Absolutely. We need something to replace Ektachrome. It would be marvelous if Ferrania can do this. But price is everything for it to keep going. Whereas us nutcases may go without food and other necessities to keep buying film, others won't. There is quite a large number of folks who are fascinated by the thought of using retro cameras. I see them every day in my shop. They just need a reasonably priced super-8 or regular-8 film. They are not so shocked as a few years back, when I tell them it's only 3 minutes or whatever, maybe because today we're so saturated by non-stop image coverage it's all become something of a bore. They want to actually create something meaningful and personal for a change. Something they can touch. I don't think the manufacture of 8mm film at least, can survive very well without these people.

[Tscan]

Fuji still makes the Velvia 50 and 100 for still photography but the prices have gone up. My photo lab sells it for about $11 per 35mm roll. I shot a good amount of Velvia 50D when Spectra had a good supply back in 2006. Aside from a few registration issues, it's the only reversal film that i enjoyed more than 100D. The grain was a little tighter, image a little sharper, while the colors and contrast were very similar.

[doug]

Fuji still makes the Velvia 50 and 100 for still photography but the prices have gone up. My photo lab sells it for about $11 per 35mm roll. I shot a good amount of Velvia 50D when Spectra had a good supply back in 2006. Aside from a few registration issues, it's the only reversal film that i enjoyed more than 100D. The grain was a little tighter, image a little sharper, while the colors and contrast were very similar.

So is it still available in super-8 / 16mm anywhere ? I see Andec have sold out. I never got to try it when it was available as 16mm, regrettably, I think because of those stories of bad registration that may or may not have been solved. But as you say it's a very sharp film, especially the 50 speed emulsion. If Fuji is still making it it would seem a relatively easy matter for slitting down from 35 or whatever. However, I don't think Fuji still sells it to us mortals in long lengths anymore, for some unknown reason.

[bolextech]

If you really want Velvia, and you're willing to reload your own super8 cartridges, you might be able to get some in Single-8 cartridges from Tak Kohyama at Retro Enterprises in Japan. http://film.club.ne.jp/english/englishindex.html

Jean-Louis

[aj]

Which companies are actually producing film stocks? We know Kodak will be producing stocks for some time into the future but what about other sources for film material? Does Fuji still actually manufacture fresh film material or is Fuji simply selling some remainders from a warehouse? I contacted Fuji USA and they claim the following slide films are being sold, Velvia 50, Velvia 100 and Provia, as 35mm 36 exposure carts. I have inquired about buying meterware but the only reply was silence. I have heard rumors about people claiming for $200000 Fuji would make a special run. I have also seen where Kodak might consider a special production for some high price. Is Agfa actually manufacturing fresh film or is this just stored film being sold off? Foma and Film-O-Tec are apparently producing black/white film but what other companies have film stock production. What is the status of Foma and Film-O-Tec as viable companies?

Kodak claims film sales have fallen 96% in just a few years. Is demand for film actually at zero and no company can make a profit from film production? If anyone out there has any knowledge about these questions, please let us know.

J.S.

Seems Ferrania is getting a step closer to production.

[cubdukat]

Unfrotunately, no. Spectra long since discontinued V50D, and The Reel Image no longer lists Fuji 100D (or 200D) among the Super-8 stocks it sells. Right now the only stocks they sell are Wittner's Agfa 200D and Tri-X, although they've started listing the Ferrania Super-8 as "coming soon."

Fuji still makes the Velvia 50 and 100 for still photography but the prices have gone up. My photo lab sells it for about $11 per 35mm roll. I shot a good amount of Velvia 50D when Spectra had a good supply back in 2006. Aside from a few registration issues, it's the only reversal film that i enjoyed more than 100D. The grain was a little tighter, image a little sharper, while the colors and contrast were very similar.

So is it still available in super-8 / 16mm anywhere ? I see Andec have sold out. I never got to try it when it was available as 16mm, regrettably, I think because of those stories of bad registration that may or may not have been solved. But as you say it's a very sharp film, especially the 50 speed emulsion. If Fuji is still making it it would seem a relatively easy matter for slitting down from 35 or whatever. However, I don't think Fuji still sells it to us mortals in long lengths anymore, for some unknown reason.

[Tommy]

96% loss in film sales in the last few years........... can be explained by the fact that world wide ..motion pictures theaters have converted to digital projection....35 film prints for the tens of thousands of theaters ( globally) would of accounted for the bulk of film sales.... 35mm motion picture film ran at 90ft per minute!