Fujifilm to discontiue FP-100B and 400B instant films (in Japanese market)

[BetterSense]

Is that an exhaustive list of all instant films available then, or are there other companies making it?

If so, then it looks like there will be only one black and white instant film available in the world, the 3000 speed one?

Also what does "regular sized" mean?

[aluk]

Only Fuji currently make instant film, both the ones listed here and film for their instax system. You may have also noticed the postings here and elsewhere about the impossible project, which seeks to re-create something like Polaroid's integral film for the SX-70 or 600 series cameras. Yes, it appears that there will only be one bw instant film left, though as it is the Fuji 400 and 500 speed films were not widely distributed outside of Japan (if they were even exported at all). Regular size refers to 8.5x10.8 cm (3.25"x4.25") paper with a white border, giving an image area of 7.3x9.5cm.

[DanielStone]

I know that there are quite a few people in the scientific community who use the 3000 speed b/w film for research photographic purposes. One guy I used to sell it to used it on an electron microscope of all things. Yes, I guess polaroid back in the day when this microscope was built designed an instant film pack so they can proof what they saw through the scope. I never say how or what they were shooting exactly, except that he came in every month to two months and bought a case (60 boxes of 10sht packs). So they were using it a lot.

I think that there are also people (in the scientific community as well) that use it to shoot oscilloscope images, being that they need a quick film to capture the screen's image.

not sure on the latter part though. I seem to remember hearing that from the same guy though.

but what really irks ME is that I've been saving for a 4x5 Fuji Holder for some time now, with my meager can-collecting skills at my little bro's footie practice 2x a week. So far i'm at $150 saved. But then I go and find that Fuji wants to discontinue my favorite instant film (FP-100B), as well as in 4x5. Now I really wish the impossible project would get some 4x5 instant film research going

I'm down to my last full box of Type 54, and I'm not liking it

-Dan

[DanielStone]

ohh, I've heard of people putting ND gels into the opening on their Pola back, so if you were to have a 3-4 stop gel, you could shoot the film as if it was a 200-400 speed instant film. Good enough for studio.

anyone else heard of doing this before?

-Dan

[BetterSense]

I know that there are quite a few people in the scientific community who use the 3000 speed b/w film for research photographic purposes. One guy I used to sell it to used it on an electron microscope of all things. Yes, I guess polaroid back in the day when this microscope was built designed an instant film pack so they can proof what they saw through the scope. I never say how or what they were shooting exactly, except that he came in every month to two months and bought a case (60 boxes of 10sht packs). So they were using it a lot.

It used to wildly popular for many kinds of materials characterization tools because it allowed imaging without a darkroom. It used to be that you could express electron microscopy magnifications in terms of X such as 8500X or whatever, because everyone used polaroid film on their electron microscopes so there was a standard. Now, you have to electronically place a distance scale in the image itself for scale. Modern equipment has completely gone to CCDs and motion cameras at that, but when I was visiting the University of Toledo I spy'd a big box of type 55 polaroid film on the shelf. I asked about it and nobody knew what it was or whose it was, but I wasn't brave enough to ask if I could have it.

[Tim Gray]

I know that there are quite a few people in the scientific community who use the 3000 speed b/w film for research photographic purposes.

Yup, I know a couple people who use it for aligning/tuning lasers. It's better than the laser burn paper. My friend ordered a case of the ISO 3000 B&W pack film about 2 years ago. I wanted to steal some. haha.

They also use it for imaging x-ray pulses from wire pinches (fusion-type stuff).

I don't know what they are using now that Polaroid no longer makes the stuff.

[namke]

Posted today on the Choose Film forum:

Fujifilm scotches instant gossip

Fujifilm Professional has moved quickly to dispel rumours that the company is about to withdraw production of its popular black and white instant film.

Fujifilm’s Senior Product Manager for Professional Film, Russ Gunn, explained the announcement: “It was brought to our attention that a number of websites were carrying ‘news’ of the discontinuation of some of Fujifilm’s instant film. I would like to confirm that all current formats of FP-100B and FP-3000B black and white instant film and FP-100C colour instant film will remain in production and we have no plans to discontinue any of them.”

Gunn continued: “We remain fully committed to the continued support of photographers who appreciate the quality and flexibility of real film. Fujifilm runs a variety of marketing activities based around real film, including the Fujifilm Distinctions Awards, the Fujifilm Student Awards and our online resource for film users, Choose-film.com.”

The full range of Fujifilm Professional’s film stock is available to buy online via www.fujilab.co.uk - for further details on the range visit, www.fujifilm.co.uk/professional

Fujifilm (UK) Ltd

Hopefully that clears up that (at least in the UK)?

[Tim Gray]

So what about 400B? Haha.

[Moopheus]

So what about 400B? Haha.

Fujifilm UK doesn't sell it, so it's not the Fujifilm UK guy's problem. Same goes for Fuji USA. You'll have to try to get an answer from Japan on that one, I guess.

[John R.]

Seems to me if anybody knows the facts it would be the Senior Product Manager for Professional Film Russ Gunn as stated in Namke's post. I have little faith in comments from a low level employee in Japan who may be simply spreading corporate rumor or simply are not being accurate in the facts. When management makes announcements, that's when you listen. I highly doubt these B/W films are going anywhere, they have a lock on the market.