when will acros 4x5 be available in sheets in US?

[Seabird]

and I agree... just let freestyle bring in the japanese boxes!!!!!!!!! I don't give a damn about the writing on the box either.

Chaps, while I agree wholeheartedly, bear in mind that there may be local (i.e. US) labelling requirements that do not allow Fuji to simply import the product packaged for the Japanese market. I dont really know, just speculating.

Cheers

Carey Bird

[Barry S]

Looking at the current 4x5 20 sheet packaging, I don't see any problem with US distribution. However, it's very likely that Fuji has strict packaging guidelines. Regardless, it's a very straightforward matter of printing a new label that wraps around the box.

[Fujifilm]

Pricing per sheet will remain the same. No change. So...it will not be more expensive in the smaller box. We had originally planned on 20 sheet boxes...just a repackage for US market (and NO we can not just have Freestyle repackage it) as much as I love them...as a worldwide company we have larger considerations. The reality is that the volume simply does not justify larger quantity boxes. WE had requests for cut sheets. Fujifilm in Japan was not even inclined to export it. Period. But after pleading...we got it. So, sorry it's in tens.

[kompressor]

last time i bought acros 100, it came in 25 sheets pr. box. Ebay shop in australia. Thats a OK amount og sheets pr. box. But i really dont know why Fuji doesnt care about photographers in Norway. In the last year many have switched from digital to film. Wh not serve them with Astia and Acros?

[2F/2F]

No one suggested having Freestyle repackage your FUJI film. The suggestion was to have Freestyle sell the already existent Japanese product as an "IMPORT" product. B&H does this often. It is the only way I got Reala in 120 for a long time. (Now it seems that it is available as an honest-to-god U.S. product.)

Ilford film continues to look like a great option to me. They have what I need, and it is readily available and in stock in all needed formats for me by driving half an hour to Freestyle. Why pull teeth when you don't have to?

Which brings us back to the major deal here: Why aren't you spending tons of money trying to shove film down the world's throat? Film programs are disappearing from schools everywhere, and you are worried about what boxes your film comes in? Instead of claiming that the market dictates your actions, why not accept some responsibility for dropping the ball, and attempt to manipulate the market's actions? We need a massive push for film from all existing film manufacturers. Push the schools, push every consumer of photography. Quit bitching about low demand and do something to raise it.

Hint: Designing $2,000 boutique folding cameras does not qualify as promoting film use. It qualifies as Grade A craziness! Quit wasting money on such tomfoolery and get on the horn and start pushing your already-existent product!

[matthewbetcher]

Pricing per sheet will remain the same. No change. So...it will not be more expensive in the smaller box. We had originally planned on 20 sheet boxes...just a repackage for US market (and NO we can not just have Freestyle repackage it) as much as I love them...as a worldwide company we have larger considerations. The reality is that the volume simply does not justify larger quantity boxes. WE had requests for cut sheets. Fujifilm in Japan was not even inclined to export it. Period. But after pleading...we got it. So, sorry it's in tens.

If the pricing will remain the same per sheet (which i'm still skeptical of as it just doesn't make much sense from a production cost standpoint) great! - I'll probably buy it in multiple boxes... But this doesn't attack what i think is a HUGE problem here which is one of waste.

1. Is there absolutely no global concern here on the part of Fuji? Analog photography is not the "greenest" of creative practices for sure, but that's why I try to reduce waste whenever possible and this still just seems absurd. You will never convince me that large format photographers are interested in buying their film in ten sheet increments! Like others have said, that won't even cover a single shoot for many large format users.
... which leads me to ...

2. Wouldn't Fuji sell more of this film if it were packaged in larger quantities? There is obviously a cult-like following with this film and while only offering a box of 100 may turn some away, I seriously doubt anyone would NOT by a box of 25 because they only wanted ten sheets or less! Hell, even people who just want to try the film for the first time are not going to walk away thinking, "if only they sold it in packages of ten." Besides, anyone buying 4x5 film is used to 25 sheet boxes to begin with...
[don't get me wrong... if what fuji is trying to do is lure people away from the other film manufacturers by what in essence is a cheap test-box, I think it's brilliant! But to make that the only offering sounds incredibly narrow-minded and shockingly wasteful given the current state of our environment.]

... and remember, this is large format we are talking about - not some entry level "hey, this sounds like fun" amateur users who don't spend money on film.

It's all starting to sound like the crack dealer handing freebies out to the kids on the playground...

This is really starting to make me consider ilford

[2F/2F]

If the pricing will remain the same per sheet (which i'm still skeptical of as it just doesn't make much sense from a production cost standpoint) great! - I'll probably buy it in multiple boxes... But this doesn't attack what i think is a HUGE problem here which is one of waste.

1. Is there absolutely no global concern here on the part of Fuji? Analog photography is not the "greenest" of creative practices for sure, but that's why I try to reduce waste whenever possible and this still just seems absurd. You will never convince me that large format photographers are interested in buying their film in ten sheet increments! Like others have said, that won't even cover a single shoot for many large format users.
... which leads me to ...

2. Wouldn't Fuji sell more of this film if it were packaged in larger quantities? There is obviously a cult-like following with this film and while only offering a box of 100 may turn some away, I seriously doubt anyone would NOT by a box of 25 because they only wanted ten sheets or less! Hell, even people who just want to try the film for the first time are not going to walk away thinking, "if only they sold it in packages of ten." Besides, anyone buying 4x5 film is used to 25 sheet boxes to begin with...
[don't get me wrong... if what fuji is trying to do is lure people away from the other film manufacturers by what in essence is a cheap test-box, I think it's brilliant! But to make that the only offering sounds incredibly narrow-minded and shockingly wasteful given the current state of our environment.]

... and remember, this is large format we are talking about - not some entry level "hey, this sounds like fun" amateur users who don't spend money on film.

It's all starting to sound like the crack dealer handing freebies out to the kids on the playground...

This is really starting to make me consider ilford

I am sticking with Ilford for film holders, and will continue to use Fuji when I want Quickloads. I prefer the look of Ilford (or maybe I am just used to it...), and I already have everything set for Ilford. I just wish it was available in a Quickload version. Fuji is worth using when I want Quickloads, however. I do like it a lot, just not quite as much as Ilford. I would love to be able to use one or the other for everything, but, like I said, it is not worth the effort to pull teeth...especially the teeth of people with their heads partly up their arses.

In other words, nothing Fuji is doing with their current plans regarding this film will change what I currently use or purchase one bit (Ilford for holders and Fuji for Quickloads)...then, after doing effectively no advertising, they will blame "the market" and pull it.....go figure.

[matthewbetcher]

sorry fuji... I just re-read your last post and I don't know if I am mis-reading this or not. By volume constraints, are you suggesting that the amount of cut film is so minimal that the only way to distribute it somewhat widely in the states is to hash it up into ten sheet boxes? If that is the case, fair enough to start distribution... but are there or will there be plans in the near future for the possibility of greater volumes of cut film leaving the factory and ending up in larger quantity boxes?

I really don't want to get into another analog situation where I am buying a product that will only be available in small amounts over a large period of time...

please tell me that this won't be the case.

[matthewbetcher]

I am sticking with Ilford for film holders, and will continue to use Fuji when I want Quickloads. I prefer the look of Ilford, and I already have everything set for Ilford. I just wish it was available in a Quickload version. Fuji is worth using when I want Quickloads, however. I do like it a lot, just not quite as much as Ilford. I would love to be able to use one or the other for everything, but, like I said, it is not worth the effort to pull teeth...especially the teeth of people with their heads partly up their arses.

I'm in the same situation with regards to having everything set for acros. I use a massive amount of the 120 and LOVE the fact that i am not having to go from one formula to another depending upon format. I prefer the look of the acros with what i do, but at this point, I'm not unwilling to look elsewhere for my 4x5... I think I'll start this weekend running some tests with Ilford. As for the quickloads... I'm sure there is a huge advantage to them... but for me, I don't see enough to justify the cost...

Thanks for the good words about Ilford from someone who can also see the positive about the fuji product - i'm a little more inspired to see what can happen.

... I just still find it unconscionable that anyone could justify such excessive packaging, but then again...


I just can't wait until one sheet comes in one box packaged in a carton of ten.

[DJGainer]

I know I would be more inclined to buy 20 sheet boxes, and if your market research indicates that you could sell more than half the number of 10 sheet boxes in 20 sheet boxes, you are actually selling more film! Isn't that the point?

And while we're at it, get Velvia 100 out in 20's or 25's. I'm tired of taking 5 boxes of 10's on a backpacking trip when 2 or 3 20's would pack so much more easily!