Ordering a special run of Fujicolor sheet film

[2F/2F]

Theoretically speaking, what sort of minimum order would one need to place in order to get some Pro 400H and Pro 800Z 4x5 or 8x10 film?

If enough people placed pre orders with Freestyle, et al to make a batch profitable, would Fuji actually make the film?

It is quite dull having only one high-speed color sheet film from which to choose. Kodak makes Portra 400NC. I wish I could use Fuji Pro 400H or Superia 400 instead...or, even better, Pro 800Z or Superia 800.

[2F/2F]

Any thoughts on this, from Fujifilm or anyone else?

[Bruce Watson]

I'm thinking the difficulty is in Fuji qualifying the emulsion on the new substrate. My understanding is that this takes a fair amount of R&D all by itself. If true, and they haven't done it yet (which is likely) then a special run of either emulsion would be incredibly expensive. You'd have to pay for a master roll, cutting and packaging, shipping, and the R&D to move the emulsion to the new substrate.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I agree with Bruce that it's unlikely you'll be able to get a special order of sheet film in an emulsion that's not already sold as sheet film in some format, but I've known of people making special orders in non-stock sizes of transparency films that already come in 4x5" from Fuji.

[AgX]

I don't see a major technical problem at all. They do not have to change the base material, just its thickness. And apt bases are being used by them for other films.
However it will need a special coating run. As long as users won't be satisfied film the current base thickness.

[2F/2F]

I don't see a major technical problem at all. They do not have to change the base material, just its thickness. And apt bases are being used by them for other films.
However it will need a special coating run. As long as users won't be satisfied film the current base thickness.

That's what I was talking about. A special coating run of the emulsions on sheet film base.

Evidently, if I remember what PE has posted in the past, they need to do two master rolls, the first of which would be for quality control.

So, in theory, it would be worth Fuji's while if they could make enough sales to make a good-enough profit on two master rolls.

However, even if it did end up being worth their while (say that a huge group of people magically decide that they want it, and pre-order through Freestyle or some other joint), would they actually do it?

[fLOVE]

That's what I was talking about. A special coating run of the emulsions on sheet film base.

Evidently, if I remember what PE has posted in the past, they need to do two master rolls, the first of which would be for quality control.

So, in theory, it would be worth Fuji's while if they could make enough sales to make a good-enough profit on two master rolls.

However, even if it did end up being worth their while (say that a huge group of people magically decide that they want it, and pre-order through Freestyle or some other joint), would they actually do it?

I'd hope so. I would LOVE to have some 400H or 800Z for my speed graphic. I don't know why they don't make faster films for large format, all the lenses are slower, it'd open up the photographic opportunities with these cameras to be able to shoot with higher speed films that isn't HP5. I wouldn't be surprised if some photographers would actually purchase a large format camera just because those films would be available. WHO do I think would do this you ask? Wedding Photographers, that's who. Why? Because I think it's clear some are going back to film in general, and I know many who just swear by the 400H and 800Z stocks, and who's to say they wouldn't just at the chance of doing large format portraits for their couples?

[F80p]

I think this whole business of film has to be rearranged so that it creates better situations for everybody.

[2F/2F]

This is the Fuji forum. Why is it even here if Fuji is not going to participate?

[AgX]

They were only active here between end of January and May last year.

(What of course is no answer to your question...)