DNP Photo Marketing Launches “CENTURIA Film” Series of Color Negative Film

[kunihiko]

http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

[wirehead]

Depends.

It could be rebranded versions of other films made by an existing coating plant (Agfa-Gevavert, Kodak, etc)

It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

It could suck.

It could do nothing but undercut Fuji/Kodak profit and make the market worse, not better.

Etc.

[Jorge Orte Tudela]

They're going to make also colour photo paper, as you can read here:

http://www.dnp-photomarketing.com/news/news_01.html

They said they have adquired a color printing paper production plant from Konica Minolta, maybe they can also coat film there... I really don't know.

I hope they invest in research and development, I really would like to see a Dai Nippon original film, they make wonderful drum scanners and off-set inks.

[kunihiko]

>>It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

I agree this. This could be the biggest possibility, but still a good news.
Centuria films were on closeout during the re-organization, espcialy the Centuria 200 had been 100 yen(less than 1USD) film for a while.　DNP's new pricing must be better than before for kodak/fuji, if it was re-packaged old stock.

Ah, I've been using Centuria films with good results. It won't suck.

[Steve Roberts]

Depends.

It could be rebranded versions of other films made by an existing coating plant (Agfa-Gevavert, Kodak, etc)

It could be old stock from Konica Minolta sold in new packaging.

It could suck.

It could do nothing but undercut Fuji/Kodak profit and make the market worse, not better.

Etc.

A bit of a "glass half empty" view, if I might say so!
Personally, I always liked Konica's colour neg films and was very disappointed when they ceased to be. Centuria 400 was my favourite in 35mm P & S applications and even though I've kept an eye on a well-known electronic auction site, I haven't been able to find any for a long time.
I look forward to trying the new films.

Steve

[Steve Roberts]

http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

I've never heard of DNP in this context before, and living where I do it will always mean Dartmoor National Park to me! However, the links to DNP's other web info suggest that it's no lightweight and perhaps one of Japan's many well-kept secrets. Maybe we know its products by another name in the UK?

Steve (again)

[copake_ham]

http://www.dnp.co.jp/eng/news/2007/070417.html

Previously they were Konica Minolta Centuria films.
I thought it's gone.

This is a good news, isn't it ?

It certainly sounds like good news to me.

Hopefully they will also export this "reclaimed" brand. I presume it is an asset sale spinoff by Sony as they rationalize the K-M acquisition?

[Michael W]

I wish they would reintroduce the Konica 3200 colour neg.
Massive soft grain & pastel colours.

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

If this line sell OK hopefully see some more unique film come out of R&D - I liked the Konica Minolta film, still have two rolls left to develop.
The colour market is rather dominated by Kodak and Fuji, it's encouraging to see more players.

[Ryuji]

I presume it is an asset sale spinoff by Sony as they rationalize the K-M acquisition?

Sony did not acquire Konica Minolta. It's just that Konica Minolta sold its consumer camera division to Sony, color paper manufacturing plant to DNP, color processing machines and maintenance services to Noritsu, etc.

Dainippon always had its emulsion division, small but particularly focused on the printing films. In July 2006, they acquired Konica's color paper plant, and they were to resume manufacturing of color paper. However, this news of Centuria film was a bit unexpected because neither Kunihiko nor I thought they had the film plant in their hand. Even if they had a lot of leftover film, I don't think it would pay to sell it under their brand.

http://konicaminolta.jp/about/releas...710_03_01.html

The plant transferred as a result of the agreement described in this press release does not have any R&D division or film manufacturing equipment.

At this point, my best guess is either (1) Konica Minolta is still quietly manufacturing color film and DNP Photo Marketing is selling them under their name or (2) the deals between Konica and DNP were not exactly as decribed in past press release.