More Fuji Price Hikes?

<p>This doesn't look like a joke:</p>

<p>http://www.fujifilmusa.com/press/news/display_news?newsID=880430</p>

<p>It's apparently real. I called Matt's number and got his V.M. (amazing that the head of Fuji's communications included their office phone number on the alert), and it sounds legit. 20% isn't the end of the world, but I've also watched the price of film cameras steadily drop on auction sites. So not only is our gear worth less when it comes time to sell it, it costs more to operate. I shoot Kodak and Ilford mostly, but Kodak is in greater trouble than both Fuji and Ilford, and this is a copycat industry, so I expect all B&W prices to rise. I'm probably going to bite the bullet and buy a LOT of my favorite films now. It's surely a good move because as the film prices rise, the dollar here in the US is able to buy less every year, and has for the last 50 years that I can remember.</p>

I guess this is Fujifilm USA announcing the local implementation of the price increases that were flagged by Fujifilm Japan back in February.<br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/00bOjb">

http://www.photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/00bOjb</a>

<p>It's real. C-41 and certainly E-6 materials are circling the drain. I recently saw that Fuji's store-brand ISO400(Superia) for Black's--an old Canadian camera store chain Fuji.ca once owned--is over $40 for a 5-pac. Who still shoots 35mm and 120 E-6 film? Cheap OK-quality dev/print service is dead. Film camera prices, especially 35mm, have been in free fall for the last 5-7 years. Film shooting will likely be b&w only sooner than most of us think.</p>

<p><em>Say</em> it ain't <em>so</em>, Joe. :_(</p>

<p>If you use Fuji C200 colour neg film then a 20% increase will mean going from £2.00 to £2.40, still affordable. In fact Poundland is selling the same stuff badged as Agfa for £1 per roll. <br>

Nevertheless, the cost for b/w and slide film is becoming prohibitive. 20% on top of £7 for a roll of Provia takes it to £8.40 per roll. Too much for me. I still shoot C200 because its cheap and scans well. I think that will be around for a while.</p>