arnabdas Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 For the last couple weeks I have been prowling the local market like a rabid dog for Velvia 50, my staple-food film. It is not available *anywhere* (including other cities like Bombay AFAIK) and the default answer I get is "Now that the faster Velvia 100F is available ..."/"Have you tried Velvia 100F" etc. type of assorted BS. This is stupidity to the max .. Now it is apparent to me that there was never that much of market demand for RVP50 in India. Looks like Velvia 50 never sold terribly well here -- and to the color-blind AF-camera-totting shutter- happy "look Ma I'm shooting pro slide film" majority of local amateurs, all that seems to matter is the Velvia name (which they have been more and more familiar with last few years because of the internet). This is frustrating. No one seems to want Velvia 50 any more. Jindal Photo Films, official distributors of Fuji products in India seems only interested in importing and selling as much RVP100F as it can. One reason for my posting is I wanted to vent out. Besides, if this is happening here, it might be happening in a few other countries as well. For the life of me, I never anticipated this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaram_venkatachalam1 Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 Arnab, Thom Hogan - a Nikon enthusiast (www.bythom.com) - has listed the demise of some brands of film as a part of his 2004 predictions. "Buy 'em while you can #1; stock up on these films if you want them: Fujifilm Velvia (likely replaced by Velvia F), Astia 100 (currently only available in rolls since replacement by Astia F)... His predictions ae to be taken with a grain of salt but I am glad that Velvia 50 is still available at B&H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted January 18, 2004 Author Share Posted January 18, 2004 I could have requested asylum in a country where Velvia 50 is still available but I've no political reasons to show for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel_taylor Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 I would think that living in a country without Velvia 50 is itself grounds for asylum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkka_nissila Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 I think to like the colours of Velvia 50 requires a degree of colour-blindness, but apparently I'm in the minority at photo.net ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upscan Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Not a very smart marketing move. There is I think some cock-suredness or arrogance in this on the part of Fuji that their new stuff has to be so very good because they think it is so very good, ignoring user's opinions. As for this user, no problem, there is Kodak's E100G, the "un-velvia". Arnab, your friends in India need not worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Arnab you're probably better off bulk ordering 100 rolls of Velvia 50 from the USA (B&H import) and storing them in a deep freeze. If local prices for Velvia in India are anything like in Canada the cost of shipping is more than deferred for an order of this size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted January 20, 2004 Author Share Posted January 20, 2004 Mike, That was the immediate idea I had and already researched into it! The Customs prohibits import of photographic material such as film, developer etc. without a IE (import-export) code that only marchants have :'( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Will your merchants not consider placing a special order for you? This is commonplace in North America if you need a special item. 40+ rolls is going to be worth their time and effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnabdas Posted January 20, 2004 Author Share Posted January 20, 2004 >Will your merchants not consider placing a special order for you? I think you are right... that makes quite some sense! Such an amount will surely be attractive to them. I'm talking with them first thing tomorrow morning. Thanks Mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue_deva Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 Mazda Lab in Bombay is usually happy to handle special import orders. Also, if you read the fine print of India's Customs and Excise Regulations (available online, albeit in a totally incomprehensible format), you will find that importing "sensitized finished photographic materials" is NOT forbidden to individuals. Yes, there is a 30% duty or something like that, but it's not impossible. And there is an exception (0% duty) for foreigners. So if you have any friends who are foreign diplomats, you might be able to get the order done without the shop mark-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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