Category: Product News

PolaPremium: apparently big instant film news coming in 3.1 hours

Nicolai Grossman 2 Comments

Some big news in instant film is apparently happening in about 3.1 hours, according to the PolaPremium web site, which for now teases us with a countdown timer and the text, "The New Home of Instant Photography".

It appears that there will be new instant films from unsaleable.com, the folks who did SX-70 Blend, indicated both by the rumor mill, and the fact that their site is now just a link to PolaPremium, titled "Transfer in Progress…"

As someone who laments the loss of Polaroid integral films on a daily basis, I’m waiting with baited breath!

Check PolaPremium.com and the PolaPremium group on Flickr to see what happens.

Fuji brings Instax integral instant film to the US

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According to this press release, Fuji is finally bringing their integral instant film (sorta similar to Polaroid 600 and Spectra) to the US. Here’s the meat of it:

"In recent months, as availability of instant film has dwindled, we’ve received inquiries from customers in a range of markets here in the U.S. including health care, law enforcement, insurance, real estate, and others, who really need to continue using a traditional instant film solution" said Christian Fridholm, vice president of marketing, consumables, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A. "We believe that people familiar with instant photography, but who are new to the Fujifilm Instax brand, will be impressed with the intuitive design of the Instax 200, and will be especially pleased with the vivid colors and bright whites delivered by our Instax Instant Color Film."

The Instax 200 and Instax Instant Color Film will begin shipping in late December and will be available for purchase through Fujifilm’s professional dealer network. MSRP for the Instax 200 is $69.99 and a 20-pack of Instax Instant Color Film is $28.99.

…

The Fujifilm Instax System offers an appealing alternative to previous users of Polaroid cameras utilizing Polaroid Type 600 Films…

$28.99 for 20 shots is on the high side, but I’ve seen it cheaper online from several Canadian resellers.

For more info, check out Fujifilm USA’s Instax web page and Instax system PDF data sheet.

New Zeiss lenses for Canon

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Zeiss are [finally] releasing Canon EF mount versions of their Z series manual focus 35mm/digital SLR lenses! First out will be the Planar T* f/1.4 50mm (SRP of 579 euros) and the Planar T* f/1.4 85mm (SRP of 999 euros (both prices include 19% German VAT)).

From the current "issue" of Carl Zeiss Camera Lens News:

Carl Zeiss is expanding its successful line of SLR lenses: ZE lenses with EF bayonet for all analog and digital EOS camera models. As with all EF lenses, the new ZE lenses from Carl Zeiss transfer all information exclusively via electronic contacts. This means that all exposure modes such as programmed auto exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual setting are supported. The camera’s automatic focus confirmation also remains available to an unlimited extent with these manual focus lenses. With digital SLRs, the lens data and all exposure data can also be accessed via the camera’s EXIF file. Even E-TTL flash metering is supported. The first lenses to be available will be the Planar T* 1,4/50 ZE and the Planar T* 1,4/85 ZE in the last quarter of this year. Further focal lengths will be added to the line within the next few months.

New Kodak Ektar 100 film replaces 100UC

Nicolai Grossman 1 Comment

Kodak Ektar 100 film package

Kodak announced Ektar 100, a new fine-grained, high-contrast, high-saturation, "world’s sharpest" color negative film. It’s 35mm-only, and will replace the almost cartoonishly-saturated Portra Professional Ultra Color 100UC.

Availability: October 2008 in the US, beginning of November in Europe, ?? rest of the word.

More info on Kodak’s Ektar 100 Q&A and in the film data sheet (PDF).

 

Here are the relevant portions of Kodak’s press release:

New KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 Film Provides Photographers with the World’s Finest-Grain Colour Negative Film

LONDON, September 9, 2008 – Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) continues to champion professional photographers and set new standards in professional film with the new KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTAR 100 (EKTAR 100) film. This new film, with ISO 100 speed, high saturation and ultra-vivid colour, offers the finest, smoothest grain of any colour negative film available today.

"Photography has always been about capturing a moment or story and sharing it, with just a few or with the world," said Mary Jane Hellyar, president, Film, Photofinishing & Entertainment Group and executive vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. "It is often the smallest details that mark the difference between a good photograph and one that stands out and becomes memorable. With our new EKTAR 100 film, we’ve created a film that helps the photographer capture unprecedented detail in remarkably vivid colour. This film continues a Kodak tradition of providing photographers with the highest quality films that expand the range over which they can create outstanding images."

EKTAR 100 Film is the ideal choice for commercial photographers and advanced amateurs for applications such as nature, travel, fashion and product photography where the emphasis is often on colour. The new film incorporates KODAK VISION Motion Picture Film Technology to achieve its unparalleled fine grain. It’s perfect for photographers who prefer the ease of working with 35mm, and who look for extraordinary enlargement capability when scanning and printing.

[…trade show stuff blah blah blah…]

The new KODAK EKTAR Films will be available throughout Europe from the beginning of November, 2008.

Free film offer from Fujifilm UK (London only)

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The Fujifilm Professional Newsletter says:

Process 10 rolls of any brand of 120 colour negative film at London-based pro lab Genesis Imaging and receive a free 5 roll pack of either Fujicolor PRO160S, PRO160C or PRO400H 120 colour negative film.

The Fujicolor PRO Series offers an exceptional range of professional colour negative films to suit all purposes. PRO Series films produce natural skin tones, extremely fine grain, have a wide exposure latitude and are optimised for digital scanning.

To claim your free 5 roll pack, simply process 10 rolls of ANY BRAND of 120 colour negative film at Genesis Imaging. For more details contact Ken or Lynda at Genesis on +44 20 7384 6299.

This offer is open only while stocks last and is limited to one free 120 film 5 pack per order, per person, per day.

Genesis Imaging
Unit 1 Hurlingham Business Park
Sulivan Road
Fulham
London
SW6 3DU
United Kingdom

www.genesis-digital.net

Tel: 020 7384 6299

Hope for Polaroid 20×24 & 8×10 film?

Nicolai Grossman 2 Comments

This article in Amateur Photographer says:

Polaroid is in fresh talks over the survival of its professional instant sheet film following its failure to reach agreement with UK firm Ilford Photo.

Polaroid bosses have confirmed that they are in discussions with a ‘third party’ over the continued production of 20x24in large format professional b&w sheet film.

In a meeting with Amateur Photographer, Polaroid’s European vice-president Paul Telford also revealed that there is a ‘strong possibility’ that production of 8x10in format sheet film will be taken up by an, as yet, unnamed manufacturer…

Fuji raises film & paper prices

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Excerpt from a Fujifilm UK press release:

FUJIFILM UK Ltd. (Managing Director Hiroshi Saigusa) has announced that it is to increase prices on its range of photographic papers and films in the United Kingdom. The price changes are being implemented on a worldwide basis. [emphasis added] Prices will be increased from July 2008 and will range between 10% and 20% depending on the product group.

To sustain its photo imaging business, FUJIFILM has been undertaking intensive structural reforms to reduce fixed costs and improve productivity, and has been absorbing the increasing costs of raw materials used to manufacture films and papers over the past few years. However, the recent soaring costs of such materials as silver and crude oil mean that FUJIFILM is no longer able to absorb these costs during the production process.

FUJIFILM’S photographic paper and film continues to set the standard in terms of image quality and they are appreciated by professionals and enthusiasts alike. We remain fully committed to this important market and plan to continue our product development of new photosensitive material.

Kodak discontinues ReadyLoads

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Kodak says:

Due to significantly declining sales volume, Kodak is preannouncing the discontinuance of READYLOAD Single-Sheet Packets for four films.

The items listed below will be discontinued by year-end 2008. However, inventories may run out before then, depending on demand.

Please note: This preannounced discontinuance applies to Readyload format only. Other cut sheet sizes, such as 4×5 and 8×10, are not affected. [emphasis added so no-one freaks out]

READYLOAD Discontinuances:

  • KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX 100 Film
  • KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA 160VC Film
  • KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTACHROME Film E100G
  • KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTACHROME Film E100VS
  • KODAK PROFESSIONAL READYLOAD Packet Film Holder

No Polaroid B&W pack film from Ilford

Nicolai Grossman 4 Comments

According to this post from Ilford/Harman on APUG, Ilford will not assume production of Polaroid’s discontinued black and white peel-apart/pack films:

Dear All,

I have been out for a few days and several of you have sent me PM’s re POLAROID : Please see below :

April 18th, 2008, Mobberley, Cheshire UK and Minnetonka, MN, USA — HARMAN technology Limited and its monochrome brand, ILFORD Photo and Polaroid Worldwide have been in discussions about ILFORD Photo taking on production of Polaroid’s black and white professional instant sheet film. Despite their best efforts, together the prospective partners have determined that they can not find a commercially viable way forward.

HARMAN’s Chairman and Managing Director, Phil Harris said. "The processes involved in the manufacture and assembly of professional instant sheet film products are very demanding and it would require substantial investment to re-establish them at HARMAN technology’s site in Cheshire, England. When compared with current and projected sales for the products, it was clear that such an investment could not be justified."

Phil Harris continues: "While we had hoped to work together on continuing the production of instant sheet film, it is cost prohibitive to meet the declining demand. As a company, we are saddened that such an inspirational form of expression will disappear, but we will always remain staunchly committed to the long term future of monochrome photography in all its facets and we will continue to do everything we can to support it".

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

I’m not worried. Fuji’s FP-100B and FP-3000B are drop-in replacements for Polaroid’s ISO 100 and 3000 black and white pack films, and they’re cheaper! And personally, I like them better anyway. (Fuji also has an ISO 100 color pack film, FP-100C. Same goes: still available, cheaper, and IMO nicer. It’s the loss of Polaroid’s integral films, 600 and Spectra/779 that I’m crying over.)

Agfa Multicontrast Classic fibre paper to be reissued by ADOX!

Nicolai Grossman 1 Comment

It’s coming back, maybe in August [2008]! ADOX says:

The Emulsions for this paper are being produced on the original Agfa machinery which ADOX purchased together with former Agfa engineers from the liquidator of AgfaPhoto in Leverkusen.

They are identical in all measurable parameters with the papers formerly sold by Agfa under the “Agfa Multicontrast Classic” name.

This paper is among the technologically most advanced papers in the world. With its four separately made emulsions which are coated together it yields a range of achievable contrasts from 0 to 5,5. Other variable contrast papers, especially those with only one emulsion layer, reach at the outermost grade 4…

Continue reading at ADOX’s product page

Via Tom Persinger