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Author
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Topic: There goes Fuji!
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Jerome Sutter
Film Handler
Posts: 92
From: Bellwood, IL USA
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted September 15, 2012 09:28 AM
Press release from Fuji
Announcement on Motion Picture Film Business of Fujifilm
September 13, 2012 Fujifilm has mainly provided negative films for shooting and positive films for projection in its motion picture film business operations. However, in order to adapt to the recent rapid transition of digitalization in the shooting, producing, projecting and archiving processes of motion pictures Fujifilm has decided to shift its business operations to provide products and services designed for digital workflow of motion picture production and projection.
Digital cinema camera shooting has been gaining momentum, and digital editing that heavily uses CG composition and VFX processing has now become common in motion picture production. There is also an increase in the number of movie theaters that converted to digital projection, following the increase of 3D motion pictures, implying the dramatically advancing digitalization in the motion picture industry. In such trend, Fujifilm has strived to reduce the costs of the production process for its existing negative films and positive films and continued to supply such films. However, the dramatic decrease of demand in the last few years has become far too great a burden to be covered by corporate efforts. Therefore, it has been decided to discontinue the sales of negative films, positive films, and some other products of motion picture in a prospect of March 2013.
Fujifilm will continue to provide films suitable for long-term archiving, high-performance lens for motion pictures, and other products and services designed for digital workflow of motion picture production and exhibition. Fujifilm will strive harder than ever to provide such products and services in its continuous contribution to the motion picture industry.
However, professional and amateur photographic still film will continue to be manufactured.
Products and services focused on
(1) Lineup of lenses for digital motion picture cameras and projectors
Enhance the lineup of Fujinon lenses which are highly acclaimed for its quality in the motion picture and broadcasting industry for many years.
HK series for PL mounts which are favored by many motion picture productions, the new FUJINON ZK4.7 x 19 cine-lens that offers high optical performance despite its compact size and light weight, etc.
For the screening of digital motion pictures, Fujinon lenses for 4K digital cinema projectors and lenses for super high-definition images
(2) Color management system
On-set color management system, Image Processing System IS-100, for digital shooting (motion pictures, television, and commercials) in a high degree of precision, enabled by Fujifilm's proprietary technologies for color reproduction and color management nurtured in the fields of photography and printing.
(3) Systems for archiving of digital images
Data media for long-term data storage of ultrahigh capacity that utilizes Fujifilm's proprietary BaFe (barium ferrite) magnetic material
Motion picture recording film (ETERNA-RDS) for long-term archival preservation of 500 years with silver halide technology
Digital data archive service as a data storage service that allows users to manage valuable data in an integrated manner (Promoting mainly in Europe and the USA and preparing for the deployment in Japan)
Products ending its sales
Color Positive Film
Color Negative Film
B&W Positive/Negative Film
Intermediate Film
Sound Recording Film
High Contrast Panchromatic Films
Chemicals (Japan only)
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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God
Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted September 16, 2012 04:06 AM
That's exactly what manufacturers do. sell you something,then
tell you a short time later that what you have is no good anymore,
here is something better.How many times have they done this
with your favourite films, and your copy on film is still there and
will be for years to come,a bit like HRH Queen Elizabeth, Heads
of State may change, but she's remained a constant.Film won't
truly disappear,it is tried and tested,but it wont be for the
average viewers eyes,just an archive material.Like I've said Paul,
the time is now,enjoy your films,no one can appreciate and
cherish your titles as much as yourself, so does it really matter in the long run if future generations enjoy their movies on a
form of computer chip?We are the lucky ones,film with all it's
irritating foibles, like scratches and splices etc,still weaves a
magic like no other medium.I suppose the movers and shakers
must despair of film collectors,quaint nutcases,until they're
missing a particular title, then we're the first people they look for.
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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted September 16, 2012 06:07 AM
Already here Paul;
http://www.sony.co.uk/pro/product/fpjhomecinema/vpl-vw1000es/overview
However, I doubt 4K discs will ever see the light of day, as it is difficult enough to sell Blu-ray to the masses. Instead, most new Blu-ray players will propably upscale to 4K I reckon.
Actually, we're at a crossroads here, 4K on one side and downloading on the other. Downloading could quickly see the end of physical media (Blu-ray) simply because of it's convenience factor.
Try explaining to Joe Public that downloading, whilst technically can be HD, is so compressed as to make it worthless as a viable alternative to Blu-ray in terms of quality.
Actually, us lot, as appreciatiors of quality images, should be championing new formats like 4K, not worrying about them. It doesn't mean we have to change or upgrade our gear as long as we're happy with it, but at the same time, it should be comforting to see a strive toward ever better quality, rather than the alternate route (downloading) which (much like MP3 put an end to accessible quality music) may put an end to quality viewing at home (quality digital viewing, that is, as we all still have our real films! ![[Smile]](smile.gif) )
Just my opinion.
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Paul Adsett
Film God
Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted September 16, 2012 10:08 AM
I totally agree with Hugh about the unique magic of projecting reel film. It may not be as sharp as digital, and it probably has less resolution, but is certainly has an indefinable something, a special look and texture, and joy of equipment that digital just cannot replicate.
Rob is correct of course. The threat to Blu Ray is digital downloading, which is viewed as a great thing by the average Joe so he can watch CinemaScope movies on his 2 ins phone screen! Hopefully Blu Ray is here to stay, at least for a while. I bashed Blu Ray when it came on the scene 5 years ago, because I was perfectly happy with DVD at that time and could not see the point of it. I am still happy with DVD, but I can now see the picture quality advantages of Blu Ray, now that I have a 1080p projector. Blu ray to me seems to show perfect pictures, but I have heard that 4K is like looking through a window, so everything is relative.
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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj
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