For those who have been following this adventure, the latest rumor mill has Fuji possibly rethinking the QL demise. At least that is latest information being shared over in the UK large format forums during this weekend. I'll keep an eye out for any updates or news they might receive directly from Fuji.
As a long time user of the QL's it would be nice, but I would not get too excited about it at this point. Normally I'd just blow this news off, but after seeing what they did with Velvia 50 who knows?
That sure would be nice if it were true. I stocked up on QL's over the last several months, but I don't have enough stockpiled to last too long. It sure is nice to be able to use QL's. Holders are cheaper, but far more painful.
Thanks, Paul. Yes, it would be nice to see QL's for Astia, and Velvia 50 and 100 available again.
It's been hard to separate fact from rumor in this whole deal. So, I'll just keep an eye on the vendors I use, and if QL's show up...
I just checked B&H (on 04/06) and the only Fuji QL's listed are the ISO 64 Tungsten and 160-ProS color neg; no mention of tranny or B&W QL's. I hope they do reverse course because I sure like the convenience.
Good news for you QL aficionados and I hope it true for you. :-) I kinda feel like the tortoise and the hare, just chugging along with my same old trusty film holders.
Being a total novice at standard cut loads I hope Fuji will reverse course. But, I can use them, have in the past, and will do so again if I must. I will say I've noticed a few of my images from those days have more scratches on them then with any QL images since.
Preston, like YIKES , April came upon us fast and as the "Brits" stated a couple months ago that would be the drop dead date. However, in that mix was the fact that Fuji would keep selling the stock out and it would take almost a full year to do that. Well, low and behold, B&H ain't got any, just like you said. Oh my, I guess the rubber just hit the road for me.
This is what I've disliked about Fuji in the past when they dropped Velvia 50. It took a real arm wrestle to get them to bring it back.
I find I use QL's now only for long hikes and backpacking. Even on decent hikes, I take conventional holders. I simply got used to them. And, I don't shoot a lot of exposures anymore. I am more discerning now. Still, I'd hate to see QL's depart....
Jeffrey, I think your adjustment to the QL issue is pretty much what everyone else is doing as well. Many of us have stocked up on the QL's and plan on using them as a bit of a backup to the standard loads.
I for one have more on hand then I typically do right now and only find the total glut buying caused by Fuji making it harder to really get a clear picture for the health of the platform overall. In fact, I've heard of many who have filled complete freezers with QL's.
I see that as an issue for possibly a revenue stream next year for Fuji with various outcomes and skewed sales going forward.
It was my understanding from information I could find was that Fuji planned to stop production in April of this year, but knowing the track record of previous sales they would stock pile almost a years worth of QL's so there would be a true tapering off effect with an attempt to better understand the required cut sheet flow by doing that.
I sent an email to Fuji US to see what was up and what the plan was to be with pending dates. Fuji never responded back.
So, I contacted B&H about the demise of QL's a couple months ago and they said even with the large volume of their sales they were not being updated by Fuji back then and they knew nothing of the planned canceling of QL's.
So, the Fuji planned tapering off effect apparently went bone dry at B&H over this last weekend.
Obviously, we are subjected to whatever takes place at this point in time. But, if corporations do not understand lost customer loyalties these days, they really only have to look inward IMO.
Not one to beat a dead horse, but I just sent another email off to Fuji Headquarters in Japan. The first email I sent a couple months ago was to Fuji U.S. With no reply I assume there was no one at home.
I hold a little hope that maybe their HQ people are more up on customer relations. As I worked my last 12 years for an excellent Japanese telecommunications company NEC, I'm a bit surprised at the approach to this situation from a Japanese company such as Fuji.
Discussion
9 repliesAs a long time user of the QL's it would be nice, but I would not get too excited about it at this point. Normally I'd just blow this news off, but after seeing what they did with Velvia 50 who knows?
I won't hold my breath.
Thanks for the update, Paul.
It's been hard to separate fact from rumor in this whole deal. So, I'll just keep an eye on the vendors I use, and if QL's show up...
I just checked B&H (on 04/06) and the only Fuji QL's listed are the ISO 64 Tungsten and 160-ProS color neg; no mention of tranny or B&W QL's. I hope they do reverse course because I sure like the convenience.
I just received 4 boxes of Astia in cut sheets.
--P
Lon
Lately, I've been chugging along with regular film holders, thus saving my QL's for those times when weight and bulk are an issue.
I rather like using standard holders in the field, but I'm not a real fan of loading/unloading them, even though I'm pretty good at it.
--P
Preston, like YIKES
This is what I've disliked about Fuji in the past when they dropped Velvia 50. It took a real arm wrestle to get them to bring it back.
I for one have more on hand then I typically do right now and only find the total glut buying caused by Fuji making it harder to really get a clear picture for the health of the platform overall. In fact, I've heard of many who have filled complete freezers with QL's.
I see that as an issue for possibly a revenue stream next year for Fuji with various outcomes and skewed sales going forward.
It was my understanding from information I could find was that Fuji planned to stop production in April of this year, but knowing the track record of previous sales they would stock pile almost a years worth of QL's so there would be a true tapering off effect with an attempt to better understand the required cut sheet flow by doing that.
I sent an email to Fuji US to see what was up and what the plan was to be with pending dates. Fuji never responded back.
So, I contacted B&H about the demise of QL's a couple months ago and they said even with the large volume of their sales they were not being updated by Fuji back then and they knew nothing of the planned canceling of QL's.
So, the Fuji planned tapering off effect apparently went bone dry at B&H over this last weekend.
Obviously, we are subjected to whatever takes place at this point in time. But, if corporations do not understand lost customer loyalties these days, they really only have to look inward IMO.
I hold a little hope that maybe their HQ people are more up on customer relations. As I worked my last 12 years for an excellent Japanese telecommunications company NEC, I'm a bit surprised at the approach to this situation from a Japanese company such as Fuji.