| Photo: Abby Ferguson |
Unfortunately, this Film Friday brings some disappointing news. Price hikes are in the news everywhere right now, and that includes film prices, at least for those in Japan. Earlier this week, Fuji Rumors shared that, along with a redesign of a disposable camera, Fujifilm is increasing the price of its film in Japan.
Fujifilm Japan’s press release explains that the prices are increasing because of the costs of making and transporting the film. “As the prices of materials, raw materials, and transportation costs for photographic film continue to rise, we have been working to absorb costs by improving production efficiency and cutting expenses, but as it is difficult to absorb the costs through corporate efforts alone, we will be revising the prices of some of our photographic film products,” a machine-translated version of the release states.
| Price change date | Selected products | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 | Color Negative Film | 135 | Approximately 21% to 22% |
| April 1 | Disposable Film Camera | 135 | Approximately 44% |
| April 1 | Reversal Film | 135/120 | Approximately 31-52% |
The release says that 35mm color negative film prices have increased by around 21 or 22%, while 35mm and 120mm reversal film prices increased by roughly 31 to 52%. The QuickSnap disposable camera is also around 44% more expensive. While the new prices took effect on April 1, it was not an April Fool’s Day joke. A search on Bic Camera, one of Japan’s largest electronics retail chains, currently has a single roll of 135 Velvia 50 priced at 6050 yen, or $41.57. If you want a five-pack of 120 Velvia 100 in Japan, you’re looking at 23,650 yen, or $162.51.
Color negative film isn’t nearly as bad, but it’s still extremely expensive. A single roll of 135 Fujifilm 400 – typically considered a beginner-friendly budget option – is listed at 2420 yen, or $16.63. For comparison, that same film is listed at B&H in the US for $8.39.
Fujifilm hasn’t said whether the pricing outside of Japan will be affected, but it seems possible that the higher costs will be implemented elsewhere. Given the recent tariffs, that seems especially likely in the US. If you’re an analog photographer, it may be a good time to stock up on some film.
