MPJMP Posted October 25, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've never been to Japan, but judging by things I see on the web I get the impression that they still do a great deal of film shooting over there. Blogs such as Tokyo Camera Style seem to reinforce this perception. So is it true? Do the Japanese really still love their Provia and Portra as much or more than their digital cameras? If so, why in Japan and not as much in the US or Europe? Are there any English-speaking Japanese forum members here to comment? -Mike P.S. Over the years I've noticed that every hobby or interest I have is more popular in Japan than it is in my own country. Maybe I should consider relocating? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Hi MPJMP, Take a look here Why is film still so popular in Japan?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Pedro Posted October 25, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 25, 2009 Don't know nothing about photography in Japan but thanks for sharing the link to the Tokyo camera style blog. It's great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dk_samurai Posted October 25, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 25, 2009 I was in Japan for 6 weeks this summer, and I too, noticed that the amount of film users in Japan is noticeably larger than in Denmark or the US. I was at three large events where there were lots of professional and serious amateurs present. Most of the professionals had what appeared to be digital Nikons and Canons, but then again, there were also film SLRs and rangefinders hanging from their necks and shoulders. Why is this? I don't really know. I'm half Japanese, but don't have a clue as to why this is. However, I really do appreciate that they still love their film, as it's like being a kid in a candy store when you walk into a modern Japanese camera store! LOTS of film stocked on the selves, all fresh!! And also lots of used camera stores. Ummm... me like! Maybe because the Japanese are so camera crazy that they want the best of both worlds? Film & digital? Also, Leica did mention that Japan was the biggest market for the MP and M7 cameras because they have reached cult status over there. /David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted October 25, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted October 25, 2009 Why is this? I don't really know. I'm half Japanese... David, Your user ID makes perfect sense now! -Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted October 25, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 25, 2009 I always thought that Japan was the biggest market for the MP and the M7 because they were mainly bought by collectors there, but maybe I'm wrong. I was in Tokyo for one week - my first time in Japan - last year and I saw one guy with an old film Leica, but otherwise I don't remember seeing analog cameras. It'd be interesting to see real numbers - something like the amount of film stock sold in Japan compared to other countries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted October 26, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 26, 2009 Japan and the Japanese people are extremely interesting subjects. The respect they give to their history and ancient customs while being at the forefront of technology is simply staggering. I think their love for film is simply a mirror of their society in general. But that's my simple take on the matter as I've never been to Japan and I have no Japanese friends except a German living in Japan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan c. davis Posted October 26, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) My daughter lives in Japan and is married to a Japanese photographer who uses Nikon Dslr's. When they visit Adelaide he always wants to see my M6ttl and fondles it like a baby kitten. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maddoc2003jp Posted October 26, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 26, 2009 Ned, your observation about the Japanese people is spot Now.... when do you come over ? Japan and the Japanese people are extremely interesting subjects. The respect they give to their history and ancient customs while being at the forefront of technology is simply staggering. I think their love for film is simply a mirror of their society in general. But that's my simple take on the matter as I've never been to Japan and I have no Japanese friends except a German living in Japan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mingmac Posted October 26, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 26, 2009 Check this out too, guys. tokyo camera style Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
germio Posted October 26, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 26, 2009 Japan has the highest concentration of photo hobbyists than any country I've visited. Camera stores are every where and a lot of people participate in amateur photo clubs. It's somewhat like a national hobby. The accepted standards of photography are very high and dare I say their publications generally have far better reproduction quality than their counterparts in the UK and US. People there are still drawn to film because it's commonly accepted that film has "character" and other qualities irreproducible by digital--read: film just looks better. The two leading photo magazines, Asahi Camera and Nippon Camera, routinely run feature articles about analog photography and do not hold back in characterizing digital as being "relatively characterless". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
budrichard Posted October 26, 2009 Share #11 Posted October 26, 2009 While not Japanese, one of my best friends in College was Japanese and I was best man at his wedding. I have a number of other Japanese close friends. I find the Japanese passionate prefectionists in whatever endeaver they chose to participate in whether its collecting or actual usage. Thier magazines completely outclass any others and I have had subscriptions to a number of them over the years. Even though I can't read the language the amount of reference material contained within, quality of the photographs and detailed testing is superb. The Japanese are also superb engineers and its toss up as to whether they exceed the Germans. (I am a US engineer BTW). Without the Japanese film would cease to exist much sooner and I look to Fuji to be the last analog supplier. In some respects, if not actually a Japanese national, I don't think one can really totally understand what makes them tick!-Dick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted October 26, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 26, 2009 Without the Japanese film would cease to exist much sooner and I look to Fuji to be the last analog supplier. I don't. I'm putting my money on Kodak or Ilford. Ilford only does B&W film as we all know, so have put all their eggs in a niche basket for a long time and seem to navigating it reasonably well. Kodak, well they do a ton of motion picture film, more than Fuji as far as I know. When/if the film industry no longer uses enough film for Kodak and Fuji to continue to make it profitably, I think color film will die. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 26, 2009 Share #13 Posted October 26, 2009 Oh dear, so now the Japanese photo enthusiasts are holding up the film industry! Sorry, BS. Kodak: Film No Compromise: Archive http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Products/Customer_Testimonials/Why_Compromise/Cost_one-sheet.htm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest henri klein Posted October 26, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 26, 2009 taste and a sense for style? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted October 26, 2009 Share #15 Posted October 26, 2009 When/if the film industry no longer uses enough film for Kodak and Fuji to continue to make it profitably, I think color film will die. I should have clarified that - by film I mean motion picture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AgXlove Posted October 26, 2009 Share #16 Posted October 26, 2009 Japan has the highest concentration of photo hobbyists than any country I've visited. Camera stores are every where and a lot of people participate in amateur photo clubs. It's somewhat like a national hobby. The accepted standards of photography are very high and dare I say their publications generally have far better reproduction quality than their counterparts in the UK and US. People there are still drawn to film because it's commonly accepted that film has "character" and other qualities irreproducible by digital--read: film just looks better. The two leading photo magazines, Asahi Camera and Nippon Camera, routinely run feature articles about analog photography and do not hold back in characterizing digital as being "relatively characterless". Japanese folks who have been bitten by the photography bug are obsessive about photography, from what I've seen. I once saw a photograph of a Hasselblad camera club on an outing. There were rows of Japanese photographers with tripod mounted 'blads (6x6 film 'blads); each of them had an open camera bag at his feet with at least half a dozen Hasselblad lenses at the ready. Many had the megadolar 250/5.6 Superachromat; some had the 350 Super-A. Those kinds of financial investments/sacrifices indicate a passion for photography and the creative process that could be called fanatical (not that there's anything wrong with that). This may be subjective, but IMHO, film based images oftentimes do look better than pixel based images (yet I will freely admit that I still pine for an M9). Let the lynching commence, LOL - I'll supply the rope. Sometimes digital images just look too perfect. I don't know if that is a fingerprint inherent in the digital process or if it is due to overuse of Photoshop. Heavy-handed use of Photoshop is like heavy-handed use of makeup - sometimes "girl next door" is transformed into "shellacked street whore" in the quest to fix her. As is usually the case in makeup, photography and life - a delicate touch is a good thing. Some digital images look almost plastic; sometimes they remind me of certain supermodels whose beauty is so perfect that they look like androids who were engineered and created to be "perfect." Nothing in this world is perfect (even though Leica lenses and some Leica cameras come close). It almost seems like when we get too close to aestetic perfection, it looks unnatural, manufactured and a bit forced. Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player - YMMV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted October 26, 2009 Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player - YMMV. It's OK. This is the Film Forum. You are safe here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomasis7 Posted October 26, 2009 Share #18 Posted October 26, 2009 Japanese folks who have been bitten by the photography bug are obsessive about photography, from what I've seen. I once saw a photograph of a Hasselblad camera club on an outing. There were rows of Japanese photographers with tripod mounted 'blads (6x6 film 'blads); each of them had an open camera bag at his feet with at least half a dozen Hasselblad lenses at the ready. Many had the megadolar 250/5.6 Superachromat; some had the 350 Super-A. Those kinds of financial investments/sacrifices indicate a passion for photography and the creative process that could be called fanatical (not that there's anything wrong with that). This may be subjective, but IMHO, film based images oftentimes do look better than pixel based images (yet I will freely admit that I still pine for an M9). Let the lynching commence, LOL - I'll supply the rope. Sometimes digital images just look too perfect. I don't know if that is a fingerprint inherent in the digital process or if it is due to overuse of Photoshop. Heavy-handed use of Photoshop is like heavy-handed use of makeup - sometimes "girl next door" is transformed into "shellacked street whore" in the quest to fix her. As is usually the case in makeup, photography and life - a delicate touch is a good thing. Some digital images look almost plastic; sometimes they remind me of certain supermodels whose beauty is so perfect that they look like androids who were engineered and created to be "perfect." Nothing in this world is perfect (even though Leica lenses and some Leica cameras come close). It almost seems like when we get too close to aestetic perfection, it looks unnatural, manufactured and a bit forced. Don't shoot me, I'm just the piano player - YMMV. street whore.. haha indeed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejd Posted October 26, 2009 Share #19 Posted October 26, 2009 Thanks for the pointer to tokyo camera style. Very entertaining blog. Great photos of all those cameras, and their owners all seem so proud of them (and who would not be). Japan is certainly a great place for photography, whether buying the kit or taking the pictures. I'm not sure whether there is a bigger proportion of film-related activity within the total of it than anywhere else, but the overall amount of photgraphy and camera shopping is so enormous. The big Tokyo camera stores (like Yodobashi and Bic Camera) make any UK shop look miserable by comparison. There are many wonderful second-hand camera shops in Tokyo too. I presently favour Lemon www.lemonsha.com in Ginza and Map Camera www.mapcamera.com in Shinjuku, which both have lots of s/h Leica, amongst other things, but there are lots of others. The camera magazines are very impressive. Asahi Camera and Nippon Camera are both monthlies. They always have long and detailed analyses of new gear, and re-evaluations of old stuff, as well as the opening sections devoted to photo essays -- with beautifully printed photographs -- the later sections with the monthly competitions, and the long section of adverts at the end. One of the sections is a listing of photo exhibitions, and there are hundreds of them. Many of the big camera manufacturers have 'photo salons' that hang lots of small exhibitions. The Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography TOKYO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY"SYABI" runs lots of excellent exhibitions. Plus everyone seems to have a camera with them all the time, and the anxieties that have come to surround photography in the UK do not exist in Japan. Everone is much more relaxed about it. It is a real photographic paradise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share #20 Posted October 27, 2009 My "other" hobby is playing the guitar, and the pictures I've seen of Tokyo guitar shops made my jaw drop to the floor the same way this film display did. Inventory out the wazoo, and all of it premium, hard to find stuff. Again, perhaps I need to consider relocating. Or at least a prolonged visit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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