myshkine Posted June 2, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) The recent interview of Dr. Kaufmann left me wondering. What will happen to all those film Leicas around the world, when film - in 5 yrs more or less according to him - will not be around any more? How many film Leicas are out there anyway? Hundred of thousands I would guess, probably most of them in perfect order. I suspect that if the narrative about film being already an obsolete technology takes foot, more and more labs will abandon film processing, resulting in an even shorter lifespan for emulsions. There is a lot to worry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 2, 2012 Posted June 2, 2012 Hi myshkine, Take a look here What will happen to film Leicas. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted June 2, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted June 2, 2012 He didn't say there'd be no film available in 5 years time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
myshkine Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share #3 Â Posted June 2, 2012 I understood that he expected colour film to be out of business in about 5 yrs, while BW will last longer. I mainly shoot E6, and it is already a pain in the neck to find good labs still available to process. This is what I'm worried about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 2, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted June 2, 2012 He's deluded. He thinks Hermes specials and tight black T shirts are a good thing!! Â Don't worry, just keep shooting lots of film. You only need one good lab for E6. B&W should always be processed at home, it's too easy not to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted June 2, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Living in a big city helps of course to find a proper lab (Paris works well in this respect, with lots of young photogs trying film), and I understand that there are still some factory E6 labs around (in Germany at least) where you can send films to and even obtain prepaid development bags. Â The key issue is surely the demand side and what it takes to stick to film, especially slide film. This afternoon I bought at my usual colour lab Fuji slides (Provia 100 & 400, even two Velvia 50) for an upcoming trip. I am still recovering from the shock of the bill. I knew Fuji had raised the prices, but the retailer even more so: 17 (seventeen) euros for the 36 exp. roll of P400X.... Â Perhaps we should all think about rallying friends in town and cyberspace for bulk orders. I hardly thought about this before writing it here - probably there are already experiences around (photo-clubs etc.). I shall at least inquire in Paris, but if someone here has ideas... Â Cheers, Â Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted June 2, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted June 2, 2012 In collaboration with hitmen who will receive Hermes special editions, the company will ensure that all film users enjoy their cameras for a "lifetime", exactly as the company promised. This covert programme is now under way and is expected to finalize in 2017 for colour film users, and a little later for B&W users. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
storybrown Posted June 2, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janki Posted June 2, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Some time ago, the largest newspaper in my hometown had an article about the photo-film and its future. Â One of the photo retailers in the city said that they will sell and process film as long as it is possible to obtain parts for existing photo-film processing machinery. Â When these machines are no longer possible to repair at a reasonable cost, the film will in practice be stone dead. Â It is therefore the remaining life of my photo-dealers processing machine that decides when my film-based Leica ends up as a decorative object on a shelf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted June 2, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted June 2, 2012 ^ In collaboration with the hitmen, a special sabotage team (also receiving Hermes special editions) will ensure that no processing equipment is operational beyond 2017, and that no parts are available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted June 2, 2012 Share #10  Posted June 2, 2012 I just paid less than 8 pounds for Provia 400, at 17 euros you were ripped off, I understand Fuji prices have not yet gone up but soon will and its more to do with high silver prices than anything else  Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted June 2, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted June 2, 2012 The recent interview of Dr. Kaufmann left me wondering. What will happen to all those film Leicas around the world, when film - in 5 yrs more or less according to him - will not be around any more? How many film Leicas are out there anyway? Hundred of thousands I would guess, probably most of them in perfect order. I suspect that if the narrative about film being already an obsolete technology takes foot, more and more labs will abandon film processing, resulting in an even shorter lifespan for emulsions. There is a lot to worry. Â Most people who use film don't use Leicas. Dr Kaufmann is a twit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 2, 2012 Share #12  Posted June 2, 2012 Some time ago, the largest newspaper in my hometown had an article about the photo-film and its future. One of the photo retailers in the city said that they will sell and process film as long as it is possible to obtain parts for existing photo-film processing machinery.  When these machines are no longer possible to repair at a reasonable cost, the film will in practice be stone dead.  It is therefore the remaining life of my photo-dealers processing machine that decides when my film-based Leica ends up as a decorative object on a shelf.  Interesting. My processing kit is sat on a shelf in my kitchen. Few moving parts, I reckon it will keep going for some years! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xalo Posted June 2, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted June 2, 2012 @Gerry, Thanks, I know this is exceptionally expensive (I mostly mail ordered in the recent past, but had no time now) and hearing P400 can be had for less than 10 euros is reassuring - but have yet to find this in France. Will do my homework... Alexander Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted June 2, 2012 Share #14  Posted June 2, 2012 Some time ago, the largest newspaper in my hometown had an article about the photo-film and its future. One of the photo retailers in the city said that they will sell and process film as long as it is possible to obtain parts for existing photo-film processing machinery.  When these machines are no longer possible to repair at a reasonable cost, the film will in practice be stone dead.  It is therefore the remaining life of my photo-dealers processing machine that decides when my film-based Leica ends up as a decorative object on a shelf.  I presume you are talking about C41. One issue with color labs is there needs to be enough volume to keep the process under control. When my E-6 lab started seeing a drop in volume, I gave them a lot of film that they would run for free just to keep their process under control. These were extra rolls and sheets that I shot on every assignment and held back unless needed and would not normally have had processed.  Once your lab stops, you may still be able to find another lab. But the entire issue with color is problematic because the chemicals will have to be manufactured too. When I was a kid, my local small drugstore carried b/w processing chemicals and paper because home processing was so popular. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
myshkine Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share #15 Â Posted June 2, 2012 I can still find E100G for around 10 euro and Elitechrome for half of that. But if you add S/H the bill goes up quite a lot. The idea of creating a sort of group for buying bulk is interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted June 2, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Dr Kaufmann was basically saying that all Leica film users are going to be abandoned sometime between now and the next five years. If he wasn't saying that, and his words are being misinterpreted, then he should say so, because it is only Dr Kaufmann who has made this prediction. Meanwhile the rest of the world are looking forward to a long and healthy supply of film. Â Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janki Posted June 2, 2012 Share #17 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Interesting. My processing kit is sat on a shelf in my kitchen. Few moving parts, I reckon it will keep going for some years! Â I must admit that I have not processed B&W film and copies at home in a couple of decades. But the equipment exist, it is just packed away in a cupboard. Maybe I should pick it up. Â I think as well I can paint a few letters extra on the body to my R9 camera. From now on, it might just be called the R9 MM. :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 2, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted June 2, 2012 Remember Kodachrome? Remember how we used to send our films off to be processed - in my case to another country - and wait a couple of weeks for the results? Remember how that wasn't a problem? Â B&W I can turnaround in 30 mins. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 2, 2012 Share #19  Posted June 2, 2012 Dr Kaufmann was basically saying that all Leica film users are going to be abandoned sometime between now and the next five years. If he wasn't saying that, and his words are being misinterpreted, then he should say so, because it is only Dr Kaufmann who has made this prediction. Meanwhile the rest of the world are looking forward to a long and healthy supply of film.  Steve I was there. I cannot recall him saying that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 2, 2012 Share #20  Posted June 2, 2012 Dr Kaufmann was basically saying that all Leica film users are going to be abandoned sometime between now and the next five years. If he wasn't saying that, and his words are being misinterpreted, then he should say so, because it is only Dr Kaufmann who has made this prediction. Meanwhile the rest of the world are looking forward to a long and healthy supply of film.  Steve I was there. I cannot recall him saying that. He didn't use the word abandoned, he didn't specify Leica users. He did not call for the death penalty for using film. Internet mobbing is not the same as an objective quote. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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