The end of film?

[David Wogan]

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I use an M8 and M6 Classic, I love digital but am equally at home using film, particularly black & white.

 

My question is; given that apart from the niche rangefinder manufacturers, film cameras are no longer being produced in any great numbers. At what point will both Fuji and Kodak decide that the film market is no longer viable and stop production?

 

1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now?

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[bill]

Who knows...?

 

Not a lot of point worrying about it.

 

Buy film. Use film. Develop film. Enjoy film. If you don't , film will die.

 

Simple, really.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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[topoxforddoc]

We're unlikely to see the end of film for some time IMHO. Don't forget emerging markets such as China, India etc are embracing film cameras as well as digital ones. The potential markets are huge.

 

Best wishes,

 

Charlie

[martinb]

We're never going to see the end for film, but the market will just be smaller and more underground than it was back in the day. My prediction is that the interest in film won't get lower than it really is.

[earleygallery]

Didn't the Jehovas Witnesses predict that the world would end in year 2000?

[ron110n]

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1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now?

 

For the last 47 yrs. My M3 is still shooting pics and never had a CLA.

For the last 25 yrs, my Nikon F3HP is still shooting pics and never had a CLA.

For the last 17 yrs, My M6 is still shooting pics though it had a CLA once after 16 yrs.

 

Many digital cameras cannot even reach 3 yrs and my D2 is one of them.

Just bought an L1 this weekend and life span is ??? God knows...

 

So what's the point in manufacturing new film cameras when the newer lenses has the same mount as the old one's.

 

And for the much older mounts, Mr Kobayashi has all his support 100%.

 

1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now; most film cameras will still be shooting pics.

The guy who won 2nd place in our Barnack Challenge used a 1932 Leica III.

 

Enjoy your film, it'll be here for a while.

 

-Ron

[mwilliamsphotography]

Freestyle photographic supplies sells all kinds of film stuff, including film I've never heard of.

 

Freestyle Photographic Supplies

 

They have all kinds of film processing and darkroom gear, and are quite dedicated to film.

 

Eventually, we may have to form an association or co-op collective, and combine our buying power. Someone will make it if there is a group willing to subscribe to a set amount.

Processing B&W is simple, you don't need Kodak or anyone else for that.

 

There are some terrific films out there from Eastern Europe with more silver content like film used to be. I just bought 50 rolls of 120. Can't wait.

[erl]

 

There are some terrific films out there from Eastern Europe with more silver content like film used to be. I just bought 50 rolls of 120. Can't wait.

Marc,

 

I am interested in hearing your report on the films with extra silver, or should I say, with the correct amount of silver. I remeber the days when that was normal, but probably did not appreciate it. My Hasselblad is hungry for a decent meal.

[meatboy]

Film will be around for as long as there is a profit to be made selling it. Someone will make it.

 

My question is, will there be new film cameras to buy in years to come? Will Leica be the last company to make them? or perhaps Cosina?

[Photoskeptic]

Marc, I just received their catalog. It's great that they are offering the old Agfa film again.

James, actually the Mayans and Nostradamus predict it will all come to a great big halt in 2012.

Let me put it this way - my old Leica M's are staying, the M8 is expendable.

[Mark Antony]

Marc,

 

I am interested in hearing your report on the films with extra silver, or should I say, with the correct amount of silver. I remeber the days when that was normal, but probably did not appreciate it. My Hasselblad is hungry for a decent meal.

 

Hi

Some of the Makes include Foma, Adox (EFKE) Maco etc

 

They are all pretty good, conventional (not T grain) films.

There are some thoughts and examples on my blog:

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/

 

Film, especially B&W will be here for many years. At the moment you can still get Kodachrome (just) and that emulsion has been here since 1936.

Why worry?

plenty of choice.

Mark

[nikau]

After watching pros desert film in droves, the prolab I go to says film use stabilized in 2006 and is back up this year, but only by a tiny amount. A number of wedding photographers have returned to film (for now, anyway) after wrestling with plasticky digital skin tones. They say film purchases/processing have dropped by about 80 per cent compared to five years ago, but they're happy to keep the E6/C41 lines open. As another post suggested, as long as there's a profit to be made from supplying film and processing it, the future is assured.

[frc]

quote Martin

 

"but the market will just be smaller and more underground than it was back in the day".

 

Exciting, an underground movement of outlaw streetshooters being busted now and than.

 

See ya all in jail.

[Guest flatfour]

My 1936 Leica III has been working perfectly for seventy one years and never had a service or repair. My Digilux 2 is three years old and has needed a major repair (new sensor)

 

Does that tell you anything ?

[FastFashnReloaded]

I use an M8 and M6 Classic, I love digital but am equally at home using film, particularly black & white.

 

My question is; given that apart from the niche rangefinder manufacturers, film cameras are no longer being produced in any great numbers. At what point will both Fuji and Kodak decide that the film market is no longer viable and stop production?

 

1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now?

\

 

This is the EXACT same question I've seen posted on this board and others for at least five years. For Pete's sake, do a Google search!

 

I switched to digital last July, and... I'm not going back. Digital is way, way more flexible and the quality has gotten more than good enough at this point.

 

I'd like to get (and I may yet) another Contax G2 to put on a shelf, but as to actually using film again, no way.

 

As the Pharoh might have said to Moses, "You are dead to me.":D

[volkerb]

Here´s the answer of ilford:

 

Welcome to ILFORD PHOTO

[Johannes Knightworth]

Digital is flexible I most certainly agree, for quick and dirty snapshots of family, dogs, cats , bright orange sunsets, close ups of bumble bee's and ants and other 6 or 8 legged animals .... digital is perfect... as for quality reaching film, I don't think so, not quite yet and maybe never.

I like the results of my 5D, I have just tried simulating Tri-x on CS3, it comes near, but not close enough... there will allways be film, it might be cancerous, but certainly not dying.

And don't forget digital is a product of the masses, 50 years ago you had 5% of any population involved in photography, this hasn't changed... only 75% digital photographers are added to this.... the effect ... basically none, whose waiting for images like posted on flickr anyway, 99% are crap.... nothing more nothing less .... the 5% of real photographers still remain ...

There are lots of examples here on the galleries too .... people with a 30.000 euro plus equipement setup shooting things that can be shot with a GSM cam. this is the equivelant to fast food, most it it but not everzbody appreciates it ...

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Guest tummydoc]

My 1936 Leica III has been working perfectly for seventy one years and never had a service or repair. My Digilux 2 is three years old and has needed a major repair (new sensor)

 

Does that tell you anything ?

 

That one 1936 out of thousands has been working perfectly for 71 years, and that one Digilux 2 out of thousands (well, maybe) garnered a fault. Neither says boo about the future of film, i.e. the topic of this thread.

 

Here´s the answer of ilford:

 

Welcome to ILFORD PHOTO

 

That's the current spin from Ilford's marketing copy writers. Unfortunately it means nothing to the state of affairs with regard to film, and can easily be swept aside at the momentary whim of Ilford's corporate decision-makers.

 

We're unlikely to see the end of film for some time IMHO. Don't forget emerging markets such as China, India etc are embracing film cameras as well as digital ones. The potential markets are huge.

 

Best wishes,

 

Charlie

 

As long as you want to cling to that notion, you're advised not to pay a visit to China or India.

[stunsworth]

...50 years ago you had 5% of any population involved in photography, this hasn't changed...

 

I'm not sure I can agree with this. I'm sure even the Box Brownie sold to more that 5% of the population.