Are we the last remaining users of film?

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drjoke

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Why are there still "heathy" production of film RF's, whereas film-based SLR's are becoming much harder to find? With the introduction of manual focus Zeiss lenses for SLR, although released for many formats, FM10 is the only in-production film SLR that will fit these lenses without modification. F6 is auto focus, so does not count. Or is there a place to find in-production film SLR that I do not know about.
 
I think the F6 certainly counts, as it's the last flagship film-based SLR anyone's introduced recently, and that Nikon bothered to release it so "late" n the game, as it were. And, no, it's not exactly my cup of tea, either (for reasons other than AF), but no other current-production SLR is, either.

(Don't forget that, near as I can recall, most of Canon's film-SLR lineup is still in production, along with a p/s or two...rather interesting, since we're talking about the 1000lb gorilla of the digital camera market at the moment.)

And, the "meek" (Zeiss, CV, Leica...meek in size, that is, not stature) shall inherit the non-SLR film camera market, where there is money to be made.

But, there's that legion of 35mm cameras still in use all over the place. Film's still being bought for those. Also consider the 8 x 10" format: how many outfits are making those cameras, and and in what quantity? 8 x 10 film hasn't vanished from the face of the Earth.

It's not just about "who's making the cameras", it'a about who's using the cameras. Those using the cameras are buying film. As long as those people keep shooting it, Kodak, Ilford, Fuji et al will keep making it, albeit at an uptick in price.

So, let's chill a bit about this. And, yes, keep buying the stuff. 🙂


- Barrett
 
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Earlier today I visited my local photo store to replenish my stash of fast film. While browsing there for about 25 minutes, I witnessed two young people buy old Canon and Pentax SLRs, a young lady got darkroom accessories, and several folks purchased film. Looks like film photography is happening all over the place 🙂
 
drjoke said:
Why are there still "heathy" production of film RF's, whereas film-based SLR's are becoming much harder to find? With the introduction of manual focus Zeiss lenses for SLR, although released for many formats, FM10 is the only in-production film SLR that will fit these lenses without modification. F6 is auto focus, so does not count. Or is there a place to find in-production film SLR that I do not know about.
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The market is flooded with used 35 mm film SLRs in good condition. You can buy a Nikon F90X (N90S), F100 or F4 for a very little money these days and even used F5 bodies are not that expensive. Minolta and Pentax film bodies are even less expensive, unless you want some of the classic models in mint condition, which have their prices inflated by collectors. Olympus OM system and classic Nikon bodies also tend to be a little more expensive due to cult status and collector interest.

By the way, many Nikon AF film bodies can use manual focus AI or AI-S compatible Nikon F mount lenses without any problems. This includes all professional (F series) and semi-professional (or "compact professional" as Nikon likes to call them) bodies.
 
What a fact is though, it is getting really difficult to obtain reasonable quality colour prints from C41 colour negatives locally. The shops here still accept C41 for processing but i gave up on getting it with standard prints - it makes my shots look hopeless, so i better scan the negs and decide based on that.
 
Could we attribute some of the interest in film photography to digital introducing the younger generations to photography through a medium which they understand?

I personally got involved in photography mostly through digital about 7 years ago, from there went to Nikon F100, Nikon FM2, and then to all manual Leica MP and M3 now. I'm loving it, and loving developing film at home, despite being a complete amateur and to my wife's dismay at just receiving black and white family photos. She is now the proud user of our digital camera, and takes wonderful happy snaps with that while I 'chase the light' so to speak with my 'old school anachronism' as my cameras are lovingly referred to..

Point being, had it not been for digital photography, and the instant gratification of those, I doubt I would have any idea of the enjoyment that can be had of using an all manual camera to try and catch those fleeting moments where you may 'capture the soul' of a fellow human being.. I know, it sounds cheesy, but I love it 🙂

My newly acquired M3 from 1960 or thereabouts will be almost twice my age.. who would've thunk it?
 
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Pherdinand said:
What a fact is though, it is getting really difficult to obtain reasonable quality colour prints from C41 colour negatives locally. The shops here still accept C41 for processing but i gave up on getting it with standard prints - it makes my shots look hopeless, so i better scan the negs and decide based on that.
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Depends on where you live and what you mean by "locally". I live in a small city (about 175 000 people) and have no problem getting high quality C41 processing locally. I also have not heard much about problems in other similar sized or larger cities.

Getting E6 processing is a bigger problem in some places, although the same shop that does the C41 processing for me also does E6 for 135 and 120/220 films every day, so I don't even have to wait for long. The only thing they don't do is large format processing. But I do know the situation in many similar sized and smaller cities and towns is much worse.
 
The missus and I were looking for a wedding photographer for our wedding in April next year - and chose a photographer who still shoots film. Medium format for the quality, Mamiya something (didn't want to bore the missus and father-in-law with photo-talk so kept it to a minimum). She then scans the negatives so we get the best of both worlds. And, after 2 years, we get the negatives!

I should add that although I like the fact that she shoots film, it is not the only reason we chose her. Her photography was a tad better than the other photographer we saw, and she was honest about her approach and methods. Also willing to work with us on albums etc. - in all a winning package.

Doctor Zero
 
gertf said:
Could we attribute some of the interest in film photography to digital introducing the younger generations to photography through a medium which they understand?

I personally got involved in photography mostly through digital about 7 years ago, from there went to Nikon F100, Nikon FM2, and then to all manual Leica MP and M3 now. I'm loving it, and loving developing film at home, despite being a complete amateur and to my wife's dismay at just receiving black and white family photos. She is now the proud user of our digital camera, and takes wonderful happy snaps with that while I 'chase the light' so to speak with my 'old school anachronism' as my cameras are lovingly referred to..

Point being, had it not been for digital photography, and the instant gratification of those, I doubt I would have any idea of the enjoyment that can be had of using an all manual camera to try and catch those fleeting moments where you may 'capture the soul' of a fellow human being.. I know, it sounds cheesy, but I love it 🙂

My newly acquired M3 from 1960 or thereabouts will be almost twice my age.. who would've thunk it?
Click to expand...

I totally agree. I rekindered my interest in photography with my friend's Canon 30D and used a Nikon D70 before swtiching totally to film and have found many friends that have either done the same or are using both mediums actively.

Samuel
 
HEMA stops their "own" b+w film...

Sorry to add to the gloom-and-doom end of the discussion...

Today I visited a branch of one of the biggest high-street chains (HEMA), in Holland and Belgium, doing photographic processing etc. They have previously stocked (in every high street in the Benelux) a couple of b+w films under their own name, which were reputed to be produced by Ilford. Ilford stopped producing rebranded film last year I think, so perhaps it has taken this long for the stocks to run out ?

In any case, no more high-street film "very-like-HP5" at 9,95 euros per 3-pack 🙁

Earlier this year they stopped their own brand of slide-film too (though it was not so attractive as the b+w). Neither the slide film nor the b+w is replaced by anything, so this is quite a reduction in availability.

If you are in the Benelux, please ask in your local HEMA branch. I suppose they are not going to start repacking Fomapan or something, but you never know.
 
drjoke said:
...With the introduction of manual focus Zeiss lenses for SLR, although released for many formats, FM10 is the only in-production film SLR that will fit these lenses without modification. ...
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I've got a D200 DSLR that will take any F-mount lens. In fact more than half of the lenses I own I share between my D200 and my FM3a (manual focus AI lenses), and Nikon just released the D300 and the D3, both take F-mount lenses.

.
 
We humans are psychologically unique.

There will be a time when we will be sick looking at everyone and their dog toting digital cameras. Some will get there faster than others. People have the need to be noticed, appreciated. And you won't get noticed/appreciated if you are just like the guy/girl next to you.

So, if history is any teacher, we should see people coming back to film sooner or later. Mind you, it's not going to ever compete with digital at the same level, but I don't think film will go the way of the dinosaurs. In a way, film will be more appreciated than ever.

More good news, I just talked to a good friend, a photographer with 25 years of experience. He has been shooting digital due to workflow pressure, but two days ago, he took out his old Hassy and shot his first 120 roll in ten years, he described the experience as "liberating". 🙂
 
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The Malls are still stocking 35mm and APS, only 120 needs a specialist shop.

A lot of 35mm cameras have been made.

There are only 15k names on the forum.

Noel
 
I started with photography with film... polaroid to be exact.

However, it was honestly after shooting many rolls of film with my grand father's pentax me that i realized i sucked at photography. From there i gave up hope and it wasn't until three years later that i picked up a DSLR and realized i liked photography.

It was through digital that i learned good composition, lighting, etc. Basically i learned how to shoot through digital.

From there i moved back to my grandfathers' DSLR and then onto a russian rangefinder, to a Yashica-Mat 124G. Now it seems i'll be purchasing my first Leica soon.
 
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