I wonder if film might make a comeback someday like this

I gave my Paisley Shirts to the Salvation Army decades ago.

And my Leisure Suits.

But not my film cameras.

A good Polyester lasts forever.
 
Having read the article, it points out the fact that a lot of people are buying turntables to be able to convert the records they already have to MP3 files. I think that is the cause of the spike in sales. I just did that same thing myself. People want to hear their music in a convenient form. There are quite a few cheap film scanners out now to allow people to convert their film images to digital for web viewing. That has not lead to a resurgence in film sales.

Bob
 
Bill makes a good point. Film and photo paper are manufactured in batch processes, requiring predetermined minimal guarantees of sales, in conjunction with the startup and maintenance costs of a factory. I suspect there should be at least one film manufacturer in business for years to come; the conglomerated global sales should be enough to keep at least one factory busy, but I doubt if we'll see new startups. Of course, there's the new post-Polaroid instant film restart (The Impossible Project), so I may be proven wrong.

~Joe
 
There was an article in Monocle about a pressing plant in London, and they reckoned that the vinyl market was being driven by its ability to offer a tactile experience, a tactile experience which was being valued more now that most people listen to computer files. So they are doing a lot of fancy sleeves and people are buying their records as art or design objects.

It's still only something like 1% of the total market, but looks like it'll be a successful long term niche and cds will disappear first.
 
There's a little duplication company here we send work to every so often that sort of "second majors" in vinyl production, they've definitely seen an increase in business in the past year, but in the same breath a good friend who works in the used section of a large camera retailer here has noticed an increase in people buying film equipment. Maybe in a strange way people are getting back to basics?
 
George Eastman, a high school drop out, started his company in 1880.
Surely if there is a need or market a product will be available.

Or you could just make your own
Home Brew Kodachrome
 
I think people who love their music want something they can touch, something they can but on their shelves. Vinyl does that where itunes doesn't satisfy me in that way. I also enjoy being able to purchase old original vinyl. While the quality may not be the best there's something great about the fact that the dylan album I'm playing was actually pressed in 1962... not a digital recreation of that. It's silly really, but then I have that similar feeling with film v. digital. It's not necessarily rational, but it doesn't change that I feel that way. While it may not be a huge sector of the population, I think I'm not alone on this.
 
My 14y.o. relative bought turntable for daily use. What's interesting - vinyls aren't too expensive over CD's, at least here. And CDs are too prone to failures, despite they claimed data is duplicated on opposite sides of disc (maybe I'm wrong here....so I remember from 80ies). Drop damn thing on floor, it falls on wrong side and it's kaput. It's epic failure designing digital media for masses.

With digital photography, instant feedback is great. If one doesn't need it, otherwise there are no big advantages. You need computer or other viewing device, multiple backups, software, there costs start to accumulate.
 
interesting

interesting

I interpreted the article a bit different. With the growth of new vinyl record sales, of material that already exists or comes out simultaneously on digital mediums, I see the USB connected turntables as either entry devices for new or returning vinyl buyers, or for consumers who want the vinyl, and want the USB to convert to a digital format for the road, convenience.

Mastering audio for vinyl's EQ is non-trivial. While many releases may just be dumped to vinyl for the medium, the ideal transfer will be mastered for vinyl, even if recorded on digital because sound matters.

Nikon Bob said:
Having read the article, it points out the fact that a lot of people are buying turntables to be able to convert the records they already have to MP3 files. I think that is the cause of the spike in sales. I just did that same thing myself. People want to hear their music in a convenient form. There are quite a few cheap film scanners out now to allow people to convert their film images to digital for web viewing. That has not lead to a resurgence in film sales.

Bob
Click to expand...
 
historicist said:
There was an article in Monocle about a pressing plant in London, and they reckoned that the vinyl market was being driven by its ability to offer a tactile experience, a tactile experience which was being valued more now that most people listen to computer files. So they are doing a lot of fancy sleeves and people are buying their records as art or design objects.

It's still only something like 1% of the total market, but looks like it'll be a successful long term niche and cds will disappear first.
Click to expand...

I had this link in my favorites...from BBC almost a year ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7750581.stm

Yes, I'm one of those dorks...I sometimes carry around my favorite 45's, even if there isn't a turntable for miles
 
ampguy said:
I interpreted the article a bit different. With the growth of new vinyl record sales, of material that already exists or comes out simultaneously on digital mediums, I see the USB connected turntables as either entry devices for new or returning vinyl buyers, or for consumers who want the vinyl, and want the USB to convert to a digital format for the road, convenience.

Mastering audio for vinyl's EQ is non-trivial. While many releases may just be dumped to vinyl for the medium, the ideal transfer will be mastered for vinyl, even if recorded on digital because sound matters.
Click to expand...

If what you are saying is that there are two distinct groups of buyers here I would agree. The group that feels that vinyl is a superior recording and reproduction media and the other group who just want to get on using their old music in a more convenient way. I think it is the second group that is causing the spike, temporarily, and when the needs of that group are satisfied the levels will drop back down to what is normal.

Bob
 
kmack said:
George Eastman, a high school drop out, started his company in 1880.
Click to expand...

Which means what?

Surely if there is a need or market a product will be available.
Click to expand...

A false conjecture. Need will meet demand when it can be done at a price point the market is willing to pay, the seller wishes to engage in that business, and the seller can make a profit, and that is presuming that regulatory and other legal approval can be obtained.

Many are those who have stomped off in a huff, declaring that they will be making their own film in their garage or basement forthwith, never to be heard from again. Short answer: talk is cheap.

Or you could just make your own
Home Brew Kodachrome
Click to expand...

I do not doubt that such things can be done. On a commercial level? I have my doubts.
 
A year or so ago, a purchasing agent for one of the local department stores experienced finger trouble while tapping in an order for a new album, and got a crate of LPs instead of CDs. Much to the store's surprise, they sold out quickly, and the chain is now setting up extra rack space (at all of its stores) to handle the new demand for vinyl.
 
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