For you non digital types: what would you do if film went dead?

[btgc]

Why I don't want film passing? It would cost me a lot of money to have rangefinder camera (I'm even not saying FF DRF) and DSLR kit to replace 17/3.5 and zooms with constant aperture, from wide to tele, and TTL flashes. Well, in AF realm constant aperture isn't value anymore, as I observe. With film, I can have all this for cheap.

 

[barnwulf]

I would do my shooting with my M8. Jim

 

[Vics]

I'd use whatever others were using to make photos...

However, this thread shows that some would quit simply because they hate digital. It's a bit silly.

I don't think those folks hate digital. It's just that a lot of folks love the beginning-to-end chemical process of silver photography. I spent all those years sitting in an office in front of a PC, and I just don't want to do that anymore.

 

[DougFord]

when film finally becomes extinct I'll climb into the ol'holodeck and load what appears to be film into what appears to be my old film camera and i'll roam around in what appears to be my city of choice taking snaps. After which i'll develop my film in what appears to be rodinal and then i'll complain at what appears to be dust and water streaks on my negatives. :-(

 

[Ezzie]

I think there will be a niche for as long as I can be bothered to take pictures, and if not I´ll buy a bigger freezer and stock up for eternity.

Because, I´m a film convert (reborn) after a few years on the digital bandwagon. Film is so much more fun. It goes against the new way of living where we seek immediate gratification in all that we do. Everything has to happen faster, faster, and even faster. I hate it. The result being I just don´t like picking up my digital camera´s anymore. I even let my beloved R-D1 just sit there and languish. It doesn´t get the blood going as it once did.

 

[brandonmsweet]

If I couldn't make my own, I would likely just quit photography, or still run around with my camera and shoot without film, cause I love it, despite an end result.

 

[healyzh]

I shoot both film and digital. I don't see that stopping, ever. I tend to suspect that I'll be able to shoot at least B&W film for the rest of my life, or at least as long as I want to. I also suspect the same will not be true for C-41 or E-6. The only reason I see not being able to do B&W is if some lunatic politician manages to make it illegal due to "environmental concerns". I live in the US so it wouldn't totally surprise me. 😡

My long term goal is to start shooting paper negatives, and glass plates, as well as the occasional tintype with my Large Format cameras. I want to do this to achieve the look I'm after, but it also has the practical advantages of reducing my dependence on film.

 

[x-ray]

35m will be here for a while but medium and large format are declining faster than I would have ever guessed. Over the years Kodak has slowly discontinued emulsions slowly but other players have come into the market like Ilford, Fuji, Adox, Foma and the Chinese. Now many of my favorite B&W emulsions are gone and more going every few months (LF & MF). Film and paper (B&W) are increasing in price about 25% and Kodak in my estimation is about to go away. Of course this puts more demand on the smaller players but film demand doesn't seem to be increasing at least in MF and LF.

I decided to sell off surplus equipment and keep the equipment that will allow me to continue my B&W work at the same level that I shoot today but took the money from the surplus equipment sale and bought a Hasselblad CFV-39 digital back and Technikardan 23s and a couple of super wide Super Angulon xl lenses to expand my wide side. I'll use the back on my Hasselblad system as well as the view camera system.

It was a tough decision to do this but I think the writing is on the wall. I've shot film for over fifty years and it's not easy to face that it's going away but facts are facts. I decided if I want to continue photography I have to make the change.

 

[click]

From what I learned in business school all markets come down to a three horse race in the long run. There's so many people that love film that I seriously doubt it would ever be completely replaced by digital. I suppose that the film industry is suffering because the average consumer got a digital camera and the movie making industry went digital too but there's still a ton of profit for the people providing black and white film, chemistry and paper. The price of silver is the only problem I can see because it's a fixed resource and fixed resources always increase in price.

If anything consider this; because fewer people are demanding film it actually keeps the price in check and thus the availability is increased. If digital did not exist the price of silver and consequently film would rise faster, eventually putting it only in the hands of those who would pay a premium. When we look at the problem in supply and demand economic terms we should be thankful that digital came along.

Also for those of us who are professionals I don't think it's wise to support the digital camera industry. Why? Because of trickle down technology. When the capabilities of technology make the true photographer obsolete, we will be dinosaurs. If man can put a person on the moon then it can be done. I remind people with real wet prints what photography is supposed to be and I can see in their eyes that they had forgotten the beauty and depth of silver halide.

Keep the camera alive

 

[softshock]

A) Film cannot die if one has a large stock of their own. I have twenty-five year old Technical Pan which still works perfectly; I'm sure it could stand another twenty years. As for faster films, after a few years out of date, shoot it slightly slower.
B) I find it highly unlikely that film will be gone before any of us are. Even if it's just one 35mm 400 B&W film, it will be there. Large and ultra large format will almost definitely still be just as available considering the niche market for it and the shear cost, size, and file storage size of an equivalent digital.

Just my opinion though... I like changing my full frame sensor for ten cents!

 

[helen.HH]

Simple....
make my own version of FILM...😱

 

[TaoPhoto]

Film will always be around, most likely, but it may become niche, become even more expensive, and become difficult to find. I'd still hang in there with film as long as I could get at least 35mm. By that time, though, digital will have no doubt advanced, so I'd probably consider a second mortgage to get a Leica M14 (or whatever they've come up with by then). And until then, I'll always have a DSLR around for the times when that's the best tool.

 

[brandonmsweet]

I don't hate digital photography, i just love film photography.

 

[cnphoto]

go spelunking

 

[Roberto V.]

I'd get a 5DII, M9 or whatever mirrorless full frame option is around, and keep shooting. I've shot digital along with film, and it still gives me nice results, and I have a 7 year old DSLR.