Investment fears

[cosmonaut]

It is getting harder to use film in my area. The cost of processing has went up and one place has switched to send out only. I know film isn't going anywhere soon. But does the fear keep you from investing more money in film cameras? Do you hold off on that MP or something else? Or maybe that Leica 28mm? Looks to me just the fear factor could be hurting sales...

 

[Keith]

Leica would love it if film went arse up ... because then we'd all have to buy their digital rubbish if we wanted new!

😀

 

[oftheherd]

I don't see any reason to stop using film. Granted there aren't as many emulsions as there used to be, but there are still plenty. Film cameras are mostly inexpensive. Over the last few years I have gotten pretty much all I wanted in cameras, if not lenses. But I have enough of both to keep me going for a while. In fact, I need to get rid of some (I keep saying that).

As to Leica lenses, those who use Leicas surely shouldn't have to worry about using their lenses on future Leica cameras which will no doubt be a continuation of their digital line. Any that are worth using seem to find a way to fit and be useful.

So no, I am not worried about using film. I don't expect to buy many more cameras, if any, other than maybe to replace something that goes on the blink. But film, no fears.

 

[Frontman]

Since I shoot mainly in black-and-white, film and processing isn't an issue. I develop my own film (and I often do a much better job at it than my local lab), which is cheap, rather easy, and, to me, relaxing. I am accumulating the supplies to develop color film, and next week I will pick up an enlarger that the manager of my local post office wants to get rid of.

I have lots of digital gear, and I have a new Canon Pro 9500 MK2 digital printer, but I figure that if I like film as much as I do, perhaps I'll enjoy wet printing as well.

 

[Ezzie]

Nope, I develop at home with houshold chemicals. I've bought or otherwise acquired 5 MF and one 35mm film cameras over the last year. The lack of film itself may become an issue, which is why I've started trying out Chinese stuff, just for the heck of it.

 

[cosmonaut]

I don't see any reason to stop using film. Granted there aren't as many emulsions as there used to be, but there are still plenty. Film cameras are mostly inexpensive. Over the last few years I have gotten pretty much all I wanted in cameras, if not lenses. But I have enough of both to keep me going for a while. In fact, I need to get rid of some (I keep saying that).

As to Leica lenses, those who use Leicas surely shouldn't have to worry about using their lenses on future Leica cameras which will no doubt be a continuation of their digital line. Any that are worth using seem to find a way to fit and be useful.

So no, I am not worried about using film. I don't expect to buy many more cameras, if any, other than maybe to replace something that goes on the blink. But film, no fears.

I am not really thinking that you would stop using film. Would you invest $1000s on a new Leica setup? Not that I can afford an M7 but if tomorrow I woke up and an unexpected check came in the mail, just enough for a new Leica and lens. The thought would cross my mind, new Leica or Nikon D3x? Not knowing what the future holds. Looks to me like an uncertain future would hurt sales across the board.

 

[ChrisN]

From a financial viewpoint, I regard all cameras as fully depreciated with no remaining value. I can safely enjoy them without worrying about "value".

Lenses are another story altogether!

 

[skibeerr]

Did all the horses go to the butcher when the steam engine came along?

 

[Matus]

Since about 5 years I am sending my color films off to another city as locally nobody does 4x5". I am even sending E6 and C41 to different labs as the one I use for E6 does not do C41. No problem at all. The BW films I develop myself.

Yes - it would be nice to have a local pro lab to have shorter turn-around times as it does not pay to send 2 rolls per post. But to good stuff is worth the wait 😉

 

[Ezzie]

Leica would love it if film went arse up ... because then we'd all have to buy their digital rubbish if we wanted new!

😀

Problem is that all but the real RF diehards (well helaled at that) would buy some other digital sh1t instead.

 

[thegman]

I think if film does finally go away, we'll see it coming, it won't happen overnight and suddenly all film will stop being made. At the moment, film is still a billion-dollar business, if it drops into "just" tens of millions then maybe the writing will be on the wall. However, with Kodak investing in new films, Lomography getting younger people shooting film, I don't think it'll be for a while yet.

If it does happen, maybe a Leica MP will be worth a bit less than it is now, but a DSLR bought at the same price will be practically worthless, if it even works. Maybe film cameras are a dodgy investment, but with digital you know there is no investment at all.

 

[djcphoto]

Professional film processing in my town is now limited to a single store, and they are only running some types (E6) on certain days of the week. That said, I only use them for colour and do all my black and white at home. There are still plenty of excellent films available (although not locally) so I don't see that as a problem either.

As to the question of investing in a new Leica setup; definitely not, but that's because I'm tight and I buy used, not because of any fears about lack of film or processing!

Cheers!

 

[Mister E]

Did all the horses go to the butcher when the steam engine came along?

Just the fact that film uses the precious materials that it does as well as the complicated and expressive process to make it means that it is not analogous to your example, the cassette tape, 8-track, vinyl records, typewriter, etc.

 

[oftheherd]

I am not really thinking that you would stop using film. Would you invest $1000s on a new Leica setup? Not that I can afford an M7 but if tomorrow I woke up and an unexpected check came in the mail, just enough for a new Leica and lens. The thought would cross my mind, new Leica or Nikon D3x? Not knowing what the future holds. Looks to me like an uncertain future would hurt sales across the board.

Just me personally, I would not spend (cameras aren't an investment to me, they are tools) thousands on any Leica setup. If I had started that way, I am sure I would trumpet Leica superiority just like most Leica owners. But I did not.

In SLR I started with M42, and from Yashica to Fujica. I have 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/3.5 Macro, 35mm f/2.8, 28mm f/3.5, 135mm f/3.5, and a 43-75mm zoom, all Fujinon lenses. I don't know how much better Leica lenses might or might not be optically, but for me, not enough to purchase them over my Fujinons. My Fujinons have also stood up well over the last 35 or so years.

If I got your imaginary check, I would not spend it on Leica, nor probably on cameras, other than possibly repair of a couple of Mamiya lenses. But you or anyone else is free to dream. Who knows, maybe you will win a lottery or something. 😛

 

[jsrockit]

No... I don;t think of my cameras as investments.

 

[Ronald M]

They keep selling less and less film all the time. At some point it will become very expensive or unprofitable to make. B&W file is an order of magnitude easier to make than color, so small foreign companies will buy the equipment and make some for a time.

Color film is a whole different matter and after the accountants have rationalized down the the last emulsion, there will be fewer and fewer customers and production will stop.

Exact time frame is a guess.

Sad but true I fear.

 

[zauhar]

Another example - the local film lab I go to stopped processing slide film last month, so my first experiment with velvia is sitting in my pocket. I will need to take it to another lab.

I just ordered my first batch of chemicals, a friend has some basic equipment, and I will shortly be processing my first B&W.

Hey, I have a f#cking PhD, how hard can it be?

(famous last words...)

Randy

 

[maddoc]

After 1600PR, RA III, RAP-F all of a sudden disappeared last year I would think twice before investing into a new Leica M film camera.... Lenses, that can also be used with a M9 are a different story, though.

 

[Frontman]

Another example - the local film lab I go to stopped processing slide film last month, so my first experiment with velvia is sitting in my pocket. I will need to take it to another lab.

I just ordered my first batch of chemicals, a friend has some basic equipment, and I will shortly be processing my first B&W.

Hey, I have a f#cking PhD, how hard can it be?

(famous last words...)

Randy

Good luck with your B&W processing, it really isn't hard at all. I learned how to do it with trays and sheet film in the bathtub in my apartment. Roll film and developing tanks are much easier.

My outlay for developing equipment (tank, thermometer, bottles, egg timer and chemicals was about $70. Most of this was a one-time expense, with only expenses for chemicals recurring. The end cost is only pennies per image, but the fun part is seeing images after they are scanned/printed. You appreciate the photos even more after having put in the effort to develop them.

Here in Japan film remains popular, and the larger camera shops still stock chemicals, enlargers, and whatever else you could possibly want, not to mention carrying a wide variety of film.

 

[zauhar]

Good luck with your B&W processing, it really isn't hard at all. I learned how to do it with trays and sheet film in the bathtub in my apartment. Roll film and developing tanks are much easier.

My outlay for developing equipment (tank, thermometer, bottles, egg timer and chemicals was about $70. Most of this was a one-time expense, with only expenses for chemicals recurring. The end cost is only pennies per image, but the fun part is seeing images after they are scanned/printed. You appreciate the photos even more after having put in the effort to develop them.

Here in Japan film remains popular, and the larger camera shops still stock chemicals, enlargers, and whatever else you could possibly want, not to mention carrying a wide variety of film.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am glad that film is still popular in Japan, so maybe at least Fuji film will be around for the foreseeable future.

I am checking to see if there are any water baths at my university that are "in the way" after renovations. And, I keep hearing that it is relatively easy to find an inexpensive enlarger.

Randy