Why is RF the "last" stronghold of film usage

If I look at film area, where four sheets of 4x5 roughly equals one roll of 120 or one roll of 35mm, then I shoot the most area in 4x5, followed by 35mm (Leica RF only now), followed by 120 (both 6x4.5 SLR and Fuji GA645zi). I'm pleasantly surprised how many types of film are available for all three.
 
I see a lot of film shooters here in L.A., but most are older SLRs with the occasional rangefinder thrown in the mix.

As far as rangefinders being the last stronghold.. I think that does seem like the case in new cameras.
 
joachim said:
Hi,

To me it seems that rangefinder photography is a last stronghold of film usage. Any idea why?
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While I won't argue that RF's are a popular film format, I do take exception with the absolute "last" stronghold reference, as would members of APUG and LFF. I happen to belong to both. I shoot 35mm, MF and LF film.

Many of us are multi-format film shooters, with a 35mm RF being just one among many we choose. There are many newcomers to photography that choose to shoot with film SLR's rather than with a RF. Still others that never quite get use to shooting with a RF.

Each format has its strengths and weaknesses. It just depends on how the individual wishes to express their creativity that dictates choice.

I for one am just happy that there is still film available 😀
 
I think the last stronghold of film usage is the motion picture industry. It's still going very strong with film even though there are very competent digital cameras available for professional use. Some things are best left to 35mm or bigger formats.
After that, I'd say large format photography is almost exclusively film. *almost* That's 'cause most LF photographers can't afford the overhead of a back which will still not cover the full area. I just shot 36 frames of Kodak Ektar 4x5 that was produced only a month or so ago.
Film is still used in the military for both schools and intel.
Medium format is not quite flourishing but the expense of digital backs still keeps most serious MF photographers out of the digital arena and film is tried and true.
There's no shortage of used MF and 35mm gear out there. People are often giving away perfectly good 35mm cameras so others pick them up and use them.
Getting film developed in some markets is a completely different story.
Then there's just the issue of where to look. If one is surrounded by people who use film mostly, then you'd think that the circles you run in are one of the last bastions of film usage. Same goes for everything.

Phil Forrest
 
I'm not sure that RF is the "last" stronghold for film. I use my medium and large format cameras more often than my ZI (which I still love).
 
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excellent said:
Lomography!
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I was thinking along the same lines; low tech users. It is even possible that single use cameras will outlive film that's sold separately. This is already practice in a lot of supermarkets and drugstores.. they don't sell film anymore, but do continue to carry single use cameras.
 
GSNfan said:
Do you also happen to notice that those types, seem to carry the camera as just another fashion accessory and they hardly take a picture and if they do they make sure others of their type notice them. They do this by standing for a long time in a place and discussing the shot with their 'spotter' or as a group, they're always two or more, never a single one because the idea of looking for pictures all alone is unthinkable to them if not down right silly... You might see them as 'hope' I see them as hopelessness.
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I photograph all around NYC and see many people with cameras of all types (and talk to many types). I think that people assume someone is a poser based on camera type when I don't think it is the reality. Just because someone is young, trying to be hip, and using a plastic camera does not mean they don't love photography and are not making photos.

I photograph in groups at times and if someone was just walking around with their camera and not photographing, we would be commenting for sure. However, the group I hang with is older, so we know better than to thing we are going to be hip... so we just photograph.
 
GSNfan said:
I see, but what sort of comments?
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Meaning we would be giving them crap for not photographing and just posing with their camera. Obviously, when you are in a group, you are going to talk and not make photos every minute. However, we always split up and do our own thing and then reconvene and if someone was there just to talk about cameras, it would be frowned upon. We meet once a month at the bar to do that.
 
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jsrockit said:
Meaning we would be giving them crap for not photographing and just posing with their camera. Obviously, when you are in a group, you are going to talk and not make photos every minute. However, we always split up and do our own thing and then reconvene and if someone was there just to talk about cameras, it would be frowned upon. We meet once a month at the bar to do that.
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Every time I come across a group of photographers, they all go quiet and even though I smile without looking at them and pass them, I get the feeling that they're either going to say there goes another poser or after I have passed they regain their wits and do what every photographer pack enjoys doing most, basically photographing one another.
 
GSNfan said:
Every time I come across a group of photographers, they all go quiet and even though I smile without looking at them and pass them, I get the feeling that they're either going to say there goes another poser or after I have passed they regain their wits and do what every photographer pack enjoys doing most, basically photographing one another.
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Haha, that's funny. I have seen the go quiet part (unless they have "cool" equipment, then someone will stop them). I've never seen anyone in the group I hang with diss another photographer and we don't photograph each other. I've seen that too though.
 
jsrockit said:
Haha, that's funny. I have seen the go quiet part (unless they have "cool" equipment, then someone will stop them). I've never seen anyone in the group I hang with diss another photographer and we don't photograph each other. I've seen that too though.
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I had that sort of thing happen once. I had my Canon IVSB with me at a museum. Many people eyeball the camera when I walk around with it in between shots. That's part of the fun, besides using old cameras. Anyway a guy in his late 50s or 60s saw the camera from a distance, came closer and closer until he could read the label, then said "Oh, I was interested in talking to you before I saw it wasn't a Leica". He then walked off, so I didn't figure out if he was just joking, schizophrenic, or what.
 
FrankS said:
I think the OP makes an incorrect supposition, and then asks why it is so.
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I think it's a fair point for a discussion.
And joachim wasn't (I think) about to make a dogmatic statement about it. 🙂

B&W, DIY film-developing, interest in wet-printing (I *still* abhor that term 🙄 ), and street-style photography (as Nick pointed out above) all combined to keep film interest at a healthy level in the RFF community.

On a bigger scope, this forum, along with APUG, www.alternativephotography.com, FADU, LFF, Lomography (and those various "I Shoot Film" flickr groups) *are* the stronghold for film photography enthusiasts.

Any other that I missed?
 
My own take:

Many of us worship at the altar of Cartier-Bresson, Eisenstadt, Capa and Duncan--the giants of the Golden Age of photography--and of the Leica. Probably many of us feel, therefore, that shooting film is "true" photography, and doing it like the Old Guys did is the One Way.
 
Nigel Meaby said:
Joachim there are a number of other forums online with a 'film user community' such as this one http://www.apug.org/forums/home.php
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I think it's natural on the Intertoobes to declare any one thing best above anything else. One camera. One lens. One medium. One website. One format.

While I understand and agree with the general idea of the OP, I don't think there is much room for debate when discussing the assertion of an opinion as evidence (edit: of the assertion's truth).

I think it is far (and more seemingly) evident to those of us who frequent this site. But there are still strong communities online who are far even more dedicated to film: MF, LF, Polaroid, Holga/Diana/Lomo communities, and a big percentage of them aren't exclusivists.
 
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Though I was distraught to find that 'Instamatic' film is no longer available, a local photography shop told me recently that sales of Super 8 are on the increase!

Michael
 
The largest demographic of film users I see around Central Florida are the 18-30 year olds. They seldom use rangefinders though. It is a SLR crowd, both 35mm and MF.

They seem not to be gear freaks simply preferring manual cameras and normal lenses. Some shoot color, some b&w.

Film only medium format cameras are certainly not dead around here. My friend who owns a used camera store has good turnover in his inventory of those (mostly Hassleblad)
 
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