Another film is dying article... really??

[kdemas]

Let me ask...doesn't the mass media tire of this type of story? I must have seen this same article written about 30 times.

Anyway, one interesting stat from this article...786 million rolls of film sold in the US in 2000, 20 some million today. That's an epic volume drop. Given that stat I'm glad we still have the film selection we do.

I'm glad many of us make up part of that 20 million 🙂

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/much-longer-photographic-film-hold-162516670.html

 

[zauhar]

In fairness , the article does note that interest in film is actually increasing, particularly among young people.

Randy

 

[dallard]

The crux of that article was that since Kodak isn't doing well, neither is film (even though their film division is still making a profit).
It's kind of funny since there was another article linked to on the forum recently that said film is doing great because Ilford is seeing increases in profit.

 

[tlitody]

As long as Kodak have to make film for the movie industry your 35mm kodak film for cameras will be available. As soon as the movie industry goess 100% digital capture you can kiss kodak film goodbye.

I was recently asked for advice by someone wanting a DSLR. They know nothing about photography. So give a manual for a Nikon D7000 to someone starting out in photography and how much sense will they make of it? Give them a manual for Zeiss Ikon and how easy will that be for them? It's not surprising that young people like film.
Film cameras vs digital cameras are analogous to the difference between calculators and computers with operting systems. Everyone can cope with a calculator to do simple arithmetic but not everyone can program a computer to do simple arithemetic.
The poll on whats you career background showed that a large percentage of people here are technical. That's fine for us because we are into all this techno stuff but a lot of people aren't so why complicate it for them with computers masquerading as cameras.

 

[Keith]

If Ilford is doing so well I'd like to know why Freestyle still have their $4.59 two-packs of HP5+ listed and why so much of this got dumped into the US market at a fraction of the price the poor sods in Europe have to pay for it? It's been available at Freestyle for two months now so either it's not selling as well as they'd hoped or they literally bought 'tons' of the stuff!

As for Kodak ... I think when they do eventually get out of film everyone will breathe a sigh of relief and the rest of the manufacturers can get on with it and decide whether or not it's worth it to keep catering to a niche market while trying to keep your prices acceptable.

 

[andredossantos]

Isn't it more likely Kodak will sell it's film unit? Then, whoever buys it will determine the fate of the emulsions.

The "death" of film isn't the producers all of a sudden leaving the market, it's that the price will increas to a point where most won't find it worth it anymore to shoot a whole lot of it. In the end there will probably be a handful of smal boutique companies that cater to those who can afford to still shoot and develop the stuff.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Reading an article like that periodically does quell the GAS problem for old film cameras and provides me more time to save for that M9, which I probably will never buy, anyway.

 

[mrisney]

Regal Cinema expects to have practically all of its theatres converted to digital cinema by the end of 2012 http://tinyurl.com/regal-cinema-going-digital

When this happens, I think it's over for Kodak emulsions. So there's your time line.

 

[David Murphy]

I suppose those responsible for the latest run on Classic Leica cameras and lenses (driving prices through the roof) are not reading these articles. I can't believe all this gear just sits in a display case somewhere.

 

[LeicaFan]

Regal Cinema expects to have practically all of its theatres converted to digital cinema by the end of 2012 http://tinyurl.com/regal-cinema-going-digital

When this happens, I think it's over for Kodak emulsions. So there's your time line.

Well, I guess I better start stockpiling some film. 🙂

 

[tlitody]

Regal Cinema expects to have practically all of its theatres converted to digital cinema by the end of 2012 http://tinyurl.com/regal-cinema-going-digital

When this happens, I think it's over for Kodak emulsions. So there's your time line.

Well when kodak film goes then its good news for Ilford. And Ilford bought Kentmere to gain the Kentmere distribution network in the US. So it is already preparing the way for increased US sales.
It's not all bad news you know. And Fuji say they will be the last to stop producing film. i.e. they are in it to the end. So your colour film supplies will be safe for a good long while yet.

As the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Universe says on its cover: DON'T PANIC

p.s. I rekon it stole that line from Corporal Jones.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Isn't it more likely Kodak will sell it's film unit? Then, whoever buys it will determine the fate of the emulsions.

Not necessarily. Film production expertise doesn't transport well -- it takes staff as well as machines and that's assuming Kodak will ever sell its hard-won knowledge and facilities.

It's not like moving desks and chairs to a new building.

 

[tlitody]

Regal Cinema expects to have practically all of its theatres converted to digital cinema by the end of 2012 http://tinyurl.com/regal-cinema-going-digital

When this happens, I think it's over for Kodak emulsions. So there's your time line.

What about the rest of the world?

 

[tlitody]

Not necessarily. Film production expertise doesn't transport well -- it takes staff as well as machines and that's assuming Kodak will ever sell its hard-won knowledge and facilities.

It's not like moving desks and chairs to a new building.

Well agfa sold their machines and emulsions which are now back in production. But somehow I think Kodak may be a little more protective about its patents just to be b****y minded about it..

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not necessarily. Film production expertise doesn't transport well -- it takes staff as well as machines and that's assuming Kodak will ever sell its hard-won knowledge and facilities.

It's not like moving desks and chairs to a new building.

Very true. When Ilford moved from Ilford to Mobberly, with the same machines and the same people, they had a hell of a job replicating thr film they'd made before. Film coating is a bit like brewing: very location-dependent.

And the people who bought the Agfa machines have said the same thing.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Steinberg2010]

If Ilford is doing so well I'd like to know why Freestyle still have their $4.59 two-packs of HP5+ listed and why so much of this got dumped into the US market at a fraction of the price the poor sods in Europe have to pay for it? It's been available at Freestyle for two months now so either it's not selling as well as they'd hoped or they literally bought 'tons' of the stuff!

As for Kodak ... I think when they do eventually get out of film everyone will breathe a sigh of relief and the rest of the manufacturers can get on with it and decide whether or not it's worth it to keep catering to a niche market while trying to keep your prices acceptable.

Could that not also be related to brand recognition – Ilford being a british label?

 

[Steinberg2010]

Well at least people are too environmentally-conscious to throw it all in the sea...

 

[bucs]

film dead?

film dead?

I hope camera GAS dies first so I can buy cheaper Leicas, Rolleis,or Hasselblads 😀

 

[md2008]

Well, with all the Chinese photographers buying up Leica, there's a huge potential market for film.

 

[Keith]

Well, with all the Chinese photographers buying up Leica, there's a huge potential market for film.

'Chinese buying all the Leicas' ... they should be so Lucky! 😀