A stranger told me film is back..

I live in a 80.000 inhabitants town not far from Milan. There is still a lab run by a couple of young guys which develops and prints film. They sell some as well but not a large selection. They also sell Polaroids films.
Development and print of a 36 exposure film cost around 20 EUR (10x15 cm) and you can decide if glossy or matt paper.
Biggest part of their work is about digital. But film is still there. Otherwise they would not keep the machine running.
It's true, 20 years ago or more there were at least 4 similar places in my town...just to go back to the original topic :)
 
Previously on this forum I've mentioned the lab here in Portland where I take my film for processing as I was surprised when they informed me earlier this year that their business was at an all time high (they have been in business since 1946). It appears that they've continued to get busier. I'm happy for them and am glad that they are doing well. But the impacts from their success has finally worked it's way down to me. The last time I stopped by to drop off some film there were far more people dropping off / picking up film than I've ever seen causing a considerable wait and turnaround times have increased as well. Just an observation, not a complaint as I'm glad they are around.
 
I went out the other day with my Contax T3, took a few choice photos.

In the CBD on the weekend, I saw a guy with a nice black Leica M7 with a Zeiss Biogon 35 and hood.

That same day, there was a guy with a Leica Q, and one with a Ricoh GR variant.
 
On my way to work I was asked if my camera is with film.
I went to check two well known stores in Toronto DT after work to see how they are doing.
Henry’s where I purchased many times film supplies is gone. MacDonalds took over.
Downtown camera which used to be less than Henry’s for film is at new location.
What is surprising, their main accent on business reflected on space taken is film.
I haven’t seen any store doing this. Main entrance is all about film. Impressive selection.
Developers I never seen before. New HC-110, it is much more liquid. They have e6 and c41 kits. I never seen it in stores in Canada. Argentix.ca sells them on-line.
Some fancy dr paper, not just illfmere. And so on.
They gave more space for Leica. But rest of digital is less space as it was.
Used film gear section is larger at this new location.
With same grumpy Asian guy :)
 
Ko.Fe. said:
On my way to work I was asked if my camera is with film.
I went to check two well known stores in Toronto DT after work to see how they are doing.
Henry’s where I purchased many times film supplies is gone. MacDonalds took over.
Downtown camera which used to be less than Henry’s for film is at new location.
What is surprising, their main accent on business reflected on space taken is film.
I haven’t seen any store doing this. Main entrance is all about film. Impressive selection.
Developers I never seen before. New HC-110, it is much more liquid. They have e6 and c41 kits. I never seen it in stores in Canada. Argentix.ca sells them on-line.
Some fancy dr paper, not just illfmere. And so on.
They gave more space for Leica. But rest of digital is less space as it was.
Used film gear section is larger at this new location.
With same grumpy Asian guy :)
Click to expand...

Salespersons do not like customers who are more knowledgeable than they are.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Film has been around us. It still is.
When I bought my M9, I immediately then bought a film camera (SWC) that I wanted to link me to film. I wanted to make sure that using a digital M will not take away film from me.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I went to check two well known stores in Toronto DT after work to see how they are doing.
Henry’s where I purchased many times film supplies is gone. MacDonalds took over.
Downtown camera which used to be less than Henry’s for film is at new location.
What is surprising, their main accent on business reflected on space taken is film.
I haven’t seen any store doing this. Main entrance is all about film. Impressive selection.
Developers I never seen before. New HC-110, it is much more liquid. They have e6 and c41 kits. I never seen it in stores in Canada. Argentix.ca sells them on-line.
Some fancy dr paper, not just illfmere. And so on.
They gave more space for Leica. But rest of digital is less space as it was.
Used film gear section is larger at this new location.
Click to expand...

Your experience in Toronto reminds me of my observations regarding a few local businesses here in Portland. It seems as if photography related businesses that retained a connection to film photography while still managing to stay in business are now possibly benefitting from their dedication to film photography.
 
raid said:
Film has been around us. It still is.
When I bought my M9, I immediately then bought a film camera (SWC) that I wanted to link me to film. I wanted to make sure that using a digital M will not take away film from me.
Click to expand...


I have an on-off relationship with film, though. On one hand, I love the character and colours of film with my favourite cameras and lenses. On the other, I prefer the ease, convenience and overall quality of digital.

Prior to buying my M9, I had moved away from film after buying the Sigma DP1, which gave me a film-like output in digital form. But after getting the M9, I bought a M7 because I loved the feel of shooting with the M9, and the M7 felt even better in the hand. And yet, in the nine years I've had the M7, I've put maybe 12-15 rolls through it. Some of us (cough cough Petronius) can shoot that in a month. The convenience of digital just wins out for me, and I tend to save film for special or unique occasions.
 
Returning to the original theme, I was at the Bugatti Owner's Club autumn meet at their hill climb today. Lots of old cars and lots of people out with their cameras. I normally take a Rolleiflex and a 35mm (normally a Leica but today a Nikon FE that played up despite me changing the batteries) and until the last meet I had never seen anyone at all with a film camera. The last meet there was someone with an M2 to match mine. This time, two student age young men with both digital (chimping away simultaneously - I think I got a photo) and a Pentax K1000 each which both also used.

Finally, as I queued for coffee with the amiable coffee bike team (one of who managed Boots Camera department in Swansea and who always chat about whichever camera I've got) someone behind me had an Exakta - no idea which model - in exquisite condition.

Something is definitely up.
 
I wonder if the rise of phone cameras is giving film a boost ? An increasing number of people aren't buying digital cameras anymore because their phone does everything they need in that respect. Film however gives a different experience.

Hopefully as digital camera sales die (consumer DSLRs the next to go), Nikon, Canon, Fuji etc will wake up and realise that film cameras give them a niche in the increasing dominance of phone cameras.
 
Archiver said:
I have an on-off relationship with film, though. On one hand, I love the character and colours of film with my favourite cameras and lenses. On the other, I prefer the ease, convenience and overall quality of digital.

Prior to buying my M9, I had moved away from film after buying the Sigma DP1, which gave me a film-like output in digital form. But after getting the M9, I bought a M7 because I loved the feel of shooting with the M9, and the M7 felt even better in the hand. And yet, in the nine years I've had the M7, I've put maybe 12-15 rolls through it. Some of us (cough cough Petronius) can shoot that in a month. The convenience of digital just wins out for me, and I tend to save film for special or unique occasions.
Click to expand...


Where are some folks like me who went seriously on film then general public was ditching film cameras and developing on every corner has vanished as result of it.
I would go to remaining stores selling film and else related to film and I would be single person in this section, all the time.
Toronto Lomography store didn't last long as film only store. I went to BH in 2017 and purchased all of their in stock Kodak 400 UltraMax film. It was just under 30 rolls...
This famous gentleman on the corner with press camera asked me - why are you putting this film packaging on recycle? If you keep it, eventually it will become collectible and you could sell this old film packaging.
I had to use film before it disappeared. This was my feeling.

When I walked to new, film oriented Downtown camera store on Friday and saw people inline at film section... I don't know how to describe it, but I have kind of relief.
With two hours one way commute I'm tired of film. My M4-2 with regular use went for service twice. And still need parts, service to be perfect.
Thinking of letting it go with another couple of film cameras and getting used M240 to become my everyday, everywhere camera.
It will be pity to answer "no" then stranger on Toronto streets will asks if it is film camera, but, I will still have couple of good film cameras, film and darkroom to do it once in a while.
 
Ste_S said:
I wonder if the rise of phone cameras is giving film a boost ? An increasing number of people aren't buying digital cameras anymore because their phone does everything they need in that respect. Film however gives a different experience.
Click to expand...

And there are the film filters for cellphone pictures that might give newbies some initial exposure to what film looks like, until they start to see real film pictures and realize the digital filters are severely lacking in comparison.
 
Guth said:
Previously on this forum I've mentioned the lab here in Portland where I take my film for processing as I was surprised when they informed me earlier this year that their business was at an all time high...
Click to expand...

Blue Moon? I went down there yesterday and the place was packed. A young woman was buying an RB67 outfit, another guy was looking at OM-1's. I had my eye on a plain prism F2 (didn't buy it - I've got too many F2's). They had several Bolex H16 cameras and a wall full of film. I was there last year and the place is even busier now. I send my Minox and 110 film to them for processing and printing.

Another is Pro Photo Supply - both digital and film. I think Citizens Photo is still around as well.
 
Pál_K said:
Blue Moon? I went down there yesterday and the place was packed. A young woman was buying an RB67 outfit, another guy was looking at OM-1's. I had my eye on a plain prism F2 (didn't buy it - I've got too many F2's). They had several Bolex H16 cameras and a wall full of film. I was there last year and the place is even busier now. I send my Minox and 110 film to them for processing and printing.

Another is Pro Photo Supply - both digital and film. I think Citizens Photo is still around as well.
Click to expand...

Citizens Photo is in fact the lab I was referring to (they are located near NE Sandy and 31st Avenue). I've been using Citizens ever since puling the film cameras back into use. It used to be that I would have the chance to discuss with them how their business was doing. I was initially surprised when I learned their business was at an all-time high until I stopped to think about how many other labs had closed. They are obviously busy enough now that I don't even need to ask anymore.

When I find myself up in St. Johns I do try to stop by Blue Moon when time permits. Great store and I'm really happy to see them doing well, especially since they had the nerve to open a business dedicated to film photography, typewriters, etc. back in 2001. Even their name is awesome: Blue Moon Camera and Machine. Pro Photo Supply is another good store.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
With two hours one way commute I'm tired of film. My M4-2 with regular use went for service twice. And still need parts, service to be perfect.
Thinking of letting it go with another couple of film cameras and getting used M240 to become my everyday, everywhere camera.
It will be pity to answer "no" then stranger on Toronto streets will asks if it is film camera, but, I will still have couple of good film cameras, film and darkroom to do it once in a while.
Click to expand...


In the past couple of years, I've seen a fair number of people in Melbourne with film cameras, and often they are young. A young woman who looked like she would be about uni age had a lovely champagne Contax G1 around her neck with 45mm lens, which surprised me. I've seen people with Canon AE1s, a T90, and the occasional Pentax and Olympus, although I have yet to see a Minolta.


It's a bit sad that you'll be downscaling your use of film; I love the images you make with the M4-2 and Summarit. There's a really strong old school documentary vibe to your work which I hope will remain if/when you move to a M240.
 
Film is always a Fun good thing but so is digi

I think I have been hearing about Film making a ‘comeback’
as long as I have been here at Rff ...since 2008
 
olifaunt said:
And there are the film filters for cellphone pictures that might give newbies some initial exposure to what film looks like, until they start to see real film pictures and realize the digital filters are severely lacking in comparison.
Click to expand...

The VSCO ones are awful, even Fuji can't get it right with their film simulations in the X series cameras.
 
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