doom and gloom on the horizon

I agree, good riddance to shop owners who gouged their customers - however the pursuit of the cheapest deals on everything comes with a toll, this seems like such an example.

ampguy said:
we all miss high prices, stale inventory, bad service, etc. Seriously, I will always support the independent small vendor, as long as they have the smarts to compete, and many have and will continue to.
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I think the point is that there are still people out there who take the odd family snap or whatever that have stuck with their old point and shoot film cameras because it's not their passion and they just want the odd set of prints occasionally. Quality is not their priority, convenience is and because Walgreens was convenient they never bothered to get a digi point and shoot because it didn't really matter to them ... they aren't photographers!

A lot of these people will now think 'WTF' and wander off and get themseleves an eighty dollar digicam never to return to anna's log!

It amazes me how many film zealots see this situation purely from their own impassioned point of view and never consider that maybe it's these mum and dad consumers that are the glue in their rapidly sinking boat. Not some 'wally' with an a la carte M7 and Noctilux who shoots ten rolls of Tri-X per year and has more money invested in gear than he'll ever spend on film in two lifetimes!
 
My local Sam's has a good processing machine on site. They also send out to Fuji. I have Sam's do my C41 in house.

I preferred Kodak processing, really missed it when they quit. That pushed me to the M8, and now the M9.

At some point, I will setup the Darkroom again for film.
 
No surprise about Walgreens. It's just a matter of looking at the books.

(EDIT: Remember, Walgreens has no interest in film, one way or the other. They are interested in the amount of money that can be generated by each square foot in a store.)
 
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The helpful lady in the local lab suggested that i seriously look at going digital, they don't do much film now just the odd roll from folks who shoot snapshots.
When I asked about E6 she laughed :) it's all very sad but that's progress.
We could always list the places that still stock and process film in our areas or countries ... places we have used and found to be great. A sticky maybe?
 
Keith said:
I think the point is that there are still people out there who take the odd family snap or whatever that have stuck with their old point and shoot film cameras because it's not their passion and they just want the odd set of prints occasionally. Quality is not their priority, convenience is and because Walgreens was convenient they never bothered to get a digi point and shoot because it didn't really matter to them ... they aren't photographers!

A lot of these people will now think 'WTF' and wander off and get themseleves an eighty dollar digicam never to return to anna's log!

It amazes me how many film zealots see this situation purely from their own impassioned point of view and never consider that maybe it's these mum and dad consumers that are the glue in their rapidly sinking boat. Not some 'wally' with an a la carte M7 and Noctilux who shoots ten rolls of Tri-X per year and has more money invested in gear than he'll ever spend on film in two lifetimes!
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Aren't you the one on that "moratorium" thread who claimed that digital folks don't troll? What would you call this post here, especially the last paragraph? If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck.

Anyway, the first two paragraphs are your post is pure speculation. And I suspect it is speculation that is simply wrong. Most of those folks who take the "odd family snap" have gone digital already. That's why the C41 developing machines in the drug stores have gone silent. They aren't the "glue" that keep anything together.

The last two paragraphs is a combination of opinion, speculation and borderline ad hominem.

The film industry is consolidating. No doubt about it. But it will be around for awhile yet. The point is the fast it consolidates the better.

You doomsayers have been around for a long, long time. I recall back in the early part of the last decade on the old photo.net board how your type kept claiming that film would gone in just a matter of years. Well, that "sinking ship" is still afloat.
 
steveyork said:
Aren't you the one on that "moratorium" thread who claimed that digital folks don't troll? What would you call this post here, especially the last paragraph? If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck.

Anyway, the first two paragraphs are your post is pure speculation. And I suspect it is speculation that is simply wrong. Most of those folks who take the "odd family snap" have gone digital already. That's why the C41 developing machines in the drug stores have gone silent. They aren't the "glue" that keep anything together.

The last two paragraphs is a combination of opinion, speculation and borderline ad hominem.

The film industry is consolidating. No doubt about it. But it will be around for awhile yet. The point is the fast it consolidates the better.

You doomsayers have been around for a long, long time. I recall back in the early part of the last decade on the old photo.net board how your type kept claiming that film would gone in just a matter of years. Well, that "sinking ship" is still afloat.
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I'm not a doomsayer and I'm not trolling ... film is my prefered medium.

What I do think is that film sales are switching from this core consumer group to enthusiasts like us. Historically the bulk of film has been consumed by non photographers who just wanted a packet of 6x4 prints to share with friends and family and Walgreens were a part of that system and because it's vanishing rapidly they're getting out.

Sorry but I think you missed my point and the reference to a sinking boat wasn't an inference that film is dying but an inference that it will go from consumer pricing to niche pricing as it becomes less mainstream.

To insinuate that my commments are trolling and are made from the point of view of one of those 'digital folk' as you so quaintly put it is actually quite ludicrous. Film constitutes at least ninety percent of my shooting and that's unlikely to change unless it becomes outrageously expensive.
 
Riccis said:
I don't know if such thread exists but I highly recommend my lab (www.richardphotolab.com). I've said it before (and many customers agree with my statement) that they are the best lab in the world.

Cheers!
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If anyone here in New Zealand knows of a good lab i would love to know who they are ... I found these guys online but have never used them.

http://www.pcl.co.nz/
 
Walgreens going out of the 1 hour developing business is old news. The new stores are digital only & by the end of 2011 the older stores are to get a makeover. Big deal. We need to support pro labs like the one Riccis states above. I've read nothing but good reports on Precision Camera who is a sponsor here on RFF so I will send them my C-41 & E-6 film. Amazing how I spend so much on gear but send my film to crap stores like Rite Aid & CVS...speaking mainly to myself...laziness!
 
Well our local pro camera repair guru is building, with help from a some of us, a new public darkroom. It is absolutely 1st class, even including 4x5 enlargers.

His repair business does not advertise, has no web site, has an unlisted phone, and just a small sign on the door to his building. Yet he and his assistant stay busy with high level customers. He is planning on the "public" darkroom to follow the same business model.

Yes, we are becoming a niche market.
 
I guess we are just fortunate here in weird Portland. (I am just north of town.) Within three miles of my home are two Walgreens and a Target, all of which both sell and process film. Another mile down the road is a Costco which is still running its big machines. Within 3 miles of my workplace near downtown Portland are three pro labs and at least one rental darkroom place. The selection of film on the shelf at the 4 or 5 camera stores that cater to film is pretty good as well. I can buy most of the major products in sizes up to 4x5 sheet. I believe that 5x7 and 8x10 is available as well, but don't quote me.

As mentioned in an earlier post, film is turning into more of an art medium.


Steve
 
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