End of 35 mm Cameras

[cameramanic]

Dixons the UKs Biggest Photography Retailer and Processor ends sales of 35 mm Cameras.

Will this Quicken the demise of 35 mm Photography , and the thing that worries
me most, will it become difficult to get 35 mm film Processed ?
here is the press release.



'Right time'

Mr Magrath said digital cameras were now the rule rather than the exception.

"We have decided that the time is now right to take 35mm cameras out of the frame."

In 1989, sales of 35mm cameras peaked at 2.9 million in the UK, but now Dixons says it is an "increasingly niche" market.

Improved quality and lessening prices have seen digital cameras grow in popularity and this year sales will outstrip the 35mm by 15 to 1.

However, the firm will continue to sell some 35mm cameras at its airport branches, to cater for professional photographers looking to buy duty-free products.

Cameramanic

 

[Roger Hicks]

When did ANYONE last go into Dixons for a camera? They are just putting a brave face on the fact that everyone goes elsewhere nowadays, to Jessops or to mini-labs. I think I may have tried to buy a battery in Dixons 5 or 10 years ago, but I don't think I've gone in there to look at a camera in 20 years or more.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[cameramanic]

You are right Roger, I made the mistake of thinking it was Jessops who had made this announcement. Doh

Regards

Cameramanic

 

[cameramanic]

Hi Mango.
One of the reasons I thought it was Jessops who had put out the press release, was when I was in one of their stores last week, It was hard to find a film camera on sale, exept on the used shelf.

Cameramanic

 

[pendevour]

35 mm users have already become the minority in camera clubs. All new members want to learn their photography using digital cameras. Beginners photography classes at the local college have never been so busy thanks to digital cameras. Finding club members and photographers generally that still produce slides is increasingly difficult and is proven by the fact that national and international slide competitions, exhibitions and salons are rapidly moving towards PI (projected images).
So it doesn't matter what Dixons do because they and all other businesses only respond to the market and that's us of course. Its not them stopping sales, its us stopping buying.

In Welsh, "Fe ddaw be' ddaw" or in Italian "Che sera, sera."

 

[rover]

Hey🙂

Yes the end is nigh. All your 35mm cameras will soon be useless pieces of junk that no-one will want and which take up valuable space which could be used for your/your wife's (delete as appropriate) shoe collection.

Help is at hand, however. As an officially appointed camera disposal operative, I can take that pointless waste of space off your hands, and all at a very reasonable cost. Just send your camera(s), with a cheque for US$100.00 (per camera) and all your worries will be over. My address is...

ManGo

You beat me to this exact response. How about we split the responsibility of relieving our friends here at RFF of their film camera burden. I will take the Americas, you have the Old World, and we can probably bring on a third partner to handle Asia and OZ.

 

[Socke]

Ok, so I chime in with Nikons finanical report http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050808/bs_nm/tech_japan_nikon_dc
Get rid of your old cameras and make room for dSLRs ASAP!

 

[Pherdinand]

I agree w Roger. Although dunno about Dixons in the UK, but Dixons in the Netherlands is a big mix of everything electronic on a price that is higher than in the specialized shops, and the sellers know shit about the stuff they (try to) sell.

OTOH, it IS a fact that every shop over here sells less and less 35mm film cameras while digicam sales increase. But i still have not seen a photography shop that does NOT sell ANY 35mm cameras or does NOT accept 35mm film for processing.

 

[dmr]

everything electronic on a price that is higher than in the specialized shops, and the sellers know sh*t about the stuff they (try to) sell.

Oh, that sounds almost like Radio Shack here in the states. The only store I ever remember where the average customer knows more about what's in stock than the employees! 🙁

 

[GeneW]

We who collect 35mm will progress from being 'quaint' to being 'cult figures' -- even though we just keep shooting as we always have. Before long reporters will be dropping by to interview us about our cool, arcane equipment and techniques from BD (before digital). Brace yourselves! 😀

Gene

 

[kiev4a]

We who collect 35mm will progress from being 'quaint' to being 'cult figures' -- even though we just keep shooting as we always have. Before long reporters will be dropping by to interview us about our cool, arcane equipment and techniques from BD (before digital). Brace yourselves! 😀

Gene

From the responses I already get when I bring up the subject of film cameras in general, rangefinders and/or my FSU camera collection, I don't think "quaint" is the term usually used. The rolling of the eyes by my listeners suggests they probably are thinking "Get a life!" or "Looney Tunes." The best I can say is my mate of 38 years tolerates my interest and our grown children ignore it. I suspect they have decided there are worse things that could be occupying my time and money.🙂

 

[wlewisiii]

All the comment's I've gotten lately have been "Cool camera" and the like. Of course, carrying around a Moskva 5, Kiev 5 or Speed Graphic tends to show that it's definately not digitial... 😀

And those who don't "get it" tend to stay away from me... Especially when I start pulling out sheet holders <LOL>

William

 

[dll927]

Wasn't it Mark Twain who reportedly said that the news of his demise was a bit premature? The same thing once happened to Bob Hope - the announcement went around the House of Reps (in DC) that he had died. It took a little doing to undo the news. Of course, he later did so.

 

[Little Prince]

Hey🙂

That's a deal Ralph. I'll get my people to get in touch with your people. 😀 😀

ManGo

Though I'm currently located in the States, I am quite willing to handle the Asian brethren. I like to do some volunteer work once in a while 🙂 .

 

[rbiemer]

We who collect 35mm will progress from being 'quaint' to being 'cult figures' --
Gene

My emphasis added.
Great 😡 I'm just about sorted out on a working RF set up and now I get to start thinking about what my cult members will wear while out canvassing strangers for donations...and what the required offering should be to join my cult...And a chant. 🙄
At least when my cult shoots family, strangers and then themselves, it shouldn't be fatal.
And NO kool-aid at our picnic, I promise.
Rob

 

[reagan]

Yeah, film may be a problem one day, but already I'm having a hard time finding batteries to fit any of beloved FSUs! 🙄

Help is at hand, however. As an officially appointed camera disposal operative, I can take that pointless waste of space off your hands...

That's what I like about this place... there's always some good-hearted guys & dolls ready and willing to go the extra mile to help out! Thanks folks!

Didn't I see some Russian Western movie on a couple of weeks ago where the commrade on the horse said, "You can have my Zorki when you pry it out of my cold dead fingers." .... yeah, it was Johninski Wayne-ovich....... or something like that ...... I dunno. 😎

And yeah, yeah, I get the looks too at family/friends gatherings where cameras are standard equipment. Of course, I'm the only one with film bulges in my back pocket.

But recently I went on a short hike & picnic with friends, one of which has a real interest in photography and not long ago purchased a veeeeery capable digital cam and 2 or 3 lenses. She's actually getting to know her way around it, or so I thought, since I really like some of her shots. She's even shot a couple of weddings for friends.

Sitting around the picnic table, I'm holding her camera, looking it over and going “ooo-ahhh” and, obviously knowing nothing about digital cameras, I asked, "So when you download the pics, does it automatically convey with the pictures the settings you used on each particular shot?"

"Yeah, I think so," she says, taking the camera back and flipping through some menus. "Anyway, each shot has these numbers with it," pointing at the tiny screen.

"Uhhh yep..." I said. "Those would be the frame number, shutter speed and f-stop."

Her response? "Right. I'm not too good with that stuff yet."

The next day, she gave me a disk with her shots of our outing and an explanation, "I like some of 'em. But just ignore the last 4 or 5 shots. They're bad out of focus .... my battery was getting low."

I dunno guys. I plan on getting a cheapo digicam for the wife soon. But at this point I’d hate to stop buying film and start buying batteries. I’ve shot film for 40+ years. I guess if can buy, beg, borrow or steal a roll of film here and there for a few more, I’ll just “keep dancin’ with who brung me 'til the music stops.”

 

[nwcanonman]

Having a digi-cam P&S for two years now, they do use-up the batteries. BUT - when you get two sets of NiMH (I'd only buy the camera that uses AA) and use the highest 'mah' like 2300. They last a long time and are quickly recharged using the correct charger. DON'T use your old NiCad charger for NiMH's though, wrong charge rates will kill your batteries.
Carrying an extra set of good NiHM's I've never run out of power and since the Olympus P&S uses AA's I can find them anywhere.
BTW - I still prefer my Bessa R, which took this of my SIL and nieces last week. 🙂

 

[pendevour]

Originally Posted by GeneW
We who collect 35mm will progress from being 'quaint' to being 'cult figures' --

I hadn't considered this but I think you're quite right Gene. At the moment I'm considered to be a photographic "anorak" because I enjoy using old film cameras and I'm really looking forward to becoming a "cult figure" which is a "respected anorak" of course. I'll be just like that little old man (about 90 years old) that came to give us a talk about chemical toning of prints and was still measuring his chemicals in grains and drams etc. What should we call our cult? Any ideas anyone?

 

[John Robertson]

Dixons haven't been photographic dealers for years, they are camera "sellers" a very different thing. The last time I bought anything from them must have been twenty years ago. I was looking for a 49mm Orange filter, the salesman looked blank for a moment, then came back with a Paterson Water filter, saying"you should be able to filter orange through that" I left and have never returned. No great loss I think!!!!! 🙄

 

[jlw]

What should we call our cult? Any ideas anyone?

"People Whose Pictures Will Still Be Around 100 Years From Now"?