Enough Wallowing about Film

[shadowfox]

I can't make up my mind if I should wallow about the demise of film, the Euro debt crisis, the unemployment numbers, the economic stagnation, the raise in cost of living, the shrinking middle class, the rich and poor gap, the warming of climate, the water shortage in some places in the world and the frequency of natural disasters etc. ... But as a typical photographer who is out of touch with reality I'd rather wallow about film because it makes me feel sentimental and nostalgic rather than the anxiety of facing real issues that actually threaten my existence among with others.

Sentimentally > anxiety.

Oh Woe! Film, I shall miss you...

You are attacking (high-horsing, really) a single discussion, about how best to keep the oldest, and cherished photography medium alive, in a photography forum.

And you mentioned being out of touch with reality...?

Ok, man 🙂

 

[EdwardKaraa]

I am currently in the process of selling all my digital gear, actually almost done. Going back to the basics with film RF cameras and lenses. That's because I'm not shooting professionally anymore, so no pressure from clients. And because I enjoy shooting film more, and I like the results even more.

 

[Trius]

Taking away the pleasure of wallowing and self-pity? Oh Will, you spoil the primary human pursuit! 😉

 

[colyn]

I couldn't agree more and with that I say from now on we ignore the "film is dead" whiners..

 

[semilog]

I now have enough bulk-spool 35mm ACROS and 2TMY in the freezer to last five years or more. They are both amazing, wonderful films. As I use up these film stocks they will be replenished with whatever is similar and available. My current intent is to shoot the ACROS until it's gone, and to replenish the 2TMY with more 2TMY or with Delta 400 or HP5+, for as long as these films are available at a price that I can reasonably justify.

I also have a lot of XTOL on hand, though of course other good developers can be easilybought or mixed from scratch. But I've standardized on XTOL so I'd prefer to stay with it. The other chemistry is also easy to prepare from scratch.

 

[maddoc]

I now have enough 35mm ACROS and 2TMY in the freezer to last five years or more.

... that would be my aim, too. However, I use ~ 100ft per month so 12 x 100ft rolls per year and 60 x 100ft rolls for 5 years .... No way, I can store that much film in the freezer without running into trouble ... 😱

 

[semilog]

^--- I don't shoot that kind of volume. More like 300-350 feet a year.

 

[Keith]

... that would be my aim, too. However, I use ~ 100ft per month so 12 x 100ft rolls per year and 60 x 100ft rolls for 5 years .... No way, I can store that much film in the freezer without running into trouble ... 😱

That's four or five rolls per week ... I used to be able to shoot that much but not of late!

Tom A probably does that a day! 😀

 

[maddoc]

That's four or five rolls per week ... I used to be able to shoot that much but not of late!

Tom A probably does that a day! 😀

Me, lately neither because of to many business-trips without any opportunity to photograph something. Otherwise it is easily 4 ~ 5 rolls per weekend and one roll over the week.

TomA uses Rapidwinder -> Easily !

 

[whitecat]

I have shot about 90 rolls this year and developed about half of that.

 

[shadowfox]

^--- I don't shoot that kind of volume. More like 300-350 feet a year.

That's about 60 rolls per year, isn't it?
I have consistently averaged 1 roll per week for the past 5 years.

 

[Keith]

That's about 60 rolls per year, isn't it?
I have consistently averaged 1 roll per week for the past 5 years.

Well ... I hate to say it but film isn't going to survive with those sorts of figures mate.

Up the pace a little if you can please! 😀

 

[cameron.knight]

I usually try not to reveal my identity on forums, I don't like to mix work with pleasure. So I apologize in advance for the vague language.

I'm the photo editor of a weekly newspaper and the editor of a photography tutorial website. I'm 28 years old. I actually have a college degree in photojournalism. I learned on film in college, but by the time my four years were up, digital was the only way to work.

I probably own close to hundred film cameras. Nikon F3, Pentax Spotmatic, Zorki 1, Zorki 4K, Lomo LC-A, Bronica SQ-A, Horizon Perfect, Lubitel 166, Nikon L35AF, Brownies, Zeiss folders, plastic 80s point and shoots, a funky Bell & Howell, and the list goes on. I own two digital cameras - a Nikon D700 and a Nikon P7000.

Every film tutorial we put on our website always gets great response. I've written for Lomography.com and let me tell you, regardless of what you think of the Lomo look, that is one strong film community. They make NEW film cameras (some cheap and plastic ones) but new! They release new films!

Basically, I don't think film is going anywhere. Shot portraits for an acquaintance a couple weeks ago, they requested film. There are a lot of people out there that love and respect film and more people getting into it every year.

And finally, a story: In 2006, well into the digital revolution especially in photojournalism, I was awarded Best Photo Story of Year from my state's AP. I shot that story with a Pentax Spotmatic (manual focus, stop-down metering, no hotshoe), a 50mm, a 24mm and a 2x teleconverter and about 30 rolls of Tri-X. I developed the film in my kitchen and scanned it with a Coolscan IV. The daily paper I was working for at the time ran the story on A1 with a double truck on the inside. You do not need $5000 worth of the newest camera gear to make good photos, you just need a camera.

When I run into cocky photojournalism students who want to ask me what kind of gear I use and then ask why I don't have the coolest, newest lens, I pull out my Rollei 35 out of my back pocket and ask them if they want to have a shoot off.

Film ain't dead. They'll have to kill me (and from what it sounds like) a bunch of other people first. I ain't dead, yet.

 

[shadowfox]

Well ... I hate to say it but film isn't going to survive with those sorts of figures mate.

Up the pace a little if you can please! 😀

Keith,
I'd rather be a consistent film shooter that will keep using film the rest of my life than a spur of the moment one.
And I strive to instill that to anyone who are intrigued by my still shooting film.

A hundred people shooting one roll a week will be much better than thousands doing rose-tinted, GAS induced, one roll stint to "try" film.

You and I got started almost at the same time, what is your rate these past years? I hope much higher than mine 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

When was the last time anyone here saw someone shooting an 8x10 view camera?

Yet, this is still available. Not to mention 70 other sheet film skus at B&H...

Not worried about 35mm film going away.

 

[shadowfox]

I usually try not to reveal my identity on forums, I don't like to mix work with pleasure. So I apologize in advance for the vague language.

I'm the photo editor of a weekly newspaper and the editor of a photography tutorial website. I'm 28 years old. I actually have a college degree in photojournalism. I learned on film in college, but by the time my four years were up, digital was the only way to work.

I probably own close to hundred film cameras. Nikon F3, Pentax Spotmatic, Zorki 1, Zorki 4K, Lomo LC-A, Bronica SQ-A, Horizon Perfect, Lubitel 166, Nikon L35AF, Brownies, Zeiss folders, plastic 80s point and shoots, a funky Bell & Howell, and the list goes on. I own two digital cameras - a Nikon D700 and a Nikon P7000.

Every film tutorial we put on our website always gets great response. I've written for Lomography.com and let me tell you, regardless of what you think of the Lomo look, that is one strong film community. They make NEW film cameras (some cheap and plastic ones) but new! They release new films!

Basically, I don't think film is going anywhere. Shot portraits for an acquaintance a couple weeks ago, they requested film. There are a lot of people out there that love and respect film and more people getting into it every year.

And finally, a story: In 2006, well into the digital revolution especially in photojournalism, I was awarded Best Photo Story of Year from my state's AP. I shot that story with a Pentax Spotmatic (manual focus, stop-down metering, no hotshoe), a 50mm, a 24mm and a 2x teleconverter and about 30 rolls of Tri-X. I developed the film in my kitchen and scanned it with a Coolscan IV. The daily paper I was working for at the time ran the story on A1 with a double truck on the inside. You do not need $5000 worth of the newest camera gear to make good photos, you just need a camera.

When I run into cocky photojournalism students who want to ask me what kind of gear I use and then ask why I don't have the coolest, newest lens, I pull out my Rollei 35 out of my back pocket and ask them if they want to have a shoot off.

Film ain't dead. They'll have to kill me (and from what it sounds like) a bunch of other people first. I ain't dead, yet.

Well, we just need a hundred more of people like you encouraging others to shoot film. 🙂

Thanks for the inspiring story.

Oh, and get yourself an old 6x4.5 folder so the next time some cocky student came along, you can pull it out, and point to the wall size photo you printed from it. 😎

 

[shadowfox]

When was the last time anyone here saw someone shooting an 8x10 view camera?

Yet, this is still available. Not to mention 70 other sheet film skus at B&H...

Not worried about 35mm film going away.

I did back in Spring.
And I have people here locally asking me to show them how to do it.

 

[bensyverson]

When was the last time anyone here saw someone shooting an 8x10 view camera?

Someone other than myself? Well, once or twice a year, I see someone using an 8x10 on the street in Manhattan. And I don't even live there.

However, the continued existence of color film hinges on the motion picture industry, so 8x10 is a bit of a red herring.

 

[splitimageview]

Any idea how many of these 71 skus of sheet film at B&H exist due to the motion picture industry?

Efke (23)
Foma (8)
Fujifilm (9)
Ilford (14)
Kodak (17)

The fact remains, none of these would be available in sheet film if there were not demand for them as sheet film.

 

[bensyverson]

Any idea how many of these 71 skus of sheet film at B&H exist due to the motion picture industry?

I said color film. B&W film is easy to make. Color film is still around because of the motion picture industry.

Of course, you're right, they keep cutting giant rolls into sheet film because people buy it. But there would be no rolls of film to cut down, if the motion picture industry wasn't keeping the doors open.

In color sheet film, we're down to Portra 160, Portra 400, E100G, and sometimes a little Fuji if you're lucky. So let's not pretend that sheet film is doing just fine.

But make no mistake—B&W film will never, ever go away. It's simply too easy to make.