"Film photography alive as younger generation continues old artform in digital world"

[Skiff]

You are actually only partially right Fuji and Agfa still make release or archive Stocks. The latter is also used for long term storage of digital movies. 🙂

I know, that's right.
To simplify things a bit I have only referred to camera movie film. The film stock which is used filming the action.

 

[Skiff]

Those who really know about the real strength of the film revival are all the companies who produce film, sell film, or produce and/or sell film related gear. They have the evidence in their sales numbers.
At last Photokina we've had again a rff member meeting, with rff members from all over the world. And we visited all film manufacturers, film gear manufacturers, big film distributors etc. And all of them have confirmed that there is significantly increasing demand. The film revival is real.

 

[jsrockit]

Hollywood is important, but not required for film to survive.

Well, that is true---but film will just keep increasing in price and will be even less mainstream without Hollywood I would think.

 

[jsrockit]

At last Photokina we've had again a rff member meeting, with rff members from all over the world. And we visited all film manufacturers, film gear manufacturers, big film distributors etc. And all of them have confirmed that there is significantly increasing demand. The film revival is real.

Sure, but it is still a small market no?

I think what happens in these threads is that some only think film is doing well if it is at early 90s level sales + processing infrastructure. Other see any new film as a cause for immense celebration of a huge revival. What is wrong with just letting it be and being happy it is still available and that some manufacturers are doing well with it?

 

[Skiff]

Well, that is true---but film will just keep increasing in price and will be even less mainstream without Hollywood I would think.

As explained above, if Hollywood would went away from film it would only affect Kodak in a more significant way, but not all the other film manufacturers.
But it looks like Hollywood will stay with film for the bigger productions. This year dozens of Oscar nominated films are again shot on film. And lots of filmmakers have declared that they prefer film and will continue to use it.
I think we can be relaxed.

 

[Skiff]

Sure, but it is still a small market no?

Size is always relative.
Standard film usage is of course tiny compared to the sales peak in 1999/2000.
But in absolute terms it is again a three-digit million dollar business which is increasing. And has a lot of future potential.

Instant film is completely different: Sales are higher compared to the film era! It is now a huge mass market. The yearly sales volume of instant cameras is now above 10 million cameras p.a. That is 2.5x the size of the mirrorless camera sales volume!

I think what happens in these threads is that some only think film is doing well if it is at early 90s level sales + processing infrastructure.

Yes, the 'grumpy old men' and 'doom-and-gloom' fans.

Other see any new film as a cause for immense celebration of a huge revival.

Yes,
- the younger ones, "digital natives"
- those real film enthusiasts which have feared that film will go away; they are very happy now that this will not happen.

What is wrong with just letting it be and being happy it is still available and that some manufacturers are doing well with it?

Absolutely nothing is wrong with it. I completey agree: Let's be happy and just use it.

 

[jsrockit]

Instant film is completely different: Sales are higher compared to the film era! It is now a huge mass market. The yearly sales volume of instant cameras is now above 10 million cameras p.a.

Very true...

 

[David Hughes]

Well, that is true---but film will just keep increasing in price and will be even less mainstream without Hollywood I would think.

Luckily for some of us they don't do B&W...


Regards, David

 

[DominikDUK]

Luckily for some of us they don't do B&W...


Regards, David

They do 🙂