Film SLR's going extinct?

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robertdfeinman

Robert Feinman
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Just out of curiosity I tried to find out what film SLR's were still being offered.

I found two models from Nikon and four from Canon.

I think there are a few medium format still in production, Hasselblad and Mamyia, perhaps.

In 35 RF there seem to be Leica and Bessa and the Voigtlander clones under other names.

Are there any others?
 
In my small town even more reduced to what is in walking distance, none.

Except used ones, then it's plenty.
 
New film SLRs? Few and far between. Kodak reportedly is in some talks to bring out a film SLR.

Otherwise, not too much there.

I don't think any of the Japanese makers (beyond Cosina) see any profitability in film.

There has been uncertainty about what will happen with the Contax name? It was never publicly mentioned how long Kyocera had been licensed to use the Contax name.

And when that license expires, will Zeiss go its own way and develop some film SLRs? Or will it become a high-end digital-only product?

Well, no matter. There seems to be an endless supply of used SLRs on the market in a myriad of mounts, of which many have been defunct for years (FD, Petri, Minolta MC/MD, Konica, Rolleiflex QBM, Miranda, Exakta and others).
 
Maybe when Nikon's F6 gets discontinued I will get one. I like the size much better then the F5 and parts should be available for the next 20 years.
 
My F2 was made in 1971. 2008 - 1971 is 37 years, it has been going strong! My F3HP was made in 1997 so 11 years still going strong. I have a parts camera for the F2 if I need it.

How any other old film cameras are out there I wonder? By the way people have been dumping film SLRs in the past (not so much now I'm afraid) there won't need to be any new SLRs for another 50 years, I reckon, because these things will last.
 
There were millions of old film cameras made. And now lots of folks seem to buy them and sell them on eBay. But apparently relatively few use them. If all the cameras that are bought and sold everyday on eBay were used, film sales wouldn't be in such steep decline.

I guess lots of people like owning old cameras more than using them.
 
As an aside, Nikon only make the F6 themselves at Sendai. The FM10 is handled under license by Cosina.

I vaguely recall (emphasis on vaguely) Nikon saying that they support their bodies (or at leas the higher-end ones) for at least 10 years after their discontinuation. My FE2 is approaching 25 years - an eternity for an electronic camera - and all it needs is new foam. Rumour has it though that Nikon still have limited parts for them, nearly 20 years after they left the shelves. That could have something to do with similarities to the FM3A though, which isn't yet 5 years into the support period.

As both ZeissFan and literiter acknowledge, so many of these cameras were made that there are enough to satisfy almost all interests in shooting with - or just owning - them.

Kiev-Arsenal are still putting out Hasselbladskis, though, aren't they?
 
Don't forget that Chinese K-1000 clone, supposedly made from some of the original Pentax tooling! B&H has it in their catalog, badged as Vivitar, but I've seen it under other brands too.
 
Keith said:
Thank god for the OM system!

[edit] ... and the genius that designed it! 😛
Click to expand...


I've played with an AE-1 and a K1000 - they are the ones that I see for sale most of the time. Never wanted to buy a film SLR until I ran across the OM2n though. Easily the best camera I have.
 
jb17kx said:
..............
Kiev-Arsenal are still putting out Hasselbladskis, though, aren't they?
Click to expand...


I think ex USSR Zenith company is producing great panoramic cameras both for 35 and 120 mm film. And SLR Zenith cameras, which I don't know if they are selling old stock or manufacturing.

The Chinese folks are manufacturing their TLRs

And who knows, perhaps Olympus will deliver their missing linik, the OM5 AF 🙂

Cheers,
Ruben
 
I feel that there will be some 35mm SLRs in production so long as companies are still making "full frame" lenses. That is assuming that film is still available, of course. Now the price of this equipment may not be realistic at all, due to the low demand...
 
Film sales depend upon new cameras being sold to new people entering the photo market. Individuals can get by with used cameras, but this is an end-of-life situation, not a sign of a healthy marketplace.

One can still buy phonograph players, but not LP's (except for the occasional novelty). Film will probably continue for a decade or more, but innovation and choice will become increasingly limited.

I've owned equipment that used 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film, 4x5 film packs, various Polaroid types, and a number of other formats - all obsolete. The same thing happened to IR film in sheets (and if you go back far enough Kodachrome in sheets and 120).

It's a vicious circle, camera makers stop making equipment which leads to lower film sales which leads to lower camera demand, etc.
 
The prices of good quality used 35mm SLR's are so low.

If you're already into a system it's well worth stocking up now for the future.

Olympus OM (single digit), for example, is very inexpensive but well built and could be stored for many years just in case you ever need it.

Contax RTS's are also selling at well below their true 'value'.

With Olympus you're buying into Zuiko lenses, and with Contax you're buying into Zeiss lenses. They're both as good as it gets.

A store near me has just one film camera, a Nikon F10, on the display shelf. Yes, I know it's a Cosina really. But they're asking just a little money for it, and as they've had it several years I think any offer at all would be accepted.

Now is the time to buy an inexpensive film camera while the owner upgrades to a digi-something which costs three times the price and will last two years.
 
Yes, as someone mentioned there is still a Vivitar branded SLR for sale, plus of course the Mamiya and Hasselblad. Also, did anyone mention the Leica R? That being said, I certainly believe they are on the decline. I found my Canon Rebel K2 with 28-90 kit lens, a $200 camera, for only $60 on clearance.


BTW, there seems to be a resurgence in vinyl LPs, I believe there is a thread on the subject in another forum but I forget which one. The new Walter Becker album my quote is from is offered in 180 gram vinyl, and, while not a mainstream release, is certainly not a novelty.
 
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