Further positive news for film

H

HHPhoto

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Hi,

fortunately there currently are even more positive news concerning classic film photography than the Film Ferrania project.
Here is an excellent, detailed report from the Photokina in Cologne, the world's biggest and most important photo fair.
The report is from the eminently respectable photography expert H. Serger:

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum390/134632-report-photokina-2014-a.html

I am very glad to hear that
- Ilford is building a complete new modernised factory in the next years
- Rodenstock enlarging lenses have a production record
- Impossible is making further progress and focussing on R&D and quality improvements
- increasing demand for instant film
- increasing demand for silver-halide RA-4 paper
- Imago BW direct positive paper new production
- Leica committed to film camera production
- new film from Lomography in the pipeline (I guess it will also be from InovisCoat, which is supposed to be the manufacturer of the Lomo Purple film)
- new Adox fibre paper
- new Harman Titan pinhole.

Let us make a film revival :)

Cheers, Jan
 
It is like cooking, people always will want to cook for friends, neighbors, family, and hopefully me (and possibly the less discerning public) . So, in the future maybe we will have the film channel. I just hope it is better than the food channels that are presently shown. Give Ilford a bravo for there efforts, I'm even considering switching to them after almost 60 years with Kodak.
 
A new factory for Ilford is particularly interesting, I might even hope that they'll consider a colour film.

Lomography is interesting too, as they have the marking power to get stuff into people's hands. They've got their haters, but they've always been good for me, I like the cameras and the film processing service.
 
Thanks for the link, Jan.

Excellent written report (as always from Mr. Serger).
And very encouraging news indeed.
But as he said in his last statement:
It is mainly up to us, it is in our hands. Let's use more films, let's use more different film types, especially reversal film to keep it alive and kicking.
Let us all be more active in getting other photographers interested in film, and in educating the next young generation.

Spanik said:
Direct positive paper. That is something I want to try.
Click to expand...

Go for it. It is wonderful.
Especially the Imago direct positive paper with it's Melinex base: Breathtaking brillance!
 
Alas, no US-based distributor for the Imago direct positive paper. And I'm still waiting for Harman to re-introduced their FB direct positive paper.

~Joe
 
JoeV said:
Alas, no US-based distributor for the Imago direct positive paper.
Click to expand...

If the American distributors like FS + Co are again sleeping, than give them a kick in the ass to wake them up.
And if they don't react, just give your business to those companies who welcome you as a customer:

No problems to order in Europe, e.g. macodirect and ars-imago, they do ship internationally.
 
Let's also add Ilford's new multigrade fibre-base paper -- apparently it's a new formulation or something.

I used it recently and was VERY impressed -- a real difference was very noticeable and all for the better.

Easy to print with, faster washing, shorter exposure times -- just a total pleasure to use. I do think I've found a new favorite paper.
 
I'm impressed as to how many commercial and wedding photographers are using film these days (Google: film+ wedding+photographers.) In Los Angeles alone there are labs who cater specifically to wedding photographers using film. And I read an article not long ago about new art directors coming onto the job who grew up in the digital age but discovered film while in art school. They are adding film to their toolbox as a competitive edge, and indeed there are many high end agencies who have big name clients asking for film productions.

The digital versus film argument is long over. That dialogue has become boring and redundant. Today it's film versus digital simply as choice. They will co-exist along side each other as specific media for specific purposes.
 
Great news indeed. I believe film will stay for decades, although we might facing limitation for the choice and option.
 
I don't have an active film camera these days, but think this is definitely good news. (If I lived anywhere near a professional lab, I would still have an M6.)
 
Skiff said:
Thanks for the link, Jan.

Excellent written report (as always from Mr. Serger).
And very encouraging news indeed.
But as he said in his last statement:
It is mainly up to us, it is in our hands. Let's use more films, let's use more different film types, especially reversal film to keep it alive and kicking.
Let us all be more active in getting other photographers interested in film, and in educating the next young generation.
Click to expand...

This is indeed the key.

We film enthusiasts must also be careful when communicating why we chose film. Sentiments like:

"Film rocks, digital sucks" or
"Digital is not real photography" or
"If you use digital, you are lazy and taking the easy road"

... contribute nothing to film revival because no one likes to have their choice belittled. Neither you nor I.

I used to be a digital only guy. But I am now a film user not because people heckle me into it, but I fell in love with the process and the results (and the cameras).

So keep showing your best film results whenever you can. If the photo requires explanation and a background story, put it together. And don't be shy to say: This film thing is interesting, I'm going to try it out.

Special Thanks! to Jan (HHPhoto) who always bring us the wealth of film knowledge and the enthusiasm.
 
ramosa said:
I don't have an active film camera these days, but think this is definitely good news. (If I lived anywhere near a professional lab, I would still have an M6.)
Click to expand...

Hi,

you don't need to live near a professional lab to use film.
All the best professional labs are doing mail order business.
Just put your films in the mail box, send them to the lab, and two or three days later you have the film back at home.
It is even easier then going to a local lab.

My way to my local lab is about 25 minutes one way.
My way to the next mail box is only three minutes.

Postal service is a nice innovation :D.

Cheers, Jan
 
shadowfox said:
Special Thanks! to Jan (HHPhoto) who always bring us the wealth of film knowledge and the enthusiasm.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but I have only given a link to a very reliable source.
The applause should go to Mr. Serger.
He has been at Photokina, met all the companies and talked to the managers, collected all the interesting information.
He is an excellent expert, much better than me. I met him in Germany several times in the past.
Really a very nice guy, very helpful and well-educated, with an enormous knowledge in photography, technology and economics.

Cheers, Jan
 
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