How many film camera's are bought each year?

[Austerby]

Ok, so the number of brand new film cameras bought annually will be tiny but the secondhand market seems vibrant.

Does anyone record these figures, or has anyone seen any reference to it?

Combining the big auction sites, listings sites and the many dealers could the figure be in the millions?

Of course this is mostly churn, rather than increasing the number of film cameras in total, but it'd be interesting to see some actual figures or informed estimates.

 

[Skiff]

Ok, so the number of brand new film cameras bought annually will be tiny but the secondhand market seems vibrant.

Exactly, small market for new cameras, but very big used market.

Does anyone record these figures, or has anyone seen any reference to it?

Some data have been published:
- Fuji Instax: 2,3 million new cameras last year, strongly increasing
- Impossible Project: 36,000 refurbished Polaroid cameras last year, strongly increasing; next year they will introduce their own first new camera
- Lomography: In their best year (2011 afaik) they sold 500,000 new cameras p.a.; it is much less today
- Leica: 1,000 new film cameras last year, increasing
- Nikon: 600 - 1,000 new F6 p.a.
- DHW / Rolleiflex: 800 - 1,000 new film cameras p.a.
- it is reported that in total about 10,000 Fujifilm GF670/GF670W were sold.

Combining the big auction sites, listings sites and the many dealers could the figure be in the millions?

Probably the used market is in the millions worldwide.

Due to CIPA from 2001 to 2007 more than 80 million new film cameras (compact and SLRs) were sold.

 

[Spanik]

Some -to me- unexpected numbers is there. That instant film markt is far larger than I would have guessed.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Fuji's Instax success does not surprise me. Their customer base, especially in Asia is young and enthusiastic; the per picture cost is affordable; the picture quality is surprisingly good; Fuji continues to upgrade the cameras.

 

[HHPhoto]

Some -to me- unexpected numbers is there. That instant film markt is far larger than I would have guessed.

Fujifilm is even running TV commercials in Asia.
At Photokina this year Fujifilm's booth had concentrated on two product categories: X-Series and.....Instax.

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

Fuji's Instax success does not surprise me. Their customer base, especially in Asia is young and enthusiastic; the per picture cost is affordable; the picture quality is surprisingly good; Fuji continues to upgrade the cameras.

"The picture cost is affordable".
Yes.
The picture cost per shot with Fuji's colour reversal films is even lower....., and the quality much much better, the versatility much higher.

Cheers, Jan

 

[thegman]

Much higher numbers than I would have expected there, 500k for Lomo is remarkable, 36k for Impossible is probably 100 times more than I would have guessed.

Rolleiflex numbers are good too, I never would have guessed they'd be about the same as Leica.

 

[HHPhoto]

Much higher numbers than I would have expected there, 500k for Lomo is remarkable, 36k for Impossible is probably 100 times more than I would have guessed.

Rolleiflex numbers are good too, I never would have guessed they'd be about the same as Leica.

Well, 500k for Lomo is the past. It is much less now.The Lomo "hype" is over.
They are now (and will remain) an important niche in film photography.
But compared to the whole film photo market (users and film consumption), they are a niche, not mainstream.

Impossible had to hire new technicians for camera refurbishing to satisfy the demand.

As with the ongoing decrease in digital camera sales I would not be surprised if, besides Leica, Arca Swiss and Intrepid, further camera manufacturers will introduce new film cameras in the next years.
Also encouraged by the investments of the film manufacturers like InovisCoat, Ilford and Film Ferrania.

Cheers, Jan

 

[zuiko85]

I wonder if Ilford would share how many 4X5 pinhole cameras they have sold?
I know early on they exceeded 1000 of the Titan 4X5 camera.

 

[c.poulton]

Some data have been published:
- Fuji Instax: 2,3 million new cameras last year, strongly increasing
- Impossible Project: 36,000 refurbished Polaroid cameras last year, strongly increasing; next year they will introduce their own first new camera
- Lomography: In their best year (2011 afaik) they sold 500,000 new cameras p.a.; it is much less today
- Leica: 1,000 new film cameras last year, increasing
- Nikon: 600 - 1,000 new F6 p.a.
- DHW / Rolleiflex: 800 - 1,000 new film cameras p.a.
- it is reported that in total about 10,000 Fujifilm GF670/GF670W were sold.

Does anybody know the figures for Canon (EOS-1V?) & Cosina Bessa R2/3/4M?

 

[HHPhoto]

I wonder if Ilford would share how many 4X5 pinhole cameras they have sold?
I know early on they exceeded 1000 of the Titan 4X5 camera.

If I remember right, they told they have sold 2400 units in the first 1,5 years. But I am not quite sure.
And they said they have been very astonished by the success.
That is why the range of these cameras is increased, the 8x10" model was added. Recently they presented a prototype for 120 format.
And they have also presented the "Obscura" model (which is made by another manufacturer afaik).
And other manufacturers like ONDU and NOPO started producing pinhole cameras as well.

Cheers, Jan

 

[jschrader]

I believe the number of excellent used film cameras in working condition if sufficient for anyone who is seriously interested in shooting film.

Therefore, I would be much more interested in numbers of film sale.

 

[Huss]

Fuji's Instax success does not surprise me. .. the per picture cost is affordable; the picture quality is surprisingly good; Fuji continues to upgrade the cameras.

It's over $1 for a single tiny image. And the Instax Neo Classic (Fuji's most expensive model) that I borrowed has the same image quality as their lower end $70 models. Disappointingly bad.

 

[nongfuspring]

It's over $1 for a single tiny image. And the Instax Neo Classic (Fuji's most expensive model) that I borrowed has the same image quality as their lower end $70 models. Disappointingly bad.

I'm not a fan either. I wish they'd make new cameras to use FP-100c instead - the peel apart negatives are far larger and even cheaper than the instax stuff.