Lomo-- did it save film? From BBC News

Even though you can pick up a good manual focus Minolta, Pentax, Canon, etc. camera and standard lens for the same price of a LOMO, at least LOMO is promoting film use.

How can film manufacturers expect to sell as much film as possible without some promotions to point out the advantages of film, especially to young people, without some support of film processing, and without some interaction with camera companies that might produce new, affordable film cameras?

Fewer places for processing and high cost have caused many people to abandon film. And the choice of small-volume/home use chemical kits for developing color film is very limited and keeps changing (try to get Kodak C41 chemicals in home-use amounts).

Existing film cameras will last a long time and there are some good repair people out there, but people will likely choose digital when their film camera dies.

I know the economics for film are poor but wouldn't some investment pay off?
 
When you look at the associated websites and adverts -- it is very surprising that not only are the LOMO crowd passionate, they are a very inventive group with money to invest. I knew some people liked to shoot the cameras, but had no idea of the depth of the waters.

Interesting how you can join a film a month club and all.

As to home processing, if a local shop still processes C 41, they may well help you out with the chemistry by bottling up some extra as they mix up their soup. The better shops mix chemistry more often than some others, just as I know Campus Camera in Kent always seems to be washing and cleaning the rollers.

I used to buy my RA4 chemistry mixed from the local printer.

If you have to mail your film off, so be it, it is not so exotic (as in Kodachrome) as to become extinct due to lack of support from one source.

Regards, John
 
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