Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
Like the Nikon F3 in the late 1990s, they are likely at a place where they are being sold but not made. And is somebody really paying a grand for a new enlarger?
Dante
mani
Well-known
I was reading utter garbage like Dante Stella is spouting now ten years (and more) ago all over the web. Because I'm an idiot, all that negativity kept me from trying film until much later, and now I grievously regret the lost years.
Anyway, just in case anyone interested in trying film is scared off by the cognitive dissonance of some old film user who switched to digital - don't let them put you off! Give it a shot - you won't regret it!
As for the original topic of the thread - unsold Ms are on shelves everywhere now, and need to be shifted before the next 'upgraded' digital short-term camera is released.
Anyway, just in case anyone interested in trying film is scared off by the cognitive dissonance of some old film user who switched to digital - don't let them put you off! Give it a shot - you won't regret it!
As for the original topic of the thread - unsold Ms are on shelves everywhere now, and need to be shifted before the next 'upgraded' digital short-term camera is released.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I am really looking forward to an invention where based on polymer thin film technology an ultra-thin flexible BW sensor with a resolution/sensitivity equivalent to 400ISO BW film will be available. Connect such a sensor to a processor/storage chip embedded in 135 film-canister sized housing that also holds a re-chargeable battery and micro USB connector. Connect a thin-film switch solution positioned at the sprocket wheel to activate read-out/process/resetting of the sensor and we continue using old film cameras in a hybrid digital setup. Just dreaming of course ...
Couldn't tell if this post was serious or not, since someone did try something like this, or at least announced plans to do it, at least ten years ago if I recall. I personally thought it was well worth pursuing and would be thrilled if it actually came to pass.
BillBingham2
Registered User
I was hoping that Epson would have done this with their Photo-PC on the RD-1 some years back. Still have my Photo-PC, maxed out memory-wise, 9 pin serial cable and all!
Interesting approach, perhaps they know something about supporting earlier digitals that we don't!?!
B2
Interesting approach, perhaps they know something about supporting earlier digitals that we don't!?!
B2
BillBingham2
Registered User
Going Leica M or Nikon F you really can move your glass between film bodies and digital bodies with reasonable ease.
Dante has some interesting observations and opinions even fifteen years ago. Following the herd is not my style.
I love the Bessa L and a CV 25 Snap-Shot, must fun LTM camera/lens combo ever built. Before going back to a Leica M, I would go with a Nikon S2 and two lenses, 28/3.5 and 50/1.4 Nikkors.
I'd love a Sony a7000 (full frame version of the a6000 please and thank you) and a CV 25 Snap-Shot. Perfect size and every day lens. Lots of great LTM 50s to choose from.
Do not worry about the past, focus on what you can learn, do and have fun with now and tomorrow.
B2
maddoc
... likes film again.
Halfway between serious and wishful thinking.
I remember those attempts 10 years ago and also the announcements of similar projects that came later and were never realized. However, all those designs were based on the actual semiconductor technology. I am thinking about the next technology step, polymer compound based devices as have been already shown in prototype stage:
http://optics.org/news/4/7/22
Kwesi
Well-known
Ah! What a delightful dream,
Well, not to worry, when you wake we will have your digital M waiting for you.
kena
Established
When my used M8 was well out of warranty I was offered more than a "good deal" to upgrade to the M-E, and I wasn't even the original owner of the M8.
FrozenInTime
Well-known
A large format curved back or rotating head panoramic camera made from a polymer sensor like that would be exceedingly interesting.
zuiko85
Veteran
Dante Stella could be right or he could be wrong or somewhere in between.
Print out his prediction and check it in ten years.
Meanwhile shoot film and smile.
Print out his prediction and check it in ten years.
Meanwhile shoot film and smile.
Ranchu
Veteran
..because it's still better. It's funny to watch digital users have these paroxysms waiting though.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Ferrania is starting up film production again, building a new factory.
mfogiel
Veteran
It's not that I am saying: film is better than digital. It can be better or worse, depending on your priorities. What's evident, is the short term cycle of most digital cameras. I am convinced, they are being made with a goal of becoming unusable within 2 or 3 years after the warranty expires. This is both because this way the industry rolls on, but also because the hardware/software standards evolve very quickly. Moral? Spend your GAS attacks on lenses, not bodies.
Dante_Stella
Rex canum cattorumque
It's not utter garbage. It will increasingly become more niche year after year. As for not trying film... just because it'll get more niche doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. The sheer number of film, chemicals, and papers that are no longer around that were available in the 90s is crazy. I don't have the fetish for film that many people have... I used it when there was no other economical alternative. Now, digital is an economic alternative that suits my lifestyle better. If film fit better, I'd use that.
Pioneer
Veteran
I am afraid that Dante may be right. As the older film users phase out (a nice term I think ) and film stocks deplete, and what is left jumps higher and higher in prices, we will see the ever increasing movement away from film. People are already becoming upset over the increase in prices and this process hasn't even really started yet. A little over two years ago I was finding bulk TMX 100 at $49 for 30 meters. Now I am paying over $70 for 30 meters. I suspect that I will be paying over $100 in two more years, if it is even available at that point.
As the price increases accelerate, and people's cost begin to go through the roof, they will realize they can do very nice things with a digital camera. About that same time people will also begin to realize that buying a new camera every two years or so isn't very cost effective.
The distribution curves for people leaving film compared with those adopting digital will look similar, they will both be well into the tail of the distribution.
I think that comparing film use against remaining vinyl record use is a good example. Records never really went away, and use may be making a small comeback, but use of analogue sound technology is vanishingly rare today. This will be very similar to film use in the future. It will still exist but within a very, very small community. Far smaller even than what exists today.
In the meanwhile, smile. No worries Mate. Go shoot some film while you can. Predictions like this often do come true, but the devil is in the timing. No one really knows when all this will finally play out.
) and film stocks deplete, and what is left jumps higher and higher in prices, we will see the ever increasing movement away from film. People are already becoming upset over the increase in prices and this process hasn't even really started yet. A little over two years ago I was finding bulk TMX 100 at $49 for 30 meters. Now I am paying over $70 for 30 meters. I suspect that I will be paying over $100 in two more years, if it is even available at that point.As the price increases accelerate, and people's cost begin to go through the roof, they will realize they can do very nice things with a digital camera. About that same time people will also begin to realize that buying a new camera every two years or so isn't very cost effective.
The distribution curves for people leaving film compared with those adopting digital will look similar, they will both be well into the tail of the distribution.
I think that comparing film use against remaining vinyl record use is a good example. Records never really went away, and use may be making a small comeback, but use of analogue sound technology is vanishingly rare today. This will be very similar to film use in the future. It will still exist but within a very, very small community. Far smaller even than what exists today.
In the meanwhile, smile. No worries Mate. Go shoot some film while you can. Predictions like this often do come true, but the devil is in the timing. No one really knows when all this will finally play out.
Duane Pandorf
Well-known
And who says our EPA gets the bright idea to outlaw the processing chemicals saying they're harmful to the environment?
pete hogan
Well-known
The arithmetic sum of my film, iPad, and iPhone pictures will remain constant.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Forget it!
The EPA could not be counted on to police safe peanut shell disposal at a baseball stadium (not that hard to be safe)!
Hell.... Hydroquonone alone is not going anywhere. Besidees being a part of some developers, it's also in many off the shelf cosmetics as well as at the dermatologist to "bleach" certain intimate body parts.
The EPA does not have the teeth nor the mandate to do much of anything.
Would love to be wrong on this one
fotomeow
name under my name
Sure, these things happen, but Leica cannot, based on their recent history in general, but relied upon to be generous. Their bottom line is $$$, like 99% of businesses out there. If they are offering me a deal, I'm gonna have to read b/w the lines .......