Seeing Film Everywhere

Hi,

It might be an idea to write on the back just who the picture is of and the date. Nothing's more annoying than a good photo of someone without knowing who it is or was in relation to you, the family and so on.

Regards, David
 
I NEVER see film cameras

I NEVER see film cameras

I'm just back from a holiday in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. This was over Christmas, so high season.

I didn't see a single film camera. In fact, the preponderance of photos were being taken by phones, a very few by tablets. Of cameras, most were of the compact variety, some mirrorless and a few people had DSLRs. I keep my eyes open for these things too. It was the same when I went to California last Autumn - they were actually selling film in Yosemite, but I didn't see a single film camera other than mine (I took the Contax G2 that time).

Quite frightening really, it must be a real worry for the industry - they used to make great sales of SLRs, then DSLRs, now it seems they are dying on their feet, defeated by the phone industry. My wife just uses her Apple phone and it takes great snaps.

So I had the only film camera in Angkor Wat: it was a Konica Hexar RF if you are interested. If I get the time and inclination I'll put the best shots up on flickr and you can take a look.

rjstep3
 
I'm seldom in touristy places. Elsewhere I see folks occasionally using the
camera function of their smartphones, but seldom a camera, digital or film.

Yes, I know I need to get out more. 😱

Chris
 
Back to the topic. I am taking a B/W printing intensive workshop in a couple weeks. The course is full.

Film isn't dead.
 
JChrome said:
Wow. In 2003 the market peaked at a billion rolls and now the market is 19 million. That's still bigger than I expected. 5% growth every year isn't bad either.
Click to expand...

Very important:
These numbers are only the US market!
The global market had its peak in 1999/2000 with 3 billion rolls.
And the current global market is much much bigger than 19 million rolls.
The global BW film market alone has about that size. The instant film market is probably even bigger now, more than 19 million instant film packs.
 
tunalegs said:
A museum doesn't care if you do or not. That is my point.
Click to expand...

It pains me to say it, but Museum's don't care about my preference of briefs over boxers. I've spoken with curators, docents, patrons and even up to director level. They just can't appreciate the support briefs can offer.
 
Processing could help. The question in my mind, would there be enough volume to keep a business running?

With many, they want to see the photo immediately like a screen on a digital camera. Would a fim camera that a person could immediately see it on a screen, like a digital one, help?

Just some thoughts while I enjoy a cup of coffee.

Your take.
 
rjstep3 said:
I'm just back from a holiday in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. This was over Christmas, so high season.

I didn't see a single film camera. In fact, the preponderance of photos were being taken by phones, a very few by tablets. Of cameras, most were of the compact variety, some mirrorless and a few people had DSLRs. I keep my eyes open for these things too. It was the same when I went to California last Autumn - they were actually selling film in Yosemite, but I didn't see a single film camera other than mine (I took the Contax G2 that time).

Quite frightening really, it must be a real worry for the industry - they used to make great sales of SLRs, then DSLRs, now it seems they are dying on their feet, defeated by the phone industry. My wife just uses her Apple phone and it takes great snaps.

So I had the only film camera in Angkor Wat: it was a Konica Hexar RF if you are interested. If I get the time and inclination I'll put the best shots up on flickr and you can take a look.

rjstep3
Click to expand...

Please do. I'd love to see some shots of Angkor Wat. I never made it to Cambodia but I wanted to.

I went to Jakarta in 2011 and met up with some fellas that were film fanatics (loved Leicas / Contax G's etc). I was doubtful about film's resurgence in Southeastern Asia but they were a great counter example. But I also suspect they're a rare breed.
 
JChrome said:
I really wonder how many more folks would do it if processing were more accessible and cheaper.
Click to expand...

I don't think that this is as important as some people think, because
1. In quite a few major markets film and processing is very cheap and easily accessible. E.g. here in Germany you can both get at "every corner of the streets": All drugstore chain shops are offering film and processing (C41, E6 and BW). There are more than 4,000 (!) of such shops in Germany.
Processing costs there are in the 95 cents to 2,55€ range, so next to nothing.
The drugstore chains ship the films for development to several huge mass volume, industrial labs which are developing millions of films p.a.
And of course there are lots of smaller high-quality professional labs, which offer mail service, too.

2. In all major markets are lots of excellent mail order labs which offer very good quality at reasonable prices. A very convenient service: Just put the film in the next mail box, some days later the developed film (and prints) are delivered to your door step. And even in developing countries more and more labs are copying the business model of the mail order labs in the industrialized countries and offer such services.

3. Developing at home is very easy, extremely cheap, and you can get perfect quality. And it is much fun, too. More and more film shooters are discovering that.
One of the reasons why JOBO has introduced two new film processors for home developing in the last three years. They see increasing demand.

4. No matter if you are shooting BW, C41 or E6: In all cases your overall costs including processing per shot are much lower compared to shooting instant film.
Nevertheless instant film has a huge boom for years now.
So if people like the results they get, the cost per shot is not so important.

5. From my experience the biggest problem in the last years has been that lots digital photographers thought there is no more film production at all. That they simply cannot shoot film anymore, even if they want to.
Well, the digital propagandists have told this lie for more than a decade, and dozens of millions believed it.
So with more and more articles about film in the media recently, informing people that there are lots of options to shoot film (even an increasing number of options), more and more people will know that film is alive, and that they can use it.
And the data is indicating that an increasing number is doing that.

Cheers, Jan
 
JChrome said:
Please do. I'd love to see some shots of Angkor Wat. I never made it to Cambodia but I wanted to.

I went to Jakarta in 2011 and met up with some fellas that were film fanatics (loved Leicas / Contax G's etc). I was doubtful about film's resurgence in Southeastern Asia but they were a great counter example. But I also suspect they're a rare breed.
Click to expand...

New film lab in Jakarta, run by film enthusiasts:
http://www.soupnfilm.com/
Including E6 processing.

I know of recently opened new labs in Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand, too.

Cheers, Jan
 
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