Sign of the times

[Pico]

Yesterday I took a shortcut through the alley behind what was our only real camera shop that closed months ago after over fifty years of business. There is a large film developing sink in the large trash pick-up zone. I remember old Jim would use it to do B&W by hand for the few enthusiasts left. Bummer. (Before they closed I did pick up a massive 4x5 cylinder tank that does 24 sheets at a time. Talk about ambitious.)

 

[Sjixxxy]

(Before they closed I did pick up a massive 4x5 cylinder tank that does 24 sheets at a time. Talk about ambitious.)

I have 18 sheets of film to develop today. I wish I had that!

 

[FrankS]

When the only dedicated photo and framing shop in my small town stopped processing film, I was offered the ancient C-41 processing machine for free, just come pick it up and take it away.

 

[John Lawrence]

Sadly a lot of the old 'independent' camera shops are closing, or have closed over the last few years. There are many reasons for this, aside from the decline in film sales and processing. One owner of a shop (thankfully still trading) since 1960 told me that the days when he was an accredited Canon / Nikon (can't remember which one) dealer have long since passed. Apparently either Canon or Nikon will not appoint or support 'local' dealers anymore.

My local store closed down some years ago, and what I miss most is the knowledge base of the staff there. I once popped in with a Foth Derby as I didn't know how to cock the shutter on it. The old boy there showed me how to do this, pointed out that there was still film in the camera (and it was on number 2), lent me a light meter and sent me on my way to take some pictures. I returned a few days later, he unloaded the camera for me, arranged to process the 127 film, telephoned me when it was ready and even went through the pictures with me.

John

 

[robklurfield]

somewhere there must still be a shop with a kodak sign of about the vintage of this 7-Up sign...

and, in the back of the store, in an old kelvinator refrigerator, they probably have a stash of Kodachrome well kept at the right temperature from about 1950 in nice yellow and orange cans. one of will stumble upon that store someday.

 

[PKR]

I've seen a trend over the last few years. Prices for quality used film cameras are increasing. Many are scanning film and printing digitally. I see this with the students from the 3 art schools locally. Amateurs are going back to processing their own b+w film and in some cases printing wet again. These same people are printing their color digitally. Many are shooting color via digital capture and using film for b+w. I think with the demise of Kodachrome, some will switch to color negative stock and may process C41 at home, and scan the color neg film for digital printing.

I fit into a couple of these scenarios..

p.

 

[jpa66]

Yes, I remember several years ago ( 4 maybe ) when I still lived in Pittsburgh, that I went to my local camera shop ( which was walking distance ) to get some film developed, and I saw that they had closed, and I had just been there only a month or two earlier.

The other shop that I used to frequent for all my photographic darkroom needs actually closed several years before that.

I do believe, however ( along with one of the comments ), that there will be a small movement back to film ( primarily B&W ) but I really miss those camera shops, just as I miss all of the record stores that I used to frequent oh so long ago...

 

[PKR]

Yes, I remember several years ago ( 4 maybe ) when I still lived in Pittsburgh, that I went to my local camera shop ( which was walking distance ) to get some film developed, and I saw that they had closed, and I had just been there only a month or two earlier.

The other shop that I used to frequent for all my photographic darkroom needs actually closed several years before that.

I do believe, however ( along with one of the comments ), that there will be a small movement back to film ( primarily B&W ) but I really miss those camera shops, just as I miss all of the record stores that I used to frequent oh so long ago...

I'm surprised by the amount of film being used. A local film camera repair / camera store here thought they were going out of business a couple of years ago. He's still prospering, mostly from art school students buying refurbished Nikons. Look at all the book stores that have closed. San Francisco, at one time had a high demographic for literacy. I thought Amazon did in the book stores. I was wrong. People (locally) quit reading books, they're all on the phone, texting. There are still some places that will keep us in film and books. We just have to keep them alive with our $$. p.