What if Nikon (and Canon) released new RF FILM cameras (and lenses)?

[Ted Striker]

Contax T2's and T3's are now selling on Ebay for $1800. Why doesent Kyocera come back and reissue these cameras? They sold for far less than that when new.

They must not see any money in making film cameras.

 

[splitimageview]

So, in fact, there is no such data, thanks for confirming this.

I would suggest that refraining from using terms and phrases such as 'laziness', 'arrogance', and 'ridiculous requests' as it actually weakens your argument.

I'm simply asking to be convinced here, as a skeptic.

There is no doubt of the fact that there is indeed a market for film; that's in actually what you've presented.

But nothing you've presented is actual evidence of some sort of film revolution that will ultimately result in a major manufacturer such as Nikon or Canon producing new film cameras.

 

[markjwyatt]

...Lots of local stores offer film processing again. The number of US based film photography channels on youtube have exploded in the last two years...

I am as enthusiastic as you, but will offer some anecodotal information to the contrary. I live in pretty desirable town of (guess) 75-100k people in Southern California. I have an almost impossible time buying film locally, and the only film I can buy is Fuji Superia XTRA 400-36 (not a bad choice) or Kodacolor (Walgreens),and usually only a couple of packs (plus lots of Instax and some disposable cameras).

The main places to buy and process used to be drug stores (Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens, multiple of each).

It is too the point that I think I personally had an impact on keeping some film stocked in at least my closest Rite-Aid. I was told they are discontinuing. I bought the last 3-pack earlier this year. Every time I go in, I ask someone if they have film (I do this at all the stores). Recently a manager said [paraphrase], 'we were discontinuing, but it seems to be selling so we will keep it stocked'. Last time I went in they had 2x3 packs. I bought one. The one still remains. I would not be surprised if I was the only one buying it!

The only other choice is Walmart. They were carrying only 5 packs of Fujifilm Superia XTRA x 36 (have not looked in months).

None of the drug stores offer processing. Costco does not offer processing. Only Walmart does and they do not return the negatives.

My closest 1-hour type (more like 1-day) photo is about 30-40 minutes drive, and they only scan at the lowest resolution (but give my negatives back). There is a camera store about 25 miles away, and they do sell a decent selection of film and do offer send-out processing, but their main business is of course digital. The last time I was there (November), the manager (maybe owner, not sure) was surprised to learn that Acros was being discontinued! All of my film activity (buying film, supplies, processing) is online now. If I happen to go to a bigger city, or pass by the local camera store, I often stop in and buy some film.

 

[Ted Striker]

Fujifilm discontinued Acros just recently. That alone is enough to show me they are not interested in film. Acros was easily their #1 best film and their sole remaining black and white film. It is an immense shame that it is now gone.

 

[markjwyatt]

Fujifilm discontinued Acros just recently. That alone is enough to show me they are not interested in film. Acros was easily their #1 best film and their sole remaining black and white film. It is an immense shame that it is now gone.

True. I just restarted film this year, and was considering making Acros one of my standards, but of course rethought that. It does sound like Fuji wants to only supply color film. Maybe there is too much competition in the ASA 100 fB&W film domain? Who knows they could still reconsider, but I am not holding my breath.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes, none of the 'resurgence of film' has resulted in any of the former minilabs resuming developoment (speaking of Walgreens, Costco, and the like.)

There are of course speciality labs, I have used several, such as Indie Film Lab, the Darkroom, Dwayne's, NCPS, Pro Photo Connection, Miller's Lab, and others. These labs have been around a while, and spent much time and energy building their internet business to support scanning services, as well as development. As local labs closed, these speciality labs filled the gap. But generally speaking they don't cater to the casual shooter/student shooter.

Locally for me, there are only two labs that remain, one being Precision Camera who advertises on this site, and the other being Holland Photo.

I was, in fact, the person who established the relationship between Precision with this site, and started the develop/scan promotion nearly a decade ago, that is still in place. Precision was nearly about to shutter their lab at the time, and one way to help keep it open was to seek out internet business.

Precision has not developed anything other than C41 in many years, they farm out their B&W and E6. But at least their C41 and scanning business still exists.

There had to be places for customers to go, once Walgreens/CVS/Costco (and many others) all closed down their local labs, and these internet suppliers stepped up to fill the gap.

One of the specialty offerings of these labs, is professional scanning. Local labs simply did not have the expertise for professional color correction for wedding shooters, for example. That service is a major part of why the internet labs exist.

There has been no increase in the number of labs, it's actually been on a very steady continuing decline. This does not necessarily mean that business at individual labs is down, however. If one were to speak to a few of these internet labs, they might all report increases in business. It doesn't necessarily follow that the increase in business is due to an increase in the number of film shooters, however.

 

[markjwyatt]

The drug stores in my town not only have closed their mini-labs, but do not even offer send-out processing. I have been using The Darkroom (I would not have used the mini-labs for most of my processing in any case, as I am mainly shooting B&W, but some color too).

 

[jsrockit]

Contax T2's and T3's are now selling on Ebay for $1800. Why doesn't Kyocera come back and reissue these cameras? They sold for far less than that when new.

They must not see any money in making film cameras.

They would if the numbers were there, but the fact that few hundred sell in the used market over the years from $500 to these prices isn`t going to do anything for anyone.

 

[css9450]

I live in a town with a major university next door. 40,000 students. The lab that is in town does a single run of film per week. Just one run.

Aye that. The shop near me is quite well known as being in existence due to (and in essence propped up by) the local community college and its photography program. IE, if the school were gone, so would be the lab. I can tell when it is summertime (and no classes are in session) when I bring in film and the "sequence numbers" on the envelopes are nearly unchanged since the last time.

 

[jsrockit]

Here on rff lots of members are still captured in their "film is dead" bubble. Get out of it 😉.

Nobody thinks film is dead, but we just are not as optimistic as you are... which is extreme.

 

[Ted Striker]

In Chicago, all the big pro labs have closed down. Helix Camera, Triangle Camera, and another place I used to use on Ontario street. Can't recall the name but they were big. None have reopened.

 

[Ted Striker]

Nobody thinks film is dead, but we just are not as optimistic as you are... which is extreme.

I'm a data driven person so when claims are made, I want to see the data.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

The Nikon F2A is a great, well-made camera, but it's not one of the more desirable models. The popular cameras are in high demand and their prices reflect that. Any new film camera would have to be a reissue of a popular camera, or at least be as equally desirable as one. That means choosing the right specs, beautiful design, and great build-quality.

It’s not desirable? That’s interesting, because with the same lens fitted, it provides exactly the same result as the F6 I bought new.
I get your point, but my point was that no company can, or will, produce a camera as well built and as competent as an F2 at a price level which people will buy, and at which the company can make money. Contax T3, neither.
The fact that the F2 isn’t the internet flavor of the month in terms of gear lust, doesn’t change that equation.
Whatever.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm a data driven person so when claims are made, I want to see the data.

I don`t think his claims are baseless, but I think he is overly optimistic. I do think there are new labs (I know there are). There have been new films introduced. Kodak did make Ektachrome again. However, is it indicative of a huge expansion in a film revival that will lead to mainstream film use and camera manufacturing? Maybe not. Jan lives this stuff. I think he gets excited by it. We can`t fault him for that. Any new photographic product is a good thing because it gives us choices.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes.

What's been described here is the ongoing film industry. Some films get discontinued, some films get introduced, others re-introduced.

What's not been described is growth sufficient to justify camera manufacturers producing new models.

 

[markjwyatt]

...at least not MAJOR camera manufacturers (Nikon, Canon, etc.). There may be room for a new business model (think Taxi vs. Uber; Paypal vs. BofA; Tesla vs. GM; etc.).

 

[css9450]

...at least not MAJOR camera manufacturers (Nikon, Canon, etc.). There may be room for a new business model...

Which reminds me, we should be seeing that new "Reflex" camera any time soon now; the one with the interchangeable film backs and interchangeable lens mounts. They're sure hitting the market at the right time, no?

 

[markjwyatt]

Which reminds me, we should be seeing that new "Reflex" camera any time soon now; the one with the interchangeable film backs and interchangeable lens mounts. They're sure hitting the market at the right time, no?

There may be room for a [succesful] new business model... 🙂

 

[splitimageview]

...at least not MAJOR camera manufacturers (Nikon, Canon, etc.)

Yes, as the topic states in the title, the Canikons. 🙂

 

[markjwyatt]

Yes, as the topic states in the title, the Canikons. 🙂

I recalled that, but the topic has expanded quite a bit from there. No foul sticking to the OP of course.