Will 120 ever go away?

[Carterofmars]

This has prob been discussed already and if it has has please post a link to the thread but...

Does anyone fear/think 120 will be discontinued in the next 10 years?


I hope never.

 

[thegman]

I don't know, somehow I think 120 will outlive 135, as digital is really still not at that level of IQ, not for a reasonable price anyway. For most purposes digital can adequately replace 135, but not 120, in most cases digital is not even close.

 

[Mcary]

This has prob been discussed already and if it has has please post a link to the thread but...

Does anyone fear/think 120 will be discontinued in the next 10 years?


I hope never.

To answer your question with another question; Do you believe that in next 10 years someone will develop a digital solution capable of replacing Tri-X?

 

[oftheherd]

Digital has continued to improve, and presumably will continue to do so. At this time, is seems not to equal 35mm negative nor even slide. Despite that, film continues to be popular. I expect that will continue for a long time. It may get more expensive as its base grows smaller.

Even MF and LF will grow less popular. But in 10 years? I doubt it will be gone then. There are still a lot of photographers who enjoy using all types of film. I am one. There are times when my digital P&S is all I want. But film just pleases me more. Recently I found I need to burn more film. I found myself rusty. That I will change, and that means more film for me.

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Well, after December, 21st 2012 all film and digital will go away anyway - so why worry? 😉

Cheers,
Uwe

 

[Finder]

Around 2000, the "experts" were saying that film would be dead in about 5 years. Predicting is hard to do, especially about the future.

 

[andredossantos]

IMO the full frame sensors are more capable than 35mm film when it comes to low light. I don't even think it's close, digital blows film away (disclaimer: I still shoot 35mm film and love it-not trying to start a war here).

My favorite thing to shoot is 120 though. I have no idea when or if it will discontinued if it is I will be deeply depressed! Just thinking about it makes me well up!

 

[chris000]

Lomo photography (which I'm not personally a great fan of) seems to be one of it's saving graces at the moment.

I think it will last a while yet but I would not want to put a time frame on it.

 

[FrankS]

When film is produced, it is made in huge master rolls, thousands of feet long and many feet wide. It is then cut/sliced into 35mm strips and 120 strips and wider strips which will be later cut to the sheet film sizes. So, as long as someone is making film, and there is a market for it, 120 will be available because it isn't purpose-made like one might think, it can be cut from the master roll so it's no biggie to "make" it.

Even if a single master roll cannot be multi-purposed for different film sizes, master rolls would still be produced, and deciding to use one every now and then for 120 film strips would not be an insurmountable problem.

 

[peter_n]

Well, after December, 21st 2012 all film and digital will go away anyway - so why worry? 😉

😀 :dance:

 

[emraphoto]

in the past month i have viewed/read/listened to at least 5 very prolific photographers talking about their commitment to shooting it (film). one of them is the founder of one of the largest agencies in the world. their were some extremely valid points to the discussions and keeping those thoughts in mind i suspect the silver isn't going anywhere soon.

already posted by our esteemed 'el dude'
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/shoptalk-7/

if one considers the recent BP images called into question it isn't hard to understand the growing interest in negatives.

in the galleries i have encountered/worked with, silver gelatin commands a premium over digital. i am currently setting up another darkroom for this very reason. since i have returned to a more 'traditional' approach to working i have increased my network of clients.

i am not here to claim one medium is 'better' or has a 'bigger' share of the market. none of that stuff interests me. what i am here to claim is that film has a place in the market. i suspect that place will grow in the coming years.

 

[TareqPhoto]

It is really depends on us, photographers, it is a demand of us, if many photographers going digital ways and have less interests or demands for film then don't blame when the film is discontinued slowly, and it might die if there are no much film selections then we don't try to shoot more because no much film to use so it will force many to stop or not shooting with film until the time when we are all fighting to try to find expired film from each other because most markets are not having film in stock, and most important thing is if the chemicals gone, then we will have hard time to use alternatives for developing and printing, so i just hope photographers like us keep shooting and requesting film so those manufacturers keep producing film either some old or new versions, too bad i just started film now this year and then i have to stop after 5-8 years due to no much film choices there to use.

 

[semilog]

Poorer countries, older people and the "film aficionados" will keep it going for a while yet.

Not poorer folks. Like everyone else, they increasingly have digital cameras, in their cell phones.

 

[emraphoto]

Almost everywhere I have been in Africa film is still plentiful and the predominant medium

 

[shadowfox]

i am not here to claim one medium is 'better' or has a 'bigger' share of the market. none of that stuff interests me. what i am here to claim is that film has a place in the market. i suspect that place will grow in the coming years.

Well said, John.

 

[brian steinberger]

Like I always say, just keep shooting film and don't worry about it. I purchase plenty of 120 black and white film on a regular basis. If we all keep chugging along shooting and buying more film then things will take care of themselves and film will be around for a long time.

 

[erik]

When film is produced, it is made in huge master rolls, thousands of feet long and many feet wide. It is then cut/sliced into 35mm strips and 120 strips and wider strips which will be later cut to the sheet film sizes. So, as long as someone is making film, and there is a market for it, 120 will be available because it isn't purpose-made like one might think, it can be cut from the master roll so it's no biggie to "make" it.

Even if a single master roll cannot be multi-purposed for different film sizes, master rolls would still be produced, and deciding to use one every now and then for 120 film strips would not be an insurmountable problem.

Hopefully you are right, but when you consider the situation Ilford found itself in with 220, it might one day become a biggie to finish film in 120. That said I think it will be with us for quite sometime to come. I expect it to last long enough to see me out of my career, and I am 40 something. But we have to keep using it, I agree with that for sure.

 

[fotomeow]

+1 for 120 outliving 135 film. The 120 still easily bests most digital sensors and is still used by prosumers and above. the film companies will gradually drop out and by the wayside, but I believe the last remaining film manufacturer/company will be doing 120 to the end.

 

[KoNickon]

I sure hope it stays around. I love its look, I love the challenge it presents (e.g. square format and reduced DOF), and I love the variety of medium format cameras out there, each with their quirks and rewards. I love the new Ektar; I just wish there were a 400 version.

(What happened with Ilford and 220? I don't know that story.)

 

[sig]

Ilford 220... I do not think they ever produced it, I believe it was something with packaging it. Very complex, expensive and not available machinery.

As long as 120 is here and I can afford it I will use it. If and when it disappears I will just adjust to it.