worried about the downfall of film

[sirius]

Wow, you have your finger on the pulse of eBay! Thanks for your reply. Yes, I bought one tonight. It looked like it was in really good shape with some slight wrinkles on the shutter. I am looking forward to using it. I have heard that they are a lot of fun.

Can you recommend any sites or threads for more information about this camera or lens for it? I found Karen Nakamura's and Mr. Ghandy's sites invaluable.

On the whole film is dead topic, it just makes me so nervous to invest in film cameras right now. Ultimately, I'm buying for my own pleasure in using these cameras so it is a matter of how much would I be willing to loose towards that. I love the haptics of the Leicas but I just can't justify that cost of even a basic user camera and lens right now. I thought the Canon P would open me up a little more to the LTM lens. I like the mechanical quality (that so many people rave about) of the camera compared to the Bessa cameras.

 

[sf]

Wow, you have your finger on the pulse of eBay! Thanks for your reply. Yes, I bought one tonight. It looked like it was in really good shape with some slight wrinkles on the shutter. I am looking forward to using it. I have heard that they are a lot of fun.

Can you recommend any sites or threads for more information about this camera or lens for it? I found Karen Nakamura's and Mr. Ghandy's sites invaluable.

On the whole film is dead topic, it just makes me so nervous to invest in film cameras right now. Ultimately, I'm buying for my own pleasure in using these cameras so it is a matter of how much would I be willing to loose towards that. I love the haptics of the Leicas but I just can't justify that cost of even a basic user camera and lens right now. I thought the Canon P would open me up a little more to the LTM lens. I like the mechanical quality (that so many people rave about) of the camera compared to the Bessa cameras.

Buy a camera that has resale value - one that has collector appeal, and you are safe. Buy something vanilla, and you may not be. Of course, gotta balance the cost with the expected future resale value of the camera. I would buy a Leica M3 because I know I could get my pay price out of it upon sale, pretty much for the rest of time as long as I take care of it.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Please... can we talk about Canon P cameras? This talk about film is just unnerving at the moment. I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out where to send my E-6 film for develpment on the cheap. Results? None. But I settled for a pro-lab in Kansas.

So... there's a lot of hope yet.

 

[sirius]

Please... can we talk about Canon P cameras?

Thanks for all the advice. It's really wonderful to have a community to talk about these things.

Any recommendations for lenses to look for? Great optics for low costs!! (if there is such a thing). I would settle for great optics in the long run. Isn't the P limited in what lens the viewfinder can handle? Would a 90mm LTM work with the 100mm view frame?

I just looked on the Canon museum Web site and there are so many S mount lens! The bizaare 1000mm truly looks like a cannon. I would sure feel strange pointing that at someone.

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/s/data/s_1000_11v1.html

 

[RML]

There'll always be a niche market for film. Expensive probably but available nonetheless.

And why hate digital? I love my R-D1. 🙂

 

[kmack]

And why hate digital? I love my R-D1. 🙂

Thanks for adding that, while I do not have an R-D1, I do like my little digital Oly c-4000, it has been a lot of fun and was relatively inexpensive. There is a place for digital and there is a place for film.

 

[wrenhunter]

On the whole film is dead topic, it just makes me so nervous to invest in film cameras right now. Ultimately, I'm buying for my own pleasure in using these cameras

I think you solve your own dilemma here. "Investing" in film cameras may not be a smart move, but investing in a hobby you love always is. Even the most pessimistic folks here grant that B&W film will be around for 10 years. Others, including me, think longer. Let's make hay while the sun shines.

And if film really does vanish altogether in 3 or 5 years? We will be among the lucky few to have tasted the last sweet drops. That is also worthy of investment.

 

[Socke]

Buy a camera that has resale value - one that has collector appeal, and you are safe. Buy something vanilla, and you may not be. Of course, gotta balance the cost with the expected future resale value of the camera. I would buy a Leica M3 because I know I could get my pay price out of it upon sale, pretty much for the rest of time as long as I take care of it.

I don't even care about the resale value, beat the hell out of it and have fun until it breaks. Then you still have memories and the pictures you took with it.