sanmich
Veteran
I'm in the freezer camp.
I would stock as much TX as I can and shoot it as long as I can, hoping to sudddenly die with the last roll in my M2.
In a word, denial till the end.
Cryogenics?
I would stock as much TX as I can and shoot it as long as I can, hoping to sudddenly die with the last roll in my M2.
In a word, denial till the end.
Cryogenics?
DRabbit
Registered
I'd be very sad because I only last year REALLY got into film, but I'd have no problem going digital-only.
I hope it doesnt happen soon though... I'm having too much fun with film
I hope it doesnt happen soon though... I'm having too much fun with film
Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
No - my question was -'if film disappeared completely' - there's a difference!Your question is would I leave photography if they stopped making film .... my answer ... make your own. There is life beyond 35mm.
WilliamK
Member
I don't know what I would do, I suppose the only real reason I got into film is because currently fairly high quality gear can be had for cheap (I'm a poor college student!) I guess if film ended and digital prices halved I'd be ok, otherwise I guess I would quit since I'm not about to buy a point and shoot.
johnny9fingers
Well-known
I guess I'm not a die hard. I enjoy film, but have embraced digital imaging. So my answer is no. I will continue to collect images by whatever means is at my disposal.....
gb hill
Veteran
I'm stocking up on B&W film so If film goes away I'm sorry, but I'll still have it. I would miss C41 color for sure & might switch to digital for color. As far as developer goes, as long as they make Folgers instant coffee then I'm good to go! Steve Anchels dev. cookbook would also be a necessity.
back alley
IMAGES
i have given up on film and gone completely digital, so i guess that answers your question.
i have had almost 40 years of film and wet darkroom and the magic is gone for me. i like sitting in front of a computer, i find it relaxing.
and as for those who insist that 'real' photography is only about silver and fumes and for those who think only 'real men' shoot film...i have 3 words for you...
i have had almost 40 years of film and wet darkroom and the magic is gone for me. i like sitting in front of a computer, i find it relaxing.
and as for those who insist that 'real' photography is only about silver and fumes and for those who think only 'real men' shoot film...i have 3 words for you...
FrankS
Registered User
What words are those, Joe?

T
tedwhite
Guest
If film were to disappear, cease to exist, or if the Film Police were to enter (forcibly if required), every home, building, store, warehouse, etc., and confiscate every last scrap of film in the world, would I stop shooting film? Probably not. Because there would emerge an underground of secret film shooters, folks who, anticipating the end, would have hidden in cellars, caves, or wherever one can hide stuff, gobs of film, paper, chemicals, etc. There have always been underground systems, created by humans as the need arose, and many have done quite well.
But what I have just written is a scenario of government repression, and we all know governments don't do that sort of thing.
Frankly, I don't see how film can disappear. As long as there's sufficient demand for a product, someone will produce it.
But...as generations pass, and all those who loved film have passed on, demand may indeed wither and, finally, die.
Then I'll switch to digital.
But what I have just written is a scenario of government repression, and we all know governments don't do that sort of thing.
Frankly, I don't see how film can disappear. As long as there's sufficient demand for a product, someone will produce it.
But...as generations pass, and all those who loved film have passed on, demand may indeed wither and, finally, die.
Then I'll switch to digital.
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selloutboy
A.g. De Mesa
If every store in the planet refuse to sell any type of film anymore, I would probably move up to Large Format. (I shoot MF for portraits and 35mm for street and other stuff).
I'll just try to do it how they did it in the 19th century. If that isn't possible either, then I'd go for Digital Rangefinders. Bottom line, I wouldn't give photography up.
I hope this won't happen soon though... there are still a bunch of things I want to do with film and I'm still to young to see it die
I'll just try to do it how they did it in the 19th century. If that isn't possible either, then I'd go for Digital Rangefinders. Bottom line, I wouldn't give photography up.
I hope this won't happen soon though... there are still a bunch of things I want to do with film and I'm still to young to see it die
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mark-b
Well-known
I would continue on with my digital camera. Your fantasy scenario of film's total demise would coincide with the fantasy scenario of man's total demise.
bgb
Well-known
I think it will take less that film being completely gone ... just being too hard to find or too expensive might do it
At the moment the local supermarket has almost as much film as the few remaining camera stores in my town
I will miss the cameras ...
... but I will happily us digital
At the moment the local supermarket has almost as much film as the few remaining camera stores in my town
I will miss the cameras ...
... but I will happily us digital
f/14
Established
Half of what I do today is digital (D3).
Actually moving a little more back to film at the moment. More fun. Time does not matter since photo is a hobby.
Would buy a D3x or latest successor if film was gone for good. Hope there is an M10, 11 or 12 that competes with Nikon by then so I could move the Leica lenses over from the current Bessas. Would miss it all, the film, the development process and not least the darkroom. (Wonder what I would do with all the old cameras.)
Then again, looking back on what happened to audio. Reel-to-reel tape-based analog studios had a charm you do not find today, but by now the right digital tools have come along and no one stopped recording when the analog tape-recorder died.
Actually moving a little more back to film at the moment. More fun. Time does not matter since photo is a hobby.
Would buy a D3x or latest successor if film was gone for good. Hope there is an M10, 11 or 12 that competes with Nikon by then so I could move the Leica lenses over from the current Bessas. Would miss it all, the film, the development process and not least the darkroom. (Wonder what I would do with all the old cameras.)
Then again, looking back on what happened to audio. Reel-to-reel tape-based analog studios had a charm you do not find today, but by now the right digital tools have come along and no one stopped recording when the analog tape-recorder died.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Now here's a shock for you all ... just after Xmas I was at one of the major shopping centers here in Brisbane looking for clothing bargains and wandered into a well known camera/photography dealer ... 'Bentley's Camera House.' There was the usual aray of digital rubbish (sorry couldn't help that) and a selection of pimply faced kids to sell the digital rubbish (sorry again) to you if you so chose!
Curious to see if they still stocked film I had a bit of a scout around and sure enough in amongst all the digital dross (sorry once more) was a little stand with about five different types of fim on it ... one that caught my eye was Kodak BW400CN, a popular C41 process black and white.
Curious to see if they still stocked film I had a bit of a scout around and sure enough in amongst all the digital dross (sorry once more) was a little stand with about five different types of fim on it ... one that caught my eye was Kodak BW400CN, a popular C41 process black and white.
$14.99 per roll ... !
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Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
Why is everyone so bloody serious! - Yes, I know film is not really about to vanish! and my OP was just a fun question asking - if all film suddenly vanished, would you give up, and the replies could simply have been - YES or NO if you like! but I should have expected all the usual crap about cold-stores with pallets of Tri-X etc. etc. and the 'boy-wonders' that will make their own!i notice your just a young bloke, so i just say to help reassure you..for you to honestly ignore (take with a grain of salt or have fun with the comments) these threads that talk of doom and film disapearing.IT WONT....these types of threads and general talk were once one of the very tools (propaganda) that the marketplace used to convince 'everybody' [the large mass of people] to switch over to digital, thats been pretty much accomplished by now, for quite some time really....nowadays i dont know why these threads come to be but sometimes its looks be a way a digital zealot takes a swipe at a film zealot, not more as far as i can see
fwiw you can take pictures even today quite easy using the very old 20th century methods ( there are a few different methods that produce wonderful pictures with character), if you ever care to attempt this there is information freely available on how to get started and what you need
intrerestingly, our main pro lab in Adelaide the other day were talking about the steady increase and resurgence in film use here which is promising indeed..it had bottomed out here to next to nothing quite some years ago now so its not a matter of them getting increased business from other labs closing (there all long gone!), but simply a trend with people using more film (including mere 35mm). i have also noticed a couple of shops now stocking film and developing chems that hadnt stocked in a few years...
Dave.
Michael Markey
Veteran
Keith
Not up on the exchange rates but Boots over in the UK are selling Kodak 4OO for about £5.30 a roll on a buy two get one free basis. They also sell XP2 and K64 at a similar price too. Tesco, the supermarket chain, process C41 for £1.96 and for that you get a CD. Same for the other high street process outfits. The other week had a roll processed in 20 min for £1.99.
Not up on the exchange rates but Boots over in the UK are selling Kodak 4OO for about £5.30 a roll on a buy two get one free basis. They also sell XP2 and K64 at a similar price too. Tesco, the supermarket chain, process C41 for £1.96 and for that you get a CD. Same for the other high street process outfits. The other week had a roll processed in 20 min for £1.99.
Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
three weeks ago I paid £5-60 for a roll of HP5+ at Jessops - York, yes - someone will no doubt tell me how to do it cheaper with bulk rolls, but given the amount I use these days, I don't want to go this way again. Michael, we will be o.k. soon - when all these budding chemists start posting 'how to make film' threads!Keith
Not up on the exchange rates but Boots over in the UK are selling Kodak 4OO for about £5.30 a roll on a buy two get one free basis. They also sell XP2 and K64 at a similar price too. Tesco, the supermarket chain, process C41 for £1.96 and for that you get a CD. Same for the other high street process outfits. The other week had a roll processed in 20 min for £1.99.
Dave.
tyrone.s
Well-known
Film will never, at least while we're all taking photo's, disappear. In fact - when thinking of B&W - I'm not sure if film has ever been more accessible or cheap in real terms. There will be no reason for anybody to give anything up.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
When Kobyashi san (Cosina) makes his last film camera and concentrates all his efforts on making a digital Bessa body and lenses for other camera companies, we'll know it's over ...
... until then it's all tickety-boo I guess!
... until then it's all tickety-boo I guess!
Dave Wilkinson
Veteran
Indeed Keith!....looking at another thread - a DIY digital r/f might be on the way! so get ya screw drivers ready!When Kobyashi san (Cosina) makes his last film camera and concentrates all his efforts on making a digital Bessa body and lenses for other camera companies, we'll know it's over ...
... until then it's all tickety-boo I guess!![]()
Dave.
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