Post by kiev4a on Aug 30, 2007 15:28:48 GMT -5
There was an interesting thread on the p.net Classic Cameras forum today. Members were saying they see a resurgence in film cameras and were claiming people are getting tired of digital and that film sales will be up this year. I tried to post a reply but p.net is upgrading it's server so I wasn't able to do it.
Here's what I wrote. Your thoughts areencouraged:
I collect mechanical cameras and shot film for fifty years but I believe any thoughts that film is making a comeback are wishful thinking.
Yes, one film camera repairman may be swamped--but there are a lot less qualified repair personnel available because of decreased demand for their services.
If you think film is coming back go to ANY store or camera shop which two years ago had large film displays. Now its down to almost nothing. More film sold this year than last? Not a chance.
Commercial photographers having second thought about digital? Some may miss film but they aren't flooding back to than medium. If they want to compete they have to go digital. That's what their customers expect.
Digital as expensive as film? No—not unless you print every exposure. Case in point: In 2002 we went to Maui. I shot 16 36 exposure rolls of film. Of 575 exposures I probably had a maximum of 250 that weren’t duplicates and were worth keeping. Film costs, processing and printing everything at minimal size probably cost $300
This year we spent two weeks in Europe. During that period I stowed away about 1,000 shots on memory card in a Nikon D100. But about 900 were what I would call keepers because I was able to edit as I shot. And when the photos were transferred to the computer I could use the “film” for another 1,000 shots. I only printed selected photos on our printer (it is fairly expensive). But I put together a nice hour-long DVD with music background family members can see what we did if they so desire. Quality? The 6.5 megapixel Nikon shots were as good—in some cases better—than what I can produce with an F3HP –plus I don’t have to spend hours scanning the negs.
While in Europe we toured in Frankfurt, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence, Luzern, Paris, London and the U.K. We were constantly surrounded by literally thousands of people with cameras. I made it a point of looking for people with film cameras. I saw less than 50 on the entire trip—and that includes P&Ss and disposables.
Film camera prices increasing? Maybe on some premier models but people are almost giving away many of the classic film SLRs. And ALL film camera prices, with the possible exception of Leica, are much lower than they were in 2002.
Digital plateauing? Absolutely not. Most members of the current generation never have shot film and never will--a lot will shoot all their photos with their cell phones and never own a stand alone camera, digital OR Film.
I have a collection of about 60 mechanical cameras. I still occasionally shoot film--mostly black and white. I enjoy the process. But I do so knowing that while film will likely be around for some time, it no longer is a mainstream medium--unless you count the folks who buy the point, shoot and throw away cameras.
I’m not saying get rid of your film equipment. I’m keeping mine. All I’m saying is face facts. Digital now dominates photography and that dominance will become stronger with every passing month. And no amount of reassuring each other is going to change the facts. Film is fast becoming a cult hobby.—faster than I thought it would happen—but it’s happening, nevertheless.
Here's what I wrote. Your thoughts areencouraged:
I collect mechanical cameras and shot film for fifty years but I believe any thoughts that film is making a comeback are wishful thinking.
Yes, one film camera repairman may be swamped--but there are a lot less qualified repair personnel available because of decreased demand for their services.
If you think film is coming back go to ANY store or camera shop which two years ago had large film displays. Now its down to almost nothing. More film sold this year than last? Not a chance.
Commercial photographers having second thought about digital? Some may miss film but they aren't flooding back to than medium. If they want to compete they have to go digital. That's what their customers expect.
Digital as expensive as film? No—not unless you print every exposure. Case in point: In 2002 we went to Maui. I shot 16 36 exposure rolls of film. Of 575 exposures I probably had a maximum of 250 that weren’t duplicates and were worth keeping. Film costs, processing and printing everything at minimal size probably cost $300
This year we spent two weeks in Europe. During that period I stowed away about 1,000 shots on memory card in a Nikon D100. But about 900 were what I would call keepers because I was able to edit as I shot. And when the photos were transferred to the computer I could use the “film” for another 1,000 shots. I only printed selected photos on our printer (it is fairly expensive). But I put together a nice hour-long DVD with music background family members can see what we did if they so desire. Quality? The 6.5 megapixel Nikon shots were as good—in some cases better—than what I can produce with an F3HP –plus I don’t have to spend hours scanning the negs.
While in Europe we toured in Frankfurt, Munich, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence, Luzern, Paris, London and the U.K. We were constantly surrounded by literally thousands of people with cameras. I made it a point of looking for people with film cameras. I saw less than 50 on the entire trip—and that includes P&Ss and disposables.
Film camera prices increasing? Maybe on some premier models but people are almost giving away many of the classic film SLRs. And ALL film camera prices, with the possible exception of Leica, are much lower than they were in 2002.
Digital plateauing? Absolutely not. Most members of the current generation never have shot film and never will--a lot will shoot all their photos with their cell phones and never own a stand alone camera, digital OR Film.
I have a collection of about 60 mechanical cameras. I still occasionally shoot film--mostly black and white. I enjoy the process. But I do so knowing that while film will likely be around for some time, it no longer is a mainstream medium--unless you count the folks who buy the point, shoot and throw away cameras.
I’m not saying get rid of your film equipment. I’m keeping mine. All I’m saying is face facts. Digital now dominates photography and that dominance will become stronger with every passing month. And no amount of reassuring each other is going to change the facts. Film is fast becoming a cult hobby.—faster than I thought it would happen—but it’s happening, nevertheless.
