Film to be extinct in X years ?

[NE clicks clicks]

Just came to my thought, now that Agfa are gone, Fuji has re-aligned their business strategy, cutting down on film production, looks like 35mm film are staring extinction in its face.
Kind of sad and worried(I still own a few film cameras) to see it goes down that road. Just curious what CSers think in term of how long more will we still be seeing 35mm film around? 1yr, 3yrs, 10yrs.......??????

 

[kcuf2]

dun worry... i think film makers will still be around for a long time, because there is still demand for film quality pics..and dun worry, ur cam will still be usable

 

[vince123123]

Film may be around for a long time, but it will slowly cease to be widespreadly available as consumer products. This would also mean that you will start paying higher prices for it, higher costs for developing too. Its akin to how black and white film is still around, but is more expensive and harder to find.

 

[idor]

Film may be around for a long time, but it will slowly cease to be widespreadly available as consumer products. This would also mean that you will start paying higher prices for it, higher costs for developing too. Its akin to how black and white film is still around, but is more expensive and harder to find.

yah... i agree.... most prob in years to come, you can only find film in the few places that sells 120/220 films.... but i wonder hor... will all photo labs process film in years to come....

 

[FiveIronFrenzy]

Actually me thinks its not really they decide.
Its WE decide more like.
So we keep shooting, keep buying.
So they keep making, keep selling.
hor?

 

[NE clicks clicks]

yah... i agree.... most prob in years to come, you can only find film in the few places that sells 120/220 films.... but i wonder hor... will all photo labs process film in years to come....

Yah, that's a real worry! With the way digital camera sales are gaining, digital camera are falling, I guess, in no time, only 35mm SLR users will be the only ones still shooting 35mm film. Most Photo labs wouldn't be bother with a small bunch of customer than.
Can't Imagine myself sending my film from East of Singapore to the west of it to do developing....Sigh:cry:

 

[Wai]

Kodak digital sales made up 54% of total revenue for 2005, marking the first time in the company’s history that digital revenue exceeded film

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0601/06013102kodaksales.asp

Even Kodak also making more $$ from selling digicam then film (and yet their total losses for this year could top $1billion) which means they will probably pay more attention in selling digicam which has higher demand and revenue.

And for every digicam they sold, the demand for film will be lesser and lesser (new digicam user will probably stop shooting film), which means one day, the demand for film will be so low that it will be more expensive to maintain the production line and they may have to discontinue those less popular/specialised films.

 

[yyD70S]

All things must come to pass.

... vinyls, catridges, cassettes, CDs, DVD-Audio...
... 8mm reels, tapes, LDs, DVDs...

As mentioned in earlier post, it'll be so expensive and exotic one day that only pros who swear by film will be buried in it.

Embrace technology. Like it or don't like it, it's here to stay.
Film would soon be dead. Long live the KING!

 

[bigfatfish]

Actually me thinks its not really they decide.
Its WE decide more like.
So we keep shooting, keep buying.
So they keep making, keep selling.
hor?

Funny logic u got there. Have you any idea how many people start photography in digital these days? By the looks of it, in the near future there will be a significant number of photographers who can swear they had never burn a single frame of film or seen a print develop in the darkroom before.

Probably in a few years time, you go to Ruby's and the uncle will they you that they no long carry slides and "if want, need to order and need to wait for a few weeks" as per whats happening to black and white supplies now.

So, no matter how much u keep shooting also no use. Film is going to retire into a rare format sooner or later. Probably sought after not by the mainstream but some art students willing to experiment or do something different with it.

 

[student]

All things must come to pass.

... vinyls, catridges, cassettes, CDs, DVD-Audio...
... 8mm reels, tapes, LDs, DVDs...

As mentioned in earlier post, it'll be so expensive and exotic one day that only pros who swear by film will be buried in it.

Embrace technology. Like it or don't like it, it's here to stay.
Film would soon be dead. Long live the KING!

I think that pros will be foolish to use films.

It will remain an art form.

 

[nightwolf75]

All things must come to pass.

... vinyls, catridges, cassettes, CDs, DVD-Audio...
... 8mm reels, tapes, LDs, DVDs...

As mentioned in earlier post, it'll be so expensive and exotic one day that only pros who swear by film will be buried in it.

Embrace technology. Like it or don't like it, it's here to stay.
Film would soon be dead. Long live the KING!

really?

the reports of film's death are greatly exaggerated... (apologies to Mark Twain)

as with vinyls (there are still many turntable afficiandos in singapore, and worldwide), cassettes (heck, even my recently bought Sony hi-fi still comes with the tape deck), 8mm reels (there are many budding cinematographers and art-house directors still using them. google.) and many other technologies dat u've pointed out as 'dying'.

people has been predicting the death of BnW film since the advent of colour negs since 1941 (with Kodacolor). guess wat, its still ard.

yes. digital cameras will still continue to stay in the forefront. however, as with all 'old tech', there will still be a place for film.

this debate has been fought and re-fought in CS one too many time... why dun we all just go and enjoy shooting, using whichever medium dat stroke ur mojo? :dunno:

 

[shinken]

On film going the way of vinyls and cease to be a widely-available product, I tend to agree. There are substantial number of people who believe in the analogous and musical quality of vinyl records for the producers to continue churning out machines (fairly easily available) as well as records (only selective record companies do that, very selective few).

The end result is, I have to choose between a $20-$30 audiophile CD, as opposed to $60-$70 vinyl record. Not a big deal, if I see vinyl as an expensive hobby, while CD for everyday use. A decent audiophile CD player cost me $500-$600. But a similar range LP costs me $2500 - $3500.

Likewise for film. Shooting film could become a niche, as opposed to a common medium. And there will be a price tag for the niche market.

I still remember vinyl being so widespread in the 80s. But then, we're talking about 20 years of difference. But but then, the development of the medium of image recording and music recording is at a vastly different pace. Would film last another 20 years? I sure hope so.

For film shooters, enjoy the current state of things as much as you can, while it lasts.

 

[yyD70S]

Sorry to have put up my previous post and 'caused a war'... not meant to be.

We each have our own opinion. Point is, yes... there're some people (including me) who still hang on to old stuff... e.g. tape catridges, vinyls, old-format cameras, etc. However, they are mainly collecting dust, in the dry cabinet, etc... you can put in a nice word - collectors item:think:

Yes, this topic and been debated previously. Just my feel. No right, no wrong.
Hey! Happy Lunar New Year to all!

 

[lsisaxon]

I think that pros will be foolish to use films.

It will remain an art form.

I think 35mm film will still find it's place in the cinemas.. much like the 8mm film. You can still find them, but you may need to buy direct from Kodak or Fuji and probably in a big reel.

 

[SnakeJackal]

so i need to stock up film now for next 5 years and put them into fridge before the price shoot up???:bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[icarus]

Until full frame DSLR becomes the norm, i will still continue to shoot film.
Start stocking up on film and chemicals now! :thumbsup:

 

[NE clicks clicks]

Until full frame DSLR becomes the norm, i will still continue to shoot film.
Start stocking up on film and chemicals now! :thumbsup:

Yah, that a good idea !

But the thing is, will the quality of the film deteriorate if kept for too long (even if kept in freezer)
Also there is the concern over the developing cost too.

Hope FF dslr will be at a affordable price when it becomes norm, unlike what the Eos5D is now a whopping $5000+:thumbsd:

 

[icarus]

Yah, that a good idea !

But the thing is, will the quality of the film deteriorate if kept for too long (even if kept in freezer)
Also there is the concern over the developing cost too.

Hope FF dslr will be at a affordable price when it becomes norm, unlike what the Eos5D is now a whopping $5000+:thumbsd:

Shoot B&W... cheap and no worries about color deteriorating

:lovegrin: Anyone wanna bulk roll HP5?

 

[nightwolf75]

Shoot B&W... cheap and no worries about color deteriorating

:lovegrin: Anyone wanna bulk roll HP5?

eh... BnW do deteriorate... just becomes a bit more sepia toned only... ;p

hehe.. the day dat they come out with a MF digital back priced at SGD1k for my MF camera is the day i will stop stocking film. :bsmilie:

 

[lsisaxon]

On film going the way of vinyls and cease to be a widely-available producted, I tend to agree. There are substantial number of people who believe in the analogous and musical quality of vinyl records for the producers to continue churning out machines (fairly easily available) as well as records (only selective record companies do that, very selective few).

The end result is, I have to choose between a $20-$30 audiophile CD, as opposed to $60-$70 vinyl record. Not a big deal, if I see vinyl as an expensive hobby, while CD for everyday use. A decent audiophile CD player cost me $500-$600. But a similar range LP costs me $2500 - $3500.

Likewise for film. Shooting film could become a niche, as opposed to a common medium. And there will be a price tag for the niche market.

I still remember vinyl being so widespread in the 80s. But then, we're talking about 20 years of difference. But but then, the development of the medium of image recording and music recording is at vastly different pace. Would film last another 20 years? I sure hope so.

For film shooters, enjoy the current state of things as much as you can, while it lasts.

5 years or so back, when minilabs started to go the "Fuji E.Pix" way, I know something is already brewing. They have all along been ready for this to come.