I think that there are some serious myths about APS that need to be cleared.
First and formost, the format is not dead yet, but it will probably die IMHO, based on the inconsistent and often dismal results that I have experienced. In case most of you do not know, Kodak has just just announced a new APS film, and you can read all about it here.
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/pressReleases/pr20030302-17.shtml Whether Kodak keeps to it's word is something else, as Kodak is known to make rescind on their announced intentions.
Also, to clarify, you can't process (develop) a roll of APS film midway, and reuse it later. You can use a cartridge of APS film halfway, have it rolled back into the cartridge and use it again later on another day or even another camera. Catch is that the camera's must support the mid-roll capability. Difference from 35mm film is that the film will automatically advance to the next unused portion of the film. Once the film is developed, you can't use it like unexposed film. APS emulsions are not different from emulsions for 35mm today.
One important advantage of the APS film format is that information (if the camera allows) like the aperture size, shutter speed, film speed, date and time etc can be stored on the negs.
It is true that APS film is meant for P&S, where cameras can be into a form factor that is as small as something like the Canon Elph Jr. It is true that developing a roll of APS film costs marginally more, same goes for developing prints. It is also true that digital photography has seriously stifled the growth of APS, and fractionally similiar for 35mm. It is alo true that the smaller sized negatives turned off many photographers. What is more is that you will find it extremely hard to obtain APS film that is not ISO200 or ISO400 rated. There is only two choices of ISO100 film, one choice for ISO800 film, one choice for slide film and one choice for B&W film. Except for the ISO100 film from Kodak, you will not find the other film here in Singapore anymore. There is also a lack of decent camera bodies for APS film. Some exceptions are the Contax Tix and Canon's Elph Jr P&S, or the Canon IX and IX lite and Nikon Pronea SLRs.
And the inconsistant and dismal results that I have got from APS film? Lots of grain, regardless of what APS film you use. Often you have to compensate for about half to one stop to get rid of the grain. And this may not even guarantee you sharper pictures with better detail. I had very good results from APS before, but that was from having my film developed in Hong Kong, where the price for deveoping APS and 35mm film is the same, and the prints came out as good as those from a 35mm. Took the same negs to local labs and the results were far inferior. One way of bringing out the best in APS film would be to use it in conjunction with a scanner.
