How long for film?

I like sticking film through my Z-1, Z-1p and MZ-S from time to time (especially more so now as I have so many pictures taken so many photos on the K10D that need processing [but not much work actually ]....

I order some films and green boxes from Fujilab (actually CeWecolor)...they get lost in the post. They indicated that they would send me the films again...but that they might not be sending so many of the boxes as they are running out of them.....and they won't be ordering any more as they have to place such a large order

Coupled with shrinking ads for developing and printing and film sales.....and the fact that if I take my slide films for developing in Holland, they get developed in Germany (to a high standard [again CeWe]......how long will I be able to enjoy the film cameras????

there are still people doing daguiretypes (spell check please) and glass plates.
the question is WHEN will you wind up mixing up your own emulsion, and coating your own film strips before developing them in your bathroom......

For quite a while yet I would think. When you consider that you can still find film for antique cameras with obsolete formats (if you know where to look) then 35mm and 120 film have quite a way to go before they expire.

Although most amateur photography might now be digital, there is still a need for film in many fields.

IMHO, 35mm film may well die off one day, but not until DSLR's can deal with a similar dynamic range. 120 film has some way to go yet because there is no 'affordable for the masses' digital alternative as yet. PhaseOne digital backs (and the necessary body and lenses) are a bit beyond the finances of even the keenest amateur I'd say. So I reckon 35mm will die before 120 roll media.

If all of the main DSLR manufacturers shift to full-frame sensors at some point, and they can handle the dynamic range of film, that'll be the end of 35mm film because there simply will be no need to use it any more.

It may last longest in the US as a viable consumer format. Good for me as I'm primarily interested in putting my images on film, and the speed and convenience of C41 for big jobs beats digital anyway (at least as long as we have labs all over the place).

It is interesting to watch 110 film as this is getting much harder to find and there are fewer labs that process it now.

I recently asked in Jacobs Digital if they had any 110 film and the presteted with a Fuji 200 Iso film. I asked if they also processed it and they said no. I asked if they know where I might get it processed and they said, sorry, we don't have anything to do with 110 film anymore! Yet they still stocked it!

I expect the availibility of film will primarilly be controlled by the ability to develope it.

We can always develop our own films, mixing our own chemicals if needs be. We could even make emulsions and coat our own glass plates...but I don't particularly want to.

This is one way that things have dramatically changed though, because we can't manufacture our own CCDs...

[quote="johnriley"]I never made my own shutters, or ground my own lenses, even in the old days. There's nothing new in seeking convenience.

G

Indeed that is so. However, the point is that you could make even a shutter if you had to. A simple lens cap can suffice, or a gravity-driven slit. All these things are in the realms of DIY and photographers used to do this sort of thing.

You could make a film holder, make a wooden camera, the list is endless really.

But I don't think either you or I will do these things and indeed convenience (and quality) will win out.

I was really musing about what we could do to continue photography if the manufactured items were no longer available to us.

For those that might remember, on Giiligan's Island I recall they made batteries out of coconuts. I wonder if they were Pentax branded...

Film may be a long way from becoming unavailable, but the cost of purchase and processing will rise and rise until it becomes too expensive for most of us. You can have anything if you can afford it!

Funny, I was asked to do pictures at a gathering Saturday, took the MX-

Another person had a Canon Rebel-took 5 shots and filled the card! (Forgot to off-load). Then, autofocus hunting problems. I was shooting the official portrait in the meantime. Heard the finest compliment-"don't worry, his pictures are always good"! Thankk god for editing, eh?

"For those that might remember, on Giiligan's Island I recall they made batteries out of coconuts. I wonder if they were Pentax branded..."

How did they recharge them?

I seem to remember a scene where the castaways have filled open coconuts with some other fruit juice and are all busy stirring the contents to produce enough current to run the radio and send for help....

It probably means we will need a troup of islanders in grass skirts to stir the coconuts whilst we connect the output via a long wire to a K10D.

see? they were nuts.
had I been there....
I wouldn't have wasted time trying to make a radio out of coconuts, I'd've made rum and filled those suckers with pina colada's. Ginger and Maryanne woulda' got doubles, and( shortchanged on grass for thier skirts,) mini-skirts and after two weeks of fun in the sun, on my own private (clothing optional) beach...
I would've killed Gilligan and gotten off the Island on the first try.