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#1
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The future of 35mm
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film
world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! -- Dallas www.dallasdahms.com |
#2
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Dallas wrote:
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. I don't know about Ilford, but the Agfa was a false alarm. They are just reorganizing their film unit. it is not going away. A lot of money is changing hands to get control of it. You can still buy sheet film. Don't worry. -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math |
#3
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Dallas wrote:
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. I don't know about Ilford, but the Agfa was a false alarm. They are just reorganizing their film unit. it is not going away. A lot of money is changing hands to get control of it. You can still buy sheet film. Don't worry. -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math |
#4
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Dallas wrote:
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Just paranoid? Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? Anywhere that still sells a disposable one time use camera will also have a one hour processing place. Kodak is even developing a kiosk to allow do it yourself developing, scanning, and printing from one time use cameras. While few of us would use these things, they are by far the most numerous of all film sales. If you want C-41 films, you could always buy a few, crack them open, and stick them into your SLR. ;-) I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Really very easy, but unnecessary (except maybe for B/W). I did E6 processing in the kitchen many times in the past. When you read about the industry, look for information about Photo Finishing. That refers to the machines and equipment that make the prints, though also to processing film. As long as someone makes money off film, it will continue to be sold, processed, and printed. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The reality is that there are millions of existing negatives out there. People will still want the old film turned into a newer printed item, so there is an existing market for that. I doubt that market will ever disappear, at least not in the western world. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? Check out Lucky Film in China. Kodak now owns a large chunk of that company, and they make everything you want. Considering that prices in China are low compared to the west, you might find some bargains. FedEx and DHL are your friends. ;-) As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! Mensch! What a reactionary, knee jerk response . . . I really am surprised you are saying that. Maybe you should mail that F4 to me, and just get comfortable with your new D70. ;-) Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com |
#5
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Dallas wrote:
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Just paranoid? Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? Anywhere that still sells a disposable one time use camera will also have a one hour processing place. Kodak is even developing a kiosk to allow do it yourself developing, scanning, and printing from one time use cameras. While few of us would use these things, they are by far the most numerous of all film sales. If you want C-41 films, you could always buy a few, crack them open, and stick them into your SLR. ;-) I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Really very easy, but unnecessary (except maybe for B/W). I did E6 processing in the kitchen many times in the past. When you read about the industry, look for information about Photo Finishing. That refers to the machines and equipment that make the prints, though also to processing film. As long as someone makes money off film, it will continue to be sold, processed, and printed. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The reality is that there are millions of existing negatives out there. People will still want the old film turned into a newer printed item, so there is an existing market for that. I doubt that market will ever disappear, at least not in the western world. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? Check out Lucky Film in China. Kodak now owns a large chunk of that company, and they make everything you want. Considering that prices in China are low compared to the west, you might find some bargains. FedEx and DHL are your friends. ;-) As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! Mensch! What a reactionary, knee jerk response . . . I really am surprised you are saying that. Maybe you should mail that F4 to me, and just get comfortable with your new D70. ;-) Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com |
#6
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"Dallas" wrote in message newsan.2004.08.25.18.45.54.255000@southafrican.. . In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! I don't see the demise of film for the next 50 years, at the very least. And, even then, there will always be digital equipment designed to convert both film, slides, and prints into digital format for archival purposes, because the photographs that have been taken during the last 100 years or so are still hiding in peoples attics waiting for grandchildren and great grandchildren to discover them and print them......... |
#7
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"Dallas" wrote in message newsan.2004.08.25.18.45.54.255000@southafrican.. . In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! I don't see the demise of film for the next 50 years, at the very least. And, even then, there will always be digital equipment designed to convert both film, slides, and prints into digital format for archival purposes, because the photographs that have been taken during the last 100 years or so are still hiding in peoples attics waiting for grandchildren and great grandchildren to discover them and print them......... |
#8
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As long as Kodak and Fugi continue to release 'new' films (35mm and
larger,) the demise of Agfa and Ilford is just that much less market share to fight over. APS has died -- no great loss except for the little factories in China that were making most of the Kodak APS and 'toss-away' APS bodies. Just remember, some engineering brain thought APS was really neat -- just no one considered what type of slide projector would one need to show the three formats. Plus the 'plant' investment, by Fuji anyhow, in fairly new equipment in the U.S. means Fuji, for one company, plans on making film for the masses. = = = Dallas wrote in message news:pan.2004.08.25.18.45.54.255000@southafrican ... In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! |
#9
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As long as Kodak and Fugi continue to release 'new' films (35mm and
larger,) the demise of Agfa and Ilford is just that much less market share to fight over. APS has died -- no great loss except for the little factories in China that were making most of the Kodak APS and 'toss-away' APS bodies. Just remember, some engineering brain thought APS was really neat -- just no one considered what type of slide projector would one need to show the three formats. Plus the 'plant' investment, by Fuji anyhow, in fairly new equipment in the U.S. means Fuji, for one company, plans on making film for the masses. = = = Dallas wrote in message news:pan.2004.08.25.18.45.54.255000@southafrican ... In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! |
#10
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Dallas wrote:
In the space of one week I hear about two major rumblings in the film world; Agfa & Ilford. Deeply concerning. Although I did forecast it would happen, my main concern is that 35mm film may become difficult to buy, process and have prints made if you are not in a major centre. Where does that leave us if we want to continue using this medium? I'm thinking that maybe it will become a specialist medium and that home processing is bound to be the future of it. Will I be forced to buy bulk load film, process and scan it at home (if I want prints from digital labs)? I already have a bulk loader, so if this is the road I will be forced to take, the only other investments I will need to make are in film processing gear and possibly a decent scanner. The thing is, what chemicals am I going to have to buy if I want to process E6 and C-41? Will they become as scarce as I fear film might? As much as I enjoy and embrace digital, I'm not quite ready to lose 35mm film just yet, thank you very much! -- Dallas www.dallasdahms.com I processed my own color neg film for some years, Dallas, and my advice is to leave it alone unless you are *forced* to do it. The specs for C-41 processing pretty well preclude it being done without automatic machinery. Development criteria are develop for 3 mins. 15 seconds +/- 5 seconds at 75 deg. F +/- half a degree (if I remember correctly). Despite using waterbaths to temper the developing tank temperature, and buying a rapid-fill tank to try to arrest development and get the stop bath into the tank within 5 seconds, I could never guarantee identical processing from one film to the next. This is quite apart from the replenishment regime, which requires keeping track of what films have been through the developer, how old the solutions are, etc. This aspect of replenishment is done in commercial labs by processing pre-exposed films from Kodak or Fuji or whoever, and analyzing the results with a denstiometer - expensive. The alternative of always using new developer is prohibitively expensive also. The reason I had to do my own then was we - my wife and I - specialized in covering family re-union gatherings, which always happened on weekends, and no processng labs open at weekends in those days. A typical re-union would have anything up to two hundred people attending, and we would photograph them in family groups, mixed groups, like all cousins together, and a big group of everybody. I had a set of collapsible benches on a trailer that would allow me to set up 5 tiers of people at up to 40 in each row, and I shot them on 6x9 or 5x4. Then, we would drive back to my premises and process the films, dry them in a quick-drying cabinet, and proof all the shots at 8x10 and the biggies at 16x20, sometimes up to fifty or sixty prints, then drive back to the re-union and display the photographs and take orders. The processing and printing took two to three hours of frantic work, but the results never failed to impress the attendees. We usually took $2,000 to $4000 in orders - all this was in the 70's and 80's - which wasn't bad for a day's work, but we still had to do the orders and mail them out. Boy, a good digital and a fast inkjet would have been good. Colin D. |
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