Will we always be able to buy film?

Some of this may be old news to some of you, but I just found this
story about Kodak reducing manufacturing capacity and laying of 15,000
employees: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinv...dak-cuts_x.htm
The story poses some interesting questioins about Kodak's future

Meanwhile, NPR did a piece this weekend on the "digital revolution":
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1616953.

The prologue to the NPR story on their website says that ". . .
Eastman Kodak will stop selling photographic film . . ." This
statement is obviously an exageration and misrepresentation of the
trend in the market and at Kodak, but it does get me thinking about
what it will be like over the next decade or two as digital eclipses
film as the medium of choice for most amatures and for many areas of
professional photography. The economics of it are such that, as
digital equipment prices fall, film will become the more expensive
option even at today's equipment and material prices. Digital probably
already is the least expensive in a certain range of quality (I mean:
if you can do with low resolution and don't need to do a lot of
creative manipulation [requiring photoshop], digital is definitely
already cheaper).

So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years? Can we
imagine a day where Kodak sells little if any film? What about
companies like Ilford and Agfa and Fuji? Sure, they will stay in
business because the demand for film will probably always be
sufficient to make it a niche market. But will reduction in demand
lead to an increase in prices for film, so that, even with cheap
darkroom equipment and film cameras around, film could become a lot
more expensive than digital? Will there be fewer choices? Will film
manufacturers continue to innovate? Or will it be the opposite: will
film innovate even more to compete with digital?. . .

--phil

This has been deiscussed to death in recent weeks... Google the aarchives...
denny
"Phil Glaser" wrote in message
om...
Some of this may be old news to some of you, but I just found this
story about Kodak reducing manufacturing capacity and laying of 15,000
employees:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinv...dak-cuts_x.htm
The story poses some interesting questioins about Kodak's future

Meanwhile, NPR did a piece this weekend on the "digital revolution":
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1616953.

The prologue to the NPR story on their website says that ". . .
Eastman Kodak will stop selling photographic film . . ." This
statement is obviously an exageration and misrepresentation of the
trend in the market and at Kodak, but it does get me thinking about
what it will be like over the next decade or two as digital eclipses
film as the medium of choice for most amatures and for many areas of
professional photography. The economics of it are such that, as
digital equipment prices fall, film will become the more expensive
option even at today's equipment and material prices. Digital probably
already is the least expensive in a certain range of quality (I mean:
if you can do with low resolution and don't need to do a lot of
creative manipulation [requiring photoshop], digital is definitely
already cheaper).

So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years? Can we
imagine a day where Kodak sells little if any film? What about
companies like Ilford and Agfa and Fuji? Sure, they will stay in
business because the demand for film will probably always be
sufficient to make it a niche market. But will reduction in demand
lead to an increase in prices for film, so that, even with cheap
darkroom equipment and film cameras around, film could become a lot
more expensive than digital? Will there be fewer choices? Will film
manufacturers continue to innovate? Or will it be the opposite: will
film innovate even more to compete with digital?. . .

--phil

(Phil Glaser) writes:

So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years?

If people are willing to buy it, film will always be sold. Black powder
muskets are still available new, and they've been "obsolete" for over a
century:

http://arms2armor.com/blkpwdr/longarms.htm

That's right, Civil War muskets listed as "New in box." Film may not be
available in your home town, but it will be available.

--
Mark Cudworth

In article , lid
(Mark Cudworth) wrote:

(Phil Glaser) writes:

So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years?

If people are willing to buy it, film will always be sold. Black powder
muskets are still available new, and they've been "obsolete" for over a
century:

Heh. "I'll give up my film when hey pry it from my cold..."

I don't unsderstand what this has to do with photography, but these
are NOT original muskets. They are modern replicas, predominately sold
to re-enactors.
Taylors is a currently operating distributer, not a civil war vintage
manufacturer.
Dan

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 07:54:06 -0600, lid (Mark
Cudworth) wrote:

(Phil Glaser) writes:

So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years?

If people are willing to buy it, film will always be sold. Black powder
muskets are still available new, and they've been "obsolete" for over a
century:

http://arms2armor.com/blkpwdr/longarms.htm

That's right, Civil War muskets listed as "New in box." Film may not be
available in your home town, but it will be available.

Colorado Springs, CO
My advice may be worth what you paid for it.

In article ,
Dan Dunphy wrote:

I don't unsderstand what this has to do with photography, but these
are NOT original muskets. They are modern replicas, predominately sold
to re-enactors.
Taylors is a currently operating distributer, not a civil war vintage
manufacturer.
Dan

The only difference is probably that they are not antiques,
you can probably still load them with black powder and musket
balls just the same and shoot your tail off with them just the same,////
likewise with old or new cameras and new or old film provided the film is
good and has the same specs. I imagine someone somewhere will perfect
all the requirements of making film base for all those knuckle walkers
in the 29th century that won't give up their speed graphics or Leicas ;-)
--
LF website http://members.bellatlantic.net/~gblank

What this has to do with the question is that there is a demand for black powder
muskets and there is a profit in making them. Therefore in true capitalist fashion
there is at least one company making them.


Dan Dunphy wrote:
: I don't unsderstand what this has to do with photography, but these
: are NOT original muskets. They are modern replicas, predominately sold
: to re-enactors.
: Taylors is a currently operating distributer, not a civil war vintage
: manufacturer.
: Dan

: On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 07:54:06 -0600, lid (Mark
: Cudworth) wrote:

: (Phil Glaser) writes:
:
: So how will it be to procure film in the next 10-20 years?
:
: If people are willing to buy it, film will always be sold. Black powder
: muskets are still available new, and they've been "obsolete" for over a
: century:
:
: http://arms2armor.com/blkpwdr/longarms.htm
:
: That's right, Civil War muskets listed as "New in box." Film may not be
: available in your home town, but it will be available.

: Colorado Springs, CO
: My advice may be worth what you paid for it.

--




Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------

In article , Frank Pittel
wrote:

What this has to do with the question is that there is a demand for
black powder
muskets and there is a profit in making them. Therefore in true
capitalist fashion
there is at least one company making them.

Oh just shut the fcuk up, Frank. You are embarassing the intelligent.

Following my own posts: I'm out of here. It is clear that this 'place' is
another wasteland.

Things to do.

jjs wrote:
: In article , Frank Pittel
: wrote:

: What this has to do with the question is that there is a demand for
: black powder
: muskets and there is a profit in making them. Therefore in true
: capitalist fashion
: there is at least one company making them.

: Oh just shut the fcuk up, Frank.

No chance

--




Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------