35mm C41 Film Selling Very Well

[braxus]

While I was at Kerrisdale Cameras today dropping off film, they said for C41- they've had such an increase in films coming in, that their 2 day service has turned into a 4 day service.

 

[Agulliver]

While I was at Kerrisdale Cameras today dropping off film, they said for C41- they've had such an increase in films coming in, that their 2 day service has turned into a 4 day service.

I've spoken to a few mini lab operators in the last few years....there was also a definite uptick in films coming in for processing in 2018. There have been times when my preferred lab has a two week backlog as she just has too many films to process. The rack where films dry in the shop is always full. Just five years ago she'd not even have to process films every day. Now it's a full time job.

 

[Henning Serger]

While I was at Kerrisdale Cameras today dropping off film, they said for C41- they've had such an increase in films coming in, that their 2 day service has turned into a 4 day service.

I've spoken to a few mini lab operators in the last few years....there was also a definite uptick in films coming in for processing in 2018. There have been times when my preferred lab has a two week backlog as she just has too many films to process. The rack where films dry in the shop is always full. Just five years ago she'd not even have to process films every day. Now it's a full time job.

Same here with my preferred local professional lab:
Around 2013 / 2014 - when we had the lowest demand for film globally - they made about 10% of their revenue with film, and 90% with digital services.
Meanwhile it is about 80% of the revenue coming from film, and only 20% from digital. And film is further increasing.

And all the other labs I have regular contacts to are also all reporting significantly increasing business for all their film / analogue related services. Most of them are expanding in one way or the other: Additional machines, services and / or additional staff.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Huss]

My local shop (Mike's Camera) always has a nice selection of film. They sell a lot, and their film processing is always busy.
This is their colour film section. The B&W is similar.

 

[Ernst-Jan]

now it's discontinued.

It isn't

 

[faberryman]

Unfortunately, the skyrocketing demand for color films was not enough to keep my local photography store in business and it closed during the pandemic. I guess the throngs of film shooters around here are ordering off the internet now.

 

[warden]

Unfortunately, the skyrocketing demand for color films was not enough to keep my local photography store in business and it closed during the pandemic. I guess the throngs of film shooters around here are ordering off the internet now.

There are quality brick and mortar choices for film processing, printing, and scanning in Nashville. Two film labs have opened near you in the past three years. In addition to the pandemic stresses, perhaps your lab just wasn't competitive with the newcomers.

 

[faberryman]

There are quality brick and mortar choices for film processing, printing, and scanning in Nashville. Two film labs have opened near you in the past three years. In addition to the pandemic stresses, perhaps your lab just wasn't competitive with the newcomers.

Actually, there are four brick and mortar film processors if you count the one the owner operates out of the basement of his home. The cool place to go though is Third Man Records (Jack White) in The Gulch. There the film is hand processed. In the following video, note the artistic manner in which the guy developing the film inverts the tank during agitation.

 

[braxus]

The price of used film processors from old photolabs who have either shut down or got rid of the equipment, is reasonable today. I considered myself if Id get one or not. Unfortunately, there is no place here to put the machine. Same goes with old digital film printers using chemical prints. Dime a dozen today.

 

[GarageBoy]

Everyone in this thread "I know better than Kodak/Fuji does, they're making the wrong decision"

 

[Huss]

My local shop (Mike's Camera) always has a nice selection of film. They sell a lot, and their film processing is always busy.
This is their colour film section. The B&W is similar.

They just received a big batch of Kodak ProImage 100. So apparently some stores have no issue getting film.

 

[George Mann]

They just received a big batch of Kodak ProImage 100. So apparently some stores have no issue getting film.

How about slide film?

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

How about slide film?

Superia 400 135 (and instax-mini, aduh) is the only film available via retail where I'm located; no camera store sadly. Kodak films seem to have zero presence outside of a boutique setting... but I digress.

Just prior to the reintroduction of Ektachrome in 2018 I had to get on the phone with freestyle to confirm they'd be able to ship a 5+5 roll mix of Provia & Velvia in 135 & 120. Since then, just about every vendor I frequent is awash in every format of E100 at varying markups. It's a touch pricier than their ailing Fuji counterparts but at least it is in stock. Hopefully Fuji can resolve their supply chain problems and film adoption continues to the point that both companies can continue to offer a meaningful range of slide (and CN) films. For what the Ektachrome range now lacks in emulsion variety it makes up for in available formats. Super8, 16mm, 35mm, 120, and 4x5 makes it an option no matter how grey your eyebrows might be.

After discontinuing 400H, V100, superia 800 etc I'd be hella nervous that Fuji pulls a Polaroid and effectively shutters its relatively meagre traditional color film business, ala Ilford. Acros II was a promising re-introduction though.