A 35mm Camera at WalMart

Ektagraphic · May 14, 2009

Hello-
I know that the availablity of new 35mm gear pretty much slim compaired to 4 or 5 years ago. I went to WalMart tonight to drop off some Kodachrome and Super 8 film for send out and I saw a box that said 35mm camera. To my suprise for $200 they had the 35mm SLR that Vivitar is currently offering. It came with a camera body, 50mm lens, Flash and Camera Bag. I know the camera may not be anything amazing, but I think it is a big step with film. I have heard some good things about this camera.....

wildbill · May 14, 2009

walmart, the high cost of low prices.

darinwc · May 14, 2009

wildbill said:
walmart, the high cost of low prices.

Ya, who knows how many local labs they helped put out of business..
Now they are dropping their in-house service.

/rude gesture

JMC1969 · May 14, 2009

darinwc said:
Ya, who knows how many local labs they helped put out of business..
Now they are dropping their in-house service.

/rude gesture

A lot of them were also using Qualex, so now they have no film service. Hopefully the small local lab that was able to hold on will regain a bit from that.

Ektagraphic · May 15, 2009

I just find it nice that a 35mm SLR is that available again.

Naples · May 15, 2009

Interesting.

Relatedly, I have noticed that the Nikon F6 is now $2399 at BH Photo, $400 more than its price of $1999 just a few months ago. While the price increase may be due in part to foreign exchange rates, I wonder if it is not due in part to increasing demand. Indeed, the F6 is presently on “Back Order” at BH Photo.

Perhaps something is in the air . . .

srs5694 · May 15, 2009

Was that a Vivitar V3800N? I bought one of those on eBay a while back. It was advertised as used, but looked brand-new when I got it. It only had the body and 50mm lens, though, not the flash and camera bag you mention. Anyhow, I like mine. As you say, it's nothing special, but it works fine for me when I don't want auto-exposure, a power winder, or other advanced features.

Ektagraphic · May 15, 2009

The Nikon FM10 jumped like $50

removed account4 · May 15, 2009

jerk151 said:
A lot of them were also using Qualex, so now they have no film service. Hopefully the small local lab that was able to hold on will regain a bit from that.

most of them use fuji labs + dwaynes ...

Anscojohn · May 15, 2009

Ektagraphic said:
I just find it nice that a 35mm SLR is that available again.

*****

FWIW, I believe it is made in China.

Ektagraphic · May 15, 2009

I am fully aware that the camera is not amazing. I am just stating the fact that 35mm is popping up in a huge store in America.

EASmithV · May 15, 2009

Naples said:
Perhaps something is in the air . . .

Viva la resistance!

elekm · May 15, 2009

Like you, I'm a bit surprised to find a new film camera in a consumer store like Wal-Mart.

I might have to check out my local Wal-Mart this weekend.

This camera is sold in Europe under the Braun name, I believe.

archphoto · May 15, 2009

A revival of 35mm analogue ?
It might be early to say anything about it, they may have gotten the last run very cheaply and so on.
Holga is doing well, but they are a tribe of sorts.
Any how it is a little light in these dark times...... for shure.

Peter

Q.G. · May 16, 2009

archphoto said:
A revival of 35mm analogue ?

My local 'lab' has just stopped processing 120 and 220 film.
They still process film, though. But only 35 mm.

Still enough people using 35 mm film, i guess.

AgX · May 16, 2009

Anscojohn said:
*****

FWIW, I believe it is made in China.

Yes, it it has a great resemblance with the DC901 from Phenix Optics in China.

Naples · May 16, 2009

Following up my earlier comment on the Nikon F6 ...

I called BH Photo yesterday to inquire about another matter (their inventory on the Nikon F100, which I am considering buying new from them – they have 15 in stock). I commented to the salesman in the SLR department that I was surprised to see the Nikon F6 listed on their website as being on “Back Order”, and he said the F6 “just flies off the shelf”.

Hmm . . .

Ektagraphic · May 16, 2009

It will be a sad day when B&H runs out of the Nikon F100!!

eddie gunks · May 16, 2009

Anscojohn said:
*****

FWIW, I believe it is made in China.

isn't everything made in chine? :confused:

Q.G. said:
My local 'lab' has just stopped processing 120 and 220 film.
They still process film, though. But only 35 mm.

Still enough people using 35 mm film, i guess.

that is interesting. most processing machine do all the films......so all you have to do is put it into the machine and hit go.....maybe they no longer have their changing tents....

i use my local sams club. i have been working with them since they put in the photo department. they do everything for me that they can. the process 120, 220, and 35mm all for 1.50 develop only. when the print they have figured out they can get all kinds of templates from the computer. so they can print me almost any size from 3x5 up to 10x15. all wet process.

these guys are great. AFAIAC they provide e with a much better cheaper and pleasant service than my "pro" lab. the pro lab is significantly more money (200%-400% higher) and they are slower. the pro lab has cut way back on their darkroom stuff as well....but i still go buy what i can when i need DR stuff.

Ektagraphic · May 16, 2009

eddie gunks-I love your signature! There are so many neat ones around here. I think my favorite is the "I would love to SHOOT digital but I don't have a firearms licence."

Q.G. · May 16, 2009

eddie gunks said:
that is interesting. most processing machine do all the films......so all you have to do is put it into the machine and hit go.....maybe they no longer have their changing tents....

I am afraid that's not it.
They kept a machine that is good for 35 mm film only.

Time to start thinking about developing my own colour films again.
The good thing is that small, rotatory drum machines are very cheap nowadays. So i guess i'll just do that.

The point was (re a new 35 mm camera at Walart) that they kept 35 mm processing, because there was still enough money in it. Not in 120/220.

Frank Szabo · May 16, 2009

wildbill said:
walmart, the high cost of low prices.

Nice slogan re: Beijing Tire and Supply (WalMart). I'll write that down for future use.

Frank Szabo · May 16, 2009

Ektagraphic said:
Hello-
I know that the availablity of new 35mm gear pretty much slim compaired to 4 or 5 years ago. I went to WalMart tonight to drop off some Kodachrome and Super 8 film for send out and I saw a box that said 35mm camera. To my suprise for $200 they had the 35mm SLR that Vivitar is currently offering. It came with a camera body, 50mm lens, Flash and Camera Bag. I know the camera may not be anything amazing, but I think it is a big step with film. I have heard some good things about this camera.....

It's made in China, like almost everything else sold at WalMart. Not sure what else you would expect from a company whose inspiration is Chairman Mao.

I refuse to enter a WalMart or Sam's for that very reason - even if I get to pay a little more elsewhere, at least I'm not supporting the treasonous Walton family.

... and, I read labels, avoiding Chinese goods when it's possible.

JMC1969 · May 16, 2009

Q.G. said:
I am afraid that's not it.
They kept a machine that is good for 35 mm film only.

Time to start thinking about developing my own colour films again.
The good thing is that small, rotatory drum machines are very cheap nowadays. So i guess i'll just do that.

The point was (re a new 35 mm camera at Walart) that they kept 35 mm processing, because there was still enough money in it. Not in 120/220.

I find this so odd. I work at the last pro lab in my city and we were just talking last week how Medium format is almost double compared to 35mm when it comes to color processing. 120 certainly out sells the 35 in color and is about 50/50 on the B&W side.

Q.G. · May 16, 2009

I find it mostly very annoying.

It is a tiny operation, run by the owner of a camera shop.
I don't know why 35 mm still makes economic sense, but strongly suspect that it is because it always has been the bulk of what they were given to process anyway. Not many 120 film shooters around here, compared to 35 mm shooters.
And, i think, of the local 120 users, many may think the outfit too small to trust their films to. If so, they were wrong.

Still, instead of giving up completely, processing 35 mm appears to still make enough sense to this outfit to keep the machine running, and the people operating the thing busy.

A 35mm Camera at WalMart

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