A few posts up seems to clarify a bit. The North American market took hold of digital much faster than Europe. this may be the simple reason for some of the differences of opinions.
What I can tell you from a lab perspective is that when volume of film running through a Refrema reduces the chances/probability of running a high quality E6 line with pride is lessened. The owners of these quality labs place quality first and foremost.
I am not talking about roller transport here but a full on Refrema E6 process , which is a hungry monster.
In Toronto market, we have a group of Minilab operations called Blacks Camera, historically they used Fuji paper exclusively for RA4, today Blacks has gone completely dry, inkjet prints rather than wet RA4.... I already have seen a increase in my Fuji Paper costs, and quite possibly more price increases . How long will the market pay extra for products.... Well I naively ran a Cibachrome Lab until a short 4 years ago, I loved the process and the prints, but when the price per print was double the market decided flex prints, or Inkjets were good enough..... we threw the machine in a bin regrettably as I have a business to run .
What is in the future... I cannot say , if a small outfit decides to coat transparencey film, and provide the chemicals then yes,,, any takers.
Same goes for Black and White paper, In my heart of hearts I still think a small crazy individual will buy one of Kodaks small coaters, hire a few of the remaining skilled workers and start coating Ectalure that works in an enlarger and also on my Lambda digital exposing unit... I hear there is that person, her name is Georgina Eastman and is now just finishing her 2nd year at RIT. Go Georgina Go
I do not think Kodak and Fuji will continue on producing E6 film and chemicals , sorry but that is my 2 cents.
I also think that if the digital dry print or inkjet wave continues we will within 10 years lose RA4 produced by Kodak and Fuji. now thats 3 cents.
I cannot predict what any small groups or interests will do to continue the products that are being discussed on this thread, but I think its pretty predictable what the big guys will do.... I really , really hope I am wrong.
I am hedging my Black and White and Colour printing future by learning Carbon Monochrome and Tri Colour, Gum, Pt Pd and will stock pile Ilford Warmtone when the Harmon boys decide to call it quits.
What I can tell you from a lab perspective is that when volume of film running through a Refrema reduces the chances/probability of running a high quality E6 line with pride is lessened. The owners of these quality labs place quality first and foremost.
I am not talking about roller transport here but a full on Refrema E6 process , which is a hungry monster.
In Toronto market, we have a group of Minilab operations called Blacks Camera, historically they used Fuji paper exclusively for RA4, today Blacks has gone completely dry, inkjet prints rather than wet RA4.... I already have seen a increase in my Fuji Paper costs, and quite possibly more price increases . How long will the market pay extra for products.... Well I naively ran a Cibachrome Lab until a short 4 years ago, I loved the process and the prints, but when the price per print was double the market decided flex prints, or Inkjets were good enough..... we threw the machine in a bin regrettably as I have a business to run .
What is in the future... I cannot say , if a small outfit decides to coat transparencey film, and provide the chemicals then yes,,, any takers.
Same goes for Black and White paper, In my heart of hearts I still think a small crazy individual will buy one of Kodaks small coaters, hire a few of the remaining skilled workers and start coating Ectalure that works in an enlarger and also on my Lambda digital exposing unit... I hear there is that person, her name is Georgina Eastman and is now just finishing her 2nd year at RIT. Go Georgina Go
I do not think Kodak and Fuji will continue on producing E6 film and chemicals , sorry but that is my 2 cents.
I also think that if the digital dry print or inkjet wave continues we will within 10 years lose RA4 produced by Kodak and Fuji. now thats 3 cents.
I cannot predict what any small groups or interests will do to continue the products that are being discussed on this thread, but I think its pretty predictable what the big guys will do.... I really , really hope I am wrong.
I am hedging my Black and White and Colour printing future by learning Carbon Monochrome and Tri Colour, Gum, Pt Pd and will stock pile Ilford Warmtone when the Harmon boys decide to call it quits.