A little More Feedback From The HARMAN FILM SURVEY

Simon R Galley · Jan 30, 2015

Dear Apuggers,

As promised, a little more feedback from the film and paper survey that many of you took part in, again many thanks its greatly appreciated.

http:goo.gl/T540tc

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Simon R Galley · Jan 30, 2015

Its also on our website

Simon R Galley · Jan 30, 2015

Sorry missed out something on the link:

http://goo.gl/T540tc

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

RattyMouse · Jan 30, 2015

86% used roll film! That's an amazing number I think. I wonder if sales of roll film are really that much more than 35mm.

fotch · Jan 30, 2015

RattyMouse said:
86% used roll film! That's an amazing number I think. I wonder if sales of roll film are really that much more than 35mm.

I think is just because of those who responded to the survey.

wildbill · Jan 30, 2015

"it's fun, it's retro"

Simon R Galley · Jan 30, 2015

Dear Rattymouse,

Whilst lots more film photographers do have access to 120 cameras ( due to the huge release of these 'higher' value and in most cases quality cameras after digital photography took hold, as well as the HOLGA 'bubble' ) 120 or roll film is still much smaller by value and volume than miniature film ( 35mm ) although as a 'proportion' it has increased. In addition, its exactly as Fotch stated, it is who responded to the survey.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

flavio81 · Jan 30, 2015

Simon R Galley said:
Dear Rattymouse,

Whilst lots more film photographers do have access to 120 cameras ( due to the huge release of these 'higher' value and in most cases quality cameras after digital photography took hold, as well as the HOLGA 'bubble' ) 120 or roll film is still much smaller by value and volume than miniature film ( 35mm ) although as a 'proportion' it has increased. In addition, its exactly as Fotch stated, it is who responded to the survey.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Sounds logical. I shoot 120 film every month, but overall the amount of 35mm cartriges I buy is a bit higher than the amount of 120 rolls i buy. I'd say it's about 2:1 or 1.5 to 1.

In 35mm i am lately almost exclusively using Delta 100, by the way; let's hope Ilford never ever discontinues that film. The combination of spectral response, sharpness, tonality, speed, and fine grain in that film is perhaps the most well-balanced on the market.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 30, 2015

For me the amount of frames I use is about equal between 135 and 120 formats. So I shoot about three rolls 120 for every roll of 135.

Simon R Galley · Jan 30, 2015

Just to save anyone the math.

26.37 135-24 rolls per m2
17.58 135-36 rolls per m2
19.55 120 rolls per m2
5 x 4 sheet film 77.5 sheets per m2
10 x 8 sheet film 19.39 sheets per m2

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited:

snapguy · Jan 30, 2015

Image engaging the brain before taking a photograph. What an amazing retro idea. Do you think it will fly with the general public?

K-G · Jan 30, 2015

flavio81 said:
Delta 100, by the way; let's hope Ilford never ever discontinues that film. The combination of spectral response, sharpness, tonality, speed, and fine grain in that film is perhaps the most well-balanced on the market.

I agree completely !

Karl-Gustaf

DREW WILEY · Jan 30, 2015

We're rapidly approaching the era when everyone's brain will live forever by removing it at preschool age and putting it in jar containing a solution of high fructose corn syrup and MSG, with some electrodes to a computer, just like in the '50's B-movie sci-fis, except that nowadays the "computer" is likely to be an I-phone rather than a big wall of vacuum tubes. All imagery and human experience thereafter become virtual. As one of those still resisting this worldwide conspiracy of the consumer electronics cartel, I'm happy to have any format of real film,
though my favorite happens to be 8x10.

BrianShaw · Jan 30, 2015

Hey... my response seems to have been omitted, "Too cheap to buy new modern gear".

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 30, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
We're rapidly approaching the era when everyone's brain will live forever by removing it at preschool age and putting it in jar containing a solution of high fructose corn syrup and MSG, with some electrodes to a computer, just like in the '50's B-movie sci-fis, except that nowadays the "computer" is likely to be an I-phone rather than a big wall of vacuum tubes. All imagery and human experience thereafter become virtual. As one of those still resisting this worldwide conspiracy of the consumer electronics cartel, I'm happy to have any format of real film,
though my favorite happens to be 8x10.

Right there with you, except I do have a cell phone. After eight hours of work in front of a computer screen I'll do anything to get away from one. Shooting, processing, or printing some film is about as far from that as I can get, which is part of why I enjoy it so much. I'm very happy to have film to shoot, and to have companies like Harman/Ilford around that seem to care about the future of it. Very cool.

Sirius Glass · Jan 30, 2015

Simon,

Based on this can you reduce my age to the 20 to 30 year range or at least by a factor of 2, please?

Sirius Glass

Jerevan · Jan 31, 2015

Simon,

really nice of you lot to give us feedback on the survey.

But could I just ask you to make the announcement a bit more readable? It sorely needs some sorting out, such as better spacing beteen the paragraphs.

andrew.roos · Jan 31, 2015

Thanks Simon.

blockend · Feb 1, 2015

Interesting that a roll of 120 requires roughly the same area of film as a single sheet of 10 x 8 film. However the 120 is about a pound cheaper, or 4/5 the cost. Presumably this is down to sales volume.

Tom Kershaw · Feb 2, 2015

blockend said:
Interesting that a roll of 120 requires roughly the same area of film as a single sheet of 10 x 8 film. However the 120 is about a pound cheaper, or 4/5 the cost. Presumably this is down to sales volume.

The sheet film is on a more robust and stable base compared to roll film.

Tom

ghart · Feb 2, 2015

The paper backing of 120 film costs more than the film itself. At least, that is what I learned when I took the Ilford factory tour!

fotch · Feb 2, 2015

ghart said:
The paper backing of 120 film costs more than the film itself. At least, that is what I learned when I took the Ilford factory tour!

I don't believe it. Can you tell us more? Perhaps you misunderstood the information. :confused:

Ektagraphic · Feb 2, 2015

ghart said:
The paper backing of 120 film costs more than the film itself. At least, that is what I learned when I took the Ilford factory tour!

I know that I have read around here that sourcing the backing paper is very difficult- but didn't know that the cost was like this! I know that New55 had a great deal of trouble with finding the right paper, and the Frugal Photographer has started making their own. It is odd to me that there are not other applications for such a paper that keep it more readily available

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 2, 2015

I have a feeling that much of the cost associated with various products have more to do with than simply material cost.
I would suspect that sales volume, and level of automation in making a certain size and packaging would play a major role in the final cost.
Maybe even risk is a consideration? How likely are they to sell boxes of 8x20 or 7x17 film compared to rolls of 120?

Simon R Galley · Feb 3, 2015

Dear Fotch,

Believe it.......

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

A little More Feedback From The HARMAN FILM SURVEY

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