Film as hobby

markbarendt said:

That is what we need to change, we (analog photography) need to be considered a visual art.

If we all treated it like Weston did we could change the world.

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Or Cartier-Bresson.

Pumalite said:

You seem to forget that Photography is a Vision, Power, Control, and Process.
Besides; all my 200 Nikons and Canons; all they need every 30 years or so; is a good CLA.

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Pumalite, thank you. I shall show this quotation to The Lady in My Life on the very next occasion that she looks sideways at me when some other new box arrives here with a new (to me) photographic toy inside.

And, furthermore, in addition, also, I have been trying to keep my cameras on about a 10 year schedule for a CLA. For what I am doing with mine, this seems quite reasonable in comparison with the annual CLA suggested for a commercial photographer. Yes, I have a very happy camera shop nearby. I did promise the wife of the owner that I would do what I can to keep his shop in business.

I've seen several signs for a film "revival" here i Norway. One of the largest photo equipment stores had absolutely nothing for analog last year, but started selling film and these small blackbirds this year. Then there's always the instant camera market that seems to grow since a lot of people are frustrated by the unrealiability of digital compacts for just taking the picture on vacations.

There's also the holga and toy camera enthusiasts, these come along with the big time photo enthusiasts who go medium and large format because this is far too expensive to do digital.
One sign of toy cameras gaining popularity are sites like holgarama.co.uk.

Film has a potential of survival not only among hobbyists, but among professionals as well considering the sturdy build of manual focus cameras and the fact that they don't need batteries, or only batteries for light metering which makes them last for a whole year without needing a recharge, I've heard it rumored that several pros still like the FM2 as a backup - and the last analog cameras still offered by Nikon are the F6 and FM10 (the FM10 doesn't even seem to have pros as a target audience, but seems to be an affordable offer for "students" which suggests that there's an analog market for people who like to cheap out).

All in all film has several ways in which it can survive, and some corporation could probably make something of it if they wanted to - this also seems to be a general tendency on a modest scale that I honestly think could grow over the next few years. Otherwise it would still be for us more independent users who actively go in for using it and finding out about it by ourselves.

When I mention to people that I photograph, they always assume that I do the "digi" thing. When I tell them that I really only shoot film, and that I only do B&W, I always get a positve, albeit a kind of puzzeled reaction. A lot of folks remember a course they took in HS, or college, but never followed up with it. As long as I can get film, and the needed chems, I'll stick to film. Any way there are still a lot of great used cameras for pennies on the dollar out there. Back in the day, I would have never been able to afford my RB67, and the 4 lenses I have today.

winjeel said:

...create the romantic attachment with "real" photography, and make that the focus for the new generation of hobbyists. I'm sure that'll help maintain a supply of film for us into the future.

Could this be viable?

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I like your question and I think it's something worth investigating.

Buying Film and using it copiously is also a good idea to keep Film alive.

All right. let's hatch our plan to take over the world

Since the consumer market loves new toys and gadgets, how hard is it to make an all in one film processing... device? Ideally, no bigger than the average inkjet printer or similar. My idea is to insert a roll, top up chemical tanks if needed (like some ink jet printers), enter the iso (if not DX ready), and push "start". Much like a modern washing machine. Throw the clothes in, and push start. It measures how much clothes there are, determines water level required, and you just need to add appropriate quantities of detergent, then it follows a predetermined cycle.

Or... are beginner-oriented books an easier way to get started?

winjeel said:

All right. let's hatch our plan to take over the world

Since the consumer market loves new toys and gadgets, how hard is it to make an all in one film processing... device? Ideally, no bigger than the average inkjet printer or similar. My idea is to insert a roll, top up chemical tanks if needed (like some ink jet printers), enter the iso (if not DX ready), and push "start". Much like a modern washing machine. Throw the clothes in, and push start. It measures how much clothes there are, determines water level required, and you just need to add appropriate quantities of detergent, then it follows a predetermined cycle.

Or... are beginner-oriented books an easier way to get started?

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Good morning, WinJeel;

I think Polaroid had a device like this for 35mm film. I recall having one of them around here somewhere. No chemicals for it, but I do have the device, and I think there is a copy of the instruction manual in the file. Let me see what I can dig up. Please take that literally; it may be down several layers.