Film cameras in 20 years? 50? 100?

modafoto · Jul 11, 2005

Satinsnow said:
Does it really matter to most of us, what is around in 50 years?

Hmmm...maybe me...I will be 76 in 50 years...then I will have bad eye-sight and really be in need of a Ultra Large Format camera

benjiboy · Jul 11, 2005

I don't know what film cameras will be like in fifty years, indeed if they will still be made , or the film to put in them since in our society is driven by the mass market, and profitability seems to dictate what is available, and the bottom line is the companies share price.

Adrian Goh · Jul 11, 2005

Dear Jamnut

I share your sentiments and concern about this issue. I am sure there will be more like ourselves who advocate analog cameras.

What I can say for now is that I do not really care about the digital revolution. Marketers are out there to push the trend and they succeed, but we can still make analog cameras and film the main regardless the developments in digital. This is achieved by educating your clients and friends about the value of film.

I was heartened to have feedback from some friends and clients that film has not been matched by digital prints this far. They have always put the two side by side and they still respect film.

As photographers, especially supporters of analog, we can band together to create that resilience to stamping out analog altogether. I know of a photographer who always delivers two sets of pictures to clients - film and digital. In fact, other photographers I hear from, use digital as the test and only deliver film as the final.

Take the printer for example in the Internet age, it has not gone out of production for the simple fact people still want to have something tangible to hold in hand and look. So we have more advanced printers. Less need be said about ink, people are now printing more with access to the net. This makes the ink industry - immortal, if I dare say so.

I hope other photoraphers reading this thread will not underestimate their potential to make a dent in the digital industry to prevent the extinction of the analog camera and film.

It's all photographer vs. manufacturer now.

Adrian

jamnut said:
Those of us who enjoy analog photography are alright for now, even with diminishing resources, but the picture in 20 years could be quite different.
Let's say that a supply of film and paper and chemicals is always around in the future. What about cameras?
In short:
1. Who will be willing to build film cameras?
2. Who will have the know how to repair our present cameras?
3. Where will we get the parts for our cameras?

In 20 years, when 50 megapixel disposable cameras are common, who will take time for film cameras? What are your thoughts?
Thanks!

RichSBV · Jul 11, 2005

For a serious answer...

I have no doubts whatsoever that with our current government (in the US) and the slumping sales of digital anything, they will either stricktly regulate or outright make illegal the sale and use of essential analog photo supplies. That silver is highly toxic after all! Even though millions buy special equipment just to make silvered water to drink and cure all their ills...

Anyone up for a black-market network??? ;-)

rustyoldford · Jul 16, 2005

Film will live on!
For ultimate quality I don't see digital ever catching up.

Even pro labs highest quality digital prints just now are utterly rubbish, so if they can't even be of acceptable quality now I doubt they'll ever be better!

Claire Senft · Jul 16, 2005

I guess if I were concerned about this issue, I would make certain that I had manual equipment that would not require a battery and that was in a popular film size and that was known to be built to last. Kind of sounds like a description of a Leica M camera doesn't it?

jjstafford · Jul 16, 2005

Claire Senft said:
I guess if I were concerned about this issue, I would make certain that I had manual equipment that would not require a battery and that was in a popular film size and that was known to be built to last. Kind of sounds like a description of a Leica M camera doesn't it?

It does! However, my professional use-daily experience with the Leica M2 and M4 was that they require a CLA and shutter adjustment every year.

Helen B · Jul 17, 2005

Who will still be making film cameras?

Goddamit you slackers, you didn't buy enough Makinas to keep MF folders in production, and that was before the days of digital excuses.

You had all better go out and buy a new Rolleiflex TLR right now - either the FX or the FW will do. No lame excuses like "I don't want one" or "They cost ten year's wages".

If you don't buy one, and those magnificent TLR's go out of production, I'll be round to your house. I know where you live.

Best,
Helen

NikoSperi · Jul 17, 2005

Helen B said:
I'll be round to your house. I know where you live.

Best,
Helen

I wouldn't mess with Helen guys... from the avatar, the bad hair day says she means business!

I have 2 hassies and a Holga, does that get me off the hook?

Claire Senft · Jul 17, 2005

Well Zeiss just introduced an new film camera and set of lenses. Nikon, intoruced the F6..leaving out the interchange able finders...sad choice I believe.

Helen does not have bad hair days..she has style.

Ole · Jul 17, 2005

jamnut said:
1. Who will be willing to build film cameras?

My oldest camera has lasted for about 100years; the lens for 130. I don't see it breaking down soon.

jamnut said:
2. Who will have the know how to repair our present cameras?

Got glue?

jamnut said:
3. Where will we get the parts for our cameras?

See above. There's wood, and glue.

modafoto · Jul 17, 2005

FWIW

In the town where I live a new photo club has started. It is ALL digital, so maybe that means that the club I frequent isn't digital enough for some people. Maybe there is still some room for the analog folks, although I feel left out in my photo club right now (I haven't been there much for the last half year because I grew tired of the digital stuff everywhere in the club).
With the new club I hope that we have some room for the analog people who are still around. I don't hate digital, I just think it has taken over anything in our club...

Morten

Jim_in_Kyiv · Jul 18, 2005

Well, archery is still here. So is riding horses. How about the accordion?
We're not all gun-toting, Harley-riding guitarists.
Don't get me wrong - I used to be a gun-toting, Suzuki-riding bassoonist (stop laughing). The point is that even though I can't buy plates for my 9x12 at the local drug store, much less a good crossbow bolt, anything that makes loud noises, explodes/shreds/sticks into or uses nasty chemicals will probably find enough people to keep someone in business. We just won't have the variety readily available that we used to back when accordionists rode freely upon the Earth.
I agree with Dave. Get out there, use the stuff and adapt when necessary. On the other hand, stocking up on .40cal, bassoon reeds and AZO never hurt anyone.

jjstafford · Jul 18, 2005

JiminKyiv said:
Well, archery is still here. So is riding horses. How about the accordion?
We're not all gun-toting, Harley-riding guitarists.

http://elearning.winona.edu/jjs/butcher.jpg
Speak for yourself.
I built that.

Jim_in_Kyiv · Jul 18, 2005

jjstafford said:
http://elearning.winona.edu/jjs/butcher.jpg
Speak for yourself.
I built that.

Gorgeous! I'll try again - "We're not all Taser-toting crotch-rocket-riding digital keyboard players".

The idea that will keep people running old hard-tails like that will also keep people using old cameras - and modifying them. Someone will see the need and fill it.

benjiboy · Jul 19, 2005

Future Film

paul ron said:
The real question is not where film cameras be in 20 years, it should read... how many of today's digital cameras will still be around in 20 years?... 30, 50, n 100 years form now?

I know my old RBs and Mamiya TLRs will still be around and working perfectly for a long long time, they are already 30-40 years old. I have enough parts to keep em running for another 40+ years if I live so long. I know how to reapir them and I am teaching others to do the same. With the MF dumping going on because of digital conversions, I can get all the spare parts I will ever need to last almost forever. Because of digital, I may have to make my own film and paper... maybe even mix my own chemicals too but it'll still be around regardless.

Consider this... A 35yr old Pentax Spotmatic is still in demand today and still takes a beautiful picture just as it did 35 years ago. Will any digital cameras ever make that claim 35 years from now? Will your D70s or Canons today still be around in 30 years taking beautiful pics like your old 1970s Spotmatic is today? I have a feeling they'll all be at the bottom of the dump, not even recycled for spare parts, maybe ground up for the plastic recycling bin at best. All those expensive bodies and lenses will be tossed whole as garbage. They don't even look good on the mantle over the fireplace and will probably melt from the heat.

Then there are Large Format cameras that have been around since the beginning and are still functioning just as well. There are people right here on this site that make beautiful LF cameras out of quality materials that will last for another few centuries with some care. Canl any digital cameras hold a flash to that?... candles will be obsolete by then, replaced by LEDs.

I too have Mamiya medium format cameras and as you say, they will still be working in fifty years, but will anyone still be making roll film?

jjstafford · Jul 19, 2005

I just had a strange idea, to bury a good classic camera with some fine negatives in some kind of super-sealed capsule full of nitrogen... and add a note. What should the note say?

(Where to put it... in a rural area bound to be developed, but not for a long time.)

colrehogan · Jul 19, 2005

modafoto said:
FWIW

In the town where I live a new photo club has started. It is ALL digital, so maybe that means that the club I frequent isn't digital enough for some people. Maybe there is still some room for the analog folks, although I feel left out in my photo club right now (I haven't been there much for the last half year because I grew tired of the digital stuff everywhere in the club).
With the new club I hope that we have some room for the analog people who are still around. I don't hate digital, I just think it has taken over anything in our club...

Morten

Morten,
This is how I feel regarding the camera clubs here. A lot of people do digital and enjoy it; but I feel left out a lot of the time. I enjoy my LF, so I show up and if I contribute, fine, if not, fine. I don't have to pay for the one club and I doubt I'll go back to the other one (you do have to pay for it).

ajuk · Aug 11, 2005

No chance of a 50MP disposable camera, lenses on those camera cant produce enought data for it to be worth it, even if the lens was good you would need 35mm Full frame to get benefit.

BruceN · Aug 11, 2005

ajuk said:
No chance of a 50MP disposable camera, lenses on those camera cant produce enought data for it to be worth it, even if the lens was good you would need 35mm Full frame to get benefit.

They won't need 'em anyway, by then everyone will have implants that will allow them to store and manipulate an image they've just seen, then "think" it at their holo projection equipment. Voila, took a whole second and a half.

Film cameras in 20 years? 50? 100?

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