Film photography predictions for 2015

cliveh · Dec 26, 2014

Do you have any thoughts about developments or setbacks for film photography in 2015? I would like to think that as the digital world develops there will be a greater resurgence of interest in chemical capture and processing, but perhaps with fewer films and chemical printing paper available.

snapguy · Dec 26, 2014

niche

I believe analog photography is a niche in the art world similar to silk screen printing. The ability to obtain what is needed to do film photography will ebb and flow but I think it will grow in the near future, not shrink. But I thought the Tucker Torpedo was a great car, too.

SchwinnParamount · Dec 26, 2014

I believe I will shoot more film in 2015 than I did in 2014

alanrockwood · Dec 26, 2014

Cell phones will eat into both film and conventional digital photography.

The film loyalists will mostly hang in there.

Film sales will be unpredictable, but likely the general downward trend of recent years will slow, and maybe even reverse

In the longer term, film and processing will become more and more expensive, eventually squeezing out all but the hardest of the hard core die-hards and some art photographers. Simultaneously, film photography will take on a certain mystique among the general public, casual photographers, and semi-serious photographers.

More film types will be discontinued. Most likely it will be film stock in the near term.

Speculation will arise over whether Kodak is actually coating lots of film or not. The question will not be resolved one way or the other until several years hence.

APUG will continue to eschew any hint of discussion about digital photography. (How's that for a bold prediction?)

Bargain prices on film photography equipment will slowly become less frequent and prices will unsteadily rise as the mass the conversion to digital equipment will have largely been completed, and film enthusiasts will bid the price up on the smaller supply of high quality used equipment.

Holga will largely fade away.

A small but steady trickle of reverse conversions will continue, i.e. digital photographers who want to either switch to film or augment their digital work with film work. It will not be a groundswell.

The reputation of the quality of Foma film will slowly improve.

The quality photos by film photographers will gradually improve as the less committed film photographers drop out.

There will be a slowly increasing awareness that scanning film at more than 4000 dpi is actually a good idea, provided the optics of the scanner can support the increase, but reliable and affordable equipment to do this will probably not be available.

PE will continue to be the most prolific and reliable source of information on film and processing technology

Ferrania chrome film introduction date will slip to 1st quarter, 2016.

SchwinnParamount · Dec 26, 2014

alanrockwood said:
...
Holga will largely fade away.
...

PE will continue to be the most prolific and reliable source of information on film and processing technology

Thank God!

Photo Engineer · Dec 26, 2014

In the words of Bill the Cat - PBLLTTTT!

But thanks. I think it is backwards though. I will fade away and Holga will continue to be a reliable analog source to go to.

PE

rpsawin · Dec 27, 2014

I predict there will continue to be non stop reports about the death of Film and Photography...stay tuned.

Best regards,

Bob
CEO CFO EIEIO, Ret.

SchwinnParamount · Dec 27, 2014

Is rpsawin (Rip saw in?) a woodworker in his retirement?

SchwinnParamount · Dec 27, 2014

APUGuser19 said:
It is my understanding that in 2015 will see the halt or slowdown of quantitative easing, and a glut (oversupply) of the foreclosed properties the banks have been holding onto these past years. With this, 2015 does not look to be a bright year for the economy.

Stick to film forecasting and leave politically tinged forcasting for RealClearPolitics.

SchwinnParamount · Dec 27, 2014

RealClearPolitics.com. It presents a balanced view of politics. OpEd colums from right and left are represented.

If you do not intend a political message, then the excellent backstory for for your previous post is helpful.

Arklatexian · Dec 27, 2014

cliveh said:
Do you have any thoughts about developments or setbacks for film photography in 2015? I would like to think that as the digital world develops there will be a greater resurgence of interest in chemical capture and processing, but perhaps with fewer films and chemical printing paper available.

It certainly seems to me that what you would like to think is already happening. I have been in wet darkroom photography for a long time (70 years) and today I have my choice of more different brands of film and paper than ever before and that includes the "glory days of photography" that seems so popular in these threads. The manufacturers are, in most cases, different but they are out there. At one time in the 1950s there was only one LF 4x5 view camera on the market. That is no longer true. Even Deardorff is making cameras again....Regards

scheimfluger_77 · Dec 27, 2014

I predict that I will continue to use film, particularly 4x5, in the coming year (I better, I'm quickly becoming lens-poor) and that I will be an abassador for film.
Steve

Photo Engineer · Dec 27, 2014

Back in the day, there were MORE varieties of film and paper including paper surfaces and film sizes.

There were, at one time, 19 surfaces of Azo paper alone. Medalist and Opal papers came in SW, DW and 4 contrast grades and many surfaces.

I predict that the choices will decrease once again.

PE

Arcturus · Dec 27, 2014

Kodak will revive Kodachrome, Ektachome, Plus X, and Highspeed Infrared. They will construct new coating facilities to help fill demand. Digital cameras will run out of pixels causing Zeiss to make a brand new Super Ikonta, and a Graflex will make a new Speed Graphic.

AgX · Dec 27, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
Back in the day, there were MORE varieties of film and paper including paper surfaces and film sizes.

In absolute numbers, yes. But were they all available locally or by mail order? Today the rarest stuff can be orderd even from abroad easily (though maybe costly).

eddie · Dec 27, 2014

Massive solar flares, and electromagnetic rays, (or North Korea) will fry all digital storage devices, causing Kodak, DuPont, Forte, Fuji, Nikon, Hasselblad, Olympus, Rollei, Beseler, Omega, etc. to quickly return to offering their previously discontinued analogue products. Wait lists for enlargers and cameras will reach 6-12 months, until production meets demand. Experienced film photographers will be in high demand, and command equally high prices. APUG will become the internet's top website, as everyone transitions to analogue.

Photo Engineer · Dec 27, 2014

AgX said:
In absolute numbers, yes. But were they all available locally or by mail order? Today the rarest stuff can be orderd even from abroad easily (though maybe costly).

Even though Agfa was restarting from ashes, we could get Agfa paper and film locally from our myriad of photo stores.

But we had Kodak, Ansco, Dupont, and Haloid-Xerox. Some even offered VC papers and RC support. Surfaces included glossy, matte, silk, watercolor, canvas, leather, and a lot more that I forget now.

I could also get these mail order in some cases. I got a Kodak P122 kit and type C paper but it was delivered by a Kodak truck, which was refrigerated for the paper. Later, another kit of chemistry came by mail order.

PE

Arklatexian · Dec 27, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
Back in the day, there were MORE varieties of film and paper including paper surfaces and film sizes.

There were, at one time, 19 surfaces of Azo paper alone. Medalist and Opal papers came in SW, DW and 4 contrast grades and many surfaces.

I predict that the choices will decrease once again.

PE

I guess I should have said photo paper and film "manufacturers". Each, of course, had different papers and film. The first VC paper that I used was made by DuPont (Varigam which was followed by Varilour). Ansco, which was taken over by the U.S. Government as a company owned by a company in a WW2 enemy country (Agfa) made papers that I used: Cykora, Indiatone, Ardura, all fine papers. You are, of course, correct. There were more varieties. I can only speak for what was available locally at the three local camera stores. The Japanese were making papers and films that we never heard of in those days and I now know there were European companies such as Gavert (sp) which Agfa later combined with. But, I assure you those were still not "the good old days". I think it was Paul Strand who said, I think back in the 30s, that every time he found a paper that he liked, it was discontinued. My prediction is choices will decrease or increase based upon the market, as always. But all of you know that.......Regards

blockend · Dec 27, 2014

I predict film photography in 2015 will resemble 2014. Fuji will raise prices while claiming there's less demand for their products, dropping another film along the way. Lomography will continue to close boutique shops as hipsters discover they don't want toy cameras in ten different colour ways with luxury price tags. The same knackered Leica cameras will rotate on Ebay like a game of pass the parcel, while good examples are kept from harm's way behind glass, their shutters untroubled by use.

Slide film will enjoy a brief renaissance as Ferrania comes on line. Ilford Harman will continue to serve the black and white market with rising prices, Kodak will make headlines for the wrong reasons. Smart phone photography will comprise 99.9% of images taken, and APUG will contain more "what camera should I buy" threads.

Ashfaque · Dec 27, 2014

I hope Henning Serger will share his well informed prediction soon. He wrote a very informative summary on the last Photokina (just like previous times), which I really enjoyed. On personal level, I look forward to start processing C-41 and E-6 films, possibly in mid-2015, after I gain some confidence with B&W films. I am also hoping to buy some Ferrania films.

Bests,

Ashfaque

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 27, 2014

Two things for sure: predictions will continue, and most will be wrong as usual.

horacekenneth · Dec 27, 2014

This year (or this year and last year maybe?) we had two (actually it might have been three?) successful kickstarters for large format cameras. In 2015 I'd like to see a similar kickstarter for a medium format camera.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 27, 2014

horacekenneth said:
This year (or this year and last year maybe?) we had two (actually it might have been three?) successful kickstarters for large format cameras. In 2015 I'd like to see a similar kickstarter for a medium format camera.

We can only hope future ones deliver even close to on schedule too...

RattyMouse · Dec 27, 2014

2015: Fujifilm discontinues 400H.

You heard it here first.

ambaker · Dec 27, 2014

Whatever nobody else predicts, I predict. That way, somebody will be right.

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Film photography predictions for 2015

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