Japan Camera Hunter designing NEW premium film camera

removed account4 · Oct 2, 2017

wow ..
we actually have 2 of them, one the flash "lens" broke
the other one is perfect and a yashica t4 we might attempt fixing
sounds like i better call "brinks" ..

thanks, i had no idea these things had any value

Cholentpot · Oct 2, 2017

Pioneer said:
I do have to say, this is quite an amazing forum. Supposedly this group is in full support of analogue. But I think that is BS.

The minute someone markets a different film, or suggests building a new film camera, or uses film in an ad campaign, the trolls on this site leap out from under the bridge and attack with fiendish glee.

And just for the record, I have purchased JCH Streetpan and still use it. It is a very nice film.

I have also purchased used cameras from Bellamy Hunt and been very happy with what I received.

Finally...what in the *&#@ is wrong with pricing things so that you can make a profit?!?

I don't use JHC, can't afford. I never bought a camera from Hunt, can't afford. However I follow this stuff closely. The same way I can't afford a nice car but I still read news about cars, or maybe I have a Hi-Point but I'd love a Browning. Maybe some people here don't remember what it's like to dream, to leaf through a flyer and wish you can afford a F3, or maybe that long lens. I applaud just about anyone sticking their neck out and seeing if there's a market for film.

I say go for it, if he fails he fails. If he finds success, great!

Craig75 · Oct 2, 2017

jnanian said:
wow ..
we actually have 2 of them, one the flash "lens" broke
the other one is perfect and a yashica t4 we might attempt fixing
sounds like i better call "brinks" ..

thanks, i had no idea these things had any value

i think the yashica 3,4 and 5 are all pricey items these days too.

basically anything with nice glass from 1990s is bucks. Lots of kids learning to shoot film want a simple to use camera which will give them high end results and will pay - one day its lomo, the next its a carl zeiss lens...

blockend · Oct 2, 2017

Craig75 said:
i think the yashica 3,4 and 5 are all pricey items these days too.

basically anything with nice glass from 1990s is bucks. Lots of kids learning to shoot film want a simple to use camera which will give them high end results and will pay - one day its lomo, the next its a carl zeiss lens...

Yes, these things go in waves. Anything small, cute and dinky fits the prevailing mood, especially in the far east youth market where a lot of trends start. Add a celeb and prices go through the roof. Doesn't mean a camera is worth that much, doesn't mean it ain't.

I don't care whether prices for cult cameras are sky high, there's plenty of non-cult cameras out there. I'm more sensitive to film price hikes, because that's the raw material we all need. Re-labelling old film for a hipster market has a negative effect because people assume that's what film costs to produce and market. Better that established manufacturers sell lots of film than it becomes a niche boutique product with a premium price tag.

Meyer Trioplan · Oct 2, 2017

I certainly can't poo poo the idea. I'm just not a part of the target demographic. Would rather go through trial and error to get that perfect photo on a 1930s folder than to have 90 percent of the technical stuff worked out with a modern machine.

I am intrigued to see how a film camera will work with today's smartphone technology, provided it can enhance rather than encumber the experience, such as what has happened with APS, which along with disc represent the two major lineups least able to continue much further into the future.

AgX · Oct 2, 2017

Cholentpot said:
Maybe some people here don't remember what it's like to dream, to leaf through a flyer and wish you can afford a F3, or maybe that long lens.

So far Japan Camera Hunter has not announced any detail that could make my mouth water.

Cholentpot · Oct 2, 2017

AgX said:
So far Japan Camera Hunter has not announced any detail that could make my mouth water.

Right. It's still an interesting bit of news though.

aleckurgan · Oct 3, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Original JCH blog:
http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2017/05/compact-cameras-future/

In this post JCH admits his partial responsibility for quality compact cameras price hike. I don't see how introducing a new 'posh' camera with apparently 'premium' price tag can help with this issue.

RattyMouse · Oct 3, 2017

Fujifilm just needs to bring back the Klasse.

Craig75 · Oct 3, 2017

RattyMouse said:
Fujifilm just needs to bring back the Klasse.

I only had a classica but it didnt focus until after the shutter was pressed which just made it a drag. Don't know if Klasse did that but i sold it after only one roll of film (for double what i paid to show madness of prices). lens was very frisky tho.

removedacct1 · Oct 3, 2017

Pioneer said:
And just for the record, I have purchased JCH Streetpan and still use it. It is a very nice film.

I am genuinely interested in learning what traits Street Pan possesses that makes it worth $11 per roll? HP5+ is under $5 per roll and its excellent film, so Street Pan must be exceptional in some way. Can you share what qualities this "premium" film offers? Thank you.

blockend · Oct 3, 2017

paulbarden said:
I am genuinely interested in learning what traits Street Pan possesses that makes it worth $11 per roll? HP5+ is under $5 per roll and its excellent film, so Street Pan must be exceptional in some way. Can you share what qualities this "premium" film offers? Thank you.

S'got Street in the title, innit? Own brand versions used to be cheaper than the manufacturer's stuff, now they attract a premium.

CMoore · Oct 3, 2017

blockend said:
S'got Street in the title, innit? Own brand versions used to be cheaper than the manufacturer's stuff, now they attract a premium.

Like i said, contact Kentmere.....see what their minimum Buy-In is....then have them send you film that says ...Analog Heaven... on the box.
People on "The Internet" will be going ape shit over this Awesome "New" film that "You" are selling.

Huss · Oct 3, 2017

Pioneer said:
I do have to say, this is quite an amazing forum. Supposedly this group is in full support of analogue. But I think that is BS.

The minute someone markets a different film, or suggests building a new film camera, or uses film in an ad campaign, the trolls on this site leap out from under the bridge and attack with fiendish glee.

And just for the record, I have purchased JCH Streetpan and still use it. It is a very nice film.

I have also purchased used cameras from Bellamy Hunt and been very happy with what I received.

Finally...what in the *&#@ is wrong with pricing things so that you can make a profit?!?

I agree with Pioneer.
One would think that this site would be a place of encouragement for the analog process, welcoming anything new that could advance the cause.
Instead it seems full of people who do not want to see any activity, but are seemingly happy to be the last hold outs in what they apparently hope is a dying art form. Just so they can lord it over others.
It's why young people coming into film photography are derided as hipsters, apparently unworthy to belong.

Want to see a site that welcomes all and encourages all?

https://www.lomography.com/
No-one has done as much as them to keep film alive, and no-one is as responsible as them for the growth of film.

Another great site, that also happens to sell used cameras:

www.casualphotophile.com

I seems that some, for some reason, are offended that Bellamy tries to make money. I hope he is successful at it.
Because if Bellamy makes money, that means that film photography is being promoted.

ic-racer · Oct 3, 2017

I guess some people use film for the social image it portrays. Other people use film for the silver image it portrays.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 3, 2017

Huss said:
I agree with Pioneer.
One would think that this site would be a place of encouragement for the analog process, welcoming anything new that could advance the cause.
Instead it seems full of people who do not want to see any activity, but are seemingly happy to be the last hold outs in what they apparently hope is a dying art form. Just so they can lord it over others.
It's why young people coming into film photography are derided as hipsters, apparently unworthy to belong.

Want to see a site that welcomes all and encourages all?

https://www.lomography.com/
No-one has done as much as them to keep film alive, and no-one is as responsible as them for the growth of film.

Another great site, that also happens to sell used cameras:

www.casualphotophile.com

I seems that some, for some reason, are offended that Bellamy tries to make money. I hope he is successful at it.
Because if Bellamy makes money, that means that film photography is being promoted.

This sentiment has been expressed before and I didn't care for it the first time. Photrio is not a cheering section for each new product that appears on the market. Members should feel free to express their opinions without any false sense of guilt.

BTW we are alsonot responsible for the current lack of interest in young people for analog photography.

MattKing · Oct 3, 2017

I don't think it is a problem when people here complain about the approach that people like Bellamy are taking to what they do.
As long as the complaints are more "he should do X instead of Y" than "we are all doomed, and he is wasting his time".

blockend · Oct 3, 2017

Huss said:
One would think that this site would be a place of encouragement for the analog process, welcoming anything new that could advance the cause

Lots of things, but not anything. I draw the line at making film a more expensive consumer item than it already is. Availability is great, availability an any price is not.

Huss said:
Instead it seems full of people who do not want to see any activity, but are seemingly happy to be the last hold outs in what they apparently hope is a dying art form. Just so they can lord it over others.
It's why young people coming into film photography are derided as hipsters, apparently unworthy to belong.

Film photography won't die as long as a sufficient number of people buy the stuff to make it viable. Hiving off existing stock, giving it a fancy name and price does nothing for photography long term. If manufacturers can't market their goods well enough to describe its advantages in terms people understand, veiling it in magic, mystery and a premium price will last long enough for people to wise up. There isn't an agreed definition of hipster, but I take it to be a dilettante who is more concerned with how the object or medium adds to their self image than what it does.

Huss said:
https://www.lomography.com/
No-one has done as much as them (Lomography) to keep film alive, and no-one is as responsible as them for the growth of film.

That's highly debatable. From the contraction of their stores I assume repeat customers for most, though not all their products, is in decline.

Huss said:
I seems that some, for some reason, are offended that Bellamy tries to make money. I hope he is successful at it.
Because if Bellamy makes money, that means that film photography is being promoted.

I'm not in the least offended by Bellamy flipping cameras for westerners. His knowledge base is worth whatever people are prepared to pay for it.

Craig75 · Oct 3, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
This sentiment has been expressed before and I didn't care for it the first time.

Im sure he didnt particularly care for being described as a slippery customer either.

Sometimes you just got to suck it up tho.

FoidPoosening · Oct 3, 2017

Huss said:
I agree with Pioneer.
One would think that this site would be a place of encouragement for the analog process, welcoming anything new that could advance the cause.
Instead it seems full of people who do not want to see any activity, but are seemingly happy to be the last hold outs in what they apparently hope is a dying art form. Just so they can lord it over others.
It's why young people coming into film photography are derided as hipsters, apparently unworthy to belong.

Want to see a site that welcomes all and encourages all?

https://www.lomography.com/
No-one has done as much as them to keep film alive, and no-one is as responsible as them for the growth of film.

Another great site, that also happens to sell used cameras:

www.casualphotophile.com

I seems that some, for some reason, are offended that Bellamy tries to make money. I hope he is successful at it.
Because if Bellamy makes money, that means that film photography is being promoted.

Gerald C Koch said:
This sentiment has been expressed before and I didn't care for it the first time. Photrio is not a cheering section for each new product that appears on the market. Members should feel free to express their opinions without any false sense of guilt.

BTW we are alsonot responsible for the current lack of interest in young people for analog photography.

I agree mostly with Huss.

Koch - You have a very valid point that Photrio should not be a blind crowd cheering absolutely anything analog. For instance, I found Photrio's thread dissecting what the "new" Rollei Vario Chrome is to be extremely critical and helpful. It prevented me from buying it, and instead I purchased additional stocks of fresh Velvia 50.

However, I think Huss' core sentiment is this: the majority of this thread contains Photrio users trashing JCH's announcement for lack of details and trashing JCH personally. Why? We are fighting ourselves in here. Instead, shouldn't Photrio be more cautiously optimistic and hopeful that a potentially new analog offering comes along? That it does well?

blockend · Oct 3, 2017

FoidPoosening said:
the majority of this thread contains Photrio users trashing JCH's announcement for lack of details and trashing JCH personally.

I don't recognise that depiction of the thread. Some of it is enthusiastic, the rest is slightly jaded from premature announcements of things that take years to come to fruition. I'd call the re-release of Ektachrome a genuine cause for celebration as is any new Leica camera, though neither reflect my immediate aspirations. Bear in mind Bellamy advertises Leica cameras in pink and yellow, so novelty and hype is a key aspect of his schtick.

Pioneer · Oct 3, 2017

paulbarden said:
Is it so much nicer than HP5 or Tri-X as to justify costing twice these other films? That is a valid question.

I did as full of a review of that film as possible on the Rangefindeforum. Perhaps you would like to go there and check it out. Or...better yet...buy it for yourself and decide for yourself. I would applaud another complete review using different developers and so would a lot of others. Unlike many others on this forum I did not immediately run the film down based on who was promoting and selling it. Neither have I made it out to be the salvation of all analogue mankind. Instead, I bought it, tested it, and decided whether or not it is useful, and I believe that it is.

As for HP5+ or Trix or TMY or AEU/Fomapan or any number of other films; I use and enjoy them as well. And I never asked anyone to drop their favorite film and run with arms wide open to buy Streetpan. Since it would seem that you like HP5+, by all means use it, I do myself.

BTW, if you are interested, the last batch of 35mm/36 I purchased was going for around $8.50 a roll, not $11. You might want to buy a few rolls and try it out for yourself. The 120 is selling for $10.50 at Photo Warehouse. Still pricey so it is definitely not a film that some will want to try or use. But some will.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 3, 2017

FoidPoosening said:
However, I think Huss' core sentiment is this: the majority of this thread contains Photrio users trashing JCH's announcement for lack of details and trashing JCH personally. Why? We are fighting ourselves in here. Instead, shouldn't Photrio be more cautiously optimistic and hopeful that a potentially new analog offering comes along? That it does well?

I'm not sure that calling someone a 'slippery character' is trashing their character. I'm sure he is kind to his mother. However purposely withholding information IS a trait of a slippery character. The consumer has a right to know what they are buying.

Pioneer · Oct 3, 2017

Huss said:
I agree with Pioneer.
One would think that this site would be a place of encouragement for the analog process, welcoming anything new that could advance the cause.
Instead it seems full of people who do not want to see any activity, but are seemingly happy to be the last hold outs in what they apparently hope is a dying art form. Just so they can lord it over others.
It's why young people coming into film photography are derided as hipsters, apparently unworthy to belong.

Want to see a site that welcomes all and encourages all?

https://www.lomography.com/
No-one has done as much as them to keep film alive, and no-one is as responsible as them for the growth of film.

Another great site, that also happens to sell used cameras:

www.casualphotophile.com

I seems that some, for some reason, are offended that Bellamy tries to make money. I hope he is successful at it.
Because if Bellamy makes money, that means that film photography is being promoted.

Thanks for the links to these other forums. Huss I will certainly spend a bit of time checking them out.

And I do agree with you that Lomo has had a huge influence on the future of film. Obviously not everyone on this forum is willing to step up and admit this. Most of the film users I run into today are far more likely to be Lomo converts rather than people who have been encouraged by the old guard, and unfortunately that probably includes me as well.

I do work with my grandchildren but I need to do much more to help the young people in my area learn about film photography.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 3, 2017

If Bellamy is serious, I would like to see more substance.

It was encouraging when he identified the compact cameras of the 80's and 90's whose electronics and other complex mechanisms failed and then vowed for less electronics and more simplicity. But in a different interview he talks about the camera connecting to a phone app and allowing remote control like the Impossible I-1. A total contradiction.

I welcome any new camera or film, but I want for it to be good enough to survive.

Japan Camera Hunter designing NEW premium film camera

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