Manufacturers Talk about the State of the Film Photography Industry

[Richard S. (rich815)]

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2015/04/23/manufacturers-talk-state-film-photography-industry/

 

[RobC]

seems pretty amateurish not to include a word about Ilford.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Agreed -- the manufacturer with the biggest commitment to film and paper, with among the largest variety of offerings...not quoted or mentioned. WTH?!?

Not any real mention of large format or medium format film, either.

 

[snapguy]

sounds

Sounds to me like it was penned by someone in the public relations hype business, not a serious writer. I didn't learn much and don't necessarily believe a lot of what was said. D+.

 

[redstarjedi]

seems pretty amateurish not to include a word about Ilford.

I agree, however if you read the comments in the article the author wrote that he attempted to reach ilford, but could not speak with them.

 

[Wallendo]

seems pretty amateurish not to include a word about Ilford.

..

 

[redstarjedi]

This sounds like positive news and is a nice break from the usual doom and gloom that we constantly hear. I anticipate that people in western countries in their teens and 20's will have a bit of a rebellion against immaterial media. You can now see vinyl records in stores that have never carried them before, and people are buying them. I wonder if the same concept of "i want something tangible" can be applied to photography? I really hope so.

I've said this before, but Kodak needs to catalog all the community colleges and universities that have intro photo classes and give them free film, so the old professors can use it as a "gateway drug" on younger unsuspecting youths. Give em' a free taste and then hook em for life. There needs to be more tri-x fiends out there!

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Geez, yes nothing about Ilford. I commented on that too on that article but heck I'll take any news about film that's not doom and gloom. There's those who are pissed off because a rose bush has thorns, and those who are happy because a thorn bush has roses...

 

[Vonder]

...
I've said this before, but Kodak needs to catalog all the community colleges and universities that have intro photo classes and give them free film, so the old professors can use it as a "gateway drug" on younger unsuspecting youths. Give em' a free taste and then hook em for life. There needs to be more tri-x fiends out there!

I like the idea, but I think Kodak's only interest is in milking the cow dry, at this point. I'd prefer this to be done by Ilford.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yet another air head journalist spouting off without properly researching the subject. And yet some still wonder I do not respect journalists.

 

[redstarjedi]

I like the idea, but I think Kodak's only interest is in milking the cow dry, at this point. I'd prefer this to be done by Ilford.

Very true, since i'm American i assume that Ilford would be able to pull this off in the UK, but not so much in the US.

 

[gone]

To me, any discussion about film is a positive thing. If Ilford didn't want to get back to them, then that's their decision, and a really poor one at that.

The comment on the article that stated they should have waited until they heard from Ilford before publishing is ridiculous. You go w/ what you got. And I totally agree that Kodak films are the best in the business. Not that the others are "inferior", but it is what it is, and w/o Kodak, film photography's history would not be what it is. If they had only made Kodachrome and Tri-X, those two films alone would have secured their reputation. It would be impossible to have a discussion on film w/o talking about Kodak. Sort of like having a conversation about racing w/o mentioning Ferrari. Kodak did get back to the writers, to their credit.

I'm mature enough to understand the difference between the dimwits that nearly ruined Kodak over on the business end, and the dedicated and talented people that came up w/ the films in the first place. I have no crystal ball, so nothing from me on film's future. Who knows, really? I buy and shoot film, so that's about all I can do on my end. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Hatchetman]

I find it hard to believe they couldn't reach Ilford!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I find it hard to believe they couldn't reach Ilford!

It is hard if one does not make the effort.

It is even harder if one does not do the research to find out what film manufacturers exist.

Sloppy journalism.

 

[cmacd123]

Very true, since i'm American i assume that Ilford would be able to pull this off in the UK, but not so much in the US.

Almost every year, one finds STUDENT packs containing 25 sheets of Ilford Paper and a couple of rolls of HP5+ sold for about the price of the paper alone. I suspect that that is as good as a "free film" offer you are likely to see. (one recent year they actually had a deal where you buy one roll of film and get a second one free, followed by buy two get one free.- Can't beat that)

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

An interesting article, I have checked around and we cannot find any contact whatsoever ( but it does not mean to say they did not try, it could have got lost ? ) so if he cares to call + 44 (0) 1565 650000 and asks to speak to me, I'll make sure he gets to speak to the people he needs to.

Also, it actually matters not, but whilst we are a 'niche' photo company, in mono we were never a 'niche' player, we sold more monochrome paper in the USA than KODAK from the mid 1980's onward.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Dear All,

An interesting article, I have checked around and we cannot find any contact whatsoever ( but it does not mean to say they did not try, it could have got lost ? ) so if he cares to call + 44 (0) 1565 650000 and asks to speak to me, I'll make sure he gets to speak to the people he needs to.

Also, it actually matters not, but whilst we are a 'niche' photo company, in mono we were never a 'niche' player, we sold more monochrome paper in the USA than KODAK from the mid 1980's onward.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Thanks Simon. I just sent the author of that article an email with your information and invited him to give you a call. I hope he does.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Do not take some writing done by the hipster on unknown site too seriously. Some funky lomography film and Fuji instants from Walmart, the Author simply doesn't know what Ilford or Foma is .

 

[Simon R Galley]

Thanks Richard,

Simon. ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[pdeeh]

And I totally agree that Kodak films are the best in the business. Not that the others are "inferior",

Well, if something is "the best", then that necessarily implies that something else exists that is "not the best" (i.e. inferior to the "the best") ... you can't have it both ways ...