More LF "Health"

[Steve Hamley]

Folks,

I talk to Ian Wilson, Ebony's English language representative periodically about this and that, and we were talking about the apparent renaissance that LF seems to be undergoing, especially with respect to vintage lens prices and wait times for cameras 8x10 and larger - a topic I recently posted here. Ian made a statement reflecting a trend in Japan that you perhaps wouldn't think typical of the country that makes Nikon, Canon, and all the big digital names.

"There's an interesting new trend developing recently in Japan - people who bought MF backs a year or two ago are now ditching them and returning to LF film because they are sick of spending so much time working on their images with computers. I suppose one of the good things about photography is that it gets you outdoors, but it kind of defeats the purpose if you then have to spend hours processing your images in Photoshop..."

He also stated that orders at Ebony were rising to the point where delivery times were increasing.

Steve

 

[Capocheny]

Steve,

That's great news indeed!

Now, hopefully, some of our film and camera suppliers will take heed...

The other reason for people switching back to LF from digital may be that there seems to be a growing trend toward "slowing down the process." This doesn't only apply to photography but even toward our most basic lifestyles such as eating. The Slow Food movement has really taken off...

But, it could also simply mean that LF is better than digital!

Ok, ok... I'll stop now! Just kidding!

Cheers

 

[cperez]

Yes. Snails are a huge hit now!

Actually, do you really think the French and Italians ever left the Slow Food Movement? There's a reason why their foods taste so danged good.

If Ebony is experiencing an increase in business, I wonder if Arca Swiss is too? Or Sinar or Horseman for that matter.

I recently sold a 7x17 Korona that is in fabulous condition for nearly what Kerik was asking for his Wisner here on APUG. The destination? Japan. For Pd/Pt work.

Still, I'm a bottom feeder and just picked up a pair of Heliars for so cheap that I'd rather not say what I paid. Inexpensive still abounds in LF.

The Slow Food movement has really taken off...

 

[Ole]

Inexpensive still abounds in LF.

If you know what you're buying and why. It also helps to buy lots - two lenses just about always cheaper than either lens alone. Same goes for a camera with lens. I have no idea why this is so, I'm just enjoying it while it lasts

 

[jimgalli]

Still, I'm a bottom feeder and just picked up a pair of Heliars for so cheap that I'd rather not say what I paid.QUOTE]

WHAT THE ................ I must have been snoozin'!

 

[DeanC]

Actually, do you really think the French and Italians ever left the Slow Food Movement? There's a reason why their foods taste so danged good.

Two reasons actually. Butter and olive oil. ;-) Nothing else does for a pan sauce what swirling in two or three tablespoons of butter just before serving will...

 

[cperez]

Jim, you snooz'n? I doubt it. You have more great stuff than any man has a cosmic authorization to own.

WHAT THE ................ I must have been snoozin'!

 

[isaacc7]

Steve,

That's great news indeed!

Now, hopefully, some of our film and camera suppliers will take heed...

The other reason for people switching back to LF from digital may be that there seems to be a growing trend toward "slowing down the process." This doesn't only apply to photography but even toward our most basic lifestyles such as eating. The Slow Food movement has really taken off...

But, it could also simply mean that LF is better than digital!

Ok, ok... I'll stop now! Just kidding!

Cheers

I'm willing to bet that a big reason for the supposed increase of LF shooting is just that there are many more photographers now than there were 5 or 6 years ago. Whatever you may think of the digital revolution, there is no doubt that it has created a new wave of interest in photography both from new people and folks that have come back into the fold. A certain percentage will always gravitate towards the best image quality and most control, and they end up shooting with LF You'll notice that all the reports of wait times are with field cameras. I'm willing to bet that monorails make up a very small fraction of new LF camera sales.

Isaac

 

[Capocheny]

Yes. Snails are a huge hit now!

Actually, do you really think the French and Italians ever left the Slow Food Movement? There's a reason why their foods taste so danged good.

Hi Cperez,

I agree with you about the Italians and the French... but that leaves a lot of other folks who have either left the Slow Food Movement or were never involved in it in the first place!

Issac,

Point well taken and agreed with!

Cheers

 

[frednewman]

Hi Steve -

The best line I hear from customers is that I work all day on the computer and the last thing I want to do is photography on the computer. It make my day hearing that.

Fred

 

[mikefiction]

I agree fred - I'm new to LF and I work with computers all day, I love the process of LF - I don't want to sit in front of a pc for photography also. I just got back from my first vacation with a graflex and it was pretty great. Developing a few of the shots tonight. Prior I only took test shots to learn to use it, for the past year I've been shooting 35mm on an old canon A1, now I'm using a Speed Graphic 4x5. I checked out the digital slr's and I didn't like em at all. I'm a new photographer, but firmly planted in film and LF
New to apug also, so hello!