My local camera shop, business booming. Anyone else?

[Tom Kershaw]

There is a very large camera store in Norfolk that does sell some analogue products but that is not their focus: https://www.wexphotovideo.com

 

[Ces1um]

I referred to a flourishing major camera store in a densely poplulated area that needs 4 years to sell that amount of films.

Again and again I can only emphasize that the situation varies strongly regionally.

I'm sure you're right. Different areas cannot be compared. I live in a smaller city of about 400,000. It's a university town for sure, but I would point out that August is a time of year that students typically have gone back home.
Their print and film business seems to be doing very well. Their sales of digital cameras and telescopes likely isn't (I see the same inventory there day after day) but they have never shared that aspect of their business with me. They do seem to be very happy though with their film performance. So much so that they've invested more money into new equipment and additional processing abilities. Now if they'd just bring back 4x5 developing and printing I'd get back on board!

 

[AgX]

All major camera stores I know in person live on digital cameras. Some also sell used film cameras to collectors. But all meanwhile have a flourishing sale of Instax Mini cameras.

 

[Ces1um]

All major camera stores I know in person live on digital cameras. Some also sell used film cameras to collectors. But all meanwhile have a flourishing sale of Instax Mini cameras.

I keep hearing how instax is keeping film alive but I've yet to see anybody out in public with one. I bought one for my daughter years ago. She shot two packs of film and never touched it again. Still- apparently the figures are there to support the claim.

 

[AgX]

That is another aspect of this revival thing: even knowing local sale figures, things may remain unseen.
Since the introduction of Instax 20 yeas ago I only 2 times saw anyone with an Instax. In one case some years ago a designer took photographs of her visitors and in the other case this year a young girl visiting an art-books shop was carrying it.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I've never actually used instant film, of the 'Polaroid' variety or more recent products. I don't know to what extent I'm in the minority as I've been asked how I know what I'm getting photographically without it...

 

[Ces1um]

I've never actually used instant film, of the 'Polaroid' variety or more recent products. I don't know to what extent I'm in the minority as I've been asked how I know what I'm getting photographically without it...

I've used the impossible (and now polaroid) version of polaroid film and instax film. I don't think you're missing much. I got rid of my instax camera right away and I have a few packs of film that have gone unused (and likely will go up for sale with my camera on ebay shortly). It's a novelty and it does provide a certain "look" that some people are after. I've always personally found the results somewhat disappointing. They are great for snapshots at a party or something along those lines.

 

[Agulliver]

I do see people with Instax cameras, most usually kids under 13. I work in a school and it is not that uncommon for a handful of the younger kids to bring an Instax camera on the last day of term. Though to be fair more bring digital compacts and 80% just use their phones to take snaps of each other and selfies. Out and about I do see younger kids with instax cameras in various tourist locations. I see people with film cameras in both tourist locations and places good for photographing buildings and street photography.

I used Polaroid film circa 1980-82 when my dad bought a OneStep. It was disappointing compared to 120 6x6 but had it's charms. The main problem wasn't the film but the quality of the optics and lack of any ability to manually control the focus, shutter or aperture. These days I have used a Polaroid 104 with Fp100c pack film and it's capable of surprisingly good results.The camera is manual focus rather than fixed focus I also have a Polaroid 600 which I've put one packet of "Polaroid Originals" colour film through and it's not as good as the old Polaroid film but at least the camera has viable auto focus. It's fun, and has elicited interest from the waiters at three restaurants where I took it for birthday celebrations. One owned the same model and has been burning through a large stash of Impossible film in the last few years.

My local camera shop is definitely selling a lot of film cameras and film, as well as processing, printing and scanning. They do sell modern digital cameras but that's not their main business...they hold very few in stock because purchase price is high and they're not "the latest" after a few months. They will order any new camera you want but are also likely to recommend a store in a neighbouring town where you can buy digital cameras off the peg.

 

[foc]

Regarding Fuji Instax, this Christmas the main retail push (according to Fuji) is on not just the mini 9 and Sq cameras but the new Instax Mini Link printer.
This unit is a printer that uses the mini 9 film cassette. So you can send an image from your mobile phone to this printer and it ejects the print just like the mini 9 camera.
We have been told that this is the next big sales item.
I will report back in January 2020

 

[wahiba]

BCE, or Bradford Camera Exchange on Northgate in Bradford West Yorkshire has processing one end and cameras, new & second hand at the other end. Camera shop is on street and processing round the back seperate entrance, although you can walk through.
http://wycameras.com/ West Yorkshire Cameras has recently moved to a bigger shop in Leeds.
Both seem to be prospering, and both sell film.
For any tourists we do have the National Media Museum with some historic stuff and the Kodak collection from the old Kodak UK. Three cinemas, one is IMAX which I am not that keen on. Pictureville, the proper cinema is superb and the 100 seat Cubbi Brocolli is also fine.
Mostly digital projections, but they still have all the film projection kit and regularly have proper film shows, even Cinerama now and again.

 

[Henning Serger]

I've posted before in other threads but I thought I'd post a dedicated thread. Does anyone else have good news from their local camera shop or local scene?

My local scene here looks like this:
1. Local professional lab:
Some years ago about 10% of their business was film based, and 90% digital.
Meanwhile about 60% of their business is again film photography (film processing C41, E6, BW; film sales, RA-4 silver halide prints, photo books) and digital based business (RA-4 silver-halide prints from digital files, photo books and big inkjet prints) has shrunk to 40%.
The trend to film at their lab has recently accelerated. Lots of young film users, too, including lots of photography students from the local photography college (where the basic education is on film).

2. Local camera store:
Offers film from Fujifilm, Kodak, Ilford, Polaroid. Prof. film cold stored in a fridge. 35mm and 120 always in stock, LF can be ordered. Attractive price level.
They are selling about 2,000 instant instax film packs every month.
Used film cameras on offer, and new instant cameras.The whole Leica camera line including the film cameras.

3. Public darkroom:
Increasing user numbers for about 2 years now.

4. Film photographer meetings:
I am organising such meetings regularly for more than a decade now. Interest and member numbers are increasing.
In addition further local groups have popped up recently, too.

So I can definitely see here locally what is also happening globally: A film revival which is becoming stronger.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[macfred]

Henning, I become almost jealous !

I'm a smalltown boy ... (population about 45.000)



1. no (professional) film lab here (the only developing service is the local drugstore)
2. only one remained (we had three 8 years ago - thereof one had film in several formats stored in a freezer and sold used analog gear); they are selling digital gear and making passport photos ...
3. no public darkroom ( apart from my bathroom - I guess this doesn't count ...)
4.no public meetings (but I know two other people here who use film !)

 

[Henning Serger]

Henning, I become almost jealous !

I'm a smalltown boy ... (population about 45.000)

.........

Well, in so small towns it has been very difficult to stay in business for any full photography related business, no matter whether focussed on digital imaging or classic film photography.
Especially in Germany where
- you can get basic photo service both for digital imaging and film at "every corner of the street": the drugstore chain shops which are (almost) everywhere and offer their photo services at extremely low prices (information for all members outside Germany: film processing at these drugstore chains is in the 2 - 3€ range, including E6, and basic 9x13cm RA-4 prints are in the 1 - 9 Cent range)
- the online supply is excellent and huge competition for all local businesses, especially in photography
- lots of excellent professional labs offer online service and shipping, too (the best labs in 1-2 days).

My birthtown has about 68.000 inhabitants, and there is currently one minilab offering film processing and RA-4 prints.

To 4): There are probably much more in your town. If you want to start to organise local film photographer meetings (we have lots of fun here with it ), you could ask the owner of your local camera store whether you may make a notice in the shop. Other possibilities are looking at facebook or instagram for film photographers in your area.
If you are interested and need some tips for such meetings send me a pm. I am doing this here for much more than a decade now.
And of course you are always welcome crossing the Weißwurstäquator and Limes and join our meetings in the wild north .

Concerning photo businesses in small towns: I am always very positively surprised that our member Felim O'Connor is operating his lab in such a small town like Sligo in Ireland, which afaik has only about 18,000 inhabitants. He certainly makes things right in his business, as he even has reported significant increasing demand recently.
Tough brave Irishman .

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Kino]

With all the above, is there a means or can there be a means within Photrio to list local film labs and their services?

Is there already and I haven't found it? If so, it's fairly well hidden...

Could we set up a services provider section by location? I would think it would draw more people to Photrio and be a good resource for our members...

I just was informed of a local lab that has existed for over 50 years that is within an hour drive and processes C-41 in-house for an astounding $2.75 US (process only)!

Yesterday I dropped of a few rolls to try them out, and if they turn out to be a good lab, others should be made aware of this resource.

 

[macfred]

Well, in so small towns it has been very difficult to stay in business for any full photography related business, no matter whether focussed on digital imaging or classic film photography.
Especially in Germany where
- you can get basic photo service both for digital imaging and film at "every corner of the street": the drugstore chain shops which are (almost) everywhere and offer their photo services at extremely low prices (information for all members outside Germany: film processing at these drugstore chains is in the 2 - 3€ range, including E6, and basic 9x13cm RA-4 prints are in the 1 - 9 Cent range)
- the online supply is excellent and huge competition for all local businesses, especially in photography
- lots of excellent professional labs offer online service and shipping, too (the best labs in 1-2 days).

My birthtown has about 68.000 inhabitants, and there is currently one minilab offering film processing and RA-4 prints.

To 4): There are probably much more in your town. If you want to start to organise local film photographer meetings (we have lots of fun here with it ), you could ask the owner of your local camera store whether you may make a notice in the shop. Other possibilities are looking at facebook or instagram for film photographers in your area.
If you are interested and need some tips for such meetings send me a pm. I am doing this here for much more than a decade now.
And of course you are always welcome crossing the Weißwurstäquator and Limes and join our meetings in the wild north .

Concerning photo businesses in small towns: I am always very positively surprised that our member Felim O'Connor is operating his lab in such a small town like Sligo in Ireland, which afaik has only about 18,000 inhabitants. He certainly makes things right in his business, as he even has reported significant increasing demand recently.
Tough brave Irishman .

Best regards,
Henning

Thanks for the feedback, but I am coping quite well with this ''undersupply''; I order my material on the Internet and I have a large freezer. E-6 and C-41 go to Photostudio13 (this takes 2,5 working days, shipping included);
b/w I develop at home.
I have contact to many like-minded people in Germany, Holland or England - virtually and in reality.
I also give regular introductions to analogue photography and darkroom techniques at the local grammar school.
There are 8-10 students per term who register. There is actually no reason to complain !

Regards -
Andreas

 

[Agulliver]

There is a thread for lab services

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/lab-services.81286/

 

[foc]

Concerning photo businesses in small towns: I am always very positively surprised that our member Felim O'Connor is operating his lab in such a small town like Sligo in Ireland, which afaik has only about 18,000 inhabitants. He certainly makes things right in his business, as he even has reported significant increasing demand recently.
Tough brave Irishman .

Thank you for your kind words, Henning. While you are correct about Sligo town inhabitants, the retail catchment area of the town is approx 85,000.
Because we are in the sticks, on the periphery of Europe, we have relied on an online presence which now accounts for 25% of our business (digital & film). We have a local expression " the hungry eye sees far"

Eleven years ago I had to decide if I wanted to keep my C41 processor running or get rid of it, as the number of films had dropped so low that I had to manually rep the machine to keep the dev fresh. My Fuji rep thought I was mad to even think of keeping it. I had difficulty getting parts for it.

The only way was to increase the numbers of film for developing and since I couldn't get any more locally, I would have to look further afield. So I did. I used my own website, for Ireland and ebay for the UK and EU market. Slowly but surely it brought in the films and the numbers rose and it continued and I added Etsy which brought in films from the USA market. We also process for a few other Fuji minilabs that shutdown their C41 machines. I have seen the number of film from them increase recently.

The result of all this increase meant that a few years ago I could afford to give my 14 year old Fuji film processor a refurbishment. I have learned how to do repairs myself as there are only 1 Fuji engineers that have the knowledge and experience, the rest have retired or moved on.

Anyway enough about me. It is encouraging to hear the positive news about film, be it labs or film sales.

It is good that the film infrastructure remains intact.

 

[Samuel Dilworth]

Interesting read.

There’s a wee fillum here (that’s how I speak: my father’s from Northern Ireland) about kids shooting film these days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YotUW5WcOh8

It goes some way to explaining the mini renaissance noted in this thread.

 

[CMoore]

I wonder what the future will bring.?
It "bothers" me that Most/Many of these "young people" that are driving this film renaissance seem to have no desire to have a darkroom.
Is it just a Fad.? Right now it seems to be Cool or Hip to say..... "Yeah, i shoot film".
But how long will it last i wonder.?
I do not see how this will survive and grow to the next generation of young people.
At some point it seems like the cost of shooting film and then having to scan it anyway, will just be .....Silly, a Bummer, a PITA, a Drag.
I shoot film so that i can get in my darkroom.
If i could no longer do that, i am not sure i would have a reason to shoot film.
But maybe that is just me. ?
Perhaps all these young people would still shoot film, and have no reason to lament the last enlarger going to scrap.

 

[AgX]

I do not understand it either.
(Instant materials aside.)

 

[Team ADOX]

I wonder what the future will bring.?
It "bothers" me that Most/Many of these "young people" that are driving this film renaissance seem to have no desire to have a darkroom.
Is it just a Fad.?

The future will even bring a much bigger market for film photography than the current market. The film renaissance is sustainable and long term. It is definitely not a fad.
And because of that all film related companies in the industry are investing in new products and new or modernized production machinery.
And young film shooters have an interest in developing their film at home and darkroom work.
Our colleagues from Fotoimpex see increasing demand in this field as well.

Perhaps all these young people would still shoot film, and have no reason to lament the last enlarger going to scrap.

They will not lament because they will never have the reason to lament: Production of new enlarges has never stopped!
Kaiser, Kienzle, Dunco for example are producing new enlargers. Heiland has just designed a new ULF enlarger up to 20x24" negative format.

ADOX - Innovation In Analog Photography.

 

[MNM]

I was previously under the impression that I did not have a "local" shop but found out I do. I don't recall cameras but plenty of film, printing and developing. The Photo Spot in Douglasville http://thephotospotga.com/

It was quite busy for a Friday afternoon and looked like the customers spanned a few generations. lots of developing going on. Quite unexpected. Their C41 processing prices are good enough I'm going to use them instead of doing that myself.

 

[darkosaric]

Usually I buy my stuff from Fotoimpex or Macodirect, but often I go in local shops and buy a film or two. They are more expensive than online shops, but nevertheless - I support them with purchase of couple of films per month, when I am in the area. Even in drug stores I buy APX 100 from time to time.

 

[pentaxuser]

I can add that I was in Nova Darkroom about 8 months or so ago and asked about sales of darkroom material. They told me they have experienced a huge sales increase in darkroom paper going to colleges for photo classes. Some of the colleges were quite a distance and had been ordering paper for years but there was a definite large increase in the last year.

I was there myself last March so about the same time as you. I was surprised how far out "in the sticks " it was. For the U.S. members this is a phrase that indicates "out in the country" so certainly not relying on passing trade and my impression was that its analogue material section was pretty small. Nothing like as impressive as was the case when it was in Warwick itself.

Its good news that its paper sales have increased but my impression was that the digital side i.e. what it calls Permajet is much the bigger and more important. I am on its mailing list and all its invites/special offers are for the Permajet side. Never once have I see anything on analogue stuff

As far as Agulliver and Benjiboy's good experiences are concerned I note that Luton and Leeds have populations of about one quarter and three quarters of a million respectively.

My nearest big town is Northampton with a population of about the same as Luton and it has one camera store I am aware of and for whom film cameras are part of its business and it does sell some darkroom material such as film, developer and fix but overall none of my good news can really be classified as much more than a glimmer really

I even have a mini-lab in my town which at least gets by but the owner does a lot of wedding photography as part of her income and every time I go in it seems to be always the same small stock of a few films. The vast bulk of her business is printing on RA4 from memory cards or e-mailed Jpegs. Tellingly when she decided to print larger than 8x10 she had to install inkjet printing as the cost of the equipment to do larger than 8x10 on RA4 was prohibitive in relation to the potential sales.

So yes there may be a revival in the strict sense of selling more film than was the case a few years ago when we were near rock bottom but it is too soon in my opinion to classify what I have reported here as signs of what constitutes most people's definition of a revival

Like Tom Kershaw I hardly ever see a film camera user. The last one I recall seeing was a young woman taking shots of trains at Grosmont station in 2012 on the North Yorks Moors Railway using a redscale film with which she had a fascination. It was a new sort of experiment for her whichmay or may not have grown into an on-going hobby.

However like Tom I do wonder how sales of trad b&w film( not C41 chromogenic) are doing given that it doesn't seem to be part of the hipster film revival and how few labs now exist that can develop such film Presumably someone in the U.K. other than the few Brits who inhabit Photrio is buying b&w film but I wonder where they all are and wherever they are they seem to be managing without our help

pentaxuser

 

[perkeleellinen]

I was there myself last March so about the same time as you. I was surprised how far out "in the sticks " it was. For the U.S. members this is a phrase that indicates "out in the country" so certainly not relying on passing trade and my impression was that its analogue material section was pretty small. Nothing like as impressive as was the case when it was in Warwick itself.

Yes, agreed. Nothing like the old place in Warwick. The new location is actually closer to me and if it wasn't for one steep hill I could probably cycle there with ease. It's useful to pick things up as I don't pay postage. They did tell me once that they had a meeting about stopping the analogue side but decided to carry on as it was their heritage.