New Film Manufactures & Resurrections - Blessing or Bane?

Agulliver · Apr 26, 2017

I find it truly hard to believe that people are bemoaning the introduction of another option when we are buying film.

Ferrania's Solaris C41 colour neg film, at least in 200ISO guise was very nice. Natural colours, good resolution...I used quite a lot of it. The 400 version had the same natural colours but was a bit grainy. Just because they ended up the last couple of decades of the 3M-era making film for "stores own brands" doesn't mean they were making bad film. And even if they were...the guys at Film Ferrania now are looking to make high quality colour reversal E6 film as their main product.

blockend · Apr 26, 2017

I never understood new Ferrania's intention to make a slide film. Of all film types, transparency must be the one most vulnerable to digital photography. It's impossible to print from directly since the demise of Ciba/Ilfochrome, and harder to scan than colour negative stock, as well being very expensive. Are there still slide clubs? I have no idea but digital projection has captured the group audience.

The few remaining film manufacturers are no secret, so any "new" films are short runs of existing stock repackaged. Technologically speaking, Portra and Pro400H are the peak of millennial film technology and unlikely to be surpassed. When not shooting those I'm happy with Foma level technology for the look and price, and long may their cogs continue to turn.

railwayman3 · Apr 26, 2017

blockkend said:
I never understood new Ferrania's intention to make a slide film. Of all film types, transparency must be the one most vulnerable to digital photography. It's impossible to print from directly since the demise of Ciba/Ilfochrome, and harder to scan than colour negative stock, as well being very expensive. Are there still slide clubs? I have no idea but digital projection has captured the group audience.

The few remaining film manufacturers are no secret, so any "new" films are short runs of existing stock repackaged. Technologically speaking, Portra and Pro400H are the peak of millennial film technology and unlikely to be surpassed. When not shooting those I'm happy with Foma level technology for the look and price, and long may their cogs continue to turn.

IIIRC, the Ferrania Kickstarter project began at the time when Kodak had recently discontinued all Ektachrome (and, of course, Kodachrome in 2010) and backers also envisaged that Fuji might also pull out of slide film. The project was to offer 35mm and 120 slide and 8mm and 16mm cine; other films and sizes were hinted at, to follow later.

The world has moved on since, Kodak are, hopefully, re-introducing Ektachrome, Fuji is still in the game, and, as you say, slide shows get more of a rarity, and negative film or B&W is easier to print and scan. Ferrania has become more interested, for the moment, in the B&W route (yes, I do know it should help to iron out faults and possible problems, toward their promised colour coatings), and no doubt the "alpha P30" has a novelty value (anyone actually had any delivered yet? Just asking ? ). But I rather fear that, the longer Ferraniachrome is delayed (and the longer Kodak take to produce the promised Ektachrome), the less demand there could be, other than from a few dedicated users. And, yes, before I'm accused of being as asshole, as happened from a "Ferrania enthusiast" on another thread, I do still use and enjoy (Fuji) slide film myself, so I'm not knocking anyone ! And I backed the Kickstarter, at one of the higher Reward levels !

blockend · Apr 26, 2017

railwayman3 said:
And, yes, before I'm accused of being as asshole, as happened from a "Ferrania enthusiast" on another thread, I do still use and enjoy (Fuji) slide film myself, so I'm not knocking anyone ! And I backed the Kickstarter, at one of the higher Reward levels !

I'm not anti-slide either, and the clock is ticking on 20 rolls of extinct 120 size Fujichrome in my freezer. It's still difficult to see what advantages transparency has in a digital age, except novelty.

Arklatexian · Apr 27, 2017

OptiKen said:
We all celebrate and rejoice industry announcements regarding new Films and old films being resurrected. We see the re-birth of old film manufacturers and new films being released as validation of our hobby and 'proof' that analog photography is alive, well, and growing.
HOOAH!!
However lately I've begun to wonder if it might be too much, too soon. I wonder if with the opportunity being discovered by the industry that there is growth in an industry once thought dead, it might cause over-saturation to the point where, once again, it is no longer profitable to produce film.
Even small film producers must have a certain volume to justify their existence. We are still a niche market and very likely to remain so. Digital photography is quick and easy for the general public and there is a lot to be said today for instant gratification.
I fear a tipping point in the future, where the choices in film far exceed the needs and desires of the consumer.
This is not 1960 anymore. Everyone doesn't have nor desire a film camera. Memories and moments are still being captured but more with a 'now' and 'disposable' mentality. Your cell phone fulfills that need abundantly.
Will the future see shelves of dusty film boxes unsold reaching their date of expiration?
How long does it take to produce one master roll of film?
How long does it take to sell all of the individual rolls of film it will yield?
Then how do you fill the 'down' time of your equipment? Produce another type of film.
Now, how long does it take to sell all of the individual rolls of film TWO rolls yield?
And so on times one manufacturer - times two manufacturers - times three manufacturers....
Then, how long before one has to close it's doors because it can no longer find balance in supply and demand?
Sometimes we truly do have to be careful of what we wish for.
Will we reach a point of too much of a good thing?

What are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that these people you are worried about know their business far better than I know their business just as I know my business far better than they know my business. That is the name of being in business. I am confident that they will recognize a business slow-down (and all businesses, especially small businesses, have slow periods) in time to do something about it. And if they don't, where I live, the only people who will care whether they stay in business or not will be the owners and employees. That is why most small businesses that have been around for several decades consider themselves as survivors more than successful businesses.......Regards!

Arklatexian · Apr 27, 2017

blockend said:
I'm not anti-slide either, and the clock is ticking on 20 rolls of extinct 120 size Fujichrome in my freezer. It's still difficult to see what advantages transparency has in a digital age, except novelty.

One advantage is that I can buy a new/used slide projector in perfect condition for less than $200.00 unless I am buying a Hasselblad or Rollei 120 projector. The cheapest digital projector that I have had priced to me was over $1000.00 and I can do my editing with slides on a lightbox. This I already know how to do and I don't think that I have time to learn to edit using my computer.......Regards!

Agulliver · Apr 27, 2017

Film Ferrania's original aim was to keep E6 colour film going in 135, 120, super 8 and 16mm at a time when Kodak had recently dropped Ektachrome and Kodachrome and there was considerable worry that Fuji might stop producing E6 film. The main aim is still to produce colour E6 "chrome" films in those formats.

The wider aim was always to find some niche markets, such as unusual formats or speed ratings. This is a longer term prospect. The P30 is a happy coincidence. It was produced to ensure all their slitting and coating machinery was working well, and in doing so they realised they had something beautiful and perhaps unique in the film market. I love the test photos they've published.

But all in all...I am not going to criticise the fact that 20,000 people tried to buy a camera film the day that the Ferrania web shop went online....nor am I going to snipe at them for introducing brand new films onto the market in 2017 regardless of whether I use them. I know they might have capacity to produce 126 film in future years...something I will never use but I'm not going to criticise them if they do it. Such a move would potentially bring tens of thousands of cameras back into use.

New Film Manufactures & Resurrections - Blessing or Bane?

Agulliver

blockend

railwayman3

blockend

Arklatexian

Arklatexian

Agulliver

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