Talk Of New Film Cameras

[Jeremy Mudd]

Still cheap for a niche luxury item.

Completely agree.


Jeremy

 

[CMoore]

Whether or not we are actually likely to see a new film camera, I believe that the time is ripe for manufacturers to seriously consider introducing one to the marketplace.

That being said, I have given a lot of thought into what would make one a success in the marketplace. I am primarily a Nikon user, so I will concentrate my findings on a new Nikon SLR model.

First, it should be reasonably small and light, as well as relatively affordable, with emphasis on reliability, usability, and durable build quality.

Second, it should be simple and fully compatible with the whole range of manual Nikkor lenses (folding Ai tab, closed loop metering), with the possibility of a hybrid electronically aided manual/af focusing screen.

The features I personally value the most are a stepless electronic shutter (usable with all manual focus lenses), exposure lock, and both center-weighted and spot metering, all of which I find essential for shooting slide film.

When you say...... "First, it should be reasonably small and light, as well as relatively affordable, with emphasis on reliability, usability, and durable build quality."

How "Relatively Affordable" will a camera be that can do what you mention in your post.?
In a number of dollars what would "Affordable" price be.?
Thank You

 

[benjiboy]

I think that producing a new SLR film camera for a manufacturer would be financial suicide when even companies who manufacture digital cameras are experiencing sharp declines in their sales because the majority of consumers use their smartphones and are perfectly happy with them, and what does " affordable camera" mean, doe's it mean affordable to me a retiree living on a pension or to a dentist or a lawyer?

 

[MattKing]

or to a dentist or a lawyer?

Or even worse, an electrician or a plumber!

 

[George Mann]

And once people start shooting one roll a month it is not sustainable market, or is it?

If 10% of the world's population shot 1 roll a month, it may be enough to support their consumer production.

I for one agree that the price of film is getting out of hand.

 

[George Mann]

When you say...... "First, it should be reasonably small and light, as well as relatively affordable, with emphasis on reliability, usability, and durable build quality."

How "Relatively Affordable" will a camera be that can do what you mention in your post.?
In a number of dollars what would "Affordable" price be.?
Thank You

I figure $500 to $800 US depending on the features provided.

 

[George Mann]

Still cheap for a niche luxury item.

And it will increasing remain so as long as this excessive price trend continues.

 

[MattKing]

If 10% of the world's population shot 1 roll a month, it may be enough to support their consumer production.

That would be 780 million rolls a month.
Somewhat unlikely, I am afraid.

 

[George Mann]

I think that producing a new SLR film camera for a manufacturer would be financial suicide when even companies who manufacture digital cameras are experiencing sharp declines in their sales

You are forgetting the large uptick in film usage. If the trend continues unabated, than the market may prove right for one.

 

[George Mann]

That would be 780 million rolls a month.
Somewhat unlikely, I am afraid.

We will see.

 

[benjiboy]

You are forgetting the large uptick in film usage. If the trend continues unabated, than the market may prove right for one.

There are enough used cameras on the market at a reasonable cost to satisfy the "up pick of film usage"

 

[George Mann]

There are enough used cameras on the market at a reasonable cost to satisfy the "up pick of film usage"

They are getting increasingly long in the tooth. The majority of them have issues, and some people prefer to buy something new.

 

[skorpiius]

There are enough used cameras on the market at a reasonable cost to satisfy the "up pick of film usage"

They are getting increasingly long in the tooth. The majority of them have issues, and some people prefer to buy something new.

Seems like a more financially feasible solution might be for a company to specialize in "like new" refurbishment of a select number of existing camera models.

 

[skorpiius]

Debating if purely mechanical (eg Nikon FM(2), Pentax MX) or one of the electronic with a mechanical feel (eg Nikon FE(2), Pentax Super Program) would be a better choice.

Later fully electronic plastic cameras probably appeal to a subset of new film users who would prefer a film version of their digicam which would also mean the last gen of film cameras which probably aren't in need of major overhauls.

I would avoid most between the late 80s and late 90s as they seem to be more or less worthless judging by sale prices.

 

[Sirius Glass]

They are getting increasingly long in the tooth. The majority of them have issues, and some people prefer to buy something new.

Who are these "some people"? Are "some people" the mysterious, all powerful "they" whom my parents were so afraid of? Are "some people" a specific countable group?

 

[George Mann]

Who are these "some people"? Are "some people" the mysterious, all powerful "they" whom my parents were so afraid of? Are "some people" a specific countable group?

Just people in general who wants something that works reliably out of the box.

 

[ciniframe]

I figure $500 to $800 US depending on the features provided.

Ah, $500-$800, well perhaps we should have a poll to see whether that figure would be described as relatively affordable by what percentage of contributors here. For myself that amount would be out of the question but my situation and nature (I've always been a bit cheap) may not be the usual. If making a new 35mm SLR my thought is, don't reinvent the wheel, copy what has come before, I would think that most patents have expired on any mechanical shutter.

 

[benjiboy]

Seems like a more financially feasible solution might be for a company to specialize in "like new" refurbishment of a select number of existing camera models.

There is nothing to stop the purchaser of a used camera from having a service engineer check the camera over.and lubricate and adjust it.

 

[MattKing]

There is nothing to stop the purchaser of a used camera from having a service engineer check the camera over.and lubricate and adjust it.

A company that specializes in refurbishment would probably need to be in the parts remanufacturing business as well.

 

[skorpiius]

There is nothing to stop the purchaser of a used camera from having a service engineer check the camera over.and lubricate and adjust it.

A company that specializes in refurbishment would probably need to be in the parts remanufacturing business as well.

Agree with both, but the advantage of a refurbishment specialist would be developing a rich documentation of repairs, ability to fab (3d printing?) common parts, and also to give as an option a 'new in box' restorations for sale.

I'm thinking good models to cover might be from a 3 way venn diagram of the 50% most in demand, 50% most reliable/durable, 50% most repairable and see what models cover all 3.

 

[skorpiius]

Just for fun, here's a selection of film cameras and how many have sold during the past 3 months on Ebay
Anything popular that I've just totally forgotten about? In cases where models have different names depending on region I searched on all and combined, for the most part anyway.

The ones above the spoiler tag make up just under 50% of the total list counts

Canon AE-1 941
Canon AE-1 Program 812
Pentax K1000 604
Canon A-1 518
Nikon F3 442
Olympus OM-1 390
Nikon F2 387
Minolta X-700 330

Spoiler

Yashica Electro 35 (all) 323
NIkon FM 285
Nikon FE 287
Nikon F4 289
Pentax Spotmatic 254
Olympus OM-2 251
Nikon F100 239
Nikon FM2 176
Nikon FE2 169
Minolta SRT 101 169
Nikon F5 167
Pentax ME Super 141
Canon EOS 1N 139
Canon F-1 135
Minolta X-370 133
Yashica 124g 121
Minolta XD 111
Nikon F/N80 105
Pentax MX 95
Canon Rebel 2000 92
Nikon FA 87
Olympus OM-4 81
Nikon F6 80
Nikon F/N90 80
Canon EOS 1V 79
Canon EOS 3 67
Nikon FM3 66
Canon Elan 7 61
Pentax LX 60
Minolta SRT 201 60
Pentax ME 54
Canon Elan II 52
Canon EOS 1 49
Minolta XG-M 49
Canon Rebel G 38
Minolta SRT 102 29
Minolta Maxxum 7 28
Pentax KX 25
Minolta X-570 22
Minolta Maxxum 9 15
Minolta 7000
Olympus OM-3 11
Canon Rebel XS 10

 

[AgX]

Just for fun, here's a selection of film cameras and how many have sold during the past 3 months on Ebay

The problem though is, Ebay is just one market, but the only with public information.

The local-sale markets market may be bigger or smaller, with same or complete different choices. Nobody knows.

 

[ic-racer]

Just to deviate more from the topic at hand. I wanted a Rolleiflex 6008AF and searched for a month using Google. Most listings on Google lead back to ebay, or B&H or Adorama. B&H and Adorama still have the 6008AF on their websites but it is listed, of course, as DISCONTINUED.
Then one day by chance I was searching for some un-related item and came across https://www.vintagecamera.nl. Surprisingly they had a 6008AF that never showed up in a Google search.

The point I'm making is that Google is a corrupt search engine.

BTW, in spite of the worldwide conditions, the camera came from Amsterdam to my home in a little over a week. I'd buy from them again now that I know about the site.

To further digress, in the 1990s there was a website devoted to listing websites of used photography gear. That website is only available on the WayBackMachine now. But it would be reasonable to start a running thread somewhere on this forum to keep a list of dealers in used photography gear outside of EBAY.

 

[Huss]

Fuji C200 is $11.99 for 3 rolls of 36. So, $4 a roll. Cheap.
Nikon N75 is $25. Cheap.

Both are fantastic.

 

[George Mann]

Nikon N75 is $25. Cheap.

Including the lens?