Upturn in Analog Photography

Gerald C Koch · Mar 11, 2013

To all the gloom and doom sayers that have predicted the demise of film.

I was just listening to an article on PBS (public broadcasting in America). There is increased interest in analog photography especially in young people in their 20's and 30's. They have become tired of digital seeing it as having little of the creative process associated with it. They also enjoy the expectation with having their film processed This trend is true not only for the US but all over the world. Some camera stores have started selling film cameras again. One of the groups mentioned was "cool girls shoot film."

Jeff Kubach · Mar 11, 2013

That is great to hear!

Jeff

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 11, 2013

From my signature line below at the original time of this post:

"The richness of the experience that occurs when one is exposed tangibly to a subject, material, or process is unmatchable in the abstract... Thus, when 'touch it,' 'taste it,' smell it' become the watchwords, the results are most often extraordinary. Equally extraordinary are the lengths to which people will go to avoid [that] experience."

— Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr., In Search of Excellence, 1982

ronlamarsh · Mar 11, 2013

PBS

PBS is always the most objective news source around because they're not in it for the money or entertainment. Glad to hear people are begining to think for themselves again.............could be a trend.

Darkroom317 · Mar 11, 2013

This was highly apparent at the SPE conference. Most the students had film cameras and a lot of the lectures were about analog processes.

Chris Lange · Mar 11, 2013

for what it's worth, four students, myself included, who are by far the hardest working and most prolific photographers in the photo department at my art school, are all photographing our senior exhibition work on film. Of the four of us, one girl and myself are printing our entire exhibitions by hand in the darkroom (a few 42 inch rolls of Adox MCC and multiple boxes of 16x20" Adox Variotone Warmtone are in the mail). We aren't planning on abandoning our commitments to the medium any time soon.

Ken Nadvornick · Mar 11, 2013

Anecdotal I realize, but in past years the sight of me out in public using a film camera would invariably elicit gently humerous to outright snarky responses.

That has markedly changed.

More recently I've begun to hear responses ranging from admiration to self-loathing despair. Despair as in, "I used to have a <fill-in-the-blank film camera>, but got rid of it when I got this new digital camera. Now I kinda' wish I hadn't done that..."

Ken

mark · Mar 11, 2013

Whoa there. It can't get popular again until I replace some 4x5 film holders. I got rid of mine assuming quick loads would be around for quite sometime. Now I have discovered that one cannot live with 2. Used to be you could grab a bag full for cheap now they are climbing up more and more. And, seeing as how I am continually sniped at auction people want them. So tell all your friends that they don't want to go into 4x5.

Rafal Lukawiecki · Mar 11, 2013

desertratt said:
Well, it's all swell, wonderful and great. But to tell you the truth I'm dedicated to non-digital film photography and will do it even if there's only three others on the planet doing it. If companies stop making film I will make it myself, like they did in photography's dawn early light.

Will you make some for me, then, too? Preferably as perfect as Kodak or Ilford can make it...

Hatchetman · Mar 11, 2013

This should have the link to the audio. I heard it on NPR this afternoon.

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/11/17404...e-act-on-nostalgia-for-a-time-they-never-knew

newcan1 · Mar 11, 2013

I have been "helping" a local digital photographer to rediscover film, using an old Graflex that her late uncle gave her. It's thus far been an emotional experience.

Chan Tran · Mar 11, 2013

Yeah I heard that too! They said they want the unpredictable in film. Oh well I work hard to make my film photography predictable but I am glad.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Mar 11, 2013

The rising prices at KEH.com also provide an indicator of demand for cameras. The Bronica SQ prices bottomed out about three years ago. Bodies were going for under $100. Now they are back over $200.

Newt_on_Swings · Mar 11, 2013

Hatchetman said:
This should have the link to the audio. I heard it on NPR this afternoon.

http://www.npr.org/2013/03/11/17404...e-act-on-nostalgia-for-a-time-they-never-knew

Anyone clicking on this link to hear the broadcast, dont forget the nice little poem on the bottom chat panel about a photographer and her Nikon F3.

hdeyong · Mar 12, 2013

I don't think there's any doubt about it. You just have to look at what the prices for good film cameras and lenses have done on eBay in the last year or so.
I was listening to a radio station in Toronto the other day, and a very successful stereo equipment shop was advertising a three piece special. A receiver/amplifier, a pair of good speakers, and a belt drive turntable.
Someone told me that more cars are leaving the factories in North America with manual transmissions.
My God, what's happening? Are we tiring of the "everything done for you, total convenience" world?

Roger Cole · Mar 12, 2013

Wow. I bought a new car in December 2010 (2011 model) and insisted on a manual and they had to get one for me from a dealer in Florida. All sorts of good news in this thread!

BMbikerider · Mar 12, 2013

The same is apparent here in UK as well (to me at any rate). Ilford are back up to what they were selling before 2000 since SFX was brought back. Papers are still readily available. Kodak - well they have lost out big time with demise of a few B&W films, all their printing papers and all their other slide films. Fuji has cut back too. Agfa has had a slight reincarnation with colour film and the B&W, plus Rodinal is available once again, but no papers.

However the biggest difference for me anyway is the number of materials available, which originate in the old eastern European area.

It is OK having all these materials from whatever source available, but there will come a time when a lot of the cameras we are using now simply cannot be repaired and there is nothing to replace them. As far as I am aware there is only two film cameras made which are of the 'quality' end of the market, the Nikon F6 and the Leica rangefinders. (I am not sure about their film R cameras). However these are too much for every day man to buy and will remain a specialist buy or for someone with a lot of money.

There are a few cheaper end cameras originating from China but that is it. No new medium format apart from a couple of very expensive rangefinder models from FUJI. No Rollieflexes, Bronicas or Mamiyas.

Trond · Mar 12, 2013

BMbikerider said:
No Rollieflexes, Bronicas or Mamiyas.

Not entirely accurate when it comes to Rolleiflexes: http://www.dhw-fototechnik.de/

Available new those who have the money, but way too expensive to me, so I hope my Bronica and Mamiya will last 40 more years!

Trond

alarickc · Mar 12, 2013

Hasselblad still makes the 503....

Dead Link Removed

Jesper · Mar 12, 2013

Where I live they are now offering evening classes in traditional photography. They have been off the menu for some years now and they wouldn't be offering them unless there was a demand.

BMbikerider · Mar 12, 2013

I forgot about the Hasselblad and the Rollieflexes, however I mean new cameras that are reasonably priced, to be used everyday similar to the Nikon F3, Canon F1 Nikon F100 Minolta Dynax 9 or even the likes of something similar to the Pentax MX/ME. t least the manual mechanical cameras are still able to be repaired

Roger Cole · Mar 12, 2013

BMbikerider said:
The same is apparent here in UK as well (to me at any rate). Ilford are back up to what they were selling before 2000 since SFX was brought back. Papers are still readily available. Kodak - well they have lost out big time with demise of a few B&W films, all their printing papers and all their other slide films. Fuji has cut back too. Agfa has had a slight reincarnation with colour film and the B&W, plus Rodinal is available once again, but no papers.

However the biggest difference for me anyway is the number of materials available, which originate in the old eastern European area.

It is OK having all these materials from whatever source available, but there will come a time when a lot of the cameras we are using now simply cannot be repaired and there is nothing to replace them. As far as I am aware there is only two film cameras made which are of the 'quality' end of the market, the Nikon F6 and the Leica rangefinders. (I am not sure about their film R cameras). However these are too much for every day man to buy and will remain a specialist buy or for someone with a lot of money.

There are a few cheaper end cameras originating from China but that is it. No new medium format apart from a couple of very expensive rangefinder models from FUJI. No Rollieflexes, Bronicas or Mamiyas.

Black and white is doing great. In the eastern European stuff there's the Adox version of the Agfa MCC paper, which is excellent. Ilford of course makes wonderful materials.

We need more selection in color, especially if Kodak folds, I agree, and in new cameras. Right now the used market is sufficient, which is why there aren't more new film cameras. But if the market comes back enough, I'd expect them to be more available again. I'm glad I bought my Pentax LX when the prices were much better than they are now - and I might want to start thinking about that Rollieflex I want "some day" and get it sooner rather than later!

I also really want a new 4x5 to replace my very old barely functional Tech III but fortunately those are readily available new in some really good designs.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Mar 12, 2013

Roger Cole said:
Black and white is doing great. In the eastern European stuff there's the Adox version of the Agfa MCC paper, which is excellent. Ilford of course makes wonderful materials.

We need more selection in color, especially if Kodak folds...

It isn't hard to imagine that one day in the not too distant future we might not have color films any more, only black and white. B&W appeals directly to us DIY types, while color still requires a bit of a fuss. (Yes, I know you can develop it at home, but most people won't.)

hdeyong · Mar 12, 2013

Good heavens! I can see it coming, what with prices on eBay and at KEH.
People are going to start hoarding cameras! I'm already thinking a couple of more OM-1 bodies wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe an extra 50mm 1.8, a 35mm 2.8, actually,..... maybe 3 bodies, and a few spare parts.
I'll tell you, it's gonna happen. (I know that for a fact, because I actually bought a second OM-1 the other day, and I'm looking for another, or maybe 2).
Should I freeze them?

MartinP · Mar 12, 2013

I am interested to know how Germany and Adox-Fotowerke have ended up in Eastern Europe?! There is a well known Central European manufacturer, with a wide range of products, in the Czech Republic -- one of their distributors is even a sponsor here. I refer of course to Foma Bohemia.

In Eastern Europe there are at least a couple of paper manufacturers (Slavich and ??) and perhaps one film producer too, though their products are unfortunately not widely distributed - even in Western and Central Europe.

The take up of silver products would be larger if people knew that they are still produced and are easily available. I talk to surprisingly many people who are convinced that Kodachrome was the last film being produced in the world.

Upturn in Analog Photography

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