What 35MM cameras will still work in 2038?

[DWThomas]

What the hey, the way it looks, this thread might still be going in 2038!

DaveT

 

[Larry Bullis]

What the hey...

DaveT

Dave, I gotta know. Is this a Pennsylvanian expression? The only two people I have ever heard or seen use it (of that, you are 1/2) both were from PA.

I'm going to be 96 in 2038, and I'm still going to be using my Leica iiif. I don't even care if I can get film. The topic here is whether the camera will work, right? What does that have to do with film being available?

Did it again. Used a smiley!

 

[André E.C.]

What the hey, the way it looks, this thread might still be going in 2038!

DaveT

True, and the funniest thing is, completely off-topic!:munch:

Now, what CAMERAS will still work in 2038, then?



Cheers



André

 

[2F/2F]

True, and the funniest thing is, completely off-topic!:munch:

Now, what CAMERAS will still work in 2038, then?



Cheers



André

Let's just worry about it when we get there, and close this thread.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Dave, I gotta know. Is this a Pennsylvanian expression? The only two people I have ever heard or seen use it (of that, you are 1/2) both were from PA.

I'm going to be 96 in 2038, and I'm still going to be using my Leica iiif. I don't even care if I can get film. The topic here is whether the camera will work, right? What does that have to do with film being available?

Did it again. Used a smiley!

Jackie Gleason and some others used that expression on TV in the early days of TV broadcasting.

IIRC, there was even a song that used the expression.

PE - from PA

 

[DWThomas]

What the hey ...

Dave, I gotta know. Is this a Pennsylvanian expression? The only two people I have ever heard or seen use it (of that, you are 1/2) both were from PA.

I'm going to be 96 in 2038, and I'm still going to be using my Leica iiif. I don't even care if I can get film.

Hmm dunno -- I just think of it as "more refined" than some other words beginning with H. But have spent all my life in the PA & NJ Philly 'burbs, so maybe I learned it by osmosis. Our household didn't usually watch Gleason, but I could have picked it up indirectly, so PE is probably right.

Yes, I'll be 97 in 2038 and quite happy if I'm still even attempting to take pictures!

I have an original Canon F-1 body I bought from a friend a while back that I've never used, I should check that out, it's a likely candidate for a good many years of use. He thought I should have an all-mechanical body to go with my FD lenses in case a nuclear EMP took out all the electronics. Well, it was a clever sales pitch.

DaveT

 

[Larry Bullis]

...He thought I should have an all-mechanical body to go with my FD lenses in case a nuclear EMP took out all the electronics.

He's right. That's (one reason, but not one I think about much) why I don't want to replace my Leica M2, iiif and M5. Well, maybe the M5 would lose its meter. But the body could survive, if the shutter curtains didn't toast. I guess for me, in SOME regions of life, simpler really IS better.

Although, it seems more likely that instead of EMP, we'll be dealing with just fallout when it happens; a suitcase full of nuclear waste material.

Have we all got a stock of potassium iodide? When it happens, we have to drink a solution of it. The KI will saturate the thyroid and leave no room for it to absorb the lethal radioactive iodine -- at least that is what I heard that impelled me to order more than I need for photo chemicals and distribute it to my daughters and their families.

I'd rather not be wrong about this. Might be a big waste of KI. One or more of the tech people here will definitely know a lot more than I do!

So we really haven't discussed the probability of the planet's survival, or allowing that, of human persistence. Sure, the cameras may still work when the possums take over but if there are no humans to operate them? Having no film is pretty insignificant compared to that. Can possums load film in a Leica iiif? hmmm.

Well, if that ain't a depressing thought to start the new year with. Possum Power!! But let's be positive. There could be hope. Maybe they'll do a better job than we did!

Geez! If I do say so myself, what a ridiculous post! And I'm supposed to be getting ready for a trip.

 

[SamWeiss]

Think if Kodak and Fuji disappeared tomorrow that companies like Freestyle would simply disappear? Companies that like working with film, and supplying film, will find ways to get the equipment, and produce their own. Guys like our own PE would end up working for them.

Freestyle has been adding digital products (mostly for printers) for awhile, and will continue to do so even as film continues to decrease.

"...produce their own" you said... do you mean color or b&w?

The original question was about cameras... which will still be operational in 30 years. Most people agree that the mechanical cameras can be kept operating for another 30 years. My > 40 yr Rolleiflex finally broke down. My >40 yr Ilex shutter is not working quite right. Yet there remain plenty of spare parts for these.

What is doubtful is whether there will be any 35mm film in 30 years. Sheet film... I concur with PE that it is pretty much a shoe-in for long term survival (for b&w.)

 

[Photo Engineer]

Sam;

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Someone was listening!

PE

 

[jonjameshall]

Olympus OM-1, 1N, 3, 3Ti will still be working in the year 2038. If batteries are available, 2, 2N, 2S, 4, 4T, 4Ti will too. John, www.zuiko.com

Got to say that the switches, reliance on the battery for the shutter on the OM series make them less than reliable, in my experience, seen more dead ones than live ones over the last five years Shame as the lens system is great!

My vote goes to the Fujica STX1, a little budget classic. Even though they are pushing 30 years old. Ive seen these in colleges in horrible condition, bashed, kicked, dropped, poked, rained on and they just carry on working and producing good results. Fully mechanical shutter and very basic match light meter from LR44s.

oops, just looked at the dates - this might be a dead thread - sorry!

 

[firecracker]

Honestly, as long as I can shoot film with 50mm lens for 35mm format, I can survive! My Leica M3 with collapsible 50mm F2 and Nikon FM with 50mm F1.8 AiS pancake have been good for me and hopefully will be good for the next 10, 20 years at least.

 

[dynachrome]

35mm Camera Working In 2038

This thread is so long I don't remember whether I posted a reply earlier. I donlt expect any of the electronic cameras to be working in the distant future. One of my favorite 35mm cameras is the Minolta X-700. It has a very bright viewfinder, electronically controlled shutter speeds, interchangeable focusing screens and TTL flash metering. The X-700 was manufactured for nearly 20 years. As long as I can get my X-700 cameras serviced they will probably be my favorite Minolta SLRs. At some point it will not be possible to get the X-700 serviced. For this reason I have a number of SRT series cameras. Even if no button size batteries of any kind are available years from now it should still be possible to get the mechanical parts of an SRT camera working. Based on this, the 35mm SLR cameras I have and expect to work years from now include the Minolta SRTs, Canon F-1F-1n, Canon FT, FTb, FTbN, TL, TLb, TX, EF, Konica Autoreflex T3, T3N, Nikkormats from the FTN to the FT3, Pentax Spotmatic II, Spotmatic F, K1000.

 

[JOSarff]

Most any pro-slr should work, but will there be film?

 

[uwphotoer]

I'm going to be 96 in 2038, and I'm still going to be using my Leica iiif. I don't even care if I can get film. The topic here is whether the camera will work, right? What does that have to do with film being available?

Well heck by 2038 someone may have made a sensor the size of 35mm film to fit in our old cameras to make digital images with the old cameras....... just think a chip the thickness of the film.......

well one can dream can't they......

 

[ChrisPlatt]

by 2038 someone may have made a sensor the size of 35mm film to fit in our old cameras to make digital images with the old cameras.

The problem is it will still be digital!

Chris

 

[johnastovall]

I'm sure my Leica IIIG and M4 will both still be working then.

 

[Curt]

It must be that time of year or something. I was just thinking; what will be done with negatives found a hundred or two years from now.

 

[peter andre]

Without a doubt my Leica R8; Unfortunately I (probably) won't be around then to tell you all the good news!
Happy 2009

 

[cooltouch]

I reckon a well-kept Canon F1 or Nikon F2 will still be functioning 29 years from now. The Leica M-series would be an almost certainty.

Best,

Michael

 

[removed-user-1]

I imagine my Dad's Nikon F will still work perfectly in 30 years, it's gone 40 already and only been in the shop twice for minor repairs.

Also, the Nikon FM/FM2 cameras will still be around. I've used these and they are tough cameras. I spent two years working as photo assistant for a graduation photo studio, and we used FM2s. Some of those cameras looked like they'd been used as armor, but they just worked.

 

[sae]

Like Dynachrome, I hope my X-700 is still going along with the Nikkormat EL and Pentax LX.

 

[sidearm613]

unfortunately, it is very unlikely that any canonets will be working in 2038. too bad, I love my canonet but already it is becoming very difficult to find batteries for the meter

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning;

This kind of a question came up in a local discussion here in Latte Land.

One fellow pointed out that he had the manufacturer's vertical grip or battery grip for his camera, and there was an accessory battery holder that goes inside the grip. This accessory battery holder holds AA penlight cell batteries. The likelihood of AA batteries being around in 2038 is pretty good.

There might be hope for those of us who have succumbed to the lure of the modern electronic marvels. However, as backup I still have my Minolta SR and Nikon F and F2 cameras.

 

[Prest_400]

While we keep an interest in 35mm, it will stay alive. It's like traditions now. If we don't play a traditional dance, it will die.

I have an OM1 CLA'ed and it seems that it will work for years. I believe mechanical OM will work farther than the electronic versions. The only problem are some major parts and the shutter curtains, that will get pinholes of wearing. I believe the OM1 is a bit more reliable than the OM3, the OM3 seems to have a bit more electronics.
I believe that the Trip 35 is able to last also. No bateries to worry about. I think the only problem can be the photocell, if it dies, camera is "kaput".

 

[SilverGlow]

Good morning;

This kind of a question came up in a local discussion here in Latte Land.

One fellow pointed out that he had the manufacturer's vertical grip or battery grip for his camera, and there was an accessory battery holder that goes inside the grip. This accessory battery holder holds AA penlight cell batteries. The likelihood of AA batteries being around in 2038 is pretty good.

There might be hope for those of us who have succumbed to the lure of the modern electronic marvels. However, as backup I still have my Minolta SR and Nikon F and F2 cameras.

You got it. I just recently added AA vertical battery grips to all three of my Canon EOS-3 film bodies. Now I'm ready for the future

Now my only small concern is for how much longer B&W film well be available.