When film is no longer available.

[cliveh]

This question has probably been asked before, but at what date in the future will I not be able to buy 35mm or 120 film in colour or black & white? Any guesses?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

People have been guessing for over 10 years now. Predictions on many of the main photog sites (photo.net) would say "film will be impossible to get in three to five years..." but that was almost 10 years ago now or more. If color or slide is your forte then perhaps one day little will be found but for b&w I think it will never cease to be available. Maybe not at your local druggist but easily found by mail order.

 

[David Brown]

This question has probably been asked before,

Yes.

Any guesses?

No.

 

[BrianShaw]

30 July 2032

 

[perkeleellinen]

I suggest having six months' stock of film and paper at home and planning no further ahead than that. In those six months really go at it as if that was your last throw. Repeat this process until you get bored and turn to painting or film is no longer available and you turn to painting. Crucially, relax and let the future be.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

April 9th 2012.

 

[Athiril]

If it becomes commercially unavailable, I'll just do some dodgy DIY stuff.

This will be me in the future.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

Athiril... That is SHTF last days of the earth Armageddon kewl. The last remaining film photographers in all their glory!!

 

[fotch]

 

[wildbill]

you'll be able to buy it from me since I'm not keeping up with the two freezers full.

 

[Photo-gear]

the way the market evolves, unfortunately, even the b&w will disappear. the question is when...

human beings, generally speaking, go for the easiest not for creativity.

 

[Vaughn]

Make your own. People are doing it now.

 

[phelger]

I compare photography with horseriding. Once everybody used horses to get from A to B. Then came the automobile and horses disappeared from streets and roads. Once everybody used film to shoot family, events and tourism. Then came digimaging and film disappeared from family, tourist etc life.
But there are stiil - and will always be - those who want to ride a horse, and the same is - and will always be - true for silver-based film and paper.
Maybe the choice of products will shrink but as with horses, the lower quality items will go leaving the better (and pricier) articles available.
No reason to panic, folks!
Peter

 

[F/1.4]

If it becomes commercially unavailable, I'll just do some dodgy DIY stuff.

This will be me in the future.

Fantastic

 

[cliveh]

I compare photography with horseriding. Once everybody used horses to get from A to B. Then came the automobile and horses disappeared from streets and roads. Once everybody used film to shoot family, events and tourism. Then came digimaging and film disappeared from family, tourist etc life.
But there are stiil - and will always be - those who want to ride a horse, and the same is - and will always be - true for silver-based film and paper.
Maybe the choice of products will shrink but as with horses, the lower quality items will go leaving the better (and pricier) articles available.
No reason to panic, folks!
Peter

Yes, but a horse is not manufactured.

 

[Yamaotoko]

I'm not sure, but it'll probably be a Friday. Maybe check with the Mayans?

 

[Roger Cole]

Yes, but a horse is not manufactured.

No but horse riding equipment is. Granted, there's a difference - horse tack is relatively easily made by a single craftsman who can work leather and rivet. Film, not so much. Still I think black and white will be around a long time, maybe indefinitely. I'll get into wet plate if it isn't.

 

[CGW]

Let's start a pool! I'll volunteer to hold the money.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

the way the market evolves, unfortunately, even the b&w will disappear. the question is when...

Maybe someday but not in our lifetime. Too easy and cheap to make and from reports I've read some sectors of B&W sales are increasing. It may be a serious niche market but big enough to maintain production commercially.

 

[DarkroomExperimente]

photography didn't kill painting...people still paint

powerboats didn't kill sailboats either

 

[brian steinberger]

I feel the buyers of black and white film and paper are obviously aware of the "benefits" of digital and choose not to use it. So those of us that use it will continue to do so. What I fear is when those start dying off will the younger generation continue to pick it up? That is the question.

 

[kevs]

21st of December 2012. Nibiru is coming... :-D

 

[dwross]

Make your own. People are doing it now.

http://thelightfarm.com/cgi-bin/htmlgen.py?content=04Apr2012

 

[cliveh]

My guess is that after 2018, film will be difficult to buy and at a prohibitive price. But as has been suggested by CGW perhaps we should start a book and the winner collects the contents of one of Wildbill's freezer.

 

[dwross]

No but horse riding equipment is. Granted, there's a difference - horse tack is relatively easily made by a single craftsman who can work leather and rivet. Film, not so much. Still I think black and white will be around a long time, maybe indefinitely. I'll get into wet plate if it isn't.

Should the day come, please consider dry plate. Easier, cheaper, safer than wet plate. Probably less skill required than for tack making, not to mention blacksmithing! And making film is only a bit more complicated than dry plate. I make my own film and love doing it, but in all truth, I think commercial film will be around for a good long time (at least b&w.) Between the excellent prospects for commercial and the guaranteed potential for diy, there's no excuse for pessimism.