I am not so sure - have seen a few new film outlets and processors open
up here in Spain recently. C41 looks like it may be around for quite a
while. Digital may be the new thing but there are an awful, awful lot
of film cameras out there that folks will continue to want support for
many years to come. Digital cameras are nowhere near the price yet that
would enable true mass market adoption IMO.
Antonio
On 19 May 2004, at 23:29, graywolf wrote:
I do not doubt that film will disappear from mass-market retailers
soon. Many things have. However the internet makes it profitable to
cater to niche markets that were unprofitable in the past due to low
user density in any particular geographical area. You can still get
unpopular sizes of film from internet businesses. Sizes that have not
been on the shelves of even camera stores for decades. Yes you will
probably have to pay a premium price for it, But there will remain
enough of us using the stuff for the popular sizes to stay around for
a long while. You can expect the big companies to drop out of the
market entirely before too very long, as they are investor driven, but
I think there well be some factories still producing film for a long
time to come.
--
Tom C wrote:
It almost makes me feel it my duty to get a 67II. :)
Seriously folks, I think Mr. Robb is likely correct. There doesn't
need to be a total demise of film users for film, as a practical
device, to disappear. The key word is enough. There just has to be
"enough" people not using it, enough film sales not being made, and
enough film not being processed, and enough profit not being made,
for the production lines to shut down.
There was enough people not purchasing Oldsmobiles and Plymouths.
Look at VHS over the last two years... in a couple more I think one
will be hard pressed to find the movie they are looking for. Already
stores are clearing out what used to be $20.00 retail for $5.99. DVD
has taken over.
Is there much difference between whether film goes away mostly as
opposed to totally? I don't think so. It may never go away totally.
But practically, it will be nonexistent in the lives of most people.
Just like LP's. I haven't purchased a new LP since 1987 and
wouldn't pay double or triple for vinyl now (though some may). When
film selections are down to a handful, and we can't find the ones we
like, will we keep shooting on film?
I just wish I knew if that was coming this year, next year, or three
years down the road.
A side thought... it would be interesting though if film became the
preferred archival method for digital.
Tom C.
--
graywolf
http://graywolfphoto.com/graywolf.html
