Given my earlier statements, though, film will not disappear because of the
marketplace. There'll always be enough hobbyists and craftsmen to keep the art/craft
alive. It would only be gov't regulation that would eliminate the chemical usage.
But with either scenario, film volumes are going to be (and certainly are now being)
reduced. The midrange camera market (SLRs for hobbyists like us) are taking the big
hit. As I reported earlier this year, a local large-volume retailer of camera
equipment sold more digitals in the $500-$1000 range than ALL BRANDS SLR FILM CAMERAS
COMBINED!
Low-end users are already buying the $200 digital cameras. Midrange is spending the
bucks as well. On the pro end, I know of many that have parted with their Blads, et.
al., and going to digital (except for large-print shots). Anything printed 8x10 or
smaller is digital. 11x14 & larger are film. But as anyone doing pro work knows,
these are low-frequency tasks. The vast majority get the 4x5 & 5x7 prints.
What I'd like to see is whether the pro digital revolution has put many pro labs out
of business. One in Columbus is probably going to close soon (rumor I hear, but no
knowledge to go by) because of lower volumes.
All spectrums are changing. The only thing remaining is for enough to change that the
labs doing consumer work begin to close or cut back. We're at least at the plateau
where no more appear to be put in recently.
Collin (ramblin' on)
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