Re: [photo-3d] Re: Digital & the demise of film

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

John A. Rupkalvis wrote:
> Film will certainly be around for quite a while.  But, readily
> available off-the-shelf film that can be bought almost anywhere, as
> we know it?

I think film (especially 35mm film) will be readily available for much
longer than some of the doomsayers realize.  There is a huge market
(the "Third World" or "undeveloped" nations) for film that is only now
starting to accumulate the personal wealth necessary for things (like
cameras) that we in the "Western" world take for granted.  It will be
a long time before these people will be able to afford the computers
and other unmentioned luxuries that digital photography requires.

In addition to that, there are enough people out there hand coating
their own photographic printing papers (usually for non-silver
processes) to keep several companies in the US and Europe in business.
I don't see chemical photography going away anytime soon.
 
> Every year, manufacturers used to introduce their new industrial and
> graphic arts film equipment at the PMA convention, and each one had
> at least one new piece of film-based gear.  This year there was not
> one piece equipment that used film at the show.  Even Kodak showed
> only digital photo based items.

At the most recent PMA Kodak introduced the new single sheet Tmax 100
Readyload packets.  Not only a film product, but a 4x5 film product.

Nikon recently announced the new FM3a manual 35mm SLR body.  I don't
know if it was announced at PMA.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
NAR# 54438                      |       "Dexter's Laboratory"

 

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