Interesting Book Title

[tomrit]

I found this book on amazon.com and thought it might be of interest to those who frequent this forum.

Amazon.com: Film Is Not Dead: A Digital Photographer's Guide to Shooting Film (Voices That Matter) (9780321812803): Jonathan Canlas, Kristen Kalp: Books

Amazon.com: Film Is Not Dead: A Digital Photographer's Guide to Shooting Film (Voices That Matter) (9780321812803): Jonathan Canlas, Kristen Kalp: Books
Amazon.com: Film Is Not Dead: A Digital Photographer's Guide to Shooting Film (Voices That Matter) (9780321812803): Jonathan Canlas, Kristen Kalp: Books

I imagine there will be a vast interest in film about the time it really becomes unavailable, driving old cameras out of the reach of guys like me. As if the collectors are not bad enough, although with a dozen cameras in the house (5 don't work and are awaiting repair or to donate parts) I am beginning to feel like a collector myself.

[Jeff D]

Interesting looking book, Tom, but I don't need to spend 38 bucks to find out something I already knew.
I know what you mean about feeling like a collector. I find myself inadvertently in the same boat, with over 30 Nikons taking up space. Other than light seals, there is only one, a black FE, that needs repair.

Jeff

[gsgary]

And the best thing about film is you don't have to keep upgrading your camera every few years

[tomrit]

Well, I probably should have posted that in a more general forum. Most of the people here already know about film. Hit the "Photography Talk" forum an many of them do not even know that film is still made, much less that it has been improved a couple of times since digital took over the world (I still remembering folks saying, "No one would ever pay that much for a camera", in reference to digital), Kodak recently released new improved color negative emulsions that by all reports are spectacular, unfortunately I only do B&W film.

I posted the link to that book, for the "film is dead" crowd, the unwashed, so to speak.

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by tomrit

Kodak recently released new improved color negative emulsions that by all reports are spectacular, unfortunately I only do B&W film.

Can you tell us, to what new emulsion you are referring? Thanks.

[tomrit]

A new version of Portia 160 was released just last year. And a new version of Portia 400 shortly prior to that. Ektar 100 was upgraded in 2009. So not only is Kodak not ceasing to produce film, but they are also continuing to upgrade it.

Kodak and Fuji seem to have decided to split the market between them, Kodak seems to be curtailing its production of transparency film, while Fuju seems to be curtailing its production of color negative film. Fuji, who actually produced Polaroid film anyway, still is producing the 3-1/4 x 4-1/4 instant pack film. I miss the 4x5 sheet Polaroid stuff myself. Unfortunately old stuff has the developer pods drying out.

In B&W the small players seem to be picking up the areas abandoned by the big three introducing of new emulsions. However, they seem to be doing so in batches rather than continuous production.

The result is that while you may have to mail order your film form a half dozen suppliers, you can certainly get it. In fact you can get stuff that was very difficult to find in the past, like 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 sheet film and ASA 25 stuff. Now if someone would just produce the old style 12 sheet 4x5 film packs. The 12 sheet packs film was about the same as roll film, while the later 16 sheet packs has super thin estar based stuff that many found difficult to process.

I do admit that I usually just stick to digital for color, although I sometimes think I ought to be shooting 4x5 color film, but for me it does not give enough difference to justify the price.