james_baker13

<p>The Icon at 5450 Wilshire (about 8 blocks west of Highland.) http://www.iconla.com<br /> I've been using them for years. A full service bureau including exhibition quality work and complete digital services (plus in-house Lightjet C-prints), and E-6/C-41/B+W film lab with a dip and dunk Refrema.</p>

<p>The contemporary art world rewards intellectual labor. If your emphasis is primarily on the image making process itself and the materials employed, then you might consider seeking venues that are only about the craft (I don't know of any.) Institutions are interested in what you can offer that is unique/unusual/new and worth investing in, and not just in the materials used; although the materials certainly do matter if they inform the work itself. Keep using film if that is the medium that is important to the work, but place your emphasis more on the cerebral side of your production.</p>

<p>What Allen Friday says is something to think about. Instead of spending that sort of money on the box that holds the film, buy a used Leica body (they are easily serviceable even if the one you buy isn't perfect), and spend your money on the lenses (and film and processing costs.) The lenses will always be valuable and useable.</p> <p>On the other hand, if you have the money to spend and want to buy yourself a treat, there's no real reason why you <em>shouldn't</em> buy a new Leica film camera. People spend money on all sorts of things that make them happy; expensive food, fast cars, big screen TVs, etc.. None of them are "investments" but they do have a certain amount of use value (including the emotional 'feel good' sort of thing.) There's nothing wrong with that provided you're not being reckless about it and find yourself not able to feed your dog anymore.</p> <p>Film in some flavor will always be around. People are still doing processes such as cyanotypes, gum bichromate, tintypes (http://petapixel.com/2013/07/10/these-are-the-first-combat-zone-tintype-photos-created-since-the-civil-war/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PetaPixel+%28PetaPixel%29), glass plate collodion (e.g., Sally Mann, etc..) Bostick and Sullivan, Photographers Formulary are still alive and kicking and will be for a long time to come. Ilford is strong, FILM Ferrania should eventually be on line. Kodak is still producing as is Fuji (Fuji may even increase production if Kodak does eventually have to stop.) fwiw, Wiki lists 12 companies still making film today. I personally wouldn't let the fact that film is no longer the primary commercial medium have much affect on your own decisions to use film today and tomorrow. </p>