adrian bastin Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Reading Trevor's last thread, it seems a lot of improvements are going on in film and it occurred to me that manufacturers are concentrating not on the mass market but dedicated users who want quality above speed and convenience ; and on doing what film is best at. So instead of film dissapearing, we are getting spoiled for choice. With this should come higher quality processing and services ? If this subject has already been done to death: apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross_wilson1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 If they're putting money into film R&D still, then it maybe that better chemicals could arrive that in themselves could provide a better result. Chemicals are being developed (no pun intended) all the time not just for film but that my have benifits to film processing services. Advancements in technology also help in the R&D labs and making things cheaper (not just for gadgets and digi photography). Who knows, if there's someone out there who can make colour tempreture indipendant dev chems, then they're going to sell a lot of it! That's a market worth having. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymond_tai Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 I don't see how you came to this conclusion just because Fuji has re-named a film they introduced last year and probably were aleady in development way before digital became so accessible to regular consumers. High quality processing and services? I would be surprised if there were any processing services left. Here in Hong Kong we are down to one full service pro lab and the only choice for large format processing. Regular one hour places have gone digital else disappeared. And if I want to buy b/w chemicals I would have to run up to China for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian bastin Posted April 27, 2006 Author Share Posted April 27, 2006 Raymond, I'm drawing no conclusions. Just want your ideas on the heading of this thread, as a trend in the future. Ross, wouldn't that be something ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_thorlin Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 There have been a number of new films recently but not as many as new digital cameras :) Within 15 minutes of where I live in the little old backward UK there are 5 processing facilities 2 of which are professional level and I live almost in the sticks. I think the major benefit of the rise of digital is the ability to lay ones hands on quality cameras for virtually a song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross_wilson1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Indeed although some pro labs have closed, it may be that they were surplus to requirements prior to digital. The digital revolution has simply trimmed the fat. The four pro-labs I have used are all still going strong. There have been some shake ups, a few services have been dropped, but that's inevitable. I mean, I even have a pro lab around the corner from me in Southampton, and there's nothing good usually in Southampton! In fact the guy there was telling me how all his ergular clients are going back to medium format after trying digital. If you ask me, film has photoshop built in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross_wilson1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Here's how I came to that conclusion; Fuji has re-named only their 400 speed film, the two new 160's are new emulsions, add to that the new 400 slide film that's coming out and the recent Velvia 100. That's not bad considering film is 'dead', regardless of when it was in R&D. If film manufacturers stop making film, leaving only a couple left, then that doesn't mean those few business stays the same, the get bigger, not proportionately so, but bigger all the same. Also, Fuji are a few years away from their new technology for DSLR's it pays them to keep developing new films until their new technology is out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 In the long term you may be right, Adrian. The downside of film no longer being the dominant consumer choice is the loss of local developing and processing options. The upside is that those remaining no longer have to cater to the whims of the average consumer who values cheap cost and convenience above all else. I went shopping for a new turntable recently, and there are more affordable, audiophile quality turntables on the market now than there have ever been, you just won't find them at your local Best Buys. Perhaps the future of film will follow a similar path. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian bastin Posted April 27, 2006 Author Share Posted April 27, 2006 The record turntable is a good case in point. (and I much prefer a good quality LP to a CD) The world is getting to be a very interesting place, not just with room for minorities but composed of them/us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 I used to have two pro E-6 labs offering 2 hour service close by, less than a mile away. One closed about 15 years ago, the other about 10. That reflects the a lot of the "quick & dirty" catalog and trade journal product shots stuff going digital, along with amateurs no longer shooting slides. Within 10 miles I can still find E-6, custom C-41 and B&W services available including silver gelatin prints. The cheap end of that silver gelatin market has gone though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_h__portland_ Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Kevin, I realize this is OT a bit, but since you're looking at turntables consider my favorite, the Linn LP-12. It's an amazing machine. And if you're particularly well-heeled, you might look right in your backyard at one of Basis Audio's models. Fellow P-netter A.J.Conti runs the company and he's in New Hampsire. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob haight Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Still think film will be difficult to find in the not too distant future. Not enough new users coming in to sustain it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Ron, I just bought a used Rega Planar 3 off flea-bay; there are tons of aftermarket parts and mods for them, and I'm trying to keep to a $500 budget. Origin, Pro-ject, and Music Hall all make new tables in that price range, and you'd have to spend multiples of their price to get a CD player that might sound as good. The fact that you can't find them at your local Circuit City means the manufacturers can put their money into making a good sounding deck, rather than the silly features and gimmicks that consumers want. If the same holds true for film, I think we might all be using mailers rather than driving to the local lab, but then again, we won't have to explain the advantages of a dip and dunk developer to an indifferent local lab owner, either. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Uh-oh, seems I just stumbled into some bizarre reality distortion filed. Pardon me while I try and find my way out... www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 reality distortion <I>field</I> www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nels Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 "Digital doing serious film users a favour?" If yes, I am yet to be thanked by the ingrateful bastards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Do you own, or have you ever heard a decent turntable, Brad, or are you just making a gross generalization of some sort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Thank you, Nels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian bastin Posted April 27, 2006 Author Share Posted April 27, 2006 Crumbs!..You mean I didn't start this thread talking about turntables ? It started back there in the middle of a sentence: I thought I was reading about an obscure camera and the word 'table' crept in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Great. See what you did, Brad? Now Al and Nels are here. Can Todd be far behind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 <I>Do you own, or have you ever heard a decent turntable, Brad, </I><P> Yes in the past - driving a Holman preamp. Why? Wasn't commenting on your post, Kevin. www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_kaplan1 Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Quite a few years ago I thought I saw the handwriting on the wall. I bought several spare cartridges and lots of extra needles for my turntable. Git 'em while ya can, I figured! I knew that I wanted to keep listening to my collection of classic rock and blues in analog sound. Well, I could still be buying new needles and cartridges today if I didn't have such a stash. My son bought a tube amp for his guitar a couple years ago so I assume you can still buy tubes. Friends in the recording industry tell me that a lot of stuff is still being recorded and mixed analog. So why is it so surprising that that some folks still like shooting film and printing silver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_lo_..._t_o Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 So Brad: why are you wasting your time here among the deluded When you could be going back to your "filed distortions"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian bastin Posted April 27, 2006 Author Share Posted April 27, 2006 As long as it doesn't turn into ancient folk craft, like knitting your own inglenook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_ Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 <I>So Brad: why are you wasting your time here among the deluded</I><P> Dunno Jack-o. To see you squirm, maybe? www.citysnaps.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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