[alt-photo] Re: new digital sensor

[Diana Bloomfield]

Well, you're just full of doom and gloom here, etienne. I hope you're wrong.  

I do remember that guy, online, who sold the odd size sheet film that you couldn't find anywhere else-- can't remember his name now, nor the name of the place.  I'm sure somebody here knows.  But I bought a few boxes of his sheet film for a panoramic pinhole camera I made, and he was definitely a small supplier, keeping a relatively small group of people happy.  I'm not sure where he got the film, but it was fine film-- never a problem as far as I could tell.

And a year or so ago, someone gave me several boxes of 4x5 color film, some of which was dated in the mid-1970's, and some from the mid- 1980's.  I'm not even sure where it was kept (if refrigerated), but I said I'd take it off his hands.  And that film has been great.  The only difference I saw was that the colors weren't as intense, which I actually liked.

But I have high hopes that someone will be out there supplying 120 and large format film, for a long time.  Meanwhile,  if things get really bad, as you're promising, I guess I can stick with my now out-of-date and old-fashioned Canon 5D, or just make alt process photograms.  I like those, too. :)
 
Diana
On Mar 23, 2010, at 2:44 PM, etienne garbaux wrote:

> 
>> I have to believe there are enough people who would want 120 and large format film, that some small supplier will still make it.
> 
> As with all obsolete technologies, once an item is no longer in sufficient demand to justify large-scale production, it will no longer be produced using state-of-the-art facilities, techniques, machinery, and quality control.  Unfortunately, film is very demanding in all of these regards and does not lend itself well to production by small suppliers.  So there may be product available when the big boys quit, but it will be made on old, out-of-date equipment in poor repair by people who cannot afford to do proper QC -- and it will be very expensive because of the anti-economies of small scale.  So you may be able to buy a roll of semi-fogged, mis-slit film full of bubbles and dust for $30, but it won't be film like we know it.
> 
> As for 120 and sheets being the last bastions of film -- recall that Kodachrome was available in 35mm long after 120 and sheets were gone.  There's so little sheet film being used today that most makers only do occasional runs every several years.  I think it's safe to say that 35mm will be the last format standing for film as we know it.
> 
> One of these days, someone may make a digital sensor package that fits into existing roll-film cameras.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> etienne
> 
> 
> 
> 
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