Dale Landan

Perhaps I have been in suspended animation for a number of years but it seems lately that "Ye Ole camera shops" are disappearing faster than the planet rotates. I live in the Antelope Valley in southern California near where all of the Space Shuttle's were built yet there is no longer any where to buy camera equipment except Wal mart or one of the outer major markets Wal Mart has a very limited supply of film no SLR film cameras, but they do have a nice selection of digital cameras. I am an "old guy" 74.5 years old on Christmas Day. I have never used a digital camera though I have a very slight knowledge of them thanks to my brother in law and his Canon eos 1000D and perhaps in the coming year I may get one.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

If you are asking where to buy film, you might try B&H. I have a local retailer (not the aforementioned), but I have ordered film online. You can buy bulk and store it in the refrigerator.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Do it! Their is a learning curve in making the digital adjustments. The exposure part and depth of field etc. is just the same as your old film cameras. You will have a lot more control over such things as color balance and ISO film speed. If you do get one get a good book on your camera (dummies are ok) and see if Ken Rockwell has a tutorial for your camera. Rockwell's tutorials tell you how to set the manual side of your camera. Anyway how he would set it and why. Since you can use a computer you can learn the PP. As soon as you get it out of the box you can set it on the Green A (auto) and start taking pictures. Then you can start learning the other stuff and how to apply what you already know

You will love it - Dave

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Yes, in the last 5 years or so digital has become more than just a toy or curiosity - it is now a serious imageing device ! The up front hardware cost is high and to some degree software, but the long term savings in film processing makes up for it.

amehta Loc: Boston

Calumet has 3 stores in Southern CA: LA, Santa Ana, and Escondido. They will have film cameras and film, and possibly some used equipment. http://www.calumetphoto.com/

Dale Landan

That is currently where I am buying my film. What I was "Rambling about" was the disaperrence of the local Camera stores which in my neck of the woods has occured. The nearest camera store to us here is 50 miles away in the Los Angeles area. Buying on line is great and I do it but I miss the camera shops advice and chit chat and yes some times instructions. Don't you remember the little hut in the mall that sold film and where you could drop off your film for development? They are long gone Gosh, what I would give for a nice dark room set up not just for B&W but color also I no longer can afford this type of equipment even for the easier B&W film I am retred and have a family of 5 so money need by neccesity to go else where,I am not complaining but more of wishing.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

You can still buy film Freestyle in Sammys.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Dale, welcome to the Hog.
Have a Merry Xmas and a happy B-day!
Maybe get yourself a digital for at least one of those occasions.
Again, welcome and enjoy. ;-)
SS

amehta Loc: Boston

Yes, a lot of mom & pop operations have shut down in the past decade or two, the Walmart/Amazon effect. Definitely something is missing as that happens.

LEGALDR Loc: Southern California

Welcome to the Hog. Don't feel too badly. The neighborhood gas station is gone also. Now a simple lube job, oil change and tune-up is only available at a much higher priced auto mechanic shop. Oh, by the way, film is available at the 99 cent stores. Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year.

tmrawshooter Loc: Tampa, FL

Dale, from one "Newby" to another...Welcome to the forum! I only recently joined myself and am already hooked and like you, am an "old timer" as well. Baby-boomer generation and certainly old enough to have grown up with and lamenting the passage of film and related camera stores. I live in FL and you're right about stores like "Ritz" and so many others fading into camera history but thankfully, "you CAN teach an old dog new tricks." You're NEVER too late to learn so pick up a digital of your choice and embrace the new age of photography. You can still purchase darkroom supplies if you prefer but why clutter up your bathroom when you can be even more creative using your computer and software at a relatively low price. Film? Who needs the hassle when you can view on screen or print only what you need - only when you need it? Welcome once again and enjoy the ride. Photography is the ultimate, never-ending story!

dinosaur39 Loc: Harpers Ferry, WV

Our closest camera store closed four months ago. I asked the guy why and he said we cannot compete with Amazon. Broke my heart--they had all sorts of neat gear in there. I used to stop off even when I didn't have anything to buy. Lots of camera expertise/chit chat.

B&H is where I do my shopping now and Amazon and KEH. But no chit chat.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

hi, and from another new person, welcome to the Hog. the main reason you see the small local shops closing, is digital imaging is part of the greater electronics industry. for instance, in order for a local pentax dealer to continue as a pentax digital retailer, he had to buy $100,000 worth of cameras - this in a city with a population of 117,000!. simply could not happen.
since i only use film, and not digital, my advice is to go ahead and set up a b&w darkroom, buy a couple great film cameras and the lenses you want, and have at it!!!

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Dale,

You are correct, the corner film store and developer are gone, as are most of the "One Hour, One Stop, Development Kiosks".

I live 60 miles North of LA, and we still have a few stores handling film and processing. WalMart, Walgreen's, CVS, Sam's Club, and COSTCO, are a few that come to mind. Check with some of your older, long time drug stores, they may still have some film supplies.

Consumer demand has forced the change on photography resources. When we consider the cost of purchasing film, developing film, and developing prints, or displaying transparency slides, the cost continues to go higher and higher.

When we go digital the initial cost is rather high in comparison to the film equipment, until we consider film is a one time resource, and digital can be reused over and over. The camera equipment for digital is now much the same as a comparable 35mm Olympus OM-T4 film camera with two lenses.
You already have a computer to view the digital images, and since you can use it to send e-mail, surf the web, and conduct other types of business that is not a new expense. The additional expense for digital is the software to process your captured images, one you purchase a good, high quality software package your only other expense is ISP services to get on the internet, and you are already there. If you purchase your photo editing software you only incur additional expense if you upgrade to the next newer version. You could purchase an online (Cloud) version, but then you incurs a monthly service fee, whether you use it or not.

Go digital, in the long run, it is not as expensive as it looks. You don't have to purchase the "Top of the Line camera at first, a good starter DSLR, like the Canon EOS 1000D will provide very good results.

Michael G

jmccl Loc: Western Shore of Utah Lake

Personally, I upgraded to film from digital a couple of years ago. I found that using digital I just snaped snaped snaped, with film I take time to study the objective and compose. To quote some notable "when I want to take a picture I pull out the digital, when I want to make a photograph I set up my film camera". B&H to buy the film, www.thedarkroom.com for processing.