Did you ever think..... Did you ever think digital photography would take off the way it has? So much so that now it's almost hard to buy film, or even having it processed? I have...

picturedude Loc: Yosemite natl. park, Ca.

Did you ever think digital photography would take off the way it has? So much so that now it's almost hard to buy film, or even having it processed? I have asked a few of my friends who work in the Yosemite stores how much film they sell now. They almost all say just 2-3 times a week. Most stores have even got rid of their film processing equipment.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Most of the businesses in my area no longer do it either. Only 1 in the next city to the South of me does it yet.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

When I was a kid, my first camera was a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. Now Kodak is bankrupt and does not sell film cameras in the U.S.

HUGE change.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Even though I never really shot with film I would say that no I didn't really think that it would take off quite like it did. Although I think I was in the 5th grade when my school system bought a few of those Sony Mavica(something like those anyway) cameras and I thought of how much trouble it must be to take pictures that way and there was no way I wanted to do that.(Some of our teachers could barely lift them, let alone hold it still long enough to get a picture taken with it.) I figured I would continue to use disposable cameras over that. But then I turned around and all of a sudden there were newer better cameras out there and it seemed like they would keep on coming and I knew then that something major was happening. Now I am really glad to have digital because I probably would have never gotten into photography if I had had to use film and possibly get into having to set up my own darkroom and everything.(I don't have the space for it.)

professorwheeze Loc: Maine, USA

Occasionally, I will get some E-6 film and process it at home just to have some connection to the past! Then digitally scan the positives. So much fun!!!!

noknees438 Loc: NYC

I don't miss film at all. I was going through some old film albums the other day to see what I could digitize via my scanner and couldn't believe how many blurry, off center, crummy shots I took in past years that I had to PAY to get processed. Good riddance to film!

rfbccb Loc: Central Mississippi

noknees438 wrote:

I don't miss film at all. I was going through some old film albums the other day to see what I could digitize via my scanner and couldn't believe how many blurry, off center, crummy shots I took in past years that I had to PAY to get processed. Good riddance to film!

Don't sound like it was the films fault.

noknees438 Loc: NYC

for sure, but at least now when I screw up, it doesn't cost me lol

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

No. Initially, I never imagined the success of digital. I am on record in print, in major magazines, as saying that I thought digital would level off at 6 megapixels (= good snapshot quality) but that serious photographers would continue to use film.

Boy, was I wrong.

Cheers,

R.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

picturedude wrote:

Did you ever think digital photography would take off the way it has? So much so that now it's almost hard to buy film, or even having it processed? I have asked a few of my friends who work in the Yosemite stores how much film they sell now. They almost all say just 2-3 times a week. Most stores have even got rid of their film processing equipment.

Kind of expected it but the speed of the change got me, Bob

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

bobmcculloch wrote:

picturedude wrote:

Did you ever think digital photography would take off the way it has? So much so that now it's almost hard to buy film, or even having it processed? I have asked a few of my friends who work in the Yosemite stores how much film they sell now. They almost all say just 2-3 times a week. Most stores have even got rid of their film processing equipment.

Kind of expected it but the speed of the change got me, Bob

Same here. My camera repair business of 20+ years looked doomed with the 35mm point and shoots but I actually did well although I would rather be dealing with SLR's. Then the digitals started creeping in. I loved the early Mavicas with disk drive failures. Very profitable repairs. Then the cheap digital point and shoots flooded the market and it was time to close the doors. Parts cost made it impossible to do the repairs since everything had to be bought as entire assemblies rather than individual parts. I'm sure it was planned that way so users would buy a new product and the manufacturers wouldn't have to deal with something as trivial as repairs. :thumbdown:

bhfranklin Loc: Boston Area / Cape Cod

I wasn't really surprised since I started out as a programmer in the mid sixties and have seen what amazing changes have happened in that field. There is more computer power in my android phone today than we had at a cost of millions at Aetna Insurance in Hartford in 1964.

It's been said that if automobiles had kept up with technology like computers we would be driving 150 mpg autos for about $200. (or something like that!)

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

picturedude wrote:

Did you ever think digital photography would take off the way it has? So much so that now it's almost hard to buy film, or even having it processed? I have asked a few of my friends who work in the Yosemite stores how much film they sell now. They almost all say just 2-3 times a week. Most stores have even got rid of their film processing equipment.

I just processed 100+ rolls of B&W film for a client. I also teach in a school and many of my students are shooting film. Film is not dead its just used a little less. Many people that shoot digital suddenly discover how wonderful film photography is, especially B&W and suddenly people are building darkrooms and making prints. Photography comes from a long and wonderful film background and many people are keeping the process alive and well.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users.
It took television 13 years to reach 50 million users.
It took the internet 4 years to reach 50 million users.

We live in exponential times! Change happens at an increasing rate, and should continue on this path barring an asteroid hit or some other major worldwide catastrophe.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users.
It took television 13 years to reach 50 million users.
It took the internet 4 years to reach 50 million users.

We live in exponential times! Change happens at an increasing rate, and should continue on this path barring an asteroid hit or some other major worldwide catastrophe.