terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

The "box" camera that I had in 1950 or so was a Brownie Hawkeye, and sounds very similar to that description. It used 620 roll film.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

and film is used by lots of cameras not made by Canon. In fact, Pentax may release a new film camera this Spring.

BebuLamar

I have 4 Pentaxes. K1000, KX, S3 and ME Super. I used the KX the most. Never used the K1000.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have several old box cameras. Three of them used 620, which was the same film as 120, but on a different spool.

polonois Loc: Lancaster County,PA.

Deleted

Hip Coyote

You're confused on what a troll is and use the term a little too loosely. A troll is, "a is a person who posts or makes inflammatory, insincere, digressive, extraneous, or off-topic messages online or in real life, with the intent of provoking others into displaying emotional responses, or manipulating others' perception, thus acting as a bully or a provocateur." Posting that something was talked about years ago or off handidly mentioning their film forum but giving extensive on-topic info is not trolling. There was no provocation and in fact their comments added to the interesting nature of this post...until the name calling started to fly.

MrPhotog

Since you are asking about 35 mm film cameras that are being used:

Leica released an interview that said they expect to sell 5000 new analog (film) cameras in 2023. This is ten times the 500 analog cameras they sold in 2015. They are currently selling three analog models: a new production of the M6, as well as a similar MP model (both have a behind the lens light meter), and the M-A model which has no meter or battery.

Most recent I’ve read from Ricoh-Pentax is that they are committed to bringing out film cameras under the Pentax brand name, but are still deciding on a design, so their anticipated release of one in Spring of 2024 might be delayed.

BebuLamar

Wow! The M-A would be a very nice camera indeed.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

I was referring to what tends to go on with discussions in general, but I agree he has taken a contrary stance in this post.

skatz

I have many 35mm film cameras, but the only ones with film (B&W) in them right now are a Nikon SP and a Leica M3. But 90% of the photos I make are done with one of 2 digital (Nikon and Olympus) cameras. If I decide to do much more film photography it will be large format.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Wow! 5000? Film is BACK baby! 😜🤪🤣😂🤣

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

At $5295 each for an M6, that adds up…

MrPhotog

Leica says this is their best year ever. They are apparently selling a lot of digital cameras, too, with their Q2 and new Q3 being very popular, but I don’t think they are releasing numbers.

I don’t know where you are seeing $5295 for an M6, but that is a really good price.

B&H lists that M6 and the MP for $400 more, at $5695 each, with the un-metered M-A just $100 less, at $5595.

Most of these will go to people who will buy one or more new lenses for them. Tack on another 3k to 5k and you get a picture of a growing market of people willing to spend a lot of money on (obsolete??) film cameras.

Interestingly, the M6 is sold out at B&H at the moment. They don’t seem to sit long on the shelf. Even at such high prices.

I think if they could make these faster they could sell even more. Or maybe not. One of the features is that each is hand made. Speeding up the process might convey the impression of lesser quality.

Maybe Ricoh-Pentax will get the hint. If they got moving and cranked out a new issue of the venerable (and popular) K-1000 they would have the only film SLR on the market. One with a proven history of reliability and a huge supply of existing K-mount lenses already out there.

BebuLamar

If I were to buy a Leica it makes more sense to buy a film camera than a digital.

MrPhotog

These days large format ain’t such a bad idea.

A new Intrepid 8x10 view camera is $460. Add on shipping, a lens board and a used 300mm to 360 mm lens and you are at about $1000. That is about 1/6 the price of a new 35 mm Leica body. Even at $2-$4 a sheet for B&W film you could spend a couple years shooting thousands of pictures before matching the price of a current 35 mm camera and lens.

Interesting advantage to 8x10 is that you can use non-silver processes for your prints, making them far cheaper than silver-based prints. The non-silver processes are not as sensitive to light, but the big negatives are great to contact print. Or scan.

And if the film industry spirals into oblivion the camera is just a happy with shooting wetplates. Like the non-silver print paper, you can make those from common chemicals you can mix at home.