You sure can get new B&W and color 35mm and 120 films and (at least) B&W chemicals! B&H Photo-Video has it all. B&W papers, too. Not the selection from the good old days, but it's there. I won't be getting back into enlarging though. Just getting B&W negs to see if exposures are good.
Multiple mail-order processing labs for B&W and color prints, if one wants to pay the price. That's why I went digital. If I want to use any of my classics for real stuff the processors will supply photos on CDs from film.
Hi. I'm a 68-year-old, been a photographer for well over 50 years, been a Canon user since my AE-1 Program in 1982. Bought my first DSLR new, a Canon EOS 60D, which I am still learning more about. (See my response in the forum about "Canon users-what should I buy?).
Also picked up an EOS 40D recently because it came with a couple of nice lenses. So now I'm figuring out TWO cameras.
I also have a collection of Canon and Nikon film cameras...all the cameras that I grew up envying but not being able to afford along every point in my life.
Gave up shooting film years ago but am contemplating getting film & chemicals (I used to teach photography and had a home darkroom) so I can actually see if all of my jewels really work! No place for a full darkroom, though.
There is no such thing as the "best" camera. "Best" is such a relative term that it's useless for YOU as an individual. Consider:
1. Picture quality is determined by the LENS, not the camera body, myriad features, etc. You can go nuts trying to compare features, and you'll likely never understand all the "great" features of a modern DSLR or any digital camera. I know I don't with my EOS 60D. And I don't have any use for most of them.
2. Stress ERGONOMICS! When I was looking for my first DSLR (leaning toward Canon), I thought an EOS Rebel would suit me just fine. But trying cameras out in the store, I found the Rebels as a family were too small for me to hold and manipulate. My wife says I have nice delicate hands for a big guy, but no. I spent several hundred extra for my 60D because it felt better to hold securely and work the controls. And after using it for a while I invested in a battery grip because it gives even more to get a good grip on. Yes, I take it off sometimes because of the extra weight, but it's nice to have it. The extra weight also makes it more stable in your hands. THINK COMFORT! A camera can be too-compact.
3. Figuring out differences between models will make you crazy, and you'll end up still wondering if you made the best choice. As an old pro in a camera shop said, real pro photographers can make a camera choice based on maybe just ONE feature/function that they need.
4. Don't get sucked in by the "How many Megapixels" thing. It's like the constant horsepower race with cars. How much does a human being need? 10 MP is "good" unless you are doing HUGE enlargement of all or cropped parts of your image. My 60D-18MP and 40D-10MP give me all the photo quality I can hope for. My photos are not being enlarged to billboard-size.
What any/everybody else says is the "better" choice cannot tell you what is good for you.