3 thoughts on “The State of the Revolution Address”

1. Your comments bring to mind the question of film availability. I know there are many good choices out there now, but the trend had not been healthy the past few months. I laugh at the post on (I think) APUG which runs something like “What Papers Will Be Available in 2030?”. My reaction (and I don’t use traditional darkroom printing) is: who knows what papers will be available next year, much less 20 years from now (BTW, I didn’t bother to even look at the conversation for that post). Kodak’s last report showed increased profits in film, but declining revenues. Fuji continues to cut products (Quickloads, films).

   Perhaps in one of your periodic Rants you might be willing to discuss your take on this. Should we all try to focus on one or two films we want to keep alive, to the exclusion of the others? Is Ilford likely to be the last man standing in the B&W film space (unlike Kodak and Fuji, where it is basically a sideline), and we should stop using other manufacturers, so Ilford is available (I don’t use Ilford, but debate whether I should)?

   I am getting to the point where I’m feeling like I should have a 5-10 year supply of any film I use. But I also know that’s not healthy for continuity of a supply chain.

   As always, Stephen, your thoughts appreciated!

   Rick

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   1. Rick- at this point most film makers are cutting down to their best selling films and I don’t see this trend ending anytime soon. But having said that companies who are currently in film production have a big advantage… they already own the expensive facilities to produce films. Kodak will be in the game for quite sometime as I am sure Fuji and Ilford will be… as to which will be the last one standing Kodak has a good chance as most of their films are now made on the same run as motion picture stock and the switch to full digital projection in theaters is many years away due to conversion cost. Another section not to be over looked is companies like Efke… small production with much lower overhead cost…

      We all should keep our eyes open to changes within our industry and make sure our voices as film users is heard whenever possible.

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2. Dear Rick, dear Stephen,

   I don’t think that film production will be stopped soon. The more the big companies retire, the more small producers will overtake the market.

   Besides Efke, first of all, there is Agfa-Gevaert in Belgium, yep, a part of the Agfa legend still exists. They produce for merchands and the amateur market using different brand names like Rollei Retro f.e. and are selling worldwide.

   There’s the crazy guy from Berlin, Mirko Bode, who produces and sells Adox chemistry and rebirthed the famous Agfa MCC and MCP paper, produced in highest quality with the original Agfa machines he has bought . The original Agfa-APX films were produced until 2006 and huge amounts were frozen. When they are finally sold out, Mr. Bode will restart the production of the APX 100, first as 135 film, then as 120. He’s not too old, so we can expect he will be on the block for a couple of years 😉

   Foma in Chechoslovakia makes unexpensive fims and paper, maybe the chinese will produce something more useful within the next years and surely I forgot other manufacturers. And in 2030, people will still be drinking COFFEE 😀 If not, we all will be dead.

   A couple of days ago, I bought a 65 years old Voigtlander Bessa 66 and it takes beautiful pictures. After a selfmade CLA it works like new (try this with a digital cam). It will be ready for the next 65 years. I will be rotten then since many years.

   My estimation is, the producers are not the problem at all, absolutely no problem at all. As long as there are customers. The market needs customers and we all have to care for young people who are interested in photography.

   Thank you so much, Stephen. Your site is a bright light in the dark.

   So far from “old Europe” – love and peace – Reinhold (Heidelberg/Germany)

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