Cheaper film cameras

Mycroft H

Accordin to todays independent, film cameras are now cheaper by 17% on last years prices. I wonder if this would cause a revival of film slr??

ThOnda

Nope

The prices are falling because there are almost no new models. And aging of cameras (computers, mobile phones) is very fast.

Even classical and very good cameras (lenses) are loosing their price, although their value is still very good.

The only cameras gaining some value are collectible and very rare cameras. But it is the same with all quality products (cars, watches,...).

The price of the film process is slowly increasing. Reduce of the production of the films makes them more and more expensive, not to mention development and printing. It is time consuming process and the time (people-hours) is the most expensive part of all services. Therefore labs will be forcing people to use digital more and more to reduce time spent on development of the films.

In my opinion, majority of labs will dispose their film-processing units at the end of the next year and they'll be sending films for development to bigger and specialised centers (mother companies). They will invest in their in-house processing capabilities (hw and people - note to myself to study processing) and to different types of printing (larger formats, greater assortment of paper types).

So most of the film cameras will get cheaper, but using the film won't get cheaper ever.

Morrisseeee

Because of what ThOnda outlines above, Film is always going to be a rare hobby (and a skillful one) to take up. More rewarding though, I'd imagine !!