Why I'm WORRIED About Film Photography

Have you ever considered just how bad things would be if Kodak stopped making film? There have been market downturns and changes in the industry that have left us but basically one lone color film manufacturer.

In this video, we delve into the significant repercussions of Kodak's closure on the cherished hobby of film photography. As one of the pioneering giants in the industry, Kodak's absence would pose imminent challenges to film enthusiasts worldwide. Join me as I explore the dwindling availability of essential film stocks, the potential rise in prices due to limited supply, and the uncertain future of analog photography. From the iconic Kodachrome to the beloved Portra series, the loss of these legendary films signals a paradigm shift for photographers who cherish the tangible magic of analog. Discover how this closure impacts not just the products but also the communities and culture surrounding film photography. Amidst these challenges, we seek to find solutions and avenues to keep the art of film photography alive and thriving. As always, I appreciate you watching.

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[Overexposed]

How screwed would we be if Kodak stopped making film?

[PokhrajRoy.]

Growing up, photography studios and camera catalogues used to be a thing. The culture and curiosity are as important as ‘demand’.

[londonskaterboi]

Fujifilm recently started the production of new colour film in Japan

[jasonphilbrook]

The biggest practical obstacle to color film photography is that 95% of scanning sucks. Color scanning is about 4x harder than B&W scanning. If there were a way to use digital references to calibrate a scan super easliy, maybe some AI can take care of that skillfully someday, we can adapt to more unusual color films. Yes, Kodak's offerings are nearly untouchable excellence sometimes, they are not neutral color balance either.

[filmstockreel]

I see where you’re coming from but I feel like the points you’re making are ones we’ve been living with for years. If anything things are better now than they were 2-3 years ago. There is more reason to be optimistic than there is to be worried based on even the reasons you give in this video. Thanks for continuing to make these appreciate the point of view.

[petesime]

I'm all about black and white myself. Although I have dabbled with making trichromes.

[AdamAllen]

As much as I love film photography (and being old enough to have only film at one point), all of these pop-up, off-color film stocks are so uninteresting. Having to rely on 1 color accurate film manufacturer and the ludicrous pricing has certainly played a roll in me going back to shooting digital more. This is also most likely why major camera brands aren't solely interested in doing R&D for a new film camera. We need a few more heroes to step it up in the world of film stocks.

[Flburr]

All valid points. The other side of the coin is aging film camera equipment. We’ll see 2 new film cameras this year but the half frame is pretty much a novelty. The new Rollei with LiDAR seems like a serious effort though. Other than that there’s not a camera company that seems to be interested in film. Even if they just made a new run of their last most popular camera bodies with no changes, it would really boost the market.

[driftfits]

I’d like to start by thanking you for a nice, digestible, and informative video.
I don’t foresee Kodak backing out anytime in the foreseeable future.
Pharma is a big money maker, high initial cost for them, but the rewards are huge. I’ll see if i can spot a rep at the next few trade shows i have to go to.
Regardless, with Mint and Pentax stepping back into the film ring, i think we will see a huge moment that can either really help bring film back and make it cheaper, or send it back on a spiral.

[PokhrajRoy.]

I was just thinking about dabbling in film photography.

[MarcoRoepers]

I am also very good in worrying but it does not make the situation any better. The only thing that does help is to live in the moment and enjoy shooting film

[gavinjenkins]

If Kodak goes out of business in film forever, that same obligation to shareholders would require selling the patents required.

[phuchong]

This video has been a real eye opener!

[MarksPhoto]

There's a better chance of Kodachrome coming back than Aerochrome. Film shooters are fortunate that Kodak invested in an entirely new line (building) in the early 90s, with all the modern technology back then. Imagine if they were still running equipment from the mid 20th Century, held together with baler twine and duct tape.

[bartoszpajak]

There’s something else that worries me. The cameras we’re using are at best 20 years old. I don’t want to know how many thousands of them die and go forever every single day.

[slicebreakz]

To add to Fuji point another rumor that started is that Fuji sold there film naming rights to Kodak and Kodak just manufactures Kodak film and puts a Fuji name on it. So yea if Kodak stopped we’d be very screwed

[SomeUnremarkableGuy]

I`d say we need to try to support adox and harman in this. sure they are not perfect, but this is a huge thing for us and they can be improved. I don`t think Kodak will stop producing film as long as there is film demand in hollywood. I have question, why there are no respooled fujifilm like there is from kodak like their vision film?

[artistjoh]

Film cannot survive just on old cameras. It needs new cameras. That is why the new Lomomatic 110 is important. But we need new 135 and 120 cameras. New cameras will goose film sales.

[teleaddict]

I don’t think we will ever see another company again making film as good as Kodak. In this digital age, we are very lucky that Kodak is even still going through the difficult process of making film when most people are shooting away on their phones. If film prices continue to rise, then demand for film will slow down. With Fuji releasing cameras like the recent X100VI that does a good job of replicating the look of film, a lot of people will be thinking is film worth it anymore? But I will plow on flying the flag for film for now, but I am one more price rise away from quitting and that Fuji is tempting me more and more.

[terencelaubach]

Gone and not coming back, the sad truth as far as I can tell. My favorite color film back in the day (70's and 80's) was Kodachrome 25. Gone. Black&white was and is Tri-X. Held off long as I could then bought a digital camera in 2014. I shoot color digitally and then sometimes a roll of b&w in a Leica I bought in 84. Hate seeing that camera otherwise just sitting there. When and if Kodak finally folds it'll then be Ilford all the way (hopefully) and color will have to be captured with a sensor. I have a friend with foresight who enjoys the film process in the now and has spent $$ to stock up on film and refrigerates it in anticipation of the factories closing.
Thanks for your well prepared and presented video. And, we better get out there and take some more pictures before it's too late!