In 2023 the demand for film has increased to such a degree that the likes of Kodak can't keep up. As every dreary A-level economics class will teach, increased demand and limited supply leads to rising prices.
The environmental costs continue to rise, especially around chemicals, which have a direct impact on the cost to manufacture film. The direct production costs are increasing because the cost of inputs is rising, including paper, chemicals, labor, etc. The cost of logistics continues to go up.
Here are some of the top reasons to consider shooting film over digital in 2023: Film has a unique aesthetic quality that digital cameras cannot replicate. Film has a distinct look and feel that many photographers love, with organic colors and tones that are impossible to reproduce with digital technology.
Is 35mm Film Still Made? Yes! 35mm is still made and is by far the most popular film format that we sell. 35mm is still made by a few of the big dogs in film such as Kodak and Ilford as well as lots of lovely indie brands such as Film Washi, Dubblefilm and Candido.
Most negative and movie films have an expiration date. This is typically about two years after the month of manufacture, which is actually a “best if used by” date. The older the film, the more unpredictable it will be in terms of quality.
Long considered obsolete, film photography is experiencing a renaissance, especially among young people. And #filmisnotdead is also a social media trend.
In conclusion, investing in a 35mm film camera in 2023 is a great decision for a young adult who wants to experience the nostalgia and timelessness of film photography, have greater control and creativity over their images, stand out in a digital world and make a long-term investment.
The direct costs including the paper, the chemicals and the manual labour are all increasing. Meanwhile, environmental costs are also on the rise (those chemicals aren't exactly eco-friendly). On top of this, the cost of logistics have increased drastically, in part thanks to the pandemic.
Film photography is gaining popularity once again, and it's not just among nostalgic hobbyists. Today, the old film cameras of yesteryear are often more expensive than some full-frame DSLR cameras.
The lifespan of camera film depends on many factors, but the primary consideration is whether it's undeveloped, exposed, or developed film. However, a good rule of thumb is that film lasts 10 to 15 years, longer if high-quality film is stored in good conditions.
Film gives you complete control over exposure (amount of light that reaches the film), shutter speed, and the development process. High dynamic range. Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs.
Are 35mm Cameras Worth Anything? Simply put, they are. Even though they may not always bring high prices in the vintage market, 35mm cameras present an accessible gateway into film photography.
Yes. Old film doesn't go bad all at once – colors shift, contrast fades away, and fog builds up. Old film (~10+ years past the process date) will have faded, skewing towards magenta. In many cases, this is preferred and authentic to the time.
So what will your images look like once your old film is developed and scanned? That's hard to say for sure without first developing them. Our general rule of thumb is that anything under 10 years is pretty good.
Fujifilm has announced that it will no longer accept new domestic orders for a range of color negative 35mm film as well as reversal film in both 35mm and 120 formats due to a shortage of raw materials.
Either way, it is evident that you will invest much less with film throughout your photography life than you would through digital. Film cameras last lifetimes while digital-only last as long as their circuits hold-up.
Camera sales peaked in 1997, then started a very rapid decline. 2003 was particularly brutal: not only were camera sales down about a third from their peak, but they lost another third that year. By 2008 CIPA stopped tracking film camera sales at all.
As the following chart based on data from Statista's Global Consumer Survey shows, digital camera ownership has declined across the globe over the past few years, and it's probably not a stretch to assume that usage has declined by even more than that.
Already, the industry is seeing improvements in ticket sales. Through Monday, the 2023 box office has tallied $958.5 million in ticket sales, up nearly 50% compared to last year and down just 25% from 2019, according to data from Comscore.
Over the last decade, interest in going to movie theaters has been decreasing as a direct effect of the growing popularity of major streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. This reduces the number of people who go to movie theaters to see the latest films and damages the industry irrevocably.
Streaming services have also had a significant impact on traditional film distribution channels such as theaters and television. With more and more people opting to watch films and television shows online, the number of people going to movie theaters has decreased, leading to a decline in box office sales.
