[pure-silver] Re: Impassioned Pleas To Manufacturers

I suspect that for my lifetime (I'm 60), there will be an adequately diverse 
supply of B&W and color film and paper products [more B&W than color, as color 
porduction is rapidly shifting to all digital]. However, with Kodak terminating 
it's B&W lab several years ago and turning all resources to digital 
development, it will provide continuation of its current products so long as 
there is an economic market, and no more.  Fuji seems more active in film-based 
development. Ilford probably would do so but for its thin hold on solvency.  
Universities and individuals aren't going to have the resources to develop 
film-based products, much less to market such products - forget that.  I'll 
settle for the status quo or, more likely, a slowing contracting supply of 
products from the remaining majors.  I think the hope for the future of B&W is 
most likely to rest on the small makers, like Forte, who operate at lower 
volumes and will be benefited by the majors fleeing the traditional marketplace.

Not a cheerful estimate of the future of traditional photography as a rich and 
diverse supply of product, but as a medium it will likely suvive at some low 
volume of product.  It was happening long beofre digital came along.  Example: 
in the 60's when I learned B&W printing, Kodak dominated the US market with so 
many diverse styles of printing paper that just making an intellegent selection 
was tough, and this required 4 -6 grades of paper contrast for each type and 
paper surface in addition.  There were probably more variations of Kodak 
Medalist paper [my favorite of the day] alone than all of the collected B&W 
papers available in the world today.   All of that product diversity went out 
of production long before digital arrived, driven by a popular turn from B&W to 
color.  The demise of photo products and the technology which drives it is a 
one-way trip, and it's not going to be reversed by pleas to the manufacturers.

Randy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: afterswift@xxxxxxx 
  To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 9:44 AM
  Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Impassioned Pleas To Manufacturers


  I conjecture that on a world-wide basis there will always be a large, 
competitive market to sustain film-based photography. What is also important is 
the continuation of R&D in film and processing. If commercial outfits, like 
Kodak and Fuji, ignore innovations in film, university labs and individual 
researchers and inventors should make it a priority. 

  Bob


   
  -----Original Message-----
  From: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 2:52 AM
  Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Impassioned Pleas To Manufacturers


  I’ll add one plea to that.

  Please leave enough people who actually buy photographic materials and 
equipment. Because that’s the only way to ensure that it will be made in the 
future.





  Regards



  Ralph W. Lambrecht

  http://www.darkroomagic.com







  On 2006-12-30 23:54, "Stein" <rstein@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


    Dear Friends,

        I have decided not to make New Year's Resolution. Instead, I am going 
to make impassioned pleas to manufacturers and institutions. This year it 
begins with:

    1. Please make LF shutters - particularly Copal 1's and 0's - with a flash 
connection that is easy to use. Perhaps a 6 inch length of sturdy PC cord from 
the side of the shutter and the PC socket out on the end of that - then when we 
want to change flash connections with the lens under a compendium we do not 
have to fumble under the lens in the dark. And the socket cannot break off the 
shutter body.

    2. Please make Polaroid 4 x 5 sheet film and get it to me in Australia 
before it goes out of date.

    3. Please make Fuji 4 x 5 instant sheet film to fit my Polaroid holder. 

    Uncle Dick








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