Large format Film?

[Joe Lambert]

Question?

With the advance of digital photography, how long can we expect to have large format film available to us?

My fear is that some day my 4x5 equipment will just be something to look at on a shelf.

Joe.

[hmf]

You have two options: switch to digital now, out of fear that you won't be able to get film in the future (and thereby hasten its demise) or continue to work in the manner you prefer, and support the manufacturers of the products you need and want.

Personally, I've chosen the latter, and stash an extra box or two in the freezer with each new supply order.

Stop worrying and go shooting. I'll look for you in the field today.

[Bruce Watson]

Joe, do a search on this site. Hard to believe, but you aren't the first person to ask this question. It's been brought up again and again and again. It's been discussed completely and utterly to death. Many times. You'll find all the discussion you can handle in the archives.

[sanchi heuser]

Let's keep on buying film and making good photos with it.

[John Kasaian]

Two different animals. This would be like comparing oil painting to ink jet printers.

I have yet to hear painters being concerned about the availability of oil paints in the future, when ink jets have taken over the planet.

As long as we buy the stuff, someone will produce it. Heck, you can even coat your own glass plates if you're up to it.

Don't worry. Make pictures!

[Sevo]

Black and white, which is even more obsolete were the consumer market is concerned, still is profitable, and has even spawned a new culture of small to mid scale producers besides the giants. We'll likely see a similar development of downsizing and a shift to strictly professional products for colour film - but vanish they won't. Film production, handling and processing was a multi billion business, so that even a drop to promille dimensions would still leave a global film market big enough to feed an industry with thousands of employees.

Sevo

[dazedgonebye]

How much film do you guys shoot in a year?
Is it practical for you to keep several years worth of film away in the freezer?

Seems like several years worth of film stash might be prudent. Otherwise, I agree with the above advice. We all just need to shoot, both to support manufacturers and to support film as a concept.

[BradS]

I think film will progress something along the lines that vacuum tubes (electron valves? for the brits) have. I remember when I was a kid, there were tube testers and a ready supply of common tubes available in every harware store and many drug stores. Those are all long gone but, tubes can still be found. Film will go just like that, I think. Remember when film processing was available in every supermarket, drugstore, etc...(there were even places that specialized in film processing and had little drive-up booths in the parking lot....!). Film may drop off the radar for the average consumer but, it will continue to be available for a long time to come.

Don't worry...be happy.

[Gordon Moat]

10 years

[Maris Rusis]

Large format film will always be available. Anyone who wants to make it can make it even if all the film factories in the world go bust.

Remember, you can do wet collodion photographs today and it has always been the case that the plates had to be made individually from basic ingredients just before exposure.