Film Photography Monthly - June 2024
New cameras, film adventures, Holga love, and sharing some brilliant film-related YouTube channels...
In June, we saw a new film camera, finalized dates for another new film camera, and a new instax wide camera...
Cameras all around!
Pentax created a lot of buzz around their new 17 half frame film camera…it was no surprise what the camera was going to be or who the target audience was, thanks to the updates given by TKO (the lead engineer?) as the project developed.
Despite initially seeing some film photographers comment that the camera wouldn’t sell well (and ‘they’ll need all the help they can get’), Peta Pixel reported pre-order numbers have exceeded stock…quoting Pentax Ricoh Japan as saying, due to this they will likely take longer to deliver the product to customers.
All signs pointing forward, I can’t wait to see what happens next for the Pentax film camera project!
Alright, Pentax 17 addressed, let’s dive into several other exciting headlines…
Recent Headlines
Nana Camera by Film Never Die - the preorder is available here after being on Kickstarter. I don’t know much about this camera but leaving the news here for you to check out for yourself!
Fujifilm & Film Production in China? - I put a ? here because I could not verify the source of Kosmofoto’s article, so this one is watery for me.
Fujifilm Launches INSTAX WIDE 400 instant camera - see Ben’s video on In An Instant channel on Youtube for more delicious deets on this long-awaited camera.
Film Never Die Darkbag Hoodie - I need one of these! Check it out here.
Crown + Flint R5 rollout - so excited about this one, my favorite film photography app along with Massive Dev Chart.
Kodak CEO reassures in press release (but also this » )
In AM&C, we are committed to our film business and are expanding our manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for both still and motion picture film. At the same time, we are setting the stage for Kodak as a growth company by investing in a number of AM&C initiatives that leverage our unmatched knowledge of chemicals, layering and coating and vast manufacturing infrastructure. - Jim Continenza, Kodak’s Executive Chairman and CEO
So, what I read here (and in other news such as investment in manufacturing battery materials) is that while Kodak is continuing to commit to film and meet demand, they aren’t pushing beyond that and seeing film as a long-term growth machine, rather seeing other industries as investment-worthy where they can use their film-related tools and know-how.
With how large corporations operate, I wouldn’t put it past them to drop film like its hot should a day come where demand shrinks to a level where it’s not worth it for them anymore, and they have significantly invested their film segment tools into other more profitable materials manufacturing.
While this isn’t new, the language that Kodak uses when they talk about film like this reminds me to continue to promote film photography and also support smaller manufacturers like Adox (for example) that aren’t tied to investment firms (like Ilford Photo/Harman) or the stock exchange and complicated corporate structure (Kodak).
Silvergrain Classics would also agree with me, saying this in their blog post linked here on the industry in 2023:
And supporting ADOX could turn out to be important — Mirko says that if everyone else stopped making color films tomorrow, ADOX could take over!
While Adox does tend to stick to their local for some things, they are my pick for the future of film. If I could pick only one company to support, it would be them (even if it is hard to find their films in the US at the moment).
Tell me what you think!
June Frugal Film Project
Yet again, the Holga GCFN delivered for me!
For this month’s FFP, the roll is split between several spots, a mill marketplace, waterfalls, small town New England, etc.
Summer is in full swing and it’s beautiful (except for the bugs, hate the bugs, especially the mammoth mosquitos that grow a space the size of my nose (probably bigger).
I’m SO glad that the fly swatters of my childhood have been upgraded to electronic zappers ;p much more effective…
Some of the multiple exposures work out, some don’t. This one above I liked, taking the first shot of the waterfall, then of denser foliage after that.
Weekly Analog Adventures
I’ve set a new goal for the next year to go on one micro-adventure per week…somewhere perhaps new or old but always with a film camera and a curious mindset to explore.
This stems from [now] living somewhere amongst the mountains and trees, lakes and rivers, far from a major city. Something very different for me…and I’m less inspired to get out to take photos in this type of environment than in a city.
So, I’m pushing through that lack of inspiration and making an effort to find interesting compositions anyways, even though the motivation is sometimes not there, I always feel better after completing a roll.
The feeling I have reminds me of how street photographers discuss how hard it was to find inspiration or places to practice street while living in a small town or not near a major metropolis.
Youtube Videos Published
My latest video was an initial review of the Rolleiflex MX - what a cool camera! Check it out here in case you missed it :)
I also published a video on Candido’s 400 film, one I very much enjoyed:
What I Read / Watched
A brilliant channel I saw for the first time this week:
Also this:
And this (I bloody love the photography in this video):
And this (I adore this channel):
Of course, still being a binging YouTube junkie (as much as I do fast from it at times), I watched many more videos by awesome creators, so these are just a few samples of what’s out there.
The End
That’s it for this missive! Next time, I’ll be sharing more of my recent film adventures, including my first roll of the Shanghai Color film (which a few folks have guessed is an Orwo film).
Have a wonderful week :)
~M
I love the idea of a weekly micro-adventure.
Thank you!
Hi Molly, Yes I do believe that you are correct in saying the future of film is with smaller companies like ADOX. The problem with film today is that it is now an alternative process. Commercial photography and the vast majority of photography today is digital, but some of us, a small number on the company accounts, choose to continue to shoot on film and film will continue to be produced, as an alternative process, for many years to come. Corporate managers in Kodak and the like are bound by there shareholders, and while Ilford continue to innovate, the day might come when the cost for there managment is to high and they two give up on film. ADOX and a number of smaller companies are small enough for this niche market but big enough to sustain seasonal ups and downs that happen from time to time. My money is with ADOX and I support there efforts in film and paper when available for the future.