Is film photography dying?




Is Film Photography Dying?

Is film photography still relevant?

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.

Is 35mm film photography dead?

No, 35mm film is most certainly not dead in 2023. It’s very much alive and kicking at Photo Hippo Lab in Burnley, where we process and develop loads of the stuff every single day. 35mm film has been around for over a century, and it’s still going strong.

Is film photography becoming popular again?

Film photography has had a major resurgence in the past decade alongside older digital point-and-shoot cameras, and the style is becoming even more widespread across the internet, social media, and print.

Does anyone use 35mm film anymore?

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, Ilford, and Fujifilm, as well as lots of lovely indie brands such as Film Washi, Dubblefilm, and revolog.

How long will film photography last?

Basically, almost any well-made film camera from decades back can literally last for decades more and keep working perfectly if well cared for, all while still producing wonderfully sharp photos. Good luck finding a digital camera that manages the same after, say, 15 or 20 years.

Why are people going back to film cameras?

There are various reasons why film photography is back in fashion. To start with, using film cameras not only produces a stronger and richer image but additionally provides unmatched aesthetics that digital cameras simply cannot produce. Each shot on a film camera is unique, reflecting the moment in every shot.

Is 35mm film making a comeback?

The company has increased production of its Quicksnap 35mm disposable cameras by 50 percent since last year to keep up with demand, which the company says is primarily being driven by teens and young adults. There are several reasons why film is enjoying such a resurgence in popularity.

Why is 35mm film so expensive in 2023?

The number of available manufacturing facilities is decreasing. The equipment to produce film is no longer being produced, so everyone is trying to maintain what they have the best they can. The environmental costs continue to rise, especially around chemicals, which have a direct impact on the cost to manufacture film.

Is 35mm film still better than digital?

Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs. Traditional film cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras. No fear of your camera losing power.

Is it worth shooting film?

Yes, you should pursue film photography if you’re genuinely interested in trying it. Nonetheless, the decision is mostly subjective and should be yours to make, based on what you want to achieve with both your creative process and your final result.

Can film photography be revived?

“Film is still very much alive,” says Fleenor. And perhaps surprisingly, the comeback is in large part driven by a generation of “digital natives” who developed a love for film photography and classic film cameras during the pandemic.



Is film photography dying?

Is film photography still relevant

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.
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Is 35mm film photography dead

No, 35mm film is most certainly not dead in 2023. It's very much alive and kicking here at Photo Hippo Lab in Burnley, we process and develop loads of the stuff every single day. 35mm film has been around for over a century, and it's still going strong.

Is film photography becoming popular again

Film photography has had a major resurgence in the past decade alongside older digital point-and-shoot cameras, and the style is becoming even more widespread across the internet, social media, and print.

Does anyone use 35mm film anymore

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, Ilford and Fujifilm as well as lots of lovely indie brands such as Film Washi, Dubblefilm and revolog.

How long will film photography last

Basically, almost any well-made film camera from decades back can literally last for decades more and keep working perfectly if well cared for, all while still producing wonderfully sharp photos. Good luck finding a digital camera that manages the same after, say, 15 or 20 years.

Why are people going back to film cameras

There are various reasons why film photography is back in fashion. To start with, using film cameras not only produces a stronger and richer image but additionally provides unmatched aesthetics that digital cameras simply can not produce. Each shot on a film camera is unique, reflecting the moment in every shot.

Is 35 mm film making a comeback

The company has increased production of its Quicksnap 35 mm disposable cameras by 50 per cent since last year to keep up with demand, which the company says is primarily being driven by teens and young adults. There are several reasons why film is enjoying such a resurgence in popularity.

Why is 35mm film so expensive 2023

The number of available manufacturing facilities is decreasing. The equipment to produce film is no longer being produced so everyone is trying to maintain what they have the best they can. The environmental costs continue to rise, especially around chemicals, which have a direct impact on the cost to manufacture film.

Is 35mm film still better than digital

Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs. Traditional film cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras. No fear of your camera losing power.

Is it worth shooting film

Yes, you should pursue film photography if you're genuinely interested in trying it. Nonetheless, the decision is mostly subjective and should be yours to make, based on what you want to achieve with both your creative process and your final result.

Can film photography be revived

“Film is still very much alive,” Fleenor says. And perhaps surprisingly, the comeback is in large part driven by a generation of “digital natives” who developed a love for film photography and classic film cameras during the pandemic.

Why is 35mm film so expensive now

From what we understand, the cost to make 35mm and 120 film continue to increase for a lot of reasons — including rising production costs, competition from digital photography, and changing consumer preferences.

Will 20 year old 35mm film work

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.

Will 30 year old film develop

It is rare to have a film more than 30 years old render decent color by accelerating or processing direct to color. Expect highly distressed color images (or nothing). The cooler your film was kept over time, the more likely you are to get good color.

Why do people like film over digital

Film Blends Light and Color Better

Digital camera sensors, are made up of millions of tiny squares that give us an image. Film isn't split up in such a linear way, and because of that, it naturally blends light and colors better.

Why film looks better than digital

Film Blends Light and Color Better

Digital camera sensors, are made up of millions of tiny squares that give us an image. Film isn't split up in such a linear way, and because of that, it naturally blends light and colors better.

Is film still better than digital

Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs. Traditional film cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras. No fear of your camera losing power.

Why 35mm film is better than digital

Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs. Traditional film cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras. No fear of your camera losing power.

Can 30 year old film still be developed

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.

Can I use 50 year old film

It's more of a “best if used by” date. Some films even label it with something like, “for best results, develop by.” The manufacturers are protecting themselves from complaints about the ever-increasing unpredictability of film as it ages, but there's no reason you can't still use film well past that date.

Can 50 year old film be developed

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.

How long will undeveloped film last

If stored optimally in sealed canisters at low humidity and with minimal viewing, film reels can last as long as 70 years. If the unexposed film was stored in a freezer, chances are you can use it and get decent results.

Why do film photos look better than digital

Film Blends Light and Color Better

Digital camera sensors, are made up of millions of tiny squares that give us an image. Film isn't split up in such a linear way, and because of that, it naturally blends light and colors better.

Why 35mm is better than digital

Film is better at capturing subtle details and color contrasts, especially between black and white. Lower initial costs. Traditional film cameras are generally cheaper than digital cameras. No fear of your camera losing power.

Why do film photos feel more real

Film Has Aesthetically Pleasing Grain

One of the worst things about digital cameras is also one of the best things about film, the grain. The grain that you get from film is much more pleasing and natural than digital cameras, and it adds to the texture and character of the photo.