[SET Man]

Hey!

 

http://www.popphoto.com/news/2013/04/hasselblad-discontinues-iconic-503cw-camera

  What an iconic camera system. I've never own one but have used one of it's predecessor sometime at work and always admired it.

   Also, I just learned today that one of my favorite low speed B&W films, Efke 50 and 100 are now also history. Look like Fotokemika shut down sometime last year. I love their 50 and 100 but I don't use them enough so I guess I understand why they had to stop the production due to low demand.

   Yes, I am sad. For someone who started out in photography in the day of films, loading film in camera, getting your hands in photo chemicals in the darkroom it is like seeing your friends passing away 

Take care,
Buddy

[charmerci]

Kind of sad, that.

I've always wanted to own a 500C. (Many reasons why I don't, though - budget being just one.)

[galyons]

Hey!

   Also, I just learned today that one of my favorite low speed B&W films, Efke 50 and 100 are now also history. Look like Fotokemika shut down sometime last year. I love their 50 and 100 but I don't use them enough so I guess I understand why they had to stop the production due to low demand.

Buddy

My understanding was that the old Kodak coating/cutting lines were simply too worn out to continue production.  EFKE had contracts from major retailers in the US and EU, Germany to economically keep the plant going.  But once a certain level of consistent quality cannot be maintained tough to keep producing.

I will truly be sad when my stocks of  4x5, 5x7 & 8x10 are gone!!!  Especially the EFKE 25!!

Cheers,
Geary

[Bemopti123]

Damn!  It was a matter of time.  All is sacrificed for the convenience of instant gratification.  All sense of grainy and particularity of a shot, it will be now provided by a digital filter that will attempt to reconstruct the feel of film and lenses.  It is sad. 

[SET Man]

My understanding was that the old Kodak coating/cutting lines were simply too worn out to continue production.  EFKE had contracts from major retailers in the US and EU, Germany to economically keep the plant going.  But once a certain level of consistent quality cannot be maintained tough to keep producing.

I will truly be sad when my stocks of  4x5, 5x7 & 8x10 are gone!!!  Especially the EFKE 25!!

Cheers,
Geary

Hey!

    I see... those film making machines must have been 50 or 60+ years now. To rebuild them won't be cost effective consider the demand for these films.

    Man! Efke LF negs must be a sight to behold, especially the 25. I've only use 120 and 35mm of their 50 and 100. I actually like to use them with my vintage cameras to get that true vintage feel of final image. Even that I know that I like the tonal range of these films.

    Anyway, I used to just stop by the B&H store locally here in NYC and pick them up. But they are no long have them. So, I order some from Freestyle Photo...

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/191120-Fotokemika-Efke-R100-iso-100-120-size?cat_id=403

   Got 6 rolls of 120 and 2 rolls of 35mm. I'm going to throw them in the freezer when I get them. Can't think of any other current B&W films that have the same look as the Efke 

Take care,
Buddy

[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
I never owned any Hasselblad camera.
I've own a Bronica 645, a Mamiya 67, a Rollei SLX and I still have two Mamiya 645E with several lenses.
For a short while here in Vietnam, I was a Bronica importer/distributor and also for a short time I was a Hasselblad retailler and a Mamiya retailler.
I am still the exclusive distributor/importer for Phase One who acquire Leaf and Mamiya.
Don't sell many units every year, too expensive for the average Vietnamese photographers.
I was never attracted to Hasselblad, minds you, I cannot say it's not a good camera.
The cameras I've like the most and owned are my Rollei, Mamiya 645E and Mamiya ProS 67.
Since the age of 16 I've owned different type of cameras from a Kodak 110, Instamatic 104, several Nikon, Konica, Mamiya, Rollei, Cambo 4X5"
I now use a Nikon D200.

Guy 13     

[nathanm]

Shame about the Efke, I liked the prices.  But I suppose I can't complain considering I haven't bought any in awhile.

A co-worker recently purchased a collection of negatives (train stuff) and amongst them were some beautiful 8x10s with city scenes from the 1940s.  (Shorpy-like stuff)  It's really cool looking at an 8x10 neg because you can just get a sense of what's there with your unaided eye, you don't have to strain to read any of the signs on the buildings or anything.  Pretty cool.

[SET Man]

Shame about the Efke, I liked the prices.  But I suppose I can't complain considering I haven't bought any in awhile.

A co-worker recently purchased a collection of negatives (train stuff) and amongst them were some beautiful 8x10s with city scenes from the 1940s.  (Shorpy-like stuff)  It's really cool looking at an 8x10 neg because you can just get a sense of what's there with your unaided eye, you don't have to strain to read any of the signs on the buildings or anything.  Pretty cool.

Hey!

   Nathan, haven't see you here for a while. Man! Those old 8X10 negs must be a fun to look at. Is he/she going to print them? I remembered couple of years back I saw Edward Weston prints.... 8X10 contact to be exact in an photo exhibition at MoMA, it was beautiful.

   Anyway, yeah Efke film is now a photography history. Well, just for fun... the FedEx guy delivered these today....


My Last 6 Rolls of Efke 100 B&W Films by setpower1, on Flickr

   Just for fun. My last 6 rolls of Efke 100... 2 rolls of 35mm and 6 rolls of 120. Well, off to freezer they go... waiting for when I want to walk down the memory lane.

Take care,
Buddy

[dB Cooper]

Silver is now an "alternative process".

In my lifetime I have now seen the obsolescence of (to name but a few) : the phonograph record*; the compact cassette (coming AND going); the VCR (ditto); record stores; the analog, CRT TV; the typewriter; film based wet-process photography, and the "dirty" bookstore. It's all getting to be a bit too much to take 

*Yes, I know there are still TTs being made, although it is not unusual for one to cost the price of a used car. I mean on a large scale; last year about a million LPs were sold- the equivalent of one "hit" release during the format's heyday.

[SET Man]

Silver is now an "alternative process".

....

Hey!

   Hmmm.... to think of it. If I remembered correctly not long ago on eBay's front page there were a separated "Photography" link on the menu category. But now it is combined in to "Electronics" link. Well, there still a film camera section in there.

    Talking about alternative process... if anyone want to go back to the early days of photography you can still buy a "Tintype" or "Ambrotypes" kit

Take care,
Buddy

[HAL]

I remember as a kid visiting the Kodak plant in Rochester, NY for a tour.  My Uncle worked there for many years.  They took us to the room where they made the silver nitrate.  Basically a very dark room with a giant vat of nitric acid and people putting in bars of solid silver as one step.   

[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
I am 65 years old; therefore I am a baby boomer.
I was 5 years old when my father bought our first TV a Motorola. I was black and white, then, came color TV when I was about 17 years old. I was happy with vinyl, FM and first generation of color TV.
The came the VHS, that was O.K. with me.
I was happy with my Ford Comet 1965.
But NO, they had to change everything…
Now, I find it difficult to adapt to all those new things.
Of course I like my mobile phone, convenient for emergencies, when you did not forget to charge the battery.
I like my old computer with the Internet, but I can stay with the old programs, for me, no need to up-date all the time.
Thank God, we can still buy turn-table, vinyl, FM radio (For now at least) CD, I still have C-90 cassettes and even VHS tapes and recorder.
I still have and I will keep my two Mamiya 645E body with all the non auto focus lenses, I have two 35mm camera (Olympus and Nikon) however, I have a Nikon D-200 that I find convenient for quick check on the picture that have tricky lighting situation.
Of course, no more floppy discs.
I can still buy and get repaired tube amplifiers, probably until I die in about 25 years from now.
That’s O.K. with me.
What that disease (That’s how I call it) to always have better, the latest, the fastest, the. the…
I am happy with what I have and I like what I have because I try to choose wisely and keep for a long time.
What’s wrong with a turn-table?
When it came out long time ago, everybody was buying it, it was every where and everybody was happy with it.
Now it’s no good !
CD is better?
No, CD is different.
I don’t like the word better, I prefer to say different to match your taste and liking.
This is a consumer world with the money disease…
 
Guy 13