Bob,

Kodak will be the last one to cease production of film... historically
they have supported older formats well after the other manufacturers
have stopped.

Film and processing (chemical and dry) will still be around for at least
5 to 10 years...

They just bought major interest in a film producing company in China. It
appears that film sale outside of North America, Europe and Japan are really
booming.

Yeah, and Apple Computer is also out of business . . . oops, that was last
weeks news . . .

The local Rite Aide stores in southern California are all putting in new
minilabs. Maybe B/W films, or transparency films (slides) might get tough to
get down, but colour negative has a long way to go.

There is just too much profit still in film, and as long as there is profit,
there will be film. Technology has nothing to do with this, it is simply
companies that want to make money.

If Kodak drops out of the film market, after the giant sucking noise, you will
hear Fuji and AGFA taking over that hole in the market share. AGFA already has
made big market share gains in one time use cameras (disposables). Fuji has
captured some of the film sales and processing market from Kodak in North
America within the last four years, though I am sure they would like an even
larger slice of those profits.

As long as some companies profit from film, it will be sold, produced, and
processed. Now that might mean only buying films at a department store, and
only getting prints at one hour places, but you will not see it disappear in
your lifetime.

Whomever at the camera store told you that is an idiot, or is merely trying to
screw you out of your money by pushing you into some expensive direct digital
camera. Remember, most of these guys could be selling stereos or used cars next
month, and few have much interest in photography.

If you really want the ease of use of digital, and sending pictures to your
friends electronically, then get a mobile phone camera. Wireless imaging is the
next big thing, and I think within 3 years you may not see low priced direct
digital (P&S style) cameras anymore. Phone camera sales are already much higher
volume than direct digital cameras, and are much easier to use. Get one of
those.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio
<http://www.allgstudio.com

Not so.  Kodak, Fuji and Agfa will still continue to produce films.  They
may narrow the types of film available, but will still continue to produce.

Kodak just last year built and opened a new plant to make black and
white film.

Francis A. Miniter

Hi Bob,

Not to worry Bob, Kodak is NOT going to stop making film.  That medium will
be around for a long time.  I am not sure about where you heard this rumor
but put it to rest!  Kodak never made any announcement about discontinuing
film?

Talk to you soon, let me know if you have questions.

Ron Baird
Eastman Kodak Company

No, it's not going to happen, and neither will Fuji stop. In fact, Fuji
just unleashed a whole range of new films : Velvia 100F, Astia 100F, etc.
and Kodak has come out with their HD range. Film is here to stay, for
quite a while.

Kodak has made no such announcement.  They have announced that they are
shifting their *main* effort to digital, but that's a *long* way from
discontinuing all film!

I figure film will die out after oil painting dies out.

Having said that -- I do a lot more digital photography than film
photography, because my main use for pictures is to post them on the Web or
publish them in books and magazine articles.  That is, photographic prints
are not the end product.