[PRCo] Kodak__&__Film_--_ An open reply to Holland on photography

[prcopcc at p-r-co.com]

> Fred Schneider writes:

> Like many railfans and historians, I like old things.  And maybe this  
> is also why I have not jumped 100% to digital yet.   And I'm the  
> third generation photographer in the family. 
> 
> ..........[Heavily__Snipped].......... 
> 
> I'm just old and stubborn. 
> 
> fws
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Don't disagree with what you say; what follows is in support of the same.
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Many of us have  *-relationships-*  with film  --  and with Kodak!       
Bought my first 35mm view camera while in Alaska in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club 
and an SLR followed while in Kodiak.
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While serving in the USS Canberra CAG-2 I purchased a Topcon 35mm SLR with 
58mm, 135mm, and 35mm lenses in addition to case and strap for well under 
1/3 of what Besseler was selling them for here in the U.S.A.       The 
Topcon is reportedly the world's first SLR, but that is Not the reason I 
bought it, Bob.       I bought it because at the time it was the only camera 
with a 58mm, 1:1 aspect ratio lens  (actually, 57.xxxxxxx)  --  anything 
higher is telephoto and anything lower is wide angle       And each item was 
sold piecemeal in the U.S.A. to further increase profit margins!
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While in the Canoe Club all film was sent in prepaid mailers to Kodak in 
Palo alto, CA, on Page Mill Road  --  always liked the sound of that road 
name!       Now my brother has his office on that road not far from the 
former Kodak plant and a visit to his office for the first time was the 
first I was on that road, even though I had been in the area for 20+ years!!
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The last time I did any serious photography was the summer TrolleyCar 
festivals here in SF  --  learned the sun pattern and used it to my 
advantage to take some really unique and good photos.       Then one summer, 
after sitting idel for the winter, the battery compartment for the built in 
exposure meter fell out  --  pot metal, possibly corroded by the salt air 
while in Canoe Club and here in SF and CA coast in general!       Haven't 
taken photos for nigh on 20-years  --  donut do lrvs  --  ain't even seen 
lrvs around LA-LA-LAnd even though I have rellies in three different areas 
down there!
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I have B&W negatives from the 1940s and those are best viewed as prints  --  
quite expensive to get done now  --  even more expensive than color  --  and 
have to hunt for someone to do same.       Last person didn't use right 
amount of fixer and many of my prints turned the sepia-LIKE Brown in Very 
Short Order!
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I think it is highly naive to say that Digital isn't there yet  --  for the 
average amateur photographer, and 99% of those On This List, digital can do 
as well as if not better than current film technology.       All we are 
doing is making an image of the prototype and how that image is processed is 
not important, its the results  --  and digital results are Extremely Good.  
The amateur can get Much Better Results with Digital The First Time around 
today than he could ever get with film  --  and it is possible to know the 
results immediately so another shot can be composed if needed  --  And It 
Can All Be Done At Home On The Computer And Printer!
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Including an URL which shows a news snippet in the San Jose Murky Snooze 
Paper about Disney distributing its films in Digital Format  (have to sign 
up for a free account to access the article - and thus be subject to more 
spam.)       The move to Digital is happening in earnest.
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Like radio didn't disappear with TV and newspapers didn't disappear with 
radio, film won't disappear with Digital  --  but processing film won't be 
Free and won't Be Cheap.       One will probably always have the option of 
having negatives and slides printed, but the way it is done will probably 
change to a Digital Scan and then a print rather than using comicals and 
Dark Room  --  and this in the not too distant future!
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I'll get a digital  --  highly respectable results are possible with a 
Digicam for the same price as and even considerably less than an SLR when 
new before Digital hit the scene  --  and with inflation these digicams are 
really dirt cheap by comparison.       I am not interested in perfect color  
(we CanNot even agree on PRCo colors so What Is The Big Deal?!?!?!?!)  --  I 
am just interested in recording information, and a Digicam will work just 
fine.       Railfan photography is over for me.
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<http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/search/search_results.htm?pubNam 
e=mercurynews&orderBy=date&pageStart=1&sitesToSearch=mercurynews%2Crealcitie 
s&pageSize=10&fieldsToSearch=HEADLINE%2CFORSEARCH%2CLEAD%2CBYLINE&queryType= 
all&searchSelect=article&query=Disney>
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"""4.   Tech ticker
 Burbank entertainment giant Walt Disney has agreed to release films using a 
digital format compatible with Access Integrated Technologies' projection 
systems for theaters.
Friday, September 16, 2005 (MercuryNews.com)"""
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Jim__Holland