David,

I think it would be very misguided to make the assumption "film is dead" on the basis of Nikon's pulling back from making film camera products. All that Nikon's strategy say's is that the market for new film cameras is soft and there is insufficient demand for them to participate. The Nikon change in strategy does not address or influence the fact there are millions upon millions of film cameras already in use that have a potential life for many, many years to come, and many people will continue to use them.

If Fuji quit making film, then maybe there would be a little more reason to claim film is dead. And Fuji and many other international film producers will continue making film as long as their is a demand and a market somewhere in the world. And there is really no indication that will change dramatically just because a few very wealthy nations have been able to afford the latest high-tech gizmo's.

When WalMart and Costco quit processing film maybe it will be time to say film is near the end of its day in this country, but then there is still the rest of the world of several billion people.

David

Face it within 20 years film will be like vinyl records there will be a few of us that still use it as a novelty. I will miss it too after all I still remember having a dark room as a teenager. But like everything else time will change that too, I will have to explain to the grand children what the heck that guy was singing about (kodachrome )

I guess you're ASSUMING that digital won't be dead in 20 years?

Warren,

I am too old to be concerned. The rest of you should possibly be more concerned about surviving global warming 20 years from now. Photography will take care of itself one way or another.

Warren
That is the nice thing about digital, it has always been here and always will.. We are just now figuring out how to use it. It will be here in one form or another for a long time... Walmart and costco have even partaly quit using all film processing. the film you drop off is chemically processed then it is digitized and reprojected on the paper.

Do Not Play TAPS to soon, If worse comes to worse those
die hard film user's will find a way to make their own ,if they have too:

Not for a while yet. One thing for sure the digital quality straight out of the camera is not as good as film straight out of the camera. Most people using digital have to enhance the pics before they post pics. Film as far better then digital.

I totally disagree. Every image, whether film or digital, can be improved with some post processing. You may not think that if you've been having your corner drug store do the process when they make your prints. Haven't you ever tried bracketing negative film and have gotten back identical prints?

It's understanding basic photography skills that determine how good the original is out of camera, but it still needs something to make it match the vision of the "photographer."

Quote:
One thing for sure the digital quality straight out of the camera is not as good as film straight out of the camera. Most people using digital have to enhance the pics before they post pics. Film as far better then digital.

Very good point made larry. Yes understanding photography does have an impact on quality. Thanks for the post back.

Quote:
Warren
That is the nice thing about digital, it has always been here and always will.. We are just now figuring out how to use it. It will be here in one form or another for a long time... Walmart and costco have even partaly quit using all film processing. the film you drop off is chemically processed then it is digitized and reprojected on the paper.

And the digital files you drop off at Costco/WalMart, are printed onto a traditional RA-4 photographic paper. So, what is your point?

Nikon is doing what they have to. Film is no where dead just because a company puts there focus on digital. There are thousands of old Nikons out there which will not sit in soneones closet collecting dust. Many people who use digital still use there film cameras. Also many who shoot digital also own a scanner right along side their computer. With the Loss of Agfa and other films some believe this means the end. I do not. I agree with David on the point that Fuji will be in there for some time to come. Even if Nikon never made another film camera. Others still do. Besides there is enough used cameras out there to supply people for years to come. I say do not under estimate the power of people who still use film. They have a voice in things still. Check B&H my understanding their film sales are not down. Only in large format. Nikon is only one company just like Agfa is one. Companies like Fuji will pick up the film sales as others drop off. I am finding out that Adox and Efke films are picking up again. So lets not through the dirt in yet. Monte Johnson.

Film is not dead and never will be...too may purists and alot of people have extensive history with the medium. They still produce vinyl records.

Just because it's no longer the consumer mainstream doesn't mean that it's "dead."