Monte,

Right at this moment the larger film manufacturers have been hit by a big and sudden decrease in demand because point-and-shoot digital cameras are now so affordable. Kodak is cutting back, but is still in operation even though both Ilford and Agfa Photo are facing bankruptcy and possible liquidation.

However there is Fuji, and Konica-Minolta as well as others in Japan whose domestic markets are surely affected by digital, but who also have large markets in much of Asia that will surely support a healthy demand for film for some time to come.

It may take awhile, but the market will adjust here and some kinds of film will be available to satisfy most needs. But you may have to look to some less familiar retail sources. For instance I preferred for 120 and sheet film some of the older emulsions like Isopan and Kodak Super XX in the old days that had lots of silver in the emulsion for my B&W landscape and portrait photography. I found that a small European company, Adox was still making those old type traditional B&W films, and a mail order outlet and store in Los Angeles imported and sold Adox, called Freestyle Sales. So I bought Adox film from them for many years. I am sure there will be more than enough film enthusiasts to keep such smaller outlets interested in finding appropriate supplies, possibly imported from 3rd world countries whose people cannot as yet afoord to go digital.

A forum like this might very well be a good clearing house for information on what films are available and where.

David,
Thanks I feel somewhat beter. It is hard to get the full scope on what is going on. Most of what I read on the internet is very concerniing. Seems many are wondering what will be the next company to fall. I think it is nice to know what alternatives that will be out there. It sounds like the picture is not as dark as I once thought. As along as films like Fuji,Kodak are around I will be alright. Monte Johnson.

Technology will always change the face of any human endeavor. I am qite sure that Daguerrotype and glass plate coaters felt that the world was going to hell in a hand basket when precoated plates and cellulose film was introduced over 100 years ago.
Film actually had a very good run as far as tech developement is concerned. Does any one still use an analog calculater?

I am a die hard film guy and it is not because of the usual film/digital debate... I don't like the digital camera's and their lenses... I like to use my Pentaz ZX5n on all manual with my old Pentax lenses like my 120/2.8; 24/2.8 and 50/1.4 or my Voightlander rangefinder with a 21/4; 35/1.7 or 90/3.5 lenses... give me lenses like that with a digital camera that can easily be used on all manual and I would be glad to go digital but now you have $900 digital cameras equal to a $299 film based camera and crapy digital zooms like an 18-70 f3.5 to 5.6... that doesn't get it for me.

I disagree with you as respects lenses for digital. I'm planing on buying an Olympus E-1 and there are a line of lenses made specifically for digital and in particular for this camera. The lenses are built for proffesional use and all of the zooms are f2.8 at the short end and f3.5 at the long end. I've not used the lenses yet but all reviews I've read about them have described them as having excelent quality.

Some one who uses this forum mentioned elsewhere in this forum that he owns this camera and I would be interested in what he has to say about the lenses if here cares to comment on them.

Robind, I do own the E-1 with 2 of the top shelf lenses, 14-54 and 50-200mm units. Nice glass and very handy zoom ranges. I have not used the lesser expensive "consumer" lenses.