Daily Archives: January 13, 2006

Nikon to Stop Making Most Film Cameras

I read on NYC Photobloggers: “Nikon Plans to Stop Making Most Cameras That Use Film”.

It’s a logical progression for Nikon, but I get a little Nostalgic as the first SLR I used was my Cousin’s Nikon F with a Photomic FTn viewfinder such as the one pictured on the right. It weighed a ton but I took some good photographs with it and was sorry when I had to return it a few years later (it was on loan only).

I’m biased towards Nikon as I like that they tend to feel very Solid and well balanced. Currently I Own a Nikon D70s with a 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom lens (like the one below after the break). My D70s is honestly the best Camera I’ve ever owned, but their are times I’ve missed using a Film SLR like the Nikon F or my old Minolta X-700. In college, I assisted the Photo Editor of the School Newspaper to develop Black and White film for the Articles. This gave me access to the photo lab for my own use. Every now and again, I get tempted to convert my basement wash room to a darkroom and develop some Black and white film, but the expense of it stops me (that and the fact the my wife would not like the Chemicals…)

Nikon concentrating on Digital Cameras will be remembered as a minor turning point in the history of photography. I wonder when other Film camera makers will start to throw in the Towel? Months ago, Kodak has announced it will no longer make Black and White Paper. When will they announce the End of thier Black And White Film Line? How long before the Film companies stop making Film alltogether?

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