Hi Scott,
I am the first admit i am NOT a film buff, fanatic or knowledgable, just gettting into it. I did have a 35mm film camera for almost 20yrs but knew (as an electronics person) that film would be taken over by digital eventually.
Having said that, i think there are a couple of things that are sadly lacking in the digital area and they film stills play niche rolls there, and i am not sure when or even if digital will ever compete in these areas.
For example, panoramic film cameras like the 617 (most common), 612 and 624. At the moment film version of this camera can be purchased for around $1000 USD - $8000 USD + LENS. The equivelant in digital at the moment is a scan back Seitz (
i think thats the brand) and that is about $50K and does 150meg pixel, enormous and is very slow in operation. The film camera is actually much better value but film.
Another option here is a 4x5 camera with a digital camera panoramic plate adaptor, which allows flat plane shooting and then you just stitch the images in PP. Quite a good option actually, best of both worlds and you still have two seperate systems that can act independantly or as one but you need two sets of gear too.
Then you have 4x5 and 8x10 sheet cameras. Still relatively cheap and certainly no digital camparison.
Sensors are basically defraction limited at the moment and so to gain anymore megapixels they have to increase the sensor in physical size, and that is where the downfall of digital lies. The can't build large sensors at a reasonable cost at the moment i.e. they can't make -say 4 x apsc sized sensors as one big sensor.
One thing to remember is that film grain allows DOF past F22 and that is another limiting factor with high density apsc sensors which start defraction limiting after F11-16.
So in theory, film really does have it place in these niche areas and i believe there is certainly a while yet if ever, (mainly because of demand) that film should continue, i just hope the makers find it viable and continue to supply.
Do you guys see it another way ?
Cheers Neil
PS, I should point out that the main reason i am interested in film is 617 panos which i think is a stunning format and i also have a 67ii