Looking at it another way. Increasing the sales of film of whatever type/format can only go one way. It will reach a peak then ultimately start to drop of - again. Why? Well has anyone noticed the relatively sudden drop off with good quality, affordable cameras. There will come a point where they are no longer available. Skilled camera engineers will be getting older and there will be less people to replace them and tricks used to get older and inoperable cameras up and running again. Spares will no longer be obtainable from cannibalised similar cameras. I bought an almost mint F100 body a couple of years ago for just over £100. I have just sold it, with no quibbling to a dealer for nearly £200. It is now on their website for £275!
Even Leica's are shooting up in price further than I could ever envisage them doing.
The availability of medium format cameras is possibly more dire than 35mm. Even the well known used camera dealers don't have a large selection to choose from. When did you last see a RB67 for sale. TLR prices are going though the ceiling as well.
Which manufacturer is going to put his/her head above the parapet and announce a new model at a reasonable price. Lenses are not such a problem, but we will eventually NEED new camera bodies. Even my F6 and F4 bodies will not last forever.
Flip!
shall we all pack in now and sell up while the kit can still go on the market in "working condition"?
Your points are valid that is for sure although I feel it necessary to make a point about this comment:
l has anyone noticed the relatively sudden drop off with good quality, affordable cameras. There will come a point where they are no longer available
I'm assuming that you are talking predumantly about roll film cameras of which my knowledge is slowly dwindling having given up on all those formats hence i am sure ( going on when i did have roll film kit) that your views are more than valid especially as parts and techniciens are becoming increasingly rare.
There is however no drop off with good quality, affordable cameras that are readily available in large format from
@stevelmx5 Steves Chroma outfits and Intrepids offerings which include 5x7 and 10x8.
Fair enough LF is for many togs not their thing but tbh while ever film exists, there will be some entrepeneur ready to accept the challenge of making decent roll film kit.
Don't get me wrong, most of us in here have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to use some wonderful gear both back when it was originally released for those who could afford, and in more recent times as that same gear became available for peanuts .
If we were to compare some modern offerings , many of us would say that the quality isn't there.
That can be said of many objects , not just cameras, however from a photography pov, it is predominantly the lens and the tog that get the result.....The rest is simply a box and mechanics regardless of wether its based on an accordion (LF) , a nuclear bunker ( ZENIT) or tupperware box(Holga).....Some fantastic photographs have been produced by all three styles.