Re: Whew.

[graywolf]

I kind of doubt that they only sold 700. Manufactured, maybe, since Medium 
Format is still produced using the old system of make a bunch and sell them from 
the warehouse. When the stock gets low run off a bunch more (maybe 700?). So if 
I was told that one company made one production run last year (the worse economy 
since 1981), I would believe that. However since you can no longer buy 120 film 
except in the big cities, or via mail order, the death knoll is tolling in the 
background. I can actually get 4x5 over at the university book store, but there 
is no where to get 120 in Boone since they closed the Ritz Camera last year.

But then hardly anyone except pros and serious amateurs have used roll film in 
20 years or so. And the pro studios bought it wholesale, not from a local store. 
So, not exactly a popular item, even before digital.

--

gfen wrote:
On Sat, 17 Apr 2004, frank theriault wrote:

Pentax can't keep up with the demand for 67II's and 645N's  Last year alone, 
all Japanese manufacurers combined sold around 700 medium format bodies, 
worldwide.  No, I didn't forget a zero.  I really did mean seven hundred.


If they can't keep up with the demand, it sound slike they have one lone 
guy screwing together hand-made 67's. :)

Only 700? Wow. That's actually really depressing, makes me wonder if I 
should try and unload my 645 stuff now or pray for some sort of re-kindled 
interest as the "fine art" crew decides that the new chacet is "silver 
print" and I can start calling myslef an artiste!


Hard to believe that Medium Format (at least new stuff) will be around for 
much longer - except maybe Hassy, just 'cause they are who they are.


I still don't fear film disappearing, there's too much of a worldwide 
market for that sort of thing, I'll just be forced to buy Arista and Maco 
and other odd brands from the Ukraine or Samoa or somewhere..

--
graywolf
http://graywolfphoto.com/graywolf.html