New cameras for old.

[Soapy Sam]

The thread on telescope building got me wondering. As digital cameras take over the SLR film camera market, what is going to happen to the millions of high quality lenses now gathering dust in cupboards all over the world?

Anyone got a bright, million dollar idea?

 

[kookbreaker]

The thread on telescope building got me wondering. As digital cameras take over the SLR film camera market, what is going to happen to the millions of high quality lenses now gathering dust in cupboards all over the world?

Anyone got a bright, million dollar idea?

Most folks will hold on to them 'just in case'. Universal lenses can still be used wioth many digital cameras.

Or they can be broken down for their elements. I've done that for my company.

 

[roger]

About the same thing that has happened to the old lenses for the 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. Most tossed out, the rest getting sold and traded from ads in the back of Shutterbug magazine to those who like the old technology. To be fair, 8x10 gives far better quality than 35mm, wheras the same will not be true of 35mm vs digital (in a few more years), so the market will probably be smaller.

 

[Bikewer]

A few of the high-end digital SLRs take the standard lenses.

I don't think film photography will ever go away, but I admit I just popped for a new multi-function digital (Canon A75), and it's pretty impressive for the money.

 

[richardm]

A few of the high-end digital SLRs take the standard lenses.

That was my solution - buy a Canon digital camera that took my EOS lenses. Most problems are easily solved by throwing money at them

I don't think film will ever entirely go away, but I do think it will become a niche product, much as you still find the odd (sometimes very odd) person using odd processes - Daguerrotypes, wet colloid and all that.