Like vinyl, but for photos: Why film cameras are back in focus

In an ever-increasing digital world where rarely an hour, let alone a day, goes by without gazing at a smartphone or tablet, some people are redeveloping their passion for a technology seemingly headed for extinction: the film camera.

In recent years, the popularity of the devices has outstripped supply — driven largely by a longing for an analog past.

The film photography industry was brought to its knees about a decade ago, but it's experiencing a rebirth.

"I feel like I can attach more emotion to a film photo," said Jasmine Orr, who owns about a dozen cameras and enjoys taking photos of urban landscapes in Edmonton.

Instead of pulling out a phone and snapping dozens of photos, a photographer using film has to be much more mindful and intentional because of the limits of a roll, Orr said.

"You have to focus on the moment a lot closer to take that photo," they said. "Everything in the world is digital these days, and I needed something more concrete."

Film has to be loaded into the camera and then removed in order to be developed. Some cameras operate without any batteries.

In 2006, Japanese camera maker Nikon announced it would stop manufacturing most of its film cameras to focus on digital. In 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy, although these days it can't keep up with the explosion in demand for film cameras.

McBain Camera never stopped selling the cameras and rolls of film since the Alberta shop opened its doors in 1949, but enthusiasm cratered from about 2007 to 2019.

Since then, sales have been up by double digits each year for film cameras, and the overwhelming majority of customers snatching up the analog devices are people under the age of 25.

"The big reason why people are getting back into film is because of the process and the nostalgia factor," said Rene Rodrigue, general manager at McBain Camera in Edmonton.

"Much like people enjoy cooking from scratch because of the process of cooking from scratch. The same with film. They enjoy that process of slowing things down. They don't have to have immediate results," he said.

The shop processes 60 rolls of film a day, which isn't enough to keep up with customer demand.

The rapid rise in popularity has caused prices to increase as manufacturers of cameras, film and other accessories weren't prepared for the reversal of fortune.