Film fanatics: Analog photography is coming back, digital cameras are not

10/13/22 8:00PM

Film fans

‍In the last 18 months camera giant Kodak has hired 300 people across their film and chemicals floor. Remarkably, however, that’s not been enough — the company is continuing its film tech hiring spree to meet the demands of a resurgent 35mm market. Analog photography is making a major comeback, much like vinyl has been in the music industry, with some popular SLR film cameras seeing prices rocket up 80% in recent years.

‍Digital decline

‍Film cameras may be making a comeback but, with smartphone cameras’ megapixel counts growing ever-dizzier, the humble hero of your 2010 family vacation — the digital camera — isn’t showing any signs of life.

The rise of digital cameras was quick, as consumers turned to DSLRs and point-and-shoots to capture memory-card-ready moments. The decline, however, has been even sharper. Since the peak in 2010 — when 121 million units were shipped globally — things have been downhill for digital cameras, with shipments declining nearly every year since. The past 2 years have been particularly rough, with digital camera shipments now down some 93% from the ‘10 peak.

‍Retro revival

‍The formula for a nostalgic physical format revival is beginning to appear. If the process is slightly cumbersome, way more work and something your parents or (ideally) grandparents did, it has a chance of making a comeback. Meanwhile digital cameras join CDs, DVDs, and MP3s in the ‘tiringly practical and boringly modern’ 21st-century tech trash can.

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American Airlines joins the flock, hiking bag fees amid higher jet fuel prices

American Airlines on Thursday announced that it, too, will be hiking the fees it charges customers to check luggage.

With the move, all four of the major US airlines, which together control about 80% of the US market, have now hiked their baggage fees in recent days amid surging jet fuel prices.

The change will go into effect on tickets bought on or after Thursday, the same day Southwest’s hike begins.

Since late March, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Canada’s WestJet, and Southwest have hiked their fees. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

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The change will go into effect on tickets bought on or after Thursday, the same day Southwest’s hike begins.

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Less than a year after implementing them, Southwest is also hiking its bag fees

Southwest Airlines has joined the growing list of airlines opting to hike their bag fees amid sustained higher jet fuel costs.

Starting today, the first checked bag at the carrier — which implemented bag fees less than a year ago — will jump from $35 to $45, and the second from $45 to $55. Southwest quietly disclosed the change Tuesday.

Southwest assigned the decision to “part of an ongoing analysis of the business and against the evolving global backdrop.”

As of Wednesday, jet fuel prices dropped to $4.16 a gallon, per the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, down from $4.81 on Tuesday following President Trump’s ceasefire announcement, which sent travel stocks soaring. Major airlines have shed some of those gains in premarket trading Thursday.

With the move to hike bag fees, Southwest joins JetBlue, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Canada’s WestJet, all of which also boosted fees this month. Experts expect more major carriers to follow, and to potentially tweak the pricing of other ancillary revenue sources like seat assignments and carry-on luggage.

Three US airlines have already hiked baggage fees. More are likely on the way.