While the Reflex-S camera Kickstarter has been a huge success, with over 120% funding with 23 days remaining as of writing, the Silberra film project is progressing more slowly. Your blogger will be investing in this project within the 11 days remaining for the campaign, You should too.
The Pan200 seems popular, and word is the ORTA orthochromatic films are near ready for production.
While the risk of losing money on the deal is a possibility, the founders are offering to present Plan B at the end of the campaign and an opportunity to receive a full refund.
If that is not a good deal, then what is? Crowdfunding is one of the few ways for a small company to raise funds today. While some have had limited success, such as Film Ferrania, Silberra is producing film now. Lomography has had campaign after campaign, successful many times over. Hamish Gill of the 35mmc blog puts it this way in his rant, "If these products succeed, more will follow!" Putting a few dollars in now, will help you over the long run.
Should projects fail due to neglect by the buying public, there may be nothing left to buy if the big players pull out. Film is inherently the ideal business product, always turning over product over time. Small businesses should be able to make a living in analogue photography, while giving photographers what they want.
Should crowdfunding analogue photography fail repeatedly, some conjecture this will kill small business in analogue photography.
Back Silberra. Just one step of many to the future.
Disclaimer: this blogger intends to back the Silberra film project.
