New: "Camera Rescue School" - Repair Technician Training

Henning Serger · Mar 15, 2021

Hello Félim,

foc said:
I think this concept is a good one and I wish them the best of luck with it.
I also think they have done their research, they know their market and they have the skills, in what is a very niche market.
It is great to see young enthusiastic people in what sometimes can be an old guys game.

this "old guys game", as you call it, will become a "younger and middle age guys game" over the years. Not overnight of course, but in the long run.
Because more and more in the camera repair business realize the long-term opportunities because of the film revival. And as I explained above, there are already some other repair companies as well educating new and young technicians. And we have even young, very enthusiastic repair technicians who have taught themselves up to a very high skill level, like Pierro Pozella in the UK.
If we look at the classic car and airplane business, we see that 60, 70, 80 and even older machines are repaired by 30-50 year old repair experts. None of them was alive when the machines they are now repairing were introduced to the market.

Best regards,
Henning

radiant · Mar 15, 2021

Henning Serger said:
I forecasted the 'levelling-out' (forming of a 'bottom' for demand) in the period of 2013 - 2017 (depending on the regional market, and on the product type: some regional markets stabilized earlier, and some product types, too (e.g. BW film in 120 was one of the first product categories which stabilized).

Could you explain (probably you have done this already) how did you forecast this?

Henning Serger · Mar 15, 2021

vedostuu said:
Could you explain (probably you have done this already) how did you forecast this?

I have developed economic models. And in these models all relevant data was integrated. Both quantitative and qualitative parameters.
And in addition to the photo market parameters I have included the relevant global economic parameters as well (global economic growth, demographic development, new market trends etc.).
Furthermore, technological parameters (e.g. progress in camera technology, cellphone/smartphone technology etc.) are also considered.

I hope you can understand that I cannot go more into detail, because this modelling is my competitive advantage. And giving it away for free in the public would be like shooting in both foots and both knees.........

Best regards,
Henning

radiant · Mar 15, 2021

Henning Serger said:
I hope you can understand that I cannot go more into detail, because this modelling is my competitive advantage. And giving it away for free in the public would be like shooting in both foots and both knees.........

If it can predict such things, you have gold in hands. I can't understand how that can be done, sounds like a voodoo. But on other hand pretty interesting things can be seen from Google searches beforehands.

Henning Serger · Mar 15, 2021

vedostuu said:
If it can predict such things, you have gold in hands. I can't understand how that can be done, sounds like a voodoo.

Well, it has nothing to do with voodoo at all, fortunately . It is all about economic science, understanding of the market and its customers, mathematics and experience.

vedostuu said:
But on other hand pretty interesting things can be seen from Google searches beforehands.

That is a quite unreliable indicator, especially in the photo markets.

Best regards,
Henning

kuparikettu · Mar 15, 2021

There is going to be a need for professional repair technicians in the motion picture film world as well. During the past 12 months I personally know at least three people who have had their 16mm Eclair ACL film cameras (built in the 1970s) modified to super16 (widened camera gate) in the workshop of a semi-retired but in reality really active professional camera tech in the UK. These people have told me of waiting times of months. And it is not because of the age of the professional but because there is just so much work.

Just by the way, if you happen to know any professional motion picture camera techs who could service our ACLs in Europe, I know several people who'd be interested...

Wayne · Mar 15, 2021

vedostuu said:
If it can predict such things, you have gold in hands. I can't understand how that can be done, sounds like a voodoo. But on other hand pretty interesting things can be seen from Google searches beforehands.

For every one person who can predict the economy right there are 10 people who can predict it wrong. Its not magic, its just probability.

radiant · Mar 16, 2021

Henning Serger said:
Well, it has nothing to do with voodoo at all, fortunately . It is all about economic science, understanding of the market and its customers, mathematics and experience.

Could you disclose the biggest indicator back then? How a dying medium could be predicted to become popular? It is almost like saying telefaxes or VHS is making comeback (I actually wish!) or that Super-8 will become as popular as film photography.

Or maybe it was "people are stressed out, they will slow their life down, there is hipster culture so .. 1+1=2" ?

Sorry about being off-topic, moderators please split if needed.

Henning Serger · Mar 16, 2021

kuparikettu said:
Just by the way, if you happen to know any professional motion picture camera techs who could service our ACLs in Europe, I know several people who'd be interested...

You may ask Click&Surr in Berlin:
http://clickundsurr.de/
In general they are doing 8mm and 16mm movie camera repairs. And if they don't do it with your ACLs, they know probably someone who can do it.

Best regards,
Henning

Henning Serger · Mar 16, 2021

vedostuu said:
Could you disclose the biggest indicator back then?

The biggest factor is certainly that film photography and digital imaging are two very different mediums and approaches. They deliver
- quite different results with a different look / aesthetics
- very different workflows
- a quite different level of being emotionally involved
- a different "fun factor".
And very important: Human beings are individuals, they are very different, and have very different preferences. Something which is loved by person A, is hated by Person B.
Some people are "big boys" and like to play with always the latest tech with more and more "bells and whistles", and others find that totally boring and are inspired by using a large format film camera out in the field.

Both mediums have their strengths and weaknesses. Both have their specific, unique characteristics. And photographers have become more and more aware of these differences and unique characteristics (and film benefitted from that fact). And accept that both have their place, and that photography is much more rich with alternatives and freedom of choices. Photography has more to offer with digital and film.

Best regards,
Henning

perkeleellinen · Mar 17, 2021

vedostuu said:
Your nickname is quite Finnish at least

Am I spelling it right, there, vedostuu? I must confess I no longer know to pronounce it. I haven't been in Finland for over ten years, Tampere must have changed a lot. The best photo I ever took was on Suomenlinna.

radiant · Mar 17, 2021

perkeleellinen said:
Am I spelling it right, there, vedostuu? I must confess I no longer know to pronounce it. I haven't been in Finland for over ten years, Tampere must have changed a lot. The best photo I ever took was on Suomenlinna.

Just spell it as it is written But yes it is written correctly. This tool speaks it correctly: https://www.ispeech.org/text.to.speech

perkeleellinen · Mar 17, 2021

Thanks for that link. I'm playng with listening to "Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas"

fdonadio · Mar 22, 2021

perkeleellinen said:
Am I spelling it right, there, vedostuu? I must confess I no longer know to pronounce it.

vedostuu said:
Just spell it as it is written

For a Portuguese speaker, it wasn’t any difficult to figure out. The way the “e” sounds in Portuguese is about the same as in Finnish, it seems. I had this hunch the double “e” would sound like a long “e” (not the same as in English) and that it would be the tonic syllable. Bingo.

Henning Serger · Apr 5, 2021

Henning Serger said:
Hello,

the team of "Camera Rescue" in Finland is making further progress:
1.They have moved into a much bigger location which allows the planned significant increase in business.
2. They start soon a "Camera Rescue School" to educate new, young camera repair technicians. People who are interested to join this education programme can apply.
For more information and all the details please see here:
https://camerarescue.org/school2021/

Best regards,
Henning

Hello friends,

back to the original topic: Here is a current update of this project. I quote Juho Leppänen from Camera Rescue:

"News on the first year of Camera Technician school!
Application period ended last week and there was over 130 applicants, even with the restrictions of having to be in Finland and registered as unemployed.
It's a huge number, so interest in camera repairing and getting to learn from @cameramakers is high even locally!
I am doing interviews this week and in two weeks the class of 2021 starts."

130 applicants for 8 trainee places. I call that a big success .
I wish them all the best for this project.

Best regards,
Henning

New: "Camera Rescue School" - Repair Technician Training

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