ResearchBy FilmFocus
FilmFocus Will Run the Film Photography Survey 2026 Starting in Late November
This is an AI translation of an article originally published in Japanese. If anything reads oddly, the Japanese original is the authoritative version.
FilmFocus will run the Film Photography Survey 2026 starting in late November 2026. In its third year, the survey welcomes PetaPixel, an English-language photography news site, as its Global Media Partner and expands beyond Japan to include the English-speaking world. We'll announce the launch on FilmFocus, on social media and in our newsletter.
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Our partnership with PetaPixel
This year, we're partnering with the English-language photography outlet PetaPixel as our Global Media Partner, and the survey will be offered in English as well as Japanese. PetaPixel is one of the largest online publications covering digital photography and cameras, and it also publishes through its podcast and YouTube channel. It has covered the results of our 2024 and 2025 surveys.
Jaron Schneider, Editor in Chief of PetaPixel, shared the following comment:
“Kimi’s survey has been extremely helpful in gauging film trends in Japan and we at PetaPixel are extremely excited to expand the data gathering to other countries. I can’t wait to see how what we’ve seen in Japan compares to the rest of the world and am extremely grateful for this partnership.”
Jaron Schneider, Editor in Chief, PetaPixel
For FilmFocus, partnering with Jaron and his team, who have contributed to the world of photography for many years, is an opportunity we could only have hoped for. We're looking forward to seeing what we learn about analog photography by taking the survey global.
Survey overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Survey name | Film Photography Survey 2026 (English name: Global Film Photography Survey 2026) |
| Survey period | November 30 – December 31, 2026 |
| Who can respond | Anyone who has taken photos on film in the past year |
| Method | Online questionnaire (Japanese and English versions) |
| Handling of responses | Responses are aggregated anonymously. Providing an email address is optional and only needed if you'd like to receive the results |
| Publication of results | Report scheduled for early 2027 |
| Conducted by | FilmFocus |
| Global Media Partner | PetaPixel |
More than 2,000 responses over two years
FilmFocus has run this survey every year since 2024 and has collected more than 2,000 responses so far. There are almost no other ongoing, publicly released statistical surveys that track film photography over time. Our results have been covered by media in Japan and abroad, including Mono Magazine (モノ・マガジン), Dejikame Watch (デジカメ Watch), PetaPixel and Kosmo Foto.
Last year's survey found the following:
- Kodak overtook Fujifilm in brand usage. Among brands used in the past year, Kodak came in at 71% and Fujifilm at 68%, reversing the 2024 order (Fujifilm 84%, Kodak 81%).
- The average number of brands used fell from 3.0 to 2.2. Meanwhile, the number of rolls shot per person per year held steady at about 14 for 35mm. Amid ongoing price increases, it appears many people aren't "quitting" film but "narrowing down and carrying on."
- Newcomers and veterans are increasingly polarized. Among those who had been shooting film for less than a year, 49% said they were shooting more often, while 40% of those with 10 or more years of experience said they were shooting less.
For details, see the Film Photography Survey 2025 results report.
Expanding to the English-speaking world this year
Until now, the survey has covered only film users in Japan. This year, we're preparing an English version of the questionnaire and inviting film users in the English-speaking world to respond.
For the English-speaking world, PetaPixel, one of the most widely read photography outlets there, is supporting us as our Global Media Partner. PetaPixel has previously featured the results of our 2024 and 2025 surveys.
We plan to tabulate responses from Japan and from the English-speaking world separately. We'll keep conditions the same as before so that year-over-year changes in Japan remain comparable, and we also plan to report on the differences between film users in Japan and in the English-speaking world.
Schedule
| Timing | Details |
|---|---|
| October–November | Survey announcement, distribution of in-store POP displays, sponsor recruitment |
| November 30 | Survey opens (announced on FilmFocus, in our newsletter and on social media) |
| December 31 | Response deadline |
| Early 2027 | Results report published |
Free in-store POP displays
We're offering free POP displays for camera shops, photo labs, galleries, cafés and other places where film users gather. Each one includes a QR code linking to the survey form.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Planned as a modified A4 size |
| Cost | Free (FilmFocus also covers shipping) |
| Application deadline | November 10, 2026 (delivered before the survey opens) |
If you'd like some, please send the following details via our contact form.
Subject: Survey POP request
Shop name:
Shipping address:
Contact person:
Number of copies:
We're looking for sponsors
This year, we're again seeking companies and organizations to sponsor the survey. Last year, the survey was sponsored by Naniwa Group (ナニワグループ). Sponsors will be credited in the following ways:
- Logo and company name on the survey announcement article (this page) and the results report
- Listing on the survey form
- A mention in our newsletter (about 1,000 subscribers)
- Listing in announcements and reports for the English-speaking world
We also welcome sponsorship in the form of prizes for a drawing among respondents (such as film or camera accessories). Prizes give people a reason to respond and give sponsors a chance to introduce their products to a large number of film users.
If you're interested, please get in touch via our contact form by November 10, 2026. Write "Survey Sponsor" in the subject line and we'll send you our media kit.