Film cameras and West Virginia

In the past 12 months, I've taken some really good pictures of my kids with a point-and-shoot digital camera. I have two SLR film cameras at home, but I've hardly used them since I bought the digital. One is a Nikon FM2, at one time considered one of the better 35mm film cameras.

A couple of months ago, Nikon Corp., one of the leading camera manufacturers in the world, said it will reduce the number of film-camera models it makes from nine to two. The only two models left will be the top-of-the-line F6 and the low-end FM10.

Film cameras are rapidly losing their market to digital cameras. Quality, however, will still rule for serious photographers. Until digital technology can provide the same picture quality that film does, there will always be a market for good films and good film cameras.

Come to think of it, as long as West Virginia has a competitive business climate and a highly educated work force, it will continue to be one of the hottest places in the United States for growing new industries and for having a high standard of living.