Advanced Photo System - Adoption

Adoption

The Advanced Photo System was an attempt of a major upgrade of photographic technology for amateurs, but was soon overtaken by the popularity of digital photography. Despite the added features, APS never really caught on with professional photographers because of the significantly smaller film area (56% of 135 film). Color slide film, popular with professional photographers, proved unpopular in APS format and was soon discontinued (although chromogenic black-and-white IX240 film continued to be produced). Color print film was normally available only in a limited selection of film speeds and color formats. These developments, combined with the fact that auto-loading 35mm cameras could be made almost as compact, as convenient, and as inexpensive as APS-format cameras, prevented APS from attaining greater popularity.

APS cameras were mostly produced in compact fully automatic form for the consumer point and shoot camera market. However, less than five years after the 1996 launch of APS, the compact autofocus digital camera became available at increasingly reasonable prices, and APS camera sales plummeted.

In January 2004, Kodak announced it was ceasing APS camera production.

As of 2009, new APS cameras are rarely seen for sale. APS film can be more expensive to buy and process than 35 mm film, and fewer labs are capable of processing it. The number of available APS film types and emulsions has declined, though APS film is still available from a small number of manufacturers.

Both Fuji and Kodak, the last two manufacturers of APS film discontinued production in 2011. Limited stocks are still available and being sold though.