2/4/15 Kodak news

Good stuff. And I dont see how that would harm the other manufacturers like foma and ilford, they've all managed to stay afloat with kodak in the water for the last however many years.

I don't see how this apples to oranges comparison has anything directly in common with still photography supplies. Different films, different
markets.

Drew, same coating machines and workers, same buildings, same utilities and etc. Lots in common with Cine, pro still and consumer products.

PE

For those still using Kodak films, this is very very good news. And for those no longer using Kodak, it's still very very good film manufacturing supply chain news. And hopefully for the motion picture industry users who choose to continue creating their works on film it will be excellent news.

When I made the pilgrimage to the Boeing IMAX (film projection) theater in Seattle to see Intersteller I sat through the final credits. And as much as Kodak's business practices have infuriated me over the past several years, practices that inevitably led to a bankruptcy, I gotta' admit that when the final credit came up and said "Photographed on Kodak Motion Picture Film" I couldn't suppress a small smile in the darkness.

Ken

DREW WILEY said:

I don't see how this apples to oranges comparison has anything directly in common with still photography supplies. Different films, different markets.

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If these agreements hadn't been executed, Bldg. 38 would have soon followed all Eastman Kodak's other production coating lines to the scrap heap. After that, Drew, any Kodak Alaris "TMX" and "TMY" sheet film that you might be able to buy in the future would have little similarity to the versions you're currently using. Do you see now?

And right now, I would trot over to the Alaris Facebook page and do some promotional work on pro and consumer products.

PE

I understand the commonality of infrastructure and overhead. But with Kodak still having the lion's share of color neg film worldwide, one would think that the scaled-down operation would have viability outside movie film. Every bit helps. Of course, for those who do enjoy traditional forms of cinema instead of the hegemony of digitized teenage action matinees largely geared to selling overpriced soda and popcorn, this is no doubt very good news.

I recall the first Kodak Magnetic Tape, they did a few things to try and get noticed. They back printed the type of tape, and the thickness (ESTAR or ACETATE; .5mil 1mil or 1.5 mil) and the words "Eastman Kodak Company" all over the tape. They designed reels with a built in handy splicing block. I think they even attached leaders. Then they only sold it in a few places in the US market. I never ever saw any of it for sale here in Canada.

I did see, and use Kodak Diskettes. Then the bought and sold Verbatum. By then I was using KAO distkettes which were made just up the road in Arnprior.

One of Kodak's signature traits is that they really don't understand how to market their products, and by having the default superior product for years they did not really have to understand marketing in any depth.

DREW WILEY said:

...with Kodak still having the lion's share of color neg film worldwide, one would think that the scaled-down operation would have viability outside movie film...

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The only ones who would think that are those who haven't yet grasped how little still color negative film is sold today and how Bldg. 38's "scaling down" made very little headway toward its financial viability if manufacturing only still films.

fotch said:

Huh? Suddenly, its a problems after all these 50 plus years? I think just the opposite, if Kodak folds, it weakens the whole market.

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Simon has said the same thing.

That's just a bizarre notion that it's bad for Ilford or, even more bizarre, Foma. Foma and Kodak sell to largely different markets. In the first place, Kodak = most remaining C41. That's the BIG reason I want Kodak to stay around. I could do black and white just fine without them, though I'd miss Tri-X. (It's about the only thing I'd miss now though, though I might have to find a new brand of selenium toner.)

lxdude said:

Agreed. And Simon from Ilford has said something similar.

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Great minds etc. Should have read on before replying.

Roger Cole said:

Great minds etc. Should have read on before replying.

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What reading and thinking before posting?!? How un-internet like! oliceman: