Ektachrome history

[Photo Engineer]

I'd say it's a feedback loop; the effect feeds back into the cause, sending Kodachrome sales into a downward spiral. This also makes it difficult to say what's the cause and what's the effect, since both factors function as both cause and effect.

Also, even a few decades ago, Kodachrome had to be sent out to one of a handful of facilities for processing, whereas E-6 (and earlier Ektachrome processes) were more easily done locally. This would give a speed advantage to Ektachrome -- not as great an advantage as exists today, but a real one nonetheless. Once some other factor (improvements in E-6, decline in film sales generally, UFO thought-control rays, or whatever) causes a dip in Kodachrome sales, the aforementioned feedback loop would take over.

I have stated before that Kodachrome sales began slipping in about 1990. Fuji dropped out of Kodachrome type film production about then in favor of the E6 style Fujichrome.

Yes, it is a downward spiral, but when customers don't want the film in spite of having good processing service (1990s, remember), then it is a sales argument, not a processing argument.

Also remember that Kodak had a new family of Kodachrome ready to go in the late 80s and could not get any interest in the market place or amongst the editors who got samples. Even the Kodachrome 400 was a ho-hum item to everyone contacted.

PE

 

[Neanderman]

Kodachrome can pick any dye set they want due to being able to use 3 developing agents. They picked the couplers and developing agents for color purity (bandpass), and dye stability among other features.

This is a very interesting concept that I'd never considered before... So would literally any combination work? Could one use, for instance, the incorporated couplers used in E'chrome and formulate a color developer for K'chrome with it? (Understanding that you'd still have to follow the K'chrome steps of seperate re-exposures and color development steps.)

 

[Photo Engineer]

No, you could not. You need 3 developer solutions and the couplers would have to dissolve in the developer. Ektachrome couplers do not dissolve in any solution except non-polar solvents.

Alteration of the structure changes dye hue. So, it is a vicious circle.

PE