Hasn't Kodak already been starting this downsizing process with the reintroduction of TMAX P3200 and the upcoming Ektachrome?
Demand for film dropped 96%. The infrastructure to produce film was optimized for volume that is massively higher than it is today. The increase in film sales that is undergoing today is absolutely tiny. Someone here posted Ilford's financial metrics. They are tiny, and barely growing.
What industry (industry, not company) has suffered a 96% drop in sales and recovered to anywhere near what it once was?
That one had an interesting wealth of knowledge written by PE, together with interesting technical discussions.The original Kodachrome is dying thread went on for over 3500 posts.
Again, as I said, the price argument is valid, but that was not what was opposed to me in the first place. People insisted that no one would ever be interested in shooting Kodachrome again because too many people prefered to shoot Velvia back in the day. How logical is this? I say it is irrational and based on invalid accepted ideas about what the market is and will be. Just like every "sensible" people claimed film was dead. How many years was that again? Seems like they were not completely right.
The US alcohol industry had a similar drop with the poorly thought out 18th amendment, and bounced back nicely after the passage of the 21st amendment. Unlike the photo industry, however, no-one invented digital ethanol to replace their product.
If they did, you know something no one else does.
PE
Absolutely inspiring that a thread starting with the basic premise 'Kodachrome simply not returning', has managed to reach nearly 40 pages.
This is what Photrio is for. Good work by everyone who knows better than the manufacturers and distributors, and blessings be upon you.
Can we get it to 100 pages by the end of, say, June?
They said "just not practical to try to replicate in today's market." They didn't say it is not coming back EVER. Nor did they say it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it again. More accuracy please.Actually, the readership here (most of them) are verifying what the manufacturers have told us. Kodak themselves just recently said that Kodachrome is NOT coming back.
Young consumers have no film cameras or projectors. Older consumers who had film cameras or projectors have, for the most part, gotton rid of them. The world is digital. Do you see a problem here? They are never going to invest money in these for the sake of something they know nothing about or have long ago forgotten, and having to project them to view them, as opposed to the convenience of digital images. Even film users rarely project slides any more. You simply fail to understand the public mindset.
It remains to be seen how much longer even existing E-6 films can survive, let alone revived Kodachrome.
I would hypothesize that if Kodak announced to the world they were selling and processing Kodachrome for free there would not be enough takers to warrant a revival even if the takers would pay for it.
More accuracy doesn’t really change the message.They said "just not practical to try to replicate in today's market." They didn't say it is not coming back EVER. Nor did they say it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it again. More accuracy please.
The world is digital now... blah, blah, blah. Haven't we, film shooters, seen all these arguments during the digital vs film war? We all know film survived and is kicking again especially among the millennial crowd who think it is so cool to listen to vinyl records and shoot vintage film cameras.
The world is digital now... blah, blah, blah. Haven't we, film shooters, seen all these arguments during the digital vs film war? We all know film survived and is kicking again especially among the millennial crowd who think it is so cool to listen to vinyl records and shoot vintage film cameras.
None, the current E6 films aren't worth shooting. Now excuse me, as I have to take cover.Query: how many Kodakchrome revivalists actually shoot transparency film?
Technically it is not *impossible* to bring back Kodachrome.....but unless some generous benefactor as wealthy as the likes of Bill Gates funds it......it ain't gonna happen without some seismic shift in the market.
As for Kodak having managed to scale down their coating....I heard that too. I understood that it's why they were able to bring back P3200 and that it's a by-product of them getting ready to manufacture the new Ektachrome. The smaller runs make sense on several levels and it's not inconceivable that other discontinued films might come back.....but Kodachrome won't be one of them.
Ilford is a financially stable company and offers film users the greatest hope for long term film availability.
And while Ilford is profitable, I was surprised and how small the profit is. I'm actually a bit concerned of the effect TMZ will have on D3200 sales and if that's enough to push Ilford into the red. I sure hope not!
Ron, I've got someone at another Web site forum claiming that Kodak is producing all the TMAX 400 sheet film it possibly can just to keep up with demand. When I asked where this "information" came from, he cited a dealer. I responded that those who maintain contacts inside Eastman Kodak (you, but I didn't name you) report very intermittent making and coating in Bldg. 38 are how EK is coping with extremely low demand and a line with huge capacity. He said he'd rather believe the dealer.If they did, you know something no one else does...
Classic confirmation bias.He said he'd rather believe the dealer.
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