Kodak ‘Investigating What it Would Take’ to Bring Back Kodachrome

kruiwagen · Jan 12, 2017

I found this in an article about the Ektachrome announcement:

"But what about the fate of Kodachrome -- the most famous and revered of the bunch?

The company thought about it.

"Kodachrome will not be coming back," Mooney said. "We took a look at it and decided Ektachrome was the better choice."

Part of the reasoning was technical. Kodachrome is notoriously difficult to process. Not just any film processor can do it. "You almost needed a PhD in chemistry," Mooney said. That skill was lost when Kodachrome disappeared seven years ago.

And some things just can't be replaced."

Cholentpot · Jan 12, 2017

kruiwagen said:
I found this in an article about the Ektachrome announcement:

"But what about the fate of Kodachrome -- the most famous and revered of the bunch?

The company thought about it.

"Kodachrome will not be coming back," Mooney said. "We took a look at it and decided Ektachrome was the better choice."

Part of the reasoning was technical. Kodachrome is notoriously difficult to process. Not just any film processor can do it. "You almost needed a PhD in chemistry," Mooney said. That skill was lost when Kodachrome disappeared seven years ago.

And some things just can't be replaced."

Shhh!

We're having fun in here!

Roger Cole · Jan 12, 2017

Well why did they release a separate statement saying they were considering it? Left hand, meet right hand.

kruiwagen · Jan 12, 2017

Roger Cole said:
Well why did they release a separate statement saying they were considering it? Left hand, meet right hand.

I don't know. The statemant I posted above was made by another person a few days before they announced they were investigating Kodachrome.

Roger Cole · Jan 12, 2017

Or maybe the episode of Kodakery referenced in the Petapixel article was prior to the Ektachrome announcement, and they decided (wisely) on the Ektachrome?

Well, it is far and away the more rational and useful choice, even if some of us might like to dream. I'll be happy just to get a good Ektachrome again.

EdSawyer · Jan 12, 2017

Obviously it was not lost, but then again marketeering wankers would probably not know that... (sigh...)

kruiwagen said:
That skill was lost when Kodachrome disappeared seven years ago.

flavio81 · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
Shhh!

We're having fun in here!

Thanks Cholentpot.

We should get ahead by creating a poll here on what film would we want EK to re-release first, vote, and then communicate our decision directly to Eastman Kodak, the choices could be for example:

a. Kodachrome 25
b. Kodachrome 64
c. Kodachrome 200
d. Kodachrome 100 prototype
e. Kodachrome 400 prototype
f. Kodachrome 40 Type A
g. Kodachrome II

Poll for first format to have this emulsion released in (only one choice available, so we're reasonable people):

a. 135
b. 120
c. 220
d. 4x5
e. Super-8
f. Single-8
g. Double-Super-8
h. Perforated 70mm rolls
i. Movie camera 65mm rolls
j. Movie 35mm rolls
k. 8x10 large format
l. Minox format
m. 126 cartridge
n. 110 cartridge
o. Kodak Disc
p. 620
q. Rapid cassettes
r. Tessina spindle
s. 828 roll
t. 16mm subminiature

Cholentpot · Jan 12, 2017

flavio81 said:
Thanks Cholentpot.

We should get ahead by creating a poll here on what film would we want EK to re-release first, vote, and then communicate our decision directly to Eastman Kodak, the choices could be for example:

a. Kodachrome 25
b. Kodachrome 64
c. Kodachrome 200
d. Kodachrome 100 prototype
e. Kodachrome 400 prototype
f. Kodachrome 40 Type A
g. Kodachrome II

Poll for first format to have this emulsion released in (only one choice available, so we're reasonable people):

a. 135
b. 120
c. 220
d. 4x5
e. Super-8
f. Single-8
g. Double-Super-8
h. Perforated 70mm rolls
i. Movie camera 65mm rolls
j. Movie 35mm rolls
k. 8x10 large format
l. Minox format
m. 126 cartridge
n. 110 cartridge
o. Kodak Disc
p. 620
q. Rapid cassettes
r. Tessina spindle
s. 828 roll
t. 16mm subminiature

You forgot bulk 135 rolls and Super 16

Sal Santamaura · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
You forgot bulk 135 rolls and Super 16

Not to mention 5x7 and whole plate.

Photo Engineer · Jan 12, 2017

Kodachrome uses a Blue and Red light re-exposure and a fogging step to achieve reversal.

PE

Photo Engineer · Jan 12, 2017

And, the engineering to make it all work has been lost.

PE

480sparky · Jan 12, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
And, the engineering to make it all work has been lost.

PE

It was created once. It can be created again.

flavio81 · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
You forgot bulk 135 rolls and Super 16

We can't please everyone, that's why my list was trimmed down to a reasonable size, with reasonable film formats.

johnielvis · Jan 12, 2017

What they SHOULD investigate is something that everyone will love to play with and develop at home simply and easily: black and white film with integrated filters like autochromes. That would get people into developing their own film and be a chemically simple process. I believe polaroid did this with their polavision and "instant" developing slide film. I would love to have an autochrome type film available. Making a film like this would be way simpler than any kind of proper color film.

Sirius Glass · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
Shhh!

We're having fun in here!

Photo Engineer said:
Kodachrome uses a Blue and Red light re-exposure and a fogging step to achieve reversal.

PE

Photo Engineer said:
And, the engineering to make it all work has been lost.

PE

Ding dong the witch is dead! Ding dong the wicked witch is dead!

railwayman3 · Jan 12, 2017

Sal Santamaura said:
Not to mention 5x7 and whole plate.

and APS !

Craig · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
You forgot bulk 135 rolls and Super 16

9-1/2" Aero format obviously is a first choice.

Cholentpot · Jan 12, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
And, the engineering to make it all work has been lost.

PE

So there is no documentation anywhere for this? Just poof! 80 years of R&D countless patents, revisions and trials all gone? 2010 was like almost a DECADE ago!

Sounds like Grammas special avocado dip. When she dies no-one will be able to replicate it. Except people that have avocados. And kitchens. And dip. And the cookbook from 1937 that had the recipe.

Sirius Glass · Jan 12, 2017

Cholentpot said:
You forgot bulk 135 rolls and Super 16

Sal Santamaura said:
Not to mention 5x7 and whole plate.

railwayman3 said:
and APS !

Craig said:
9-1/2" Aero format obviously is a first choice.

100, 101, 105, 110 early roll film, 116, 118, 124, 125, 220, 51, 616, 828 and Minolta 16

NJH · Jan 12, 2017

Some of my colleagues built up black art skills in reverse engineering electronics systems in the past. BUT, this wasn't to reverse engineer competitors products but to perform updates to items in OEM support where the original project team had all moved on, the documentation was never kept up to date and/or there was some special tricks in there that only one or two people ever understood. That is life in big multi-national engineering companies I'm afraid.

RPC · Jan 12, 2017

480sparky said:
It was created once. It can be created again.

But first you need lots of money to risk, and a good reason. Who has both?

Prest_400 · Jan 12, 2017

RPC said:
But first you need lots of money to risk, and a good reason. Who has both?

Some really rich guy that instead of buying a few Lamborghinis, will dispose of the money into common happiness by financing production of Kodachrome.

Sadly, seems that all of those have other hobbies and still prefer the Lamborghinis.

Wallendo · Jan 12, 2017

I tired of the digital look of electronic flashes, and hate the resources wasted with single-use flashbulbs.

I'm hoping Kodak will bring back flash powder.

Sirius Glass · Jan 12, 2017

RPC said:
But first you need lots of money to risk, and a good reason. Who has both?

No, one does not need a lot of money to get started. Look at the pet rock craze.

Theo Sulphate · Jan 12, 2017

flavio81 said:
...
We should get ahead by creating a poll here on what film would we want EK to re-release first, vote, and then communicate our decision directly to Eastman Kodak, the choices could be for example:
...
o. Kodak Disc
...

Please, no. Not that. Economically and strategically, I think a Kodachrome 100 in 135 format makes the most sense.

Cholentpot said:
So there is no documentation anywhere for this? Just poof! 80 years of R&D countless patents, revisions and trials all gone? 2010 was like almost a DECADE ago!

Not only that, señor, we have lost the ability to re-create the Saturn V rocket which launched the Apollo missions.

480sparky said:
It was created once. It can be created again.

Yes, it can.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Oops - wrong thread.

Kodak ‘Investigating What it Would Take’ to Bring Back Kodachrome

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency