Kodak Alaris Recent News -- Questions about the future of large format color??

[f/Alex]

Hi yall, just a few questions for folks who may be smarter than me on this,

The internet has been a bit abuzz with Eastman Kodak taking over distribution of another two film sets from Kodak Alaris (good idea in concept, why is it price $1 higher at B&H? bad idea in practice?). Regardless of price increases, those happen all the time, I'm worried about large format film from Kodak. Looking at their product website

Still Film

A leading global manufacturer focused on commercial print and advanced materials & chemicals. We believe in the power of technology and science to enhance…

www.kodak.com

it's clear that they seem to only be offering all their products in 135 and 120 (320txp isn't listed too!, further concerns). I'm wondering if anyone has any insights about this, and whether or not the end of color large format film is upon us? Is Kodak Alaris going to continue to distribute large format film? Has Eastman Kodak decided to make me worried for "the bit"? At the end of the day, the loss of 4x5 ektachrome would be sad to me, but I could live with the loss of tmax in 4x5, I quite enjoy delta as well.

Anyways, just a worry. maybe it's nothing.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Ask them.

Better than asking a rumour mill.

 

[mshchem]

Hi yall, just a few questions for folks who may be smarter than me on this,

The internet has been a bit abuzz with Eastman Kodak taking over distribution of another two film sets from Kodak Alaris (good idea in concept, why is it price $1 higher at B&H? bad idea in practice?). Regardless of price increases, those happen all the time, I'm worried about large format film from Kodak. Looking at their product website

Still Film

A leading global manufacturer focused on commercial print and advanced materials & chemicals. We believe in the power of technology and science to enhance…

www.kodak.com

it's clear that they seem to only be offering all their products in 135 and 120 (320txp isn't listed too!, further concerns). I'm wondering if anyone has any insights about this, and whether or not the end of color large format film is upon us? Is Kodak Alaris going to continue to distribute large format film? Has Eastman Kodak decided to make me worried for "the bit"? At the end of the day, the loss of 4x5 ektachrome would be sad to me, but I could live with the loss of tmax in 4x5, I quite enjoy delta as well.

Anyways, just a worry. maybe it's nothing.

Their marketing plan is working

It's going to be OK. B&H gives free FedEx, it all works out. Don't believe anything on 4/1.

Deep breaths!

 

[MCB18]

A friend who lives in Rochester and knows some people said that from what they can tell, the films are being released based on the master rolls they are coating. No one has confirmed this but it does make the irregular release cadence more understandable. And if this is the case, sheets not being released also makes sense. 35mm and 120 are coated more often than sheets, so they will probably be released later on this year when they coat master rolls for sheets.

 

[isaac7]

B+H say that 5x7 Ektachrome has to be ordered 30 boxes at a time and Portra 60(!) boxes at a time. I don’t know if 5x7 has always been that way. It does make it sound like they will only make it for you if you make it worth their while. I seem to remember there was a dealer that collected orders and made bulk LF Kodak color orders. Or maybe that was just for bigger and/or odd sizes like 11x14, 2x3, etc. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kodak did it like Ilford does for sheet film other than 4x5 and 8xq0.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

B+H say that 5x7 Ektachrome has to be ordered 30 boxes at a time and Portra 60(!) boxes at a time. I don’t know if 5x7 has always been that way. It does make it sound like they will only make it for you if you make it worth their while. I seem to remember there was a dealer that collected orders and made bulk LF Kodak color orders. Or maybe that was just for bigger and/or odd sizes like 11x14, 2x3, etc. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kodak did it like Ilford does for sheet film other than 4x5 and 8xq0.

I;d be more interested knowing how often and in what quantities the more common 4x5 is produced.

 

[MCB18]

B+H say that 5x7 Ektachrome has to be ordered 30 boxes at a time and Portra 60(!) boxes at a time. I don’t know if 5x7 has always been that way. It does make it sound like they will only make it for you if you make it worth their while. I seem to remember there was a dealer that collected orders and made bulk LF Kodak color orders. Or maybe that was just for bigger and/or odd sizes like 11x14, 2x3, etc. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kodak did it like Ilford does for sheet film other than 4x5 and 8xq0.

From what I remember, Kodak has a minimum monetary value for sheets that must be met. If you meet it then they will make you any size you want so long as one side is less than 40” long. 4x5 and 8x10 are the only formats they keep factory stocked (for some films), 5x7 is not stocked.

 

[Mackinaw]

B+H say that 5x7 Ektachrome has to be ordered 30 boxes at a time and Portra 60(!) boxes at a time. I don’t know if 5x7 has always been that way. It does make it sound like they will only make it for you if you make it worth their while. I seem to remember there was a dealer that collected orders and made bulk LF Kodak color orders. Or maybe that was just for bigger and/or odd sizes like 11x14, 2x3, etc. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kodak did it like Ilford does for sheet film other than 4x5 and 8xq0.

K. B. Canham Cameras are who you are thinking of.

K. B. Canham Cameras Kodak special order large and ultra large format sheet film information

www.canhamcameras.com

Jim B.

 

[blee1996]

I always imagine a dude like @MCB18 will sit in the dark slicing the bulk roll into sheet film sizes, once Kodak gets a bulk sheet film order.

 

[MCB18]

I always imagine a dude like @MCB18 will sit in the dark slicing the bulk roll into sheet film sizes, once Kodak gets a bulk sheet film order.

Haha, they have much nicer machines than I do

 

[MattKing]

5x7 has been "special order" through K.B. Canham Cameras for many years - perhaps even before Keith Canham became involved.
The 4x5 and 8x10 sizes in standard box sizes are standard catalogue items which are prepared according to actual and projected needs.
Anything outside those catalogue items is a special order, and the minimum quantity requirements reflect the substantial costs related to shut down, set up, shut down and re-set of the sheet film finishing equipment.
As sheet film is both low volume and essentially on its own substrate - Estar of a particular thickness - coating it to master rolls doesn't happen every week!
So any non-catalogue requirement is going to take some time to fulfill - even after you place the large special order.
Even with the downsized equipment, the minimum size of a master roll is really large!

 

[OrientPoint]

Keith Canham has been running 5x7 group buys recently for Ektachrome and Portra. The last one I am aware of ended right before Christmas 2025. We are still awaiting delivery. Kodak is definitely taking their time.

Keith can't do anything about the lag time but his communication is excellent so the process is an exercise in patience rather than frustration. I suspect that whether you order from Canham or put in your own 60 box order direct to Kodak you'll be waiting a while.

 

[MattKing]

Wherever possible, they probably do the special orders when they also need to do catalogue product orders. So response time may be a bit of "luck of the draw".

 

[MCB18]

Keith Canham has been running 5x7 group buys recently for Ektachrome and Portra. The last one I am aware of ended right before Christmas 2025. We are still awaiting delivery. Kodak is definitely taking their time.

Keith can't do anything about the lag time but his communication is excellent so the process is an exercise in patience rather than frustration. I suspect that whether you order from Canham or put in your own 60 box order direct to Kodak you'll be waiting a while.

That’s actually kind of interesting to hear, I’m in the same boat with Astrum. Currently waiting on some ULF orders I asked for around October. Apparently they got a new production person and they aren’t as willing as the old one to set up the machine for smaller orders… Unfortunately this might put an end to the “ULF-on-demand” thing I had going…