Kodak Axes Digicams, but keeps film

[CGW]

Hello Daniel,



which is confirmed by the bjp article posted above and also here in a German article quoting a Kodak rep saying Kodak intends to continue production of film and photopaper:

http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Kodak-versucht-es-wieder-analog-article5457701.html



+1.
People can make a difference, consumers can make a difference, we all film shooters can make a difference and change things.
Not only shooting film on a regular basis by ourselves, but also spread the word being active to get others interested in the joy of shooting film.
Film has so much to offer.
If you show it to others interested in photography, especially younger photographers (at least that is my experience) and explain the possibilities and strengths of the medium and what makes it unique, you will have success (again my experiences; I've got many people into shooting film during the last years).
Imagine, if each film shooter convince at least two or three others to shoot film.
Then photo film will be on the safe(r) side.

But of course it is not only our mission. It is definitely the duty of all companies which earn their income by selling film, photochemicals, photopaper and development services.
It is the duty not only of film manufacturers, but especially the duty of specialised distributors like Freestyle, Maco, Fotoimpex etc., and the duty of professional labs.
They must stop their inactivity and start marketing for film.
They want to sell film, therefore they have to convince consumers to buy film.

Best regards,
Henning

BJP just reprints/repeats press releases. It's Kodak reps' job to make soothing noises to customers. The "duty" and "mission" stuff is a bit fanciful.

 

[Chan Tran]

I am wondering how big of a company Kodak would have to spin off as a film photography only manufactures B&W, Color negative and slide films in all sizes plus paper and chemicals?

 

[Aristophanes]

There's already a dead end taking shape with mirror-less bodies designed to look like their film ancestors, e.g., the Olympus OM-D, Pentax K-01 and the Fuji X10. EVFs are making mirrors and prisms obsolete--Sony's NEX bodies a case in point.
[/url]

Mmmmm....

DSLR sales are at an all-time high despite mirrorless intrusions.

Nikon just released God's DSLR the D800 with an OVF.

I think the OVF is here to stay.

Prisms are static and powerful, more than any sensor at relaying 100% Dr with no latency. Mirrors are a decades-old sunk cost, so have no R&D run-up.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

And in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/02/09/kodak-ceases-digital-camera-production/

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

And in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/02/09/kodak-ceases-digital-camera-production/

"Eastman Kodak plans to focus on its other businesses which include photo sharing, digital kiosks, and traditional film, a still-profitable branch of the company’s business."

"The one silver lining* is that Kodak will continue producing color and black-and-white film, news that should make traditional photographers happy."

Ken

* No mention if the pun was intended...

 

[BrianShaw]

Does anyone remember Polaroid's instant slide film? Does anyone remember Polaroid? I have one of the processor's in hardly used condition ... any offers?[/U]

If you are talking about the 35mm processor, Polaroid was loaning them at first, then selling them, and practically giving them away later. I still have some film in unused condition... any offers?

 

[BrianShaw]

* No mention if the pun was intended...

I wonder if the lining will ever be silvery enough for Kodak to bring back B&W paper?

 

[fotch]

Quote from Forbes

"The one silver lining is that Kodak will continue producing color and black-and-white film, news that should make traditional photographers happy."

I am very happy

 

[Moopheus]

good riddance, The only people I know that own them can't figure out how to use them.

My experience too. I tried to set one up for a relative, and it was seriously not "easyshare"! As much as I like their film, if I were in the market for a digitoy, they'd be at the bottom of the list.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you are talking about the 35mm processor, Polaroid was loaning them at first, then selling them, and practically giving them away later. I still have some film in unused condition... any offers?

I would certainly want to have the polaroid 35mm and processor but I am wondering they are still usable and really don't know what to offer.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Long live film!

Jeff

 

[CGW]

Mmmmm....

DSLR sales are at an all-time high despite mirrorless intrusions.

Nikon just released God's DSLR the D800 with an OVF.

I think the OVF is here to stay.

Prisms are static and powerful, more than any sensor at relaying 100% Dr with no latency. Mirrors are a decades-old sunk cost, so have no R&D run-up.

Sure, if you're willing to spend 3 large+ for the D800 or 6 large for the D4. The finder on the D7000 is just barely passable. Most dslrs use cheap, dim penta-mirrors, not heavier, pricier glass prism finders.The Sony EVF on the NEX 7 and tack-on OLED finder for the NEX5n are great for anyone not shooting fast action. Mirrorless cameras are also tiny compared to the bulk of a dslr.

 

[CGW]

And in Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/02/09/kodak-ceases-digital-camera-production/

About film, the concern is for how much longer.

 

[Photo Engineer]

There was quite a disagreement a few days ago with one person arguing strongly that film was NOT profitable, and here we have the proof that he was wrong wrong wrong. Kodak will apparently stay in the film business fir a kibg tune,

In fact, I think that the film division represents a major portion of the Kodak land ownership and personnel. However, to answer another question, I doubt if they would ever bring back B&W paper, as the entire plant has been demolished. It is like being in a time machine running backwards and looking at Kodak Park implode.

PE

 

[kb3lms]

About film, the concern is for how much longer.

It brings money in the front door. They need that so probably quite a while. The Christmas bonus for the CEO has to come from somewhere, right?

 

[Henning Serger]

The "duty" and "mission" stuff is a bit fanciful.

Film shooters, and film distributors, have the choice. They can be part of the problem, or they can be part of the solution.

Those who are permanently penetrating forums with "film is dead" and "the sky is falling" statements are part of the problem.
Because they discourage photographers, especially new, young film shooters, to use film.
Who wants to join a club, which is permanently debating its closure? No one.
All these "film is dead discussions" of the last years significantly hurt film sales.
Market analysts know that. And that is the reason why the "film is dead" argument has been an essential part of marketing for digital cameras ("you have to go digital because there will be no film in the future").

Those film shooters and distributors/labs who encourage other photographers and interested people to shoot film are part of the solution. They stabilise the film user base.

If you fight you may loose.
If you don't fight you have definitely lost, in every case.

I love freedom, the freedom to have choices and variety. I want to have the choice between film and digital, the possibility to choose the right tool for the job and what I like best.
I am convinced the world of photography is best when this choice stay alive. I don't want to live in a digital only world. It would be a much poorer world.
That is the reason why I do my part to keep film alive.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Chan Tran]

Sure, if you're willing to spend 3 large+ for the D800 or 6 large for the D4. The finder on the D7000 is just barely passable. Most dslrs use cheap, dim penta-mirrors, not heavier, pricier glass prism finders.The Sony EVF on the NEX 7 and tack-on OLED finder for the NEX5n are great for anyone not shooting fast action. Mirrorless cameras are also tiny compared to the bulk of a dslr.

No wonder I am still shooting film. Without the 6 grand for the D4 the F3 bought new in 1983 for $460 has a comparable viewfinder as the D4.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Kodak will apparently stay in the film business fir a kibg tune
PE

I looked at my keyboard and cracked the code, but I still prefer to think of this as a fine old Gaelic expression, and I will try to use it wherever possible.

 

[jeffreyg]

Chan

The Polaroid slide film no longer exists. I can't even remember when it was last available. Mine was from 1987. There were five different films. It came with built in chemistry. You loaded it into the processor, hit the switch and it let you know when it was finished. There is also a viewer / slide mounter that is a separate unit. I wonder how many still exist? I guess this is just a collector's item.

Back then Polaroid had many different films. The digital technology explosion made them obsolete. At least film will continue for those of us who consider it to be a medium for artistic pursuits (I hope for an extended period of time).

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[CGW]

Film shooters, and film distributors, have the choice. They can be part of the problem, or they can be part of the solution.

Those who are permanently penetrating forums with "film is dead" and "the sky is falling" statements are part of the problem.
Because they discourage photographers, especially new, young film shooters, to use film.
Who wants to join a club, which is permanently debating its closure? No one.
All these "film is dead discussions" of the last years significantly hurt film sales.
Market analysts know that. And that is the reason why the "film is dead" argument has been an essential part of marketing for digital cameras ("you have to go digital because there will be no film in the future").

Those film shooters and distributors/labs who encourage other photographers and interested people to shoot film are part of the solution. They stabilise the film user base.

If you fight you may loose.
If you don't fight you have definitely lost, in every case.

I love freedom, the freedom to have choices and variety. I want to have the choice between film and digital, the possibility to choose the right tool for the job and what I like best.
I am convinced the world of photography is best when this choice stay alive. I don't want to live in a digital only world. It would be a much poorer world.
That is the reason why I do my part to keep film alive.

Best regards,
Henning

It's looking like a contrarian proposition to many who I try to sell here in Toronto, where the oldest and largest pro lab in the city just closed after 57 years in business. It just wasn't viable. That leaves one good full-service(quality E6/C-41/B&W processing) pro lab in an urban area of just over 6 million. That's not naysaying, just the truth. Magical thinking won't stem falling demand, much less reverse it.

 

[BrianShaw]

Chan

The Polaroid slide film no longer exists.

... and I seem to recall that the resolution was fairly poor, the color balance questionable, and it couldn't be duplicate. It has been a long time sine I used it (1985 or so) but I seem to recall the color film simulated real color by stripes of (primary?) colors ann the film had a silvery reflective surface. That was an intereting notion but never one of Polaroid's better products.

 

[jeffreyg]

Brian,

Agreed. I used Pola Blue mainly to photograph text to use in a projected lecture series.

Jeff

 

[BrianShaw]

Brian,

Agreed. I used Pola Blue mainly to photograph text to use in a projected lecture series.

Jeff

Ditto

 

[Toffle]

Those film shooters and distributors/labs who encourage other photographers and interested people to shoot film are part of the solution. They stabilise the film user base.

If you fight you may loose.
If you don't fight you have definitely lost, in every case.

Best regards,
Henning

Well put, my friend.

 

[sandermarijn]

I looked at my keyboard and cracked the code, but I still prefer to think of this as a fine old Gaelic expression, and I will try to use it wherever possible.

If I die in my sleep tonight it will be with a huge grin on my face, a jihr htom!