Kodak films direct from Eastman Kodak (was: Kodacolor 100. New)

[polaromar]

Interesting turn of events - Gold 200 and Ultramax 400 are now listed on the EK website, complete with the new EK style packaging, in both 35mm and 120 (for Gold):

KODAK GOLD 200 Film

Versatile color film with fine grain, vibrant colors, and broad exposure latitude. Available in 135 and 120 formats.

www.kodak.com

KODAK ULTRAMAX 400 Film

High-speed color film with vivid colors, fine grain, and sharp detail. Ideal for everyday and low-light 135 format photography.

www.kodak.com

I wonder if we will start seeing the rest of the lineup be migrated to EK's control? There are no other Kodak consumer stocks still in Alaris' hands, though all of the professional films are still Alaris only as of today. Or maybe there's a deal for EK to gain control of the consumer stock?

Either way - this can only be good for us, IMO.

 

[Pioneer]

Thanks. I'll have to check with CVS here in town and see if they are carrying any of this. So far all I have been able to find locally is Fuji 400.

 

[brbo]

So far all I have been able to find locally is Fuji 400.

Which is exactly what Ultramax 400 is (the box of EK's Ultramax 400 is much prettier, though).

 

[koraks]

Moderator note: the title of this thread has been changed to reflect the broader scope (in terms of products) that was highlighted above.

 

[GeorgK]

What is the logic behind color-coding Gold 200 (magenta) and Ultramax 400 (blue), but using red stripes both on Kodacolor 100 and 200?
(Please don't say "To distinguish Kodacolor line from Gold line and Ultramax line".)

 

[thinkbrown]

What is the logic behind color-coding Gold 200 (magenta) and Ultramax 400 (blue), but using red stripes both on Kodacolor 100 and 200?
(Please don't say "To distinguish Kodacolor line from Gold line and Ultramax line".)

I'd assume it's to provide some continuity to their existing packaging where gold has a magenta box and Ultramax has cyan packaging.

 

[brbo]

What is the logic behind color-coding Gold 200 (magenta) and Ultramax 400 (blue), but using red stripes both on Kodacolor 100 and 200?

If you ever bought Gold or Ultramax before, the colour-coding should be pretty obvious.

The real surprise is that EK kept the Gold and Ultramax name. They just took away the most fun part of this introduction and turned "look, two new films" into "look, two same old boring films". Obviously, EK thinks every little act of stability will be highly appreciated by the people experiencing the current USA timeline.

 

[Cholentpot]

I'm still waiting for KodachromeC C41.

 

[Agulliver]

Interesting to see that the Gold on EK's site also includes the 120 version. So that's the entire range of "amateur" C41 films now with EK ?

Certainly an interesting development.

 

[flavio81]

Interesting turn of events - Gold 200 and Ultramax 400 are now listed on the EK website, complete with the new EK style packaging, in both 35mm and 120 (for Gold):

KODAK GOLD 200 Film

Versatile color film with fine grain, vibrant colors, and broad exposure latitude. Available in 135 and 120 formats.

www.kodak.com

KODAK ULTRAMAX 400 Film

High-speed color film with vivid colors, fine grain, and sharp detail. Ideal for everyday and low-light 135 format photography.

www.kodak.com

I wonder if we will start seeing the rest of the lineup be migrated to EK's control? There are no other Kodak consumer stocks still in Alaris' hands, though all of the professional films are still Alaris only as of today. Or maybe there's a deal for EK to gain control of the consumer stock?

Either way - this can only be good for us, IMO.

Oh my god!

So... "goodbye Alaris" then...

 

[koraks]

So... "goodbye Alaris" then...

Looks like it's heading that way for camera film. For Alaris as such I wonder how much significance this has; it's evidently a big product for them, but they do lots more and this may fit into a strategic repositioning of the firm.

 

[baachitraka]

I'm still waiting for KodachromeC C41.

Some years ago PE explained why it may not be possible to bring the Kodachrome ever again. I am you are not serious but in a way we all miss PE.

 

[polaromar]

Interesting to see that the Gold on EK's site also includes the 120 version. So that's the entire range of "amateur" C41 films now with EK ?

Certainly an interesting development.

Exactly - only the professional stocks are Alaris. Though I checked Kodak Alaris' website today, and they still have Ultramax 400 and Gold 200 listed. Maybe clearing out their last stocks?

Looks like it's heading that way for camera film. For Alaris as such I wonder how much significance this has; it's evidently a big product for them, but they do lots more and this may fit into a strategic repositioning of the firm.

My question as well. Might be that the new owners want Alaris to focus on the scanner business. That said I think the perpetual exclusive rights to Kodak must be worth huge amounts, and with film now "back", it's worth much more now than it was 10 years ago. After all, Alaris made a huge deal about cracking down on cine film respoolers just a year ago. Because of that, I suspect that this transfer may not be entirely voluntary from Alaris' side.

 

[Cholentpot]

Some years ago PE explained why it may not be possible to bring the Kodachrome ever again. I am you are not serious but in a way we all miss PE.

I am serious and don't call me Shirley.

I don't care about the original K-14 Kodachrome. I want Kodak to just slap the name onto some Ektachrome or Portra and label it as KodachromeIII or something. They'll sell more then they can make. People won't care about someone telling them 'Akcshully it's not real Kodachrome...' while they happily go out into the cowfields and shoot their branded Paul Simon Kodachrome C-41 through a disposable fixed shutter half-frame.

 

[BrianShaw]

Has anyone ever authoritatively confirmed that the Alaris license rights was in-perpetuity?

 

[koraks]

Might be that the new owners want Alaris to focus on the scanner business.

Maybe. The last report they published specifies that >60% of the business consists of Kodak Moments, which is basically prints, merchandise etc. The remainder is the 'alaris' proper business with the document digitization activities. They reported a decline in this segment. Based on this, I'm not sure if it's very plausible they would focus on the smaller, less attractive part.

Of course, 'focus' is not an exclusive choice; a company can choose to pursue several things and for a company Alaris' size, that's more or less a given (save a couple of notable exceptions). Moreover, their strategic focus can be (and likely is) in attempting to leverage their assets (technology, knowledge, IP, partnerships) in markets they may not have realized much growth in to date.

Well, interesting musings, but for me they don't extend much further than noting that the whole stills film business isn't necessarily the cork the company floats on. It's no doubt an attractive segment, but it may be a bit of an oddball product in their portfolio if you look at their other activities.

 

[BrianShaw]

Well, interesting musings, but for me they don't extend much further than noting that the whole stills film business isn't necessarily the cork the company floats on. It's no doubt an attractive segment, but it may be a bit of an oddball product in their portfolio if you look at their other activities.

You probably can be a bit more certain that that based on the Alaris financial reports.

 

[polaromar]

404 Media was able to get ahold of EK for a statement:

Kodak Quietly Begins Directly Selling Kodak Gold and Ultramax Film Again

Kodak appears to be taking back control over the distribution of its film.

www.404media.co

In summary - it seems like EK gained the ability to sell direct to distributors in North America, the wording implying that ALL still films will eventually be sold that way. They also credit an expansion of their film production capability for making this possible.

Maybe there's a fixed amount of film that EK has to provide Alaris, and now it is profitable for EK to both fulfill it's contractual obligations with Alaris while still selling direct? Or possibly there's a deal where EK will handle North America while Alaris will handle the rest of the world? One can speculate.

Has anyone ever authoritatively confirmed that the Alaris license rights was in-perpetuity?

Had to look at the German Wiki, but the source for it is from a German language version of a statement on the news page of Kodak Document Imaging (what became Alaris).

 

[Truzi]

Or possibly there's a deal where EK will handle North America while Alaris will handle the rest of the world? One can speculate.

That is a good speculation.

 

[Daniël - Tech&Music]

Maybe there's a fixed amount of film that EK has to provide Alaris, and now it is profitable for EK to both fulfill it's contractual obligations with Alaris while still selling direct?

That's been my theory since they started selling KC100 and 200 (I might have even posted about it in this thread), and this certainly would fit that.
The very specific references to their efforts last year to increase manufacturing capacity would make sense if that is the case.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If you ever bought Gold or Ultramax before, the colour-coding should be pretty obvious.

The real surprise is that EK kept the Gold and Ultramax name. They just took away the most fun part of this introduction and turned "look, two new films" into "look, two same old boring films". Obviously, EK thinks every little act of stability will be highly appreciated by the people experiencing the current USA timeline.

An "old" newly released film to you is a new film if you're young.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

404 Media was able to get ahold of EK for a statement:

Kodak Quietly Begins Directly Selling Kodak Gold and Ultramax Film Again

Kodak appears to be taking back control over the distribution of its film.

www.404media.co

In summary - it seems like EK gained the ability to sell direct to distributors in North America, the wording implying that ALL still films will eventually be sold that way. They also credit an expansion of their film production capability for making this possible.

Maybe there's a fixed amount of film that EK has to provide Alaris, and now it is profitable for EK to both fulfill it's contractual obligations with Alaris while still selling direct? Or possibly there's a deal where EK will handle North America while Alaris will handle the rest of the world? One can speculate.



Had to look at the German Wiki, but the source for it is from a German language version of a statement on the news page of Kodak Document Imaging (what became Alaris).

The old owners were pensioners who were only interested in getting their monthly retirement checks. The operation seemed stultified. The new owner, an American investment company based in California, is an entrepreneur. Who knows what deals it and Eastman are making to improve film sales and profits?

 

[BrianShaw]

Had to look at the German Wiki, but the source for it is from a German language version of a statement on the news page of Kodak Document Imaging (what became Alaris).

Thanks very much. I either forgot that or never saw it. That explains the longevity of Alaris' use of the brand name. Not sure if that implies exclusivity or has much to do with either exlusivity or perpetuality of their film distribution. Apparently not, though.

 

[BrianShaw]

The old owners were pensioners who were only interested in getting their monthly retirement checks. The operation seemed stultified. The new owner, an American investment company based in California, is an entrepreneur. Who knows what deals it and Eastman are making to improve film sales and profits?

It's mgiht be more likely, Alan, that if anything the new owner has inspired "trimming the fat" at Alaris by getting rid of the smaller (and less profitable?) product lines. Certainly to improve Alaris profits. Not sure if that has much to do with film sales.

 

[MattKing]

The old owners were pensioners who were only interested in getting their monthly retirement checks. The operation seemed stultified. The new owner, an American investment company based in California, is an entrepreneur. Who knows what deals it and Eastman are making to improve film sales and profits?

The old owners were actually a large UK government fund with the legislative mandate to make good on any pension shortfalls in certain defined private pension plans - and the projected/potential Kodak Limited pension fund shortfall was forecasted to be the largest claim ever on that fund.
Kodak Alaris was created in an attempt to make enough profit over the years to reduce or eliminate that shortfall, because the alternative was to seize and sell the Kodak Limited assets that the government had a priority claim over, and if that had happened, less would have been realized, and Eastman Kodak would have been forced to cease operations and be liquidated.
I'm concerned that if Kodak Alaris is out of the amateur film business, everybody outside of the USA will only be able to buy from USA retail sources. If that happens, I doubt the professional film lines - including Ektachrome and all the black and white films - will be no more.
Eastman Kodak has no international distribution infrastructure capable of supporting still film.