Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

Nzoomed · Jan 8, 2017

joshgladstone said:
I would guess Plus-X would be much more doable. Or Ektachrome IR. But if they're going to control the whole development/scanning pipeline, then they could take it on themselves to be that one lab that will process Kodachrome. I'm not holding my breath though, that would be a massive undertaking. I'm just happy to be getting ektachrome back. And in the meantime, I can shoot that stuff that's been in my fridge!

Completely agree!
I cant wait to make more space in my freezer now I know this, although I still want to see what the new E100 really compares to e100g.

Anon Ymous · Jan 8, 2017

If there is a single bw Kodak film that should come back, then TMax 3200 is a good candidate. There isn't anything in Kodak's offerings that can be considered as a replacement. It just seems rational to me. Yes, I know that HIE doesn't have anything that can be considered a replacement either, but let's not get too excited.

pdeeh · Jan 8, 2017

Sooner or later in this thread, just about every film Kodak ever made will have been suggested for reintroduction, probably on the spurious basis that "if they can do it for Ektachrome they can do it for [insert name of film here]"

And we've already got one fantasy-merchant suggesting the reintroduction of K'chrome+processing.

I'd be more inclined to hope for new emulsions, utilising the very latest technology Kodak can manage, not antique reproductions. And even then I wouldn't be holding my breath.

NJH · Jan 8, 2017

The really obvious ones would be for them to confection double x themselves for stills formats and a tungsten balanced high ISO colour film, rather than the current situation where 3rd parties are cutting up and/or mucking about with cine film.

AgX · Jan 8, 2017

Steven Overman,

President, Consumer & Film Division
Chief Marketing Officer
Senior Vice President at Kodak

"Kodak is the only company in the world still manufacturing Super-8 motion picture film."

That is not true.

AgX · Jan 8, 2017

At this early point I stopped listening to that talk...

Soeren · Jan 8, 2017

Anon Ymous said:
If there is a single bw Kodak film that should come back, then TMax 3200 is a good candidate. There isn't anything in Kodak's offerings that can be considered as a replacement. It just seems rational to me. Yes, I know that HIE doesn't have anything that can be considered a replacement either, but let's not get too excited.

Well HIE was always quite unique with no other films showing the same characteristics. The tmax3200 had competition from D3200 which also come in 120

Chan Tran · Jan 8, 2017

Wayne said:
But you can order RA-4 and have it shipped to you just as easily in TX as IL. If you wanted to.

B&H only have 11x14 paper. They ship no RA-4 chemical kit.

Anon Ymous · Jan 8, 2017

Soeren said:
Well HIE was always quite unique with no other films showing the same characteristics. The tmax3200 had competition from D3200 which also come in 120

I wasn't saying that TMax3200 is something that no other manufacturer provides. What I meant was that it is something that Kodak doesn't provide at the moment and that it's more or less the only thing missing from Kodak's bw films lineup. Besides, the new E100 will not be unique, it will be another ISO100 E6 film.

RattyMouse · Jan 8, 2017

Anon Ymous said:
I wasn't saying that TMax3200 is something that no other manufacturer provides. What I meant was that it is something that Kodak doesn't provide at the moment and that it's more or less the only thing missing from Kodak's bw films lineup. Besides, the new E100 will not be unique, it will be another ISO100 E6 film.

I feel the same way about Neopan 400 and Fuji. I REALLY wish that they would bring that film back (again), this time in 120 size.

A_T · Jan 8, 2017

Would be great if Fuji brought back 400x

Wayne · Jan 8, 2017

Chan Tran said:
B&H only have 11x14 paper. They ship no RA-4 chemical kit.

Not so, they also have 8x10 and sizes larger than 11x14 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/748145-REG/Fujifilm_600008946_Crystal_Archive_Type_II.html

Other places sell and ship the required chemicals, Freestyle and Unique Photo (and possibly Adorama, not sure) among them.

Europan · Jan 8, 2017

I have a 4" × 5" view camera and Fujichrome Provia 100 RDP III is the better film. I have a bunch of Double-Eight cameras that I service myself and I can buy Double-Eight film. Fomapan R is the only true black and white reversal film on a colourless base, PXR and TXR compare unfavourably to it. If they want to sell film, they better open all the taps, offer it in bulk rolls of 35, too. I have an Eyemo that copes with the KS type perforation.

Ektachrome was the wrong decision, they should bring back the very only proprietary thing they ever had: Kodachrome.

Wayne · Jan 8, 2017

iandvaag said:
Ooh, while I enjoy Eastman Double-X and Tri-X, I really have an insatiable nostalgia for Quattro-X. I can't wait for Kodak to bring it back in 9.5mm motion picture, 616 autographic still film and 6x13 dry plate. (Sorry I couldn't help myself).

Sorry for the shameless proselytization, but I urge you to look at some stereo (3D) slides in a backlit handheld viewer. I love printing in the darkroom, but it's equivalently a tonne of fun to shoot stereo slides.

I have stereo slides of cheesecake nudes my father or his partner shot in the 50's or 60's. True, they are fun, in a quaint sort of way, though my primary interest in shooting film/trannies is the print.

Cholentpot · Jan 8, 2017

joshgladstone said:
I would guess Plus-X would be much more doable. Or Ektachrome IR. But if they're going to control the whole development/scanning pipeline, then they could take it on themselves to be that one lab that will process Kodachrome. I'm not holding my breath though, that would be a massive undertaking. I'm just happy to be getting ektachrome back. And in the meantime, I can shoot that stuff that's been in my fridge!

I'd like some Plus-x in bulk. Or selling XX at cut rate prices only in bulk.

flavio81 · Jan 8, 2017

Ok, so all out madness and speculation is going to start here in the forum? I'm all in then!!

Bring back..

Kodachrome 25, 64, 200, the never released Kodachrome 400
Ektachrome 64T, 320T, Elite Chrome "Extra Color", EPP 100, EIR
Kodak Gold 100
Plus-X
Verichrome Pan
Panatomic-X
Royal-X Pan
TMZ
Tri-X Pan Professional
and of course Technical Pan

... i want all of them in 220 format and in 70mm perforated rolls as well...

Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhh

RPC · Jan 8, 2017

pdeeh said:
I'd be more inclined to hope for new emulsions, utilising the very latest technology Kodak can manage, not antique reproductions.

+1

Photo Engineer · Jan 8, 2017

AFAIK, Tennessee Eastman produces most major organic chemicals for Kodak now.

Kodachrome is not in the current plans. AFAIK, it used no banned chemistry!

Reversal films are poor when used for Motion Picture due to reproduction problems.

A pilot coater will have to be revived to test small batches. Whether this is in KRL or the plant remains to be seen. AFAIK, J8 is still in use in B-59 and the 21" machine still exists in the plant. J8 can coat 8 layers at a time or with tandem coating, up to 16 layers.

PE

MattKing · Jan 8, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
AFAIK, Tennessee Eastman produces most major organic chemicals for Kodak now.

I expect that PE is referring to the Eastman Chemical Company, which is no longer part of Eastman Kodak: http://www.eastman.com/Pages/Home.aspx

Michael Guzzi · Jan 8, 2017

pdeeh said:
Sooner or later in this thread, just about every film Kodak ever made will have been suggested for reintroduction, probably on the spurious basis that "if they can do it for Ektachrome they can do it for [insert name of film here]"

And we've already got one fantasy-merchant suggesting the reintroduction of K'chrome+processing.

I'd be more inclined to hope for new emulsions, utilising the very latest technology Kodak can manage, not antique reproductions. And even then I wouldn't be holding my breath.

I don't see why Kodak wouldn't reformulate the new Ektachrome, taking advantage of the progress made since the last reformulation of the stuff, which was quite along time ago. Besides, it is probably a necessity at this point.

All in all, a great day, three days early for my birthday even!!! I'll take it! I'll save 3% of my wage every month to buy this when it is available (already saving 3% for Ferrania and a regular 4% for other films)

flavio81 said:
Ok, so all out madness and speculation is going to start here in the forum? I'm all in then!!

Bring back..

Kodachrome 25, 64, 200, the never released Kodachrome 400
Ektachrome 64T, 320T, Elite Chrome "Extra Color", EPP 100, EIR
Kodak Gold 100
Plus-X
Verichrome Pan
Panatomic-X
Royal-X Pan
TMZ
Tri-X Pan Professional
and of course Technical Pan

... i want all of them in 220 format and in 70mm perforated rolls as well...

Yeaaaaaahhhhhhhh

How dare you forget Super-XX!!!!

pdeeh · Jan 8, 2017

Michael Guzzi said:
I don't see why Kodak wouldn't reformulate the new Ektachrome

I didn't say they wouldn't, and indeed PE has said it must be reformulated.
You may have missed my point.

Nzoomed · Jan 8, 2017

pdeeh said:
Sooner or later in this thread, just about every film Kodak ever made will have been suggested for reintroduction, probably on the spurious basis that "if they can do it for Ektachrome they can do it for [insert name of film here]"

And we've already got one fantasy-merchant suggesting the reintroduction of K'chrome+processing.

I'd be more inclined to hope for new emulsions, utilising the very latest technology Kodak can manage, not antique reproductions. And even then I wouldn't be holding my breath.

It seems very clear that Kodak intend to reintroduce deleted products, this is very good news.
But I would be surprised if they introduce any new products any time soon, the costs in R&D are huge.

This is why they had been concentrating on R&D for cine films, such as the newest vision3 stock, due to the market demand it was viable and as a bonus the improvements for that film were also able to be used on films such as portra and ektar.

I think we will eventually see older films reintroduced, but with improvements or any necessary adjustments made.

If Kodachrome was ever to return, its main market would be for super8 and cine use, I know alot of people rubbishing Kodachrome here were not cine shooters, and their reasons were somewhat valid like lack of processing and costs etc.

But for super8 shooters, this was a totally different story, and Kodachrome was the most popular super8 movie stock up until about 2005 when it was dropped.

Lots of super8 shooters were very disappointed when Kodachrome 40 was dropped, my question was Why kodachrome 64 was not used for cine use instead? Does anybody know?
I would expect any return of kodachrome would be in a single film speed suitable for cine and camera use to save costs, so I expect would be in ISO 64 or ISO 100.

This would be a significant investment for Kodak to make, so its not a decision they would take lightly.
Only time will tell if this were to happen, but already Kodak is now following the right business model for once and im highly regarding Kodak for this.

pdeeh · Jan 8, 2017

Nzoomed you always write with such confidence and authority, as though you really know what you are talking about, have an inside line to all the manufacturers and fully understand the complexities of process engineering, manufacturing, sales & marketing

Yet, over and over again, in this thread, and especially in the Ferrania thread, it has become obvious that the very opposite of all these things are the case.

Accordingly, I'll stick to listening to people whose opinions are worth listening to.

Nzoomed · Jan 8, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
Reversal films are poor when used for Motion Picture due to reproduction problems.

PE

While this is true, for amateur use this is not an issue, people like myself want to shoot the stuff to get projected, particularly in the super8 or 16mm formats.

Likewise most (amateur) films just get telecined these days and these problems are largely avoided and colour balance can be corrected much easier on the computer anyway. For inde film-makers, the cost savings are worth it and the raw feel of the film adds appeal to the movie anyway

Nzoomed · Jan 8, 2017

pdeeh said:
Nzoomed you always write with such confidence and authority, as though you really know what you are talking about, have an inside line to all the manufacturers and fully understand the complexities of process engineering, manufacturing, sales & marketing

Yet, over and over again, in this thread, and especially in the Ferrania thread, it has become obvious that the very opposite of all these things are the case.

Accordingly, I'll stick to listening to people whose opinions are worth listening to.

Seriously I dont know what the problem is. I know that making film is extremely complex and ive not been afraid to say it.

On the other hand there are now people having to eat their own hat after saying Ektachrome will never return....

Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

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