Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

cmacd123 · Mar 8, 2018

labs in the high volume days would get (for a price) a roll of film with precise pre-exposures and notches to indicate where to cut off a sample. they would run one a day and use a densitometer to read the grey bars and plot graphs of the results. there was a chart to tell them what to adjust to get their process back in line.

Sounds like the labs in question are getting a similar strip, cut from a larger roll with various test images that Kodak's techs will read and make sure that the new film will work to spec with the processes as they exist in the field. In the old days if the lab was not using Kodak Chemicals in a Kodak, or Kodak Approved Processor, if the colour was off- the lab was wrong - these days the chemicals will likely be in a fuji-hunt bottle.

AS far as Ferrania P30 - they have dug that formula out of the archives and the last time it was made only a few formuals that are used now were available. when (fingers crossed) they get the E-6 into test status, they will likly be doing the same sort of test with at least a few E-6 labs. The P30 WAS tested by several B&W custom labs before they sold any to teh public.

Nzoomed · Mar 8, 2018

faberryman said:
The approach is more professional than the approach of Film Ferrania who is relying on enthusiasts developing film in their kitchens to determine best practices for processing.

This cant be compared to a B&W film that requires its own chemistry to be developed as originally intended.
P30 has not been made for the best part of 40 years and does not use the same chemicals as most B&W films.
However it can still be processed with regular chemisty and is the one reason they want people to experiment with it to find the best results.
Its also worth mentioning that ferrania are planning to produce the correct chemistry for processing P30, but right now they their top priority is in producing and selling film in high enough volume to meet the demand.

Sal Santamaura · Mar 9, 2018

BrianShaw said:
..."later this year". So what happened to 2018Q1... I guess release is pushed back again...

There's no indication of when that Kodak letter was sent to the lab. It could have been two months ago. Even if the lab received it recently, the end of March still qualifies as "later this year."

faberryman · Mar 9, 2018

Nzoomed said:
This cant be compared to a B&W film that requires its own chemistry to be developed as originally intended.
P30 has not been made for the best part of 40 years and does not use the same chemicals as most B&W films.
However it can still be processed with regular chemisty and is the one reason they want people to experiment with it to find the best results.
Its also worth mentioning that ferrania are planning to produce the correct chemistry for processing P30, but right now they their top priority is in producing and selling film in high enough volume to meet the demand.

The formula for D96 is well known and can be mixed up with readily available chemicals. Some users have already done it.

cmacd123 · Mar 10, 2018

faberryman said:
The formula for D96 is well known and can be mixed up with readily available chemicals. Some users have already done it.

But did 3M/Ferrania recommend D96 or their own formula for the P30 Motion Picture film? (before 3M pulled the plug on Movie Stock)

BrianShaw · Mar 10, 2018

So... the rumor is that Icon Lab in LA was included in the rumored Ektachrome processing test. But still no indication of dates, etc.

And, yes, Sal... even tomorrow is later this year!

Nzoomed · Mar 11, 2018

faberryman said:
The formula for D96 is well known and can be mixed up with readily available chemicals. Some users have already done it.

Yes, your right, its one of the developers recommended to use for P30 currently, but it is not the original factory developer designed for this film.

To achieve the intended results it needs the special chemistry, but its not necessary and the results are still impressive with D96

cmacd123 · Apr 7, 2018

Alessandro Serrao said:
What's that special chemistry?

Indeed, I wonder if our friend Mr. Bias can ask if whatever formula that Ferrania recommended to Italian Movie Labs for the Movie Version of P30 could be specified, or even published? (or was it just a variant of D-76 (Similar to ID11) or D-96 which are the two formulas that Kodak has recommended for Movie film since the 1930s.)

braxus · May 8, 2018

So we are getting close to the half way year point, and still no new news on Ektachrome. Yet they released the 3200 B&W film. Its like bait and switch. I'm wondering if this film will ever come out at this point, as surely their testing would have been done by now.

RattyMouse · May 8, 2018

braxus said:
So we are getting close to the half way year point, and still no new news on Ektachrome. Yet they released the 3200 B&W film. Its like bait and switch. I'm wondering if this film will ever come out at this point, as surely their testing would have been done by now.

Nor is there any sign of the new Super 8 camera, announced in 2016!

braxus · May 8, 2018

Sounds like a bunch of half baked ideas from Kodak at this point.

Kino · May 8, 2018

When are companies going to learn not to announce potential products to the "instantly inpatient" society that has sprung up around the Internet.

As soon as a press release hits the wires, whining commences in full force that the product is not there, in 40 flavors for everyone's taste and so cheap in price you could build a house out of it!

Get a grip folks, it takes time to get right and sometimes... it doesn't work out after all.

(flame proof underwear on)

Prest_400 · May 8, 2018

braxus said:
So we are getting close to the half way year point, and still no new news on Ektachrome. Yet they released the 3200 B&W film. Its like bait and switch. I'm wondering if this film will ever come out at this point, as surely their testing would have been done by now.

I see the "pi rule" (multiply the expected timeline by 3.14) in projects does hold.

PE mentioned the return of TMZ could well be a byproduct of Ektachrome research (scaling?) and there was quite some difficulty as the infrastructure for Reversal (aside of components, engineers themselves) wasn't at Kodak anymore.
Hope Ektachrome does make it back eventually. It ain't easy.

RattyMouse · May 8, 2018

Kino said:
When are companies going to learn not to announce potential products to the "instantly inpatient" society that has sprung up around the Internet.

As soon as a press release hits the wires, whining commences in full force that the product is not there, in 40 flavors for everyone's taste and so cheap in price you could build a house out of it!

Get a grip folks, it takes time to get right and sometimes... it doesn't work out after all.

(flame proof underwear on)

Your hyperbole is ill placed. 2 years to produce a working prototype camera is more than reasonable. Further, after a 2 year wait a company should be able to firmly say at least what quarter it will be available. Or maybe even if it is this year.

You do NOT announce products that have a possibility of not working out at all. Look what happened to Nikon after they canceled their mirrorless single lens cameras. Absolutely shredded by the media and customers alike.
Such a disaster shows that Nikon is not a well functioning company. The same goes with EK.

BrianShaw · May 8, 2018

Kino said:
When are companies going to learn not to announce potential products to the "instantly inpatient" society that has sprung up around the Internet.

As soon as a press release hits the wires, whining commences in full force that the product is not there, in 40 flavors for everyone's taste and so cheap in price you could build a house out of it!

Get a grip folks, it takes time to get right and sometimes... it doesn't work out after all.

(flame proof underwear on)

When are companies going to be honest with their customers?

Get a grip, Kino... it’s not all about a desire for instant gratification and whining. That’s a bit of stereotypical bigotry and scapegoating that seems to have become acceptable in today’s society. Glad you put on your flameproof panties when you posted that.

Kino · May 8, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Your hyperbole is ill placed. 2 years to produce a working prototype camera is more than reasonable. Further, after a 2 year wait a company should be able to firmly say at least what quarter it will be available. Or maybe even if it is this year.

You do NOT announce products that have a possibility of not working out at all. Look what happened to Nikon after they canceled their mirrorless single lens cameras. Absolutely shredded by the media and customers alike.
Such a disaster shows that Nikon is not a well functioning company. The same goes with EK.

I stand by my statement.

Companies should learn that people do not have inside knowledge of the internal process of producing a prototype and should only announce products ready for market or endure endless complaining.

I suggest you immediately boycott the company in question.

That will show them...

flavio81 · May 8, 2018

RattyMouse said:
.
Such a disaster shows that Nikon is not a well functioning company. The same goes with EK.

For me, Nikon went to hell when they brought out the G lenses.

Kino · May 8, 2018

BrianShaw said:
When are companies going to be honest with their customers?

Get a grip, Kino... it’s not all about a desire for instant gratification and whining. That’s a bit of stereotypical bigotry and scapegoating that seems to have become acceptable in today’s society. Glad you put on your flameproof panties when you posted that.

And to point-out unconstructive complaining instantly victimizes the complainer; that seems to be acceptable in today's society.

Businesses make bad choices.

If you really want to have some impact, buy some of their stock and have a direct say.

Ste_S · May 8, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Nor is there any sign of the new Super 8 camera, announced in 2016!

How intertwined are Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera I wonder ? If the camera isn't happening* will Ektachrome not happen ?

*With Super 8 being a niche within a niche, I think the camera is a disaster waiting to happen if it does ever get launched.

RattyMouse · May 8, 2018

Kino said:
I stand by my statement.

Companies should learn that people do not have inside knowledge of the internal process of producing a prototype and should only announce products ready for market or endure endless complaining.

I suggest you immediately boycott the company in question.

That will show them...

I dont disagree with that at all. Companies should only announce new products once they are past the point of no return towards commercialization. I reject your assertion that it is unreasonable for people to ask questions about a product 6 months or more past it's stated release date.

RattyMouse · May 8, 2018

Ste_S said:
How intertwined are Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera I wonder ? If the camera isn't happening* will Ektachrome not happen ?

*With Super 8 being a niche within a niche, I think the camera is a disaster waiting to happen if it does ever get launched.

I have no idea. I do know that EK more than tripled the projected price of the new Super 8 camera, which had a disastrous affect on enthusiasm.

RattyMouse · May 8, 2018

flavio81 said:
For me, Nikon went to hell when they brought out the G lenses.

I dont see how you can say that. G lenses might not be for you if you have an old Nikon body, but they are excellent lenses. They are certainly not responsible for Nikon's decline.

BrianShaw · May 8, 2018

Kino said:
And to point-out unconstructive complaining instantly victimizes the complainer; that seems to be acceptable in today's society.

Businesses make bad choices.

If you really want to have some impact, buy some of their stock and have a direct say.

Sure. But regarding buying stock (in the company being discussed)... YOU FIRST.

BTW, one would need to buy a whole lot of stock to really have any say.

Kino · May 8, 2018

BrianShaw said:
Sure. But regarding buying stock (in the company being discussed)... YOU FIRST.

BTW, one would need to buy a whole lot of stock to really have any say.

Which kind of reinforces my point; complaints only impact to the point you are willing to invest in the problem.

As for me, I'm not concerned.

Kodak either will or won't come through, although I have some faith they will eventually deliver.

BrianShaw · May 8, 2018

Kino said:
Which kind of reinforces my point; complaints only impact to the point you are willing to invest in the problem.

As for me, I'm not concerned.

Kodak either will or won't come through, although I have some faith they will eventually deliver.

Up to a point but not necessary true. If that were true then there would be no point in consumer/user focus groups, etc. Advisory wisdom is often actively sought by decision makers for a reason... as is passive monitoring and "reading of the tea leaves" or "keeping one's ear to the track". It's not an all-or-nothing "invest or have no influence" or "invest or shut up".

As for me, I'm not concerned. Kodak either will or won't come through.

If nothing else, the "whining" in forums like this should inspire companies like Kodak to fill in some of the knowledge gaps with real information to squelch false rumors and quell some of the insecurities/doubts their customers may have.

As for me, the information at CES did NOTHING AT ALL to boost my confidence. Too little, shallow, and not enough. And the videos on Facebook/Flicker (or wherever they were posted)... not much different but at least had some substance to them.

Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

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