Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

SilverShutter · May 9, 2018

I think it was a very bad decision from Kodak announcing a product that they hadn't even started production of yet. It's been more than a year since Ektachrome was announced and they are still developing it. Makes sense that they needed some quick news to excite everyone but it will have negative effects on the long run. For starters I do not see a $3000 super 8 camera with technology from 2016 being any sort of success. I don't shoot video so I don't know up to what extent is Super 8 still used but I doubt it has much life left other than some transient nostalgia to the 80's and 70's we are living now. But then again the same could be said about photographic film in general, so who knows.

RattyMouse · May 9, 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.

I hold 2 shares of Kodak stock, so my voice is pretty minimal.

RattyMouse · May 9, 2018

BrianShaw said:
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.

What? The Kodak Kash Miner did not instill you with confidence?

AgX · May 9, 2018

SilverShutter said:
For starters I do not see a $3000 super 8 camera with technology from 2016 being any sort of success.

That there already is a new Super 8 cameras as well as a new 65mm cine camera, both by the same manufacturer, shows that there is expectation of a respective market. No wide market though, but a niche within a niche. And with Kodak multiplying the assumed retail price of their camera they likely have mimimized their market.

keenmaster486 · May 9, 2018

They would have a lot more success releasing a new 35mm camera than Super 8.

Or maybe they are contracting with universities to require that students buy their overpriced new super 8 camera for all their film projects.

RattyMouse · May 9, 2018

keenmaster486 said:
They would have a lot more success releasing a new 35mm camera than Super 8.

Or maybe they are contracting with universities to require that students buy their overpriced new super 8 camera for all their film projects.

None of this matters until Kodak actually delivers a camera. It's been two years since the announcement and there have been no updates since then. Two years!

AgX · May 9, 2018

Well, they referred to technical issues and new respective solutions. And that new price.

keenmaster486 · May 9, 2018

Personally, I would not be surprised if either

1. We never get Ektachrome or the new super 8 camera

2. Kodak goes bankrupt again before we get any new products

Or Kodak might actually deliver. But either way the field is ripe for a new, much more nimble company which is better suited to a smaller market.

faberryman · May 9, 2018

Does anyone know if the film community is abuzz with the prospect of Kodak's new Super8 camera?

Lachlan Young · May 9, 2018

BrianShaw said:
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.

Probably because they have better things to do than listen to entitled, noisome amateurs of a specific demographic (on this forum & elsewhere) whose volume of opinions seems to be absolutely disproportionate to the amount of film that they use.

removedacct1 · May 9, 2018

Lachlan Young said:
Probably because they have better things to do than listen to entitled, noisome amateurs of a specific demographic (on this forum & elsewhere) whose volume of opinions seems to be absolutely disproportionate to the amount of film that they use.

Exactly.

jtk · May 9, 2018

http://www.red.com/shot-on-red

RattyMouse · May 9, 2018

Well the numbers are out: EK lost 25 million dollars in the first quarter. Overall no improvement in revenue strength. The film division’s losses increased from 4 million to 6 million dollars. They reported strong sales of motion picture film yet revenue declined.

I guess we have to wait until next quarter for signs of a turnaround.

RattyMouse · May 9, 2018

Lachlan Young said:
Probably because they have better things to do than listen to entitled, noisome amateurs of a specific demographic (on this forum & elsewhere) whose volume of opinions seems to be absolutely disproportionate to the amount of film that they use.

The people here shoot a lot of film.

faberryman · May 9, 2018

RattyMouse said:
The people here shoot a lot of film.

It would be interesting to know just how much film people actually shoot.

BrianShaw · May 9, 2018

RattyMouse said:
I guess we have to wait until next quarter for signs of a turnaround.

... or longer.

RattyMouse · May 9, 2018

Clarification: motion picture film revenue was +18% for the quarter. Overall film division revenue declined 1 million dollars.

No mention at all of Ektachrome as an exciting new product that will help increase sales and profits. Not a word.

RattyMouse · May 10, 2018

Shares dropping after EK's earnings report but not as bad as I would have expected. Down -6% on moderate volume.

trendland · May 12, 2018

jtk said:
http://www.red.com/shot-on-red

Quite right - I realy wonder about Kodak haven't noticed? ?? Film classes today can't afford a red

But they are able to order some (relative) cheap Kodak Super 8 ?
Yes that is possible (that they can afford it) - but they will not order it
So we should ask why ? Because film students have to work (later) with red epic and arri alexa and genisis Panavision DXL (some of them allways have to drive a taxi - later....)And the point is : what equipment does a film class have a need for - if the budget isn't as high to invest in 8 Alexas (for example)
Short answer : Canon EOS ......It is a total illusion to sell Super8 equipment to film students.
It was coming from a statement Francis Ford Coppola gave : " I hope - many of young people will use these 8mm cameras they are easily to serve today. Then much more of young filmmakers who make their experience today will become great directors in the future - so I am awaiting a phantastic next generation "
But pls. notice : At first - F.F.Coppola gave this interview nearly 20years ago.
AND : as he spoke about these little
8mm cameras he did not meant Super8 - he spoke about 8mm Video
(Sony 8mm - later Hi8).....
and indeed some Film Academies did investments (with the help of Sony)
in Hi8......as the cheapest low budget solution.
Today DSLR are in use to most action movies as "crash cam".Some B Movies are fully filmed with DSLR.
KODAK HAD BAD INFOS
(but the Ektachrome films are still ok - from my point)......

with regards

trendland · May 12, 2018

AgX said:
That there already is a new Super 8 cameras as well as a new 65mm cine camera, both by the same manufacturer, shows that there is expectation of a respective market. No wide market though, but a niche within a niche. And with Kodak multiplying the assumed retail price of their camera they likely have mimimized their market.

Wow - a new 65mm camera? That is new to me? But 65mm is a very little niche today.(Tarantino). By the way : Jurasic world is filmed (in mixed workflow) with 65mm Kodak Vision3 ISO 50 ! .....and with 35mm and red - the red as a cheap (renouncable) action cam in case of crash. ..
with regards

Cholentpot · May 13, 2018

trendland said:
Wow - a new 65mm camera? That is new to me? But 65mm is a very little niche today.(Tarantino). By the way : Jurasic world is filmed (in mixed workflow) with 65mm Kodak Vision3 ISO 50 ! .....and with 35mm and red - the red as a cheap (renouncable) action cam in case of crash. ..
with regards

That 65mm camera will go though more film in a week of shooting than everyone on APUG combined goes through in a year. Shooting at 48fps? That's two rolls of film a second. Maybe more film in a day than everyone here on photrio uses in a year.

BrianShaw · May 13, 2018

... and probably ten times (or more) the amount of film shot than that which we see in the final product.

AgX · May 13, 2018

That new 65mm has the classic vertical film run. And the standard transport frequency for such filming is 24fps and not 48. And also the gate is of the smaller type.

Thus this camera is compared to his 65mm Imax cousin a lesser film-eater ...

Cholentpot · May 13, 2018

AgX said:
That new 65mm has the classic vertical film run. And the standard transport frequency for such filming is 24fps and not 48. And also the gate is of the smaller type.

Thus this camera is compared to his 65mm Imax cousin a lesser film-eater ...

So it's eating a 24 shot roll of film every 2 seconds. Still using more film in an hour than I've used in my whole life.

AgX · May 13, 2018

We all should turn to cinematography. It would give the industry quite a boost.
Our own funding provided ...

Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

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