Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

[Cholentpot]

I'm doing my part at work. Typically, we expose and develop between 10 to 40 thousand feet of b&w negative, fine grain and positive Kodak and ORWO B&W 35mm stock a week. It depends on a lot of factors, but we try to preserve at least a feature film a week.

The most film stock I ever ordered at once was 5 million feet back in 2001.

Those were the days...

So uh...got some short ends in the freezer?

 

[Ste_S]

At this point, does anyone think it would be sound business sense for Kodak if they did release Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera ?

To be honest I think E6 should probably die now and Kodak consolidate around C41 for colour. Make the film division as cheap and efficient as possible. just in case, you know, something bad happens in 2019.

 

[RattyMouse]

At this point, does anyone think it would be sound business sense for Kodak if they did release Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera ?

To be honest I think E6 should probably die now and Kodak consolidate around C41 for colour. Make the film division as cheap and efficient as possible. just in case, you know, something bad happens in 2019.

You sound waaaay too logical.

 

[Anon Ymous]

At this point, does anyone think it would be sound business sense for Kodak if they did release Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera ?

To be honest I think E6 should probably die now and Kodak consolidate around C41 for colour. Make the film division as cheap and efficient as possible. just in case, you know, something bad happens in 2019.

Considering what has been said about Kodak's (seemingly successful) efforts in making smaller coatings feasible, I'd say Ektachrome needs to be reintroduced. They have already invested in it, if they dump it, then this investment is simply wasted. Fuji, the only E6 film manufacturer seems to be hell bent on chopping every single film they have and IMHO Fuji's E6 offerings won't live much longer. This would make Kodak the only E6 film manufacturer. The E6 market might only be a tiny fraction of what it used to be, but still it's something that can easily be bought by the average film shooter and create revenue for Kodak. This however can't (IMHO) be said about the Super 8 camera. It's a niche within a niche and I don't see it becoming profitable. The huge price increase alone suggests that it hadn't been very well thought out either. Perhaps they could offer Super 8 film processing and transfer to digital.

But anyway, this is just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions, right?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

At this point, does anyone think it would be sound business sense for Kodak if they did release Ektachrome and the Super 8 camera ?
...
.

My interest in the new Super 8 camera evaporated when I heard about the $3000 price. The LCD monitor, USB charging, and scanning service was of no interest or value to me. I'd much rather use my Bolex 160.

 

[Kino]

So uh...got some short ends in the freezer?

Short ends are used for process control, making countdown leaders and for thread-up leaders. We don't have unexposed waste film... Sorry!

 

[trendland]

Who is going to give Kodak the money they need (hundreds of millions of dollars) but do not have in 2019 to repurchase their class A shares?
Who?

Big companies like Kodak are to big to fail - this is also the case if we might know EK isn't as great today as they have been in the past.So we have not to ask how this problem or this finiancial trouble should be solved beside (instead) of going bunkrupt. The leaders of Kodak have to solve the case and they probably will. In worst case it is like the issue with old houses. The owner have not the money to let make very urgend repairs. And such house will be uninhabitable next. If it goes about a smal house (not much larger than a garage) the solution would be a complete demolition. But I knew many big countryside villas over houndred years old - wich have been restaured over the years and they will never be demolated. But in some cases the owners haven't the money to pay for. So they have to sell it (unrestaured). The players may be changed but the game is the same.

with regards

 

[BrianShaw]

I know of many old mansions that were bulldozed.

Big houses and big companies are not impervious to destruction, especially when neglected or when obsoleted by some other circumstance.

I hope Kodak survives, of course, but thinking them immortal may be wishful thinking.

 

[trendland]

My interest in the new Super 8 camera evaporated when I heard about the $3000 price. The LCD monitor, USB charging, and scanning service was of no interest or value to me. I'd much rather use my Bolex 160.

Think about : Especialy the scanning service is quite nice (in highest quality due to brand new digital techniques).Have you ever tranfered Super8 to video in the past ? A drama - an imense catastrophy! All kinds of wet transfer may be ok - but what about the final medium. VHS - Super VHS - H8 ??? No wonder if most service have no great care about the scanning unit. Today the best medium is ok for Super8 and today we have FullHD and 4k. With a brand new digital scanning solution (and brand new scanning equipment) it is no great deal today to get a quality
"4k like" (Super8 don't reach 4k resolution - but to storage best Super8 films the best medium is good enough).
I may tell you a secret : You have the posability to transfer Super8 tomorow morning on FullHD or 4k (if you like and want to pay ).
There are a couple of services existing (with good transfer units - but not the modernest) in the US.
The offer FullHD since some years the latest is 4k.
But you would not know for sure at what pricing. You have to ask first your personal asset consulting about a special funding. .....
with regards
PS : Kodak will make this niche very inexpensive (more than 10-15 times cheaper) and this will be no great deal to Kodak because of much higher demand in comparison. But they should better forget the new camera (at higher price)....
The idea means a revolution (super8 to cheapest pricing on best digital medium)
PPS : I filmed best scenes with Super8 (in whole livetime) in Vancouver Island (non comercial) but I am not able to make post production without a computer. To cut the original roll I never trust.
Because the concept need frame per frame cutting.
And a tranfer would cost more than USD 4500,- to the full raw scenes.......at 450,- bucks I tried years ago with catastrophical transfer quality.
PPS : Ok you got me - The main reason also is : "meanwile i shot better scenes - I can not waste such money just for fun"

 

[trendland]

I know of many old mansions that were bulldozed.

Big houses and big companies are not impervious to destruction, especially when neglected or when obsoleted by some other circumstance.

I hope Kodak survives, of course, but thinking them immortal may be wishful thinking.

Ok - Brian - no wonder about your statement.
with regards
PS : " Because I expected you are well familiar with such bulldozer areas"......
PPS : No fear - just a little joke on your costs

 

[RattyMouse]

Big companies like Kodak are to big to fail

What does this even mean? You DO realize that Kodak has already failed once, and they were much larger than they are today. I have no idea what you mean when you say Kodak is too big to fail.

- this is also the case if we might know EK isn't as great today as they have been in the past.So we have not to ask how this problem or this finiancial trouble should be solved beside (instead) of going bunkrupt. The leaders of Kodak have to solve the case and they probably will.

Probably? Why didnt they solve it the first time, when tens of thousands of people's livelihoods on the line?

 

[RattyMouse]

My interest in the new Super 8 camera evaporated when I heard about the $3000 price. The LCD monitor, USB charging, and scanning service was of no interest or value to me. I'd much rather use my Bolex 160.

$3000 is a tough price to take for sure. How in the world they announced a launch price of $700 is inexplicable.

 

[trendland]

What does this even mean? You DO realize that Kodak has already failed once, and they were much larger than they are today.


That is quite true - but think about : "Under Obama Kodak could have been as great as one would imagine - EK was never big enough to fail. Now with DT Kodak is much smaler but allway "TOO BIG TO FAIL", so 1) ....think about 2)... look at EK from a political perspective ......3)...let us have a look together what will hapen next... .

with regards

PS : the last issue is no real secret :
NEXT IS COMMING NEW EKTACHROME.....

 

[Kino]

Yeah, let's drag politics into this ridiculous discussion; that will help...

 

[RattyMouse]

Yeah, let's drag politics into this ridiculous discussion; that will help...

Good god, the reasoning he's giving is amazing. Hallucinogenic.

 

[Cholentpot]

Short ends are used for process control, making countdown leaders and for thread-up leaders. We don't have unexposed waste film... Sorry!

uh-huh...no freezer full of the stuff in basement 'wink wink?'

 

[BrianShaw]

Good god, the reasoning he's giving is amazing. Hallucinogenic.

Please refrain from dragging religion into this ridiculous discussion too. Ha ha ha.

 

[Kino]

uh-huh...no freezer full of the stuff in basement 'wink wink?'

Yeah, right next to the alien bodies...

 

[trendland]

uh-huh...no freezer full of the stuff in basement 'wink wink?'

Too late Choentpot the area of short ends is comming to an end.The last cheap offer I remember was 65mm in the UK - and this with my beloved 50D !!!! Original film from "James Bond 007 production" in London studios. So it was in good condition (film work was just 5 month behind)Of cause there is confortable cheapest film remaining :
EBay Indonesia " Date of production
1984 but stored allways in the dark"
Oh yes that (the last mentioned storage condition ) could be much helpfull



with regards

 

[RattyMouse]

Please refrain from dragging religion into this ridiculous discussion too. Ha ha ha.

Well, it seems that a miracle is all that we have left to save EK so maybe some prayer is in order.

 

[keenmaster486]

Well, it seems that a miracle is all that we have left to save EK so maybe some prayer is in order.

Ask, and it will be given to you...

Dear God, please look kindly on Kodak and forgive them of their many grevious sins against analog photography, as we all know that Jesus is an avid photographer and is surely eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ektachrome.

"Behold, I am coming soon! At least, probably as soon as Kodak brings back Ektachrome!"

"Come, Lord Jesus, come. Also Ektachrome."

"My kingdom is not of this world. Except for Kodak because I care about real images."

 

[RattyMouse]

Ask, and it will be given to you...

Dear God, please look kindly on Kodak and forgive them of their many grevious sins against analog photography, as we all know that Jesus is an avid photographer and is surely eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ektachrome.

"Behold, I am coming soon! At least, probably as soon as Kodak brings back Ektachrome!"

"Come, Lord Jesus, come. Also Ektachrome."

"My kingdom is not of this world. Except for Kodak because I care about real images."

I bet Jesus carried a Contax.

 

[Cholentpot]

Yeah, right next to the alien bodies...

We. Don't. Speak. Of. That.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Think about : Especialy the scanning service is quite nice (in highest quality due to brand new digital techniques).Have you ever tranfered Super8 to video in the past ? A drama - an imense catastrophy! All kinds of wet transfer may be ok - but what about the final medium. VHS - Super VHS - H8 ??? No wonder if most service have no great care about the scanning unit. Today the best medium is ok for Super8 and today we have FullHD and 4k. With a brand new digital scanning solution (and brand new scanning equipment) it is no great deal today to get a quality ...

That's fine. Maybe 99% of other people want that. Not me. 18 years ago I was using DVCAM, I made 100-minute video by editing 7 hours of raw DVCAM video; it was somewhat fun but it was work, not a hobby. I still have the video equipment but haven't used it in years.

For Super 8, I just want the film.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I bet Jesus carried a Contax.

Yes, I think he did - because when I saw the Contax I bought, I said "Jesus Christ!"