Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

Who are “all of these kids craving KChome, or film”?

I just spent 2 days at the Happiest Place On Earth, saw at least 6 billion youths, teens, and young adults from around the world, and only saw 1 film camera... an Instax... that was only being worn as jewelry. There were a few digital SLRs but huuuuuge numbers of iPhones (and the like).

So who are they; where are they?

RattyMouse · Jul 14, 2018

Wallendo said:
The Kodachrome trademark has value. I have never heard anybody singing "Mama don't take my FujiChrome Velvia RVP 50 away".

As an actual film there are real issues, especially to the hipster and new photographer crowd - one of the most pressing to new users is that it is more difficult to scan, in addition to complexities in manufacturing and development. My concern is that at some point the Kodachrome trademark will be bought by a Lupus Imaging type entity which will rebrand some old E-6 film found in a warehouse as Kodachrome.

Although I miss the film, I remind myself that I last shot a roll in January 1982. To be honest, most of my Kodachrome emotion is related to the loss of an era, not the loss of an emulsion - it was the film of my youth. I wonder if many of the Kodachrome revivalists have the same motivation.

Nobody cares about Kodachrome. Certainly not anyone under 50. No one cares.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Nobody cares about Kodachrome. Certainly not anyone under 50. No one cares.

... 60

George Mann · Jul 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Nobody cares about Kodachrome. Nobody.

All 2 of you!

George Mann · Jul 14, 2018

Wallendo said:
Although I miss the film, I remind myself that I last shot a roll in January 1982. To be honest, most of my Kodachrome emotion is related to the loss of an era, not the loss of an emulsion - it was the film of my youth. I wonder if many of the Kodachrome revivalists have the same motivation.

For me it is both.

George Mann · Jul 14, 2018

BrianShaw said:
So who are they; where are they?

Followers of fads who are just one marketing push away!

George Mann · Jul 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Nobody cares about Kodachrome.

You and your sky photographer sock puppet Sirius are the nobody's you speak of!

George Mann · Jul 14, 2018

BrianShaw said:
... 60

I am 49!

Anon Ymous · Jul 14, 2018

Guys, this is an interesting thread about the resurrection of Ektachrome, let's keep it on topic please.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

Anon Ymous said:
Guys, this is an interesting thread about the resurrection of Ektachrome, let's keep it on topic please.

Good point. I haven’t been able to identify the hoards of people clamoring for Ektachrome, either. I suppose that will be a good test for the notion that (insert any film name) large-scale demand is but 1 marketing campaign away.

I’m anxiously awaiting data and sales numbers to supplement the hope and opinion.

fdonadio · Jul 14, 2018

BrianShaw said:
Good point. I haven’t been able to identify the hoards of people clamoring for Ektachrome

But you have to admit that, at least on “analog” photography websites and forums (like Photrio), there is a significant number of people anxiously waiting for the new Ektachrome.

OTOH, in these very same websites, most people are very realistic about the possibility of Kodak ever bringing back that other film which name starts with a “K”.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

fdonadio said:
But you have to admit that, at least on “analog” photography websites and forums (like Photrio), there is a significant number of people anxiously waiting for the new Ektachrome.

OTOH, in these very same websites, most people are very realistic about the possibility of Kodak ever bringing back that other film which name starts with a “K”.

True, very true, but could be a small market in terms of the required production, sales, and profit for supporting a viable commercial product. I’m not sure how many that “significant number” (people or rolls of film sold) really is or how much is required for commercial viability. Film for us film photography enthusiasts has lived off the back of Hollywood and US Government for years. If they are buying enough we will benefit; if not... who knows how long niche products will survive.

faberryman · Jul 14, 2018

Will Ektachrome be viable without the new Kodak Super8 camera? It chews up film 10 rolls at a time.Haven't heard much about it recently.

RattyMouse · Jul 14, 2018

faberryman said:
Will Ektachrome be viable without the new Kodak Super8 camera? It chews up film 10 rolls at a time.Haven't heard much about it recently.

There hasnt been any word on that camera in 2018 at all. Certainly looks still born.

RattyMouse · Jul 14, 2018

faberryman said:
Will Ektachrome be viable without the new Kodak Super8 camera? It chews up film 10 rolls at a time.Haven't heard much about it recently.

And with the price now $2500 or higher for the new camera, how viable is it anyway?

Sirius Glass · Jul 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
Nobody cares about Kodachrome. Certainly not anyone under 50. No one cares.

They do not even know that it ever existed.

faberryman · Jul 14, 2018

RattyMouse said:
And with the price now $2500 or higher for the new camera, how viable is it anyway?

I don't know anything about the educational film market, which is supposed to be what Kodak is aiming for. I also don't know the projected cost of a Super8 cartridge. If a 50ft cartridge is going to be $100, which is about the same as 10 rolls of film, and that is for 2-3 minutes run time, $2500 for the camera itself sounds like a drop in the bucket.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

faberryman said:
Will Ektachrome be viable without the new Kodak Super8 camera? It chews up film 10 rolls at a time.Haven't heard much about it recently.

Even with it I’m skeptical that the volume will be sufficient unless Hollywood starts a large enough scale usage.

Most people just shoot video with their phones; a few shoot with their dSLR. I haven’t seen a dedicated video camera being used in many years.

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

faberryman said:
I don't know anything about the educational film market, which is supposed to be what Kodak is aiming for. I also don't know the projected cost of a Super8 cartridge. If a 50ft cartridge is going to be $100, which is about the same as 10 rolls of film, and that is for 2-3 minutes run time, $2500 for the camera itself sounds like a drop in the bucket.

Well, every educational film I’ve seen for at least the past decade has been an educational video. And to think, I once developed and produced educational slide-tape presentations. Beep (audio cue to advance the slide). We thought we were brilliant when we could use the inaudible tone to automatically advance the slide. And OMG, we thought ourselves God-like when using two slides in a dissolve...

removed account4 · Jul 14, 2018

George Mann said:
Followers of fads who are just one marketing push away!

this might be true it is a marketing blitz away but without the infrastructure to process the film
it is useless and for it to be viable, because of the additional RD they will have had to do to make it a short run
and new improved chemistry &c it will have to be more than a fad. fads don't really linger they will need to have it linger
and unfortunately with a high price tag it will be a lot of onseys and twoseys not many fiftyeys adn one hundredseys which is what they willneed
on a constant and consistant basis... if it can't be dunked in regular chemistry and can't have an affordable price point it is a waste of time and effort
but you already know this because you agreed with this a month ago but still for some reason seem to think that doesn't matter ..
isn't the drum you are beating getting work out at this point ?

FilmCurlCom · Jul 14, 2018

BrianShaw said:
Good point. I haven’t been able to identify the hoards of people clamoring for Ektachrome, either.

But did you check on motion picture forums, instead of still photography ones?
I do both, photography as well as Super 8/16mm and I am for sure hoping that E100D will eventually show up in those formats, as do many other people in motion picture forums.
As a photographer I can at least still take some Fuji slide film (for now), for motion picture with the end of the Wittnerchrome supply, there's basically NOTHING left if you want to shoot reversal. (Besides maybe the Provia-based Super 8 from Japan, but that's a bit of a different story...)

RattyMouse said:
Nobody cares about Kodachrome. Certainly not anyone under 50. No one cares.

I am well below 50 and both know about it, have used it and care(d) for it a lot.
But of course I do not expect it or wait for it to ever come back anymore

BrianShaw · Jul 14, 2018

FilmCurlCom said:
But did you check on motion picture forums, instead of still photography ones?

...
I am well below 50

...

No, I haven’t. My interest in motion picture photography stopped in the 1980’s when my Bolex needed repair and it was too expensive. So I started using the company’s BetaCam.

But just like still photography, what you see on the streets is telling. Aside college students and some art-film makers there has been nary any film-based 8/16 motion picture photography for almost as long as I’ve been an adult. A long time. Almost as long as you’ve been breathing air, it sounds.

They, the motion picture film niche, can talk about their hopes and dreams as much as the still picture film niche but the fact remains that the volumes required for commercial viability - in total - is likely still too small.

WilmarcoImaging · Jul 14, 2018

I visited Unique Photo today in New Jersey, and asked if they have heard anything lately about Ektachrome. "No", was the answer. They did have T-Max P3200 in stock in 135 format.

Cholentpot · Jul 15, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
I visited Unique Photo today in New Jersey, and asked if they have heard anything lately about Ektachrome. "No", was the answer. They did have T-Max P3200 in stock in 135 format.

Dodd Photo here has loads of P3200. I'm unsure if it's shifting at any volume.

RattyMouse · Jul 15, 2018

Cholentpot said:
Dodd Photo here has loads of P3200. I'm unsure if it's shifting at any volume.

Notice how no one is talking about this film since its release. P30 from Ferrania got way more post release chatter than P3200.

Kodak Reintroduces Ektachrome.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency