Late breaking Kodak news

[jovo]

The advantage Kodak has is that they coat with a lot more machines and at considerably higher speeds, and they do it 3 shifts a day.

So, to cut back, first they reduce to 2 or 1 shift, then they cut back # of machines in use in a given building, then they slow the machines down. The plant is in full operation but at reduced capacity and it can always pick up if the need arises.

That is the advantage of having a top-of-the-line facilitiy. Neither Forte, nor any of the other 2nd and 3rd tier facilities can do that.

PE

Thanks for posting this. I'd not thought of it in that way. I feel bad that many will lose their jobs, but, at least until a negative critical mass is reached, production will continue and some or many will continue to be employed. That is a good thing. I just hope that negative critical mass won't occur in my lifetime!

 

[André E.C.]

Why in the world would anyone here post such a statement?

The possible loss of a major competitor in the film business does none of us any good.

Would YOU want to be beholden to a monopolistic producer?

Cool down, it was meant to be a sarcastic turn on Perez statement "Film is dead"!

As for the major loss of a competitor like Kodak, to be honest, I don`t give a damn about it:rolleyes:

Relax, some of you people are very nervous lately!

Maybe getting laid would help?


Cheers

 

[copake_ham]

Cool down, it was meant to be a sarcastic turn on Perez statement "Film is dead"!

As for the major loss of a competitor like Kodak, to be honest, I don`t give a damn about it:rolleyes:

Relax, some of you people are very nervous lately!

Maybe getting laid would help?


Cheers

Huh?

Some of us actually do use and like Kodak products. And we'll lose a hell of a lot more if it goes than we ever did when Agfa, much less Forte, bit the dust.

No other company (I don't think even Fuji) has the range of film offerings of Kodak. Cheering on it possible demise in an exercise in masochism.

And what is with the sexual reference anyway? It is unnecessary, uncalled for and rather "sophomoric" too. What is this, high school?

 

[André E.C.]

And what is with the sexual reference anyway? It is unnecessary, uncalled for and rather "sophomoric" too. What is this, high school?

Moderate yourself man, lay back, fetch yourself a beer and relax!:confused:

Cheers

André

 

[waynecrider]

The advantage Kodak has is that they coat with a lot more machines and at considerably higher speeds, and they do it 3 shifts a day.

PE

And they haven't fulfilled J&C's order's yet?

 

[eddie gunks]

When film goes, I`m done with photography!
If paper is available, it`s maybe a great time to print everything all over again.

Cheers

André

same for me!

Whatever may suit you Chris, I don`t enjoy digital photography and that`s it, when film goes, I go full power for darkroom work.

Cheers

André

i do not enjoy digital either. i have a large fridge of film and i keep buying.....

eddie

 

[Photo Engineer]

And they haven't fulfilled J&C's order's yet?

Read the posts on the J&C web site.

PE

 

[zenrhino]

Wow. Forte closing, Kodak shrinking and J&C in (what we used to call in the restaurant biz) Expansion Death Match.

Not a good week for the home team.

I guess I'll have to ponder the "do I keep shooting after film goes away" question a lot sooner than I'd hoped.

3 years ago when I first started, I'd have said, "Of course. A photo is a photo." Now of course, I know better.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The advantage Kodak has is that they coat with a lot more machines and at considerably higher speeds, and they do it 3 shifts a day.

So, to cut back, first they reduce to 2 or 1 shift, then they cut back # of machines in use in a given building, then they slow the machines down. The plant is in full operation but at reduced capacity and it can always pick up if the need arises.

That is the advantage of having a top-of-the-line facilitiy. Neither Forte, nor any of the other 2nd and 3rd tier facilities can do that.

PE

I didn't realize that Kodak was still producing 3 shifts a day. From what you say, it seems that Kodak has quite a long way to go before it gets uneconomical for them to continue.

 

[Photo Engineer]

J&C is still in the game.

PE

 

[MMfoto]

I just want to know from where do those 500 employees come from. Not to make light, 500 people loosing there jobs is far worse than losing an emulsion. I just wonderer where the axe will fall.

As for large format B&W being the last shoe to drop. I suspect that shoe'll drop about a half step after 120 and 35mm go (if ever). I don't think Kodak would keep a coating plant running on 4X5 and above sales.

It goes without saying, but Tri-x 220, Kodachrome 200 and 64, and TMZ/P3200 are going to be big, big losses if and when they get cut.

 

[Jerevan]

I ordered some Tmax 100 sheet film in december. Today, a month later, I did some investigations and found out my film won't arrive in early march. A delivery time of three months. Good thing I ordered some other brands too, even though I look forward to the Kodak film arriving. I suppose I will have to get used to such delivery times and order accordingly...

 

[ajuk]

Why did they give up marketing it so easily? Anyway if you ask me Kodak consumer film sucks compared to Fuji consumer film, while the Kodak pro stuff is great stuff.

 

[MMfoto]

Why did they give up marketing it so easily?

It sounds like they gave it a fare shake to me. As much of a loss as it is for us, Kodak has a lot to lose (remember those 500 employees) from nostalgia, and I really can't blame 'em. The last thing they want is a couple of hundred thousand (millions?) rolls of film aging in storage, and a whole devision tooled up on standby, because they tried to hang on to a lost cause.

 

[Photo Engineer]

I don't know how many times I've posted this, but I assure you that the sales drop has taken place in spite of ads for analog products, and so the ads fell off in frequency.

This same thing took place with Kodachrome. When people stopped buying it, sales dropped and ads stopped.

In addition, Kodak gives a very generous severance package and benefits to all employees, and so the layoffs will hit them hard.

Oh well. Believe what you want. I'm getting tired of this. They may be big, but they are not intentionally bad. I assure you of that. One of the first courses we took was "Kodak Ethical Business Practices". The name says it all. And, the president of the company gave one of the lectures and then had a buffet lunch with us to underscore the importance of it all.

Here is one of the last Kodachrome ads.

PE

 

[fparnold]

Notice how the red Kodachrome box immediately draws your eye away from the receding blue Ektachrome, yet in the end, which one sold enough to continue to be improved? I used to love K200, but it was pricey, I was a student, and they closed down the Fairlawn processing facility, which had been close enough that the slides would come back in less than a week.

So, are different ends of the company not talking to each other, or why would they invest the time and money shipping new and improved Portras? The only baffling act they've done as far as I'm concerned is not quietly throwing away Gold 400, HD 400, etc, and just putting 400UC in those boxes, even if under the different names. Great color, modest grain, and seems to print well wherever I take it. (you'd like to treat your film the best, but sometimes you just want it processed before it has to travel) However, it's gone from the consumer supplies, and the Gold remains.

The real pity is that even with the generous severance packages, this is one more hit for Upstate NY, and especially Rochester. Pretty soon african countries are going to send peace corp workers and missionaries to us.

 

[c6h6o3]

Could ANYONE use enough film to persuade Perez that Kodak should keep making it?

I don't think so.

 

[MMfoto]

I don't think so.

Woah.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

I have read about these further job losses with sadness, and Forte as well, not forgetting the folks at AGFA Photo ( I have posted a note late on in the FORTE thread ) as I have been out the office for a few days : ILFORD IMAGING went through this in August 2004 and it is traumatic in many ways, not least the loss of the cumulative knowledge of some wonderfully talented people, OK ILFORD Photo / HARMAN have come back strongly and are trading profitably, but make no mistakes the analog silver market is a tough one and further changes are inevitable.

KODAK have always made outstanding products, we have always acknowledged this and will continue to do so.

I have always thought that the creativity and skill involved and the love of silver based photography is what will bind us all together, both now and in the future, no matter whose products you buy or who you work for.

And I am telling you, film will not die.............


Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

 

[David Brown]

And I am telling you, film will not die.............

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

Preach it, Brother!

Can we get an "Amen"?

 

[photomc]

"Amen" and "Amen"

 

[robsoe]

Amen...Amen...100x

Die digital ...Die digital ... 100000000000000000000000000000x

 

[Tim Gray]

Sad news indeed, especially to someone who has just come to B&W film after a digital introduction to photography. I've decided I'm going to shoot the hell out of film before it goes away - and if it doesn't, then that's even better.

Strangely enough in this declining climate for film, I can buy Tri-X and T-Max at the grocery store (Wegman's). What's even stranger to me is that I can buy Tri-X at Best Buy! When did that happen?

 

[Paul Howell]

Sad news indeed, especially to someone who has just come to B&W film after a digital introduction to photography. I've decided I'm going to shoot the hell out of film before it goes away - and if it doesn't, then that's even better.

Strangely enough in this declining climate for film, I can buy Tri-X and T-Max at the grocery store (Wegman's). What's even stranger to me is that I can buy Tri-X at Best Buy! When did that happen?

I dont think film or paper will go away, Kodak may spin off its film line at some point, but with 6 b folks in the world there will be market. Prices will increase, the range of products will shrink, but someone will continue.

 

[copake_ham]

Sad news indeed, especially to someone who has just come to B&W film after a digital introduction to photography. I've decided I'm going to shoot the hell out of film before it goes away - and if it doesn't, then that's even better.

Strangely enough in this declining climate for film, I can buy Tri-X and T-Max at the grocery store (Wegman's). What's even stranger to me is that I can buy Tri-X at Best Buy! When did that happen?

Hi Tim,

I have to admit I've never even looked for film at Best Buy. Only "film product" I ever noticed there were batteries for film P&S's on the the battery racks.

Next time I'm there, if I see it, I'll buy a couple of rolls.

Maybe we all should - you know - kind of an Arlo Guthrie thing....

"Imagine two people, three people, a hundred people etc. walking into Best Buy - buying a couple of rolls of Tri-X and walking out.....Pretty soon, they'll think its a "movement"....! The Film Buyers Entire Digital Masacree Movement!..."

Bet ya' that would screw up their inventory management system!