Latest Kodak ProPass e-zine -- features B&W Large Format

Well, it's kind of interesting -- Kodak, the beast with 2 mouths, in their latest ezine, Kodak ProPass, is touting B&W films.... a good sign, FWIW.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/member/ProPass/magazine/V206/forelli.jhtml

Good to see, for what its worth - and I would be lying if I said I had a clue as to what it is, in fact, worth... I think we are witnessing a "common sense revolution" at Kodak - aka "Don't piss off the people still buying your stuff as long as you're selling it".
I think I am repeating myself - must be old age settingin early

Peter.

gnashings said:

... I think we are witnessing a "common sense revolution" at Kodak - aka "Don't piss off the people still buying your stuff as long as you're selling it".

Peter.

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I believe there is truth in what you're saying. I'm already seeing the beginning of a backlash against digital in the university setting. Of course by the time students return to film for fine art images, all of the college darkrooms will be gone.

gnashings said:

Good to see, for what its worth - and I would be lying if I said I had a clue as to what it is, in fact, worth... I think we are witnessing a "common sense revolution" at Kodak - aka "Don't piss off the people still buying your stuff as long as you're selling it".
I think I am repeating myself - must be old age settingin early

Peter.

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Personally, folks, I don't think it's worth a pee in the woods. Per D'ho-dak, the twits running the show are the same ones who thought it would be good to sell off the processing service back in the 90's. Bad move....VERY bad move. I shouldn't be surprised at a move to divest the company of its ownership in Eastman House altogether. Well, why not? They've all but thrown in the towel to digital, in which, by the way, they are relative latecomers and apparently don't have a clue as to accessing the market. Do they really believe they can make inroads on Sony's market share?
As to not alienating the market, they have already done that with their announcement of ending their association with film in the next couple of years. I noticed in Freestyle's latest catalog that they don't carry Kodak B&W film anymore... or did I miss it? I got over Kodak about 7 or 8 years ago, and don't really care what happens to them anymore. I will miss several of their films and their chemistry, but not the company. Sad comment, actually, when I remember how their presence permeated photography back when I was a little kid. I still remember the old TV ads that ran during Walt Disney's show in the mid-50's.....God I must be getting too old.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

jonnyboy said:

I noticed in Freestyle's latest catalog that they don't carry Kodak B&W film anymore... or did I miss it?
Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

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page 16-17, and displayed on front and back covers of the latest catalog

Jon:

Uh, Kodak does not own or control George Eastman House.

You say you got over Kodak 8 or 9 years ago, but here you are posting ...

agGNOME said:

page 16-17, and displayed on front and back covers of the latest catalog

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Yeah... and an online search at freestylephoto.biz give about 34 Kodak B&W items.

Inspite of all the cutbacks, Kodak is likely still the largest maker of black and white film. If we keep buying it, maybe they'll keep making it....

agGNOME said:

page 16-17, and displayed on front and back covers of the latest catalog

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Duuhhh, Yep! I missed it! Hard to do when its wedged between EDU Ultra on one side and Lucky and Efke on the other. I stand corrected and admit only to being stupid because of extenuatin' coicomstances, yer honor. I ran through the catalog on my way to Ilford and the regular EDU film and flat out didn't see the effusive Kodak display. My apologies to all.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

Earl Dunbar said:

Jon:

Uh, Kodak does not own or control George Eastman House.

You say you got over Kodak 8 or 9 years ago, but here you are posting ...

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Yes, I am posting despite bluenoses who like to point that kind of thing out. Is there supposed to be something psychological about your statement? Is it supposed to be about my state of mind? Or, your superiority?

If you read my post, I said I got over KODAK, not the loss of their films. To put it in another way, I simply stopped buying Kodak film except for Tech Pan and, on occasion, color print film that I needed NOW and couldn't get to my regular source of film. For normal B&W, I buy Ilford and for color, Fuji print and slide film. I felt then as now, that Kodak (the company) was taking a very wrong turn. I feel they will no longer exist in a few years, at least not as we currently know them. I believe they will go the way of Konica and Minolta in the end.

As for Eastman House, I don't know who owns or operates it, but Kodak certainly has a large association with it. I believe any such association will soon be dispensed with as Kodak goes off in whatever scatterbrained direction their board chooses that day, just as they have done over the past 15 years or so.

Excuse me if it seems I was ranting, but I was merely attempting to make the point that to put any faith in Kodak doing anything whatsoever in OUR interests is tantamount to actually seeking a return of the Crusades. In other words, if your into analog, forget Kodak.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

Sure seemed like a Rant.

I are into analog and I shoot a lot of Kodak's 8x10 TMAX 400.

By the way, the Crusades appear to be alive and well.

So someone at Kodak actually realises that some people still like to use Kodak film, & thought it would be a good idea to advertise that fact!

They are going to lose their job surely......

jonnyboy said:

Excuse me if it seems I was ranting, but I was merely attempting to make the point that to put any faith in Kodak doing anything whatsoever in OUR interests is tantamount to actually seeking a return of the Crusades. In other words, if your into analog, forget Kodak.

Jon
from Deepinaharta, Georgia

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It doesn't seem like a rant. It *is* a rant. You don't like Kodak. Whatever.

I'm still using 5x4 Tri-X and see no reason to stop. It more than meets my needs, and Kodak keeps improving it. Moving to a new manufacturing facility and improving the film a few years ago -- I'd say that was in OUR interests, wouldn't you?

And have you seen a newspaper lately - that stuff about a war in Iraq? I'd say the Crusades have returned, with a vengeance. But the results are about the same as they always are. History does enjoy repeating itself.

Bruce
from deep in the heart of North Carolina

Bruce Watson said:

It doesn't seem like a rant. It *is* a rant. You don't like Kodak. Whatever.

I'm still using 5x4 Tri-X and see no reason to stop. It more than meets my needs, and Kodak keeps improving it. Moving to a new manufacturing facility and improving the film a few years ago -- I'd say that was in OUR interests, wouldn't you?

And have you seen a newspaper lately - that stuff about a war in Iraq? I'd say the Crusades have returned, with a vengeance. But the results are about the same as they always are. History does enjoy repeating itself.

Bruce
from deep in the heart of North Carolina

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Bruce,
No, I didn't say I didn't like Kodak. If you read my posts, I said that I didn't like the corporate mindset currently in charge. You know, the people who make the big decisions as well as the big money.

I'm happy for you that you have found the film of a lifetime (at least in *your* case). I don't give a rat's rectum whose film you or anyone else uses, that was not the point I was making, either. As for building new facilities and improving the film, that was a few years ago and things have changed rapidly. Consider that the plans and go-ahead were drawn up and given at least a year before construction began, then, add in the time of construction, and now a few years in operation. Four or five years is a long time in the business world these days. Conditions change a lot more rapidly than that. So, the fact that Kodak built a plant before the decision was made to dump film altogether ends up meaning nothing, now. My question is: What do you do when they stop making film in another couple of years? Squirrel it away in freezers beforehand? Personally, I like my film the same way I like my venison, fresh.

As for Iraq, I don't think that is a fit subject to interject into a discussion about photography. Worse, I resent that you and another chose to parallel my words with that mess. I think it is in bad taste to begin with, and an unneccesary reminder to those that have people over there. If you're really interested in a discussion along those lines, pick another forum.

And, I am sure you think turning my tag-line around is clever, too. Frankly, brother, it ain't!

Now you can have the floor all you want, I am done with this thread.

Jon