New Kodak Film in 2021?

foc · Jan 6, 2021

I know Kodachrome (K14) will no come back but it can be fun to stir things up, sometimes.
While the name Kodak has little meaning outside of the enthusiastic photo circle, and the same could be said for the Kodachrome name, I think there may be some marketing value left in the Kodachrome name.
Just like the Polaroid name became synonymous with instant photography (and to this day customers still call Fuji Instax, the Polaroid film by Fuji) I believe the Kodachrome name could be marketed as a generic photographic film.
It could be E6 or C41. Yes you read right, C41.
You and I may know that a chrome film means transparency film but just like the Polaroid Fuji, others don't know the difference.
It's all about marketing, Kodachrome or Kodakrome.
"anything is possible if you just believe" Peter Pan.

Cholentpot · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
I could not care less about Holga or Lomo, and folks who find it cool. Sorry, but I see it as waste of time and money. Accept certain inalienable truths prices will rise, and one day when you reach my age you'll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable.

They're having fun. That's how we got to where we are. The people having fun and enjoying themselves is how the Kodak revolution got off to a start which culminated in high def cellphone cameras you can take everywhere and snap anytime and share with everyone.

Film photography is being saved by the clueless folks who just want to have some fun.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 6, 2021

wyofilm said:
Kodachrome itself was a complete absurdity. That Kodachrome was ever made to work is a testament to the genius of Kodak chemists and engineers. I can just imagine the first meeting, "Ok guys, what if add the color later ...". That was special.

I wonder if they developed it so they would have sole ownership of a patented film and process. That way, they'd have complete control over development marketing.

eddie · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
I could not care less about Holga or Lomo, and folks who find it cool. Sorry, but I see it as waste of time and money.

Not to people who make money from sales of their Holga/Lomo photos.

BobD · Jan 6, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
Take you Kodachrome dreams and retire them. It was time to move on a decade ago. Kodachrome will NEVER come back. The probability that you will become twenty years younger instantaneously is much more likely than Kodachrome coming to market again.

In light of your immense wisdom and fatherly advice, I will endeavor to persevere and somehow find a way to live on. It will be difficult, I'm sure, but now that I have your guiding light to follow, I am confident that I will make it.

Agulliver · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
I could not care less about Holga or Lomo, and folks who find it cool. Sorry, but I see it as waste of time and money. Accept certain inalienable truths prices will rise, and one day when you reach my age you'll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable.

I think you miss the point. You couldn't care less. Likely most people here on Photrio couldn't either. But we are the outliers. Let me tell you, the people who want to buy colour film in medium format aren't shooting Hasselblads, Fuji 6x7 or even Pentacon 6......they're shooting Holgas and similar. Or cheap vintage folders someone found in the attic or the eBay auction. They're the biggest market, and they don't especially want Ektar or Portra. They're buying Fuji 400H because it's nearest to a "standard" CN film they can generally get hold of. And they'd snap up Kodak Gold or Kodacolor Color Plus in 120.

Cholentpot said:
They're having fun. That's how we got to where we are. The people having fun and enjoying themselves is how the Kodak revolution got off to a start which culminated in high def cellphone cameras you can take everywhere and snap anytime and share with everyone.

Film photography is being saved by the clueless folks who just want to have some fun.

Precisely. And while it might not be what you and I do, it's fun and it's no more or less "right" than me running around with an old folding 6x6 in the late 1970s loaded with Kodacolor II.

Kodak/EK/Alaris marketing people will decide what's new to the market. And that means looking at gaps in the products offered by Kodak, and what is in demand now, and what is likely to be in demand over the coming years. Currently there is great demand, from the folks using Holgas and suchlike, for a cheap no-nonsense C41 film. Kodak doesn't have one in 120. Lomography do, but they're usually a bit more difficult to purchase and only available in three packs. Supply is also sporadic. Getting 120 format Kodak Gold 200 (or similar) out there into shops and online retailers *would* be a success. Hell, if they do Color Plus instead of Gold I'll be the one clearing it off the shelves....though I suspect Gold would be a bigger seller with the Holga crowd.

Let us not belittle the people doing film photography a different way to the way most of us do. It kept the film scene alive a few years ago. Without those crazy kids and their crappy cameras, it is highly likely we'd have even less film, labs and infrastructure than we do now. And even I understand the attraction of seeing what one can do with a technically limited camera....while not being interest in Hoglas or Dianas....I gave away my original 1960s Diana to someone who appreciates it more and uses it. But she'd rather put cheap CN film through it than Ektar.

K25 · Jan 6, 2021

Agulliver said:
I think you miss the point. You couldn't care less. Likely most people here on Photrio couldn't either. But we are the outliers. Let me tell you, the people who want to buy colour film in medium format aren't shooting Hasselblads, Fuji 6x7 or even Pentacon 6......they're shooting Holgas and similar. Or cheap vintage folders someone found in the attic or the eBay auction. They're the biggest market, and they don't especially want Ektar or Portra. They're buying Fuji 400H because it's nearest to a "standard" CN film they can generally get hold of. And they'd snap up Kodak Gold or Kodacolor Color Plus in 120.

Precisely. And while it might not be what you and I do, it's fun and it's no more or less "right" than me running around with an old folding 6x6 in the late 1970s loaded with Kodacolor II.

Kodak/EK/Alaris marketing people will decide what's new to the market. And that means looking at gaps in the products offered by Kodak, and what is in demand now, and what is likely to be in demand over the coming years. Currently there is great demand, from the folks using Holgas and suchlike, for a cheap no-nonsense C41 film. Kodak doesn't have one in 120. Lomography do, but they're usually a bit more difficult to purchase and only available in three packs. Supply is also sporadic. Getting 120 format Kodak Gold 200 (or similar) out there into shops and online retailers *would* be a success. Hell, if they do Color Plus instead of Gold I'll be the one clearing it off the shelves....though I suspect Gold would be a bigger seller with the Holga crowd.

Let us not belittle the people doing film photography a different way to the way most of us do. It kept the film scene alive a few years ago. Without those crazy kids and their crappy cameras, it is highly likely we'd have even less film, labs and infrastructure than we do now. And even I understand the attraction of seeing what one can do with a technically limited camera....while not being interest in Hoglas or Dianas....I gave away my original 1960s Diana to someone who appreciates it more and uses it. But she'd rather put cheap CN film through it than Ektar.

They have all 120 stock they wish, C-41, E-6 and B&W. Their problem is; need to have too many choices. They cannot stick to one product no more than two weeks, starts itching; we need more, new labels, new names, and better be cheaper otherwise we cannot afford the newest smart phone and look cool with our “art” lomo-whatever on the “social” web. Heaven forbid not being able to amass 15 likes – depression kicks. When I was their age, we had no money at all. I mean, we were solely depended on parents pocket relief, and if lucky, a 90h week summer job that barely paid anything. You know, cleaning piles of shit. We were tempered in raw shit. Problem with present generation of youngsters is as following: they need a cellular priced at about £700 to 900 otherwise how can they live without sharing "art" because every like counts, and better be more than 15 otherwise life is over. Everything these days is narrowed-down to nothing more than like-knob satisfaction.

Lachlan Young · Jan 6, 2021

Agulliver said:
Let me tell you, the people who want to buy colour film in medium format aren't shooting Hasselblads, Fuji 6x7 or even Pentacon 6......they're shooting Holgas and similar.

Um, no, not really - it's Hasselblad 500's, Rolleiflex TLR's, Pentax 67s, Plaubel Makinas, RB/RZ's with the odd Bronica & the occasional Fuji RF that are popular with my age-group & younger (millenials & younger) if we want a 'proper' medium format camera. That's why the supply of so much kit has rapidly shrunk recently. The various Lomo cameras may act as a gateway, but they're largely a stepping stone to different modes of expression.

eddie · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
They have all 120 stock they wish, C-41, E-6 and B&W. Their problem is; need to have too many choices. They cannot stick to one product no more than two weeks, starts itching; we need more, new labels, new names, and better be cheaper otherwise we cannot afford the newest smart phone and look cool with our “art” lomo-whatever on the “social” web. Heaven forbid not being able to amass 15 likes – depression kicks. When I was their age, we had no money at all. I mean, we were solely depended on parents pocket relief, and if lucky, a 90h week summer job that barely paid anything. You know, cleaning piles of shit. We were tempered in raw shit. Problem with present generation of youngsters is as following: they need a cellular priced at about £700 to 900 otherwise how can they live without sharing "art" because every like counts, and better be more than 15 otherwise life is over. Everything these days is narrowed-down to nothing more than like-knob satisfaction.

I'm over 60, and use plastic cameras.In the 70's, you could buy Dianas at the five and dime for a buck (If I knew then what I know now, I would have stocked up). They are legitimate image making tools- no different than any other cameras. You should take a tour of the Gallery work done with Holgas and Dianas. It may open your eyes to their possibilities.

MattKing · Jan 6, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
I wonder if they developed it so they would have sole ownership of a patented film and process. That way, they'd have complete control over development marketing.

It was the first practical mass market colour film - mass market colour negatives and colour prints were yet to come.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 6, 2021

My eyeglasses are plastic.

Cholentpot · Jan 6, 2021

Agulliver said:
I think you miss the point. You couldn't care less. Likely most people here on Photrio couldn't either. But we are the outliers. Let me tell you, the people who want to buy colour film in medium format aren't shooting Hasselblads, Fuji 6x7 or even Pentacon 6......they're shooting Holgas and similar. Or cheap vintage folders someone found in the attic or the eBay auction. They're the biggest market, and they don't especially want Ektar or Portra. They're buying Fuji 400H because it's nearest to a "standard" CN film they can generally get hold of. And they'd snap up Kodak Gold or Kodacolor Color Plus in 120.

Precisely. And while it might not be what you and I do, it's fun and it's no more or less "right" than me running around with an old folding 6x6 in the late 1970s loaded with Kodacolor II.

Kodak/EK/Alaris marketing people will decide what's new to the market. And that means looking at gaps in the products offered by Kodak, and what is in demand now, and what is likely to be in demand over the coming years. Currently there is great demand, from the folks using Holgas and suchlike, for a cheap no-nonsense C41 film. Kodak doesn't have one in 120. Lomography do, but they're usually a bit more difficult to purchase and only available in three packs. Supply is also sporadic. Getting 120 format Kodak Gold 200 (or similar) out there into shops and online retailers *would* be a success. Hell, if they do Color Plus instead of Gold I'll be the one clearing it off the shelves....though I suspect Gold would be a bigger seller with the Holga crowd.

Let us not belittle the people doing film photography a different way to the way most of us do. It kept the film scene alive a few years ago. Without those crazy kids and their crappy cameras, it is highly likely we'd have even less film, labs and infrastructure than we do now. And even I understand the attraction of seeing what one can do with a technically limited camera....while not being interest in Hoglas or Dianas....I gave away my original 1960s Diana to someone who appreciates it more and uses it. But she'd rather put cheap CN film through it than Ektar.

Right on.

I'm rolling Kodak 5219 through a Century Graphic because I can. I use a DSLR when I need clean repeatable results. I don't shoot film for it's wonderful reliability. I'l apt to mess it all up one way or another when it comes to film. That's the joy in it for me.

Alan Edward Klein said:
My eyeglasses are plastic.

Ain't that the truth

Agulliver · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
Problem with present generation of youngsters is as following: they need a cellular priced at about £700 to 900 otherwise how can they live without sharing "art" because every like counts, and better be more than 15 otherwise life is over. Everything these days is narrowed-down to nothing more than like-knob satisfaction.

Try to be just a little more open-minded.

I don't see the "kids" wanting a new film every two weeks. What they want, if the people who sell film to them are to be believed, is a steady supply of a no-frills C41 medium format film. The Lomography branded film has inconsistent availability and is not usually found in shops or online photographic retailers. I do see them shooting their Holgas and vintage cameras, and that too is borne out in what the retailers tell me. OK so I am looking at a slice of England. But it seems wider spread. And even if these are a gateway to greater things for some, many don't take that gateway. The people shooting the Hasselblads, Rolleis and so on have the Portra, Ektar, Velvia and Ektachrome....the Holga shooters - who are greater in number as far as I can ascertain - want something cheaper.

And if Kodak is bringing back an old product, it's still got to pay for it's place in their portfolio. It needs viable demand. A handful of us old crusties bemoaning the loss of Verichrome Pan aren't going to be as big a market as there is for Gold in medium format.

Agulliver · Jan 6, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
My eyeglasses are plastic.

MIne too! Though thankfully I don't need to wear them often.

I'm not a Holga or Diana person. But I do use a lot of vintage roll film cameras from the 1930s and earlier. In some ways I might be similar to the Holga fans in that I am not expecting to get perfect results every time. It's fun. It's very unpredictability is part of the fun....I'm just not much into the kind of unpredictability introduced by light leaks and suchlike in the Holga style. That said there's a wonderfully quirky photo of me taken in an original 60s Diana (well...Sinomax). I tend to put B&W film though these cameras - not because I don't wan to put colour in them but because I reserve my Ektar for the two genuinely decent MF cameras that I have.

Wallendo · Jan 6, 2021

wyofilm said:
Kodachrome itself was a complete absurdity. That Kodachrome was ever made to work is a testament to the genius of Kodak chemists and engineers. I can just imagine the first meeting, "Ok guys, what if add the color later ...". That was special.

In retrospect it seems a strange way of doing this. At the time, however, the idea of baking in a dye which would somehow not reveal itself until after the film was developed, washed, reversed and redeveloped would likely seem even more absurd.

Cholentpot · Jan 6, 2021

Agulliver said:
Try to be just a little more open-minded.

I don't see the "kids" wanting a new film every two weeks. What they want, if the people who sell film to them are to be believed, is a steady supply of a no-frills C41 medium format film. The Lomography branded film has inconsistent availability and is not usually found in shops or online photographic retailers. I do see them shooting their Holgas and vintage cameras, and that too is borne out in what the retailers tell me. OK so I am looking at a slice of England. But it seems wider spread. And even if these are a gateway to greater things for some, many don't take that gateway. The people shooting the Hasselblads, Rolleis and so on have the Portra, Ektar, Velvia and Ektachrome....the Holga shooters - who are greater in number as far as I can ascertain - want something cheaper.

And if Kodak is bringing back an old product, it's still got to pay for it's place in their portfolio. It needs viable demand. A handful of us old crusties bemoaning the loss of Verichrome Pan aren't going to be as big a market as there is for Gold in medium format.

I'm not a kid but I'm a little on the younger side for film. I can't afford to shoot Portra and Ektar. I found a way with expired 70mm and a slitter. When you don't have a job anymore there's time to slit your own film. I would love so see some consumer 120. Has anyone tried to buy C200 or Color 200 or Gold 200 online in the past year? It's generally sold out.

K25 · Jan 6, 2021

eddie said:
I'm over 60, and use plastic cameras.In the 70's, you could buy Dianas at the five and dime for a buck (If I knew then what I know now, I would have stocked up). They are legitimate image making tools- no different than any other cameras. You should take a tour of the Gallery work done with Holgas and Dianas. It may open your eyes to their possibilities.

I do not care why you or whoever prefers one item above the other. Your choice of preference. That's legit. But bitching about film stock prices, or camera prices while holding at the same time $1,000 smart phone, is cheeky.

eddie · Jan 6, 2021

K25 said:
I do not care why you or whoever prefers one item above the other. Your choice of preference. That's legit. But bitching about film stock prices, or camera prices while holding at the same time $1.000 smart phone, is cheeky.

You sound bitter.

Sirius Glass · Jan 6, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
My eyeglasses are plastic.

One of my eye lenses is plastic, ever since I had a cataract operation. And I do not worry about the latch on the door either. Nikon F100 forever!

wyofilm · Jan 6, 2021

Cholentpot said:
Has anyone tried to buy C200 or Color 200 or Gold 200 online in the past year? It's generally sold out.

KA said that with all of the Covid problems in 2020 distribution of films would be worked out during 2021.

Ernst-Jan · Jan 6, 2021

Agulliver said:
I think you miss the point. You couldn't care less. Likely most people here on Photrio couldn't either. But we are the outliers. Let me tell you, the people who want to buy colour film in medium format aren't shooting Hasselblads, Fuji 6x7 or even Pentacon 6......they're shooting Holgas and similar. Or cheap vintage folders someone found in the attic or the eBay auction. They're the biggest market, and they don't especially want Ektar or Portra. They're buying Fuji 400H because it's nearest to a "standard" CN film they can generally get hold of. And they'd snap up Kodak Gold or Kodacolor Color Plus in 120.

I doubt it, I don't say you are not right, but if I look in the groups 120 or Medium format on Flickr, the majority isn't shot on folders or Holgas.

I don't know if you count me to the young ones (I'll turn 30 this year) but I don't even have Instagram. I really enjoy to work with my Mamiya cameras just because the way they work, the feeling. Yes I do like to try different filmstocks, if I get the chance to buy something quite recently expired, I'll buy it. Just for the sake of having it tried out. When I could get Reala, Astia, Plus-X, Agfa APX100 (the real one from Leverkusen) I got really curious.

On the other hand, I also shoot lots of HP5+ and Fuji Pro 400H as my "go to" films.

Anyhow Instagram/Facebook compromise the pictures so much it doesn't matter if you use a Holga or a Pentax 67 II with the newest 105 f/2.4

K25 · Jan 6, 2021

eddie said:
You sound bitter.

No. I just presented the bare reality of the present, and most likely the future. Comparing Hong Kong plastic toy camera to a camera that even went into space is more than ridiculous.

eddie · Jan 6, 2021

Have you ever looked at "plastic toy camera" images made by people who knew how to exploit their qualities?

K25 · Jan 6, 2021

eddie said:
Have you ever looked at "plastic toy camera" images made by people who knew how to exploit their qualities?

Yes. I don't see any quality or aesthetic in them at all.

K25 · Jan 6, 2021

michael_r said:
I don’t think anyone ever seriously compares the two as though they are on equal footing from an objective quality perspective. Obviously that would make no sense. However that does not mean serious art cannot be created using crap toy cameras. If all you are interested in are technically sharp photographs, that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean crap cameras are only worthy of crap film or whatever.

Unfortunately, I know too many people who think sublimely about themselves and their 120 photos.

New Kodak Film in 2021?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency