New Kodak Film in 2021?

[K25]

Again.

This is about marketing. The people who are paying $200 for a Olympus MJUII don't care about the technicalities of the film. To quote my bubblegum snapping teenage cousin from 1991 'Is that fuji? It's like ick.'

Kodak can put anything out with Kodachrome on the can and it'll sell. They can call it iKodachrome 2.0G mk.8 9mm and people would love it.

True, almost anything labeled as Kodachrome will automatically spark headlines. But based on the information available, and the latest interview everything points toward re-introduction of Kodachrome 25 as E-6. The new-new product however can only be a 400 slide film.

 

[mshchem]

The Kodachrome 25 had much finer grain, was sharper -probably the sharpest film ever- and had better colours than the 64. Simply 25 blows 64 out of the water.

And the original ASA 10 Kodachrome was finer grain and beautiful compared to the "lightning fast" ASA 25 Kodachrome II that replaced it. It was like velvet, and you could open the aperture of your Summicron to f2 in the shade.

 

[Ariston]

Yesterday, I just happened to listen to an old interview (right after E100 finally released) with an Alaris guy. The host asked something like, "ignoring what may or may not be in the pipeline for the future, what would YOU personally like to see come back." I was surprised the Alaris guy answered it at all, but he said he would like to see Plus X.

He then turned the question and said, "What really matters is what the market wants, though. What would you like to see come back?"

I find this interview interesting in light of these rumors...

 

[mshchem]

Maybe they will start selling Brownie Starlite cameras with a flash that you plug in like a flashbulb

 

[Minoltafan2904]

True, Velvia 50 was introduced in 1990 and quickly became a "must try" film, giving K25 some harsh competition. But that being said, the present edition of Velvia 50 is too cartoonish in respect of colour reproduction.

I disagree, i love Velvia 50 and while it clearly has very strong saturation i wouldn't call it cartoonish.
I understand you are one of the old hardcore K25 folk and i respect that though.

 

[Cholentpot]

True, almost anything labeled as Kodachrome will automatically spark headlines. But based on the information available, and the latest interview everything points toward re-introduction of Kodachrome 25 as E-6. The new-new product however can only be a 400 slide film.

It'd be a hit. I'd shoot a roll or two just to tell people I've got Kodachrome in my camera.

'Whatcha shooting? Film? Really? What do you have loaded'

'Portra 160NC expired in 2001 cut down from 70mm stock'

'What?'

'Never mind, I've got Kodachrome'

'Oooooh, my Grandpa shot that'

Conversation just goes easier.

 

[mshchem]

Reversal film makes sense in a world where everyone scans. It's unforgiving. But when you can buy a Nikon F5 in good shape for 300 bucks, you can let the camera do the thinking.

Infrared makes sense because they could charge 20 dollars a roll for 35mm and have ZERO competition. Kodachrome labeled film makes sense for Eastman Kodak for Super 8 and 16mm, and to Alaris to add to the success of Ektachrome.
Eastman Kodak is trying to maintain value in it's brands, Kodachrome being the stuff of beloved ballads.

Having said this it will probably be something boring like Kodacolor XX Gold in 27 exposure rolls.

 

[Sirius Glass]

True, almost anything labeled as Kodachrome will automatically spark headlines. But based on the information available, and the latest interview everything points toward re-introduction of Kodachrome 25 as E-6. The new-new product however can only be a 400 slide film.

Today if most of the people in the US were asked, they would not know what Kodachrome was, nor would they know what Kodak means. When people ask me who I worked for in New York and I say Kodak, they say things like "What is Kodak?" or "What does Kodak make?" Just because you love Kodachrome, does not mean that the world ever thinks of Kodachrome. The world moved on and Kodak and Kodachrome have been largely forgotten. Neither one carries any recognition nor market value. Today, most people have largely forgotten that cameras take photographs; when photographs are mentioned, they think iPhones and Androids.

 

[mshchem]

Today if most of the people in the US were asked, they would not know what Kodachrome was, nor would they know what Kodak means. When people ask me who I worked for in New York and I say Kodak, they say things like "What is Kodak?" or "What does Kodak make?" Just because you love Kodachrome, does not mean that the world ever thinks of Kodachrome. The world moved on and Kodak and Kodachrome have been largely forgotten. Neither one carries any recognition nor market value. Today, most people have largely forgotten that cameras take photographs; when photographs are mentioned, they think iPhones and Androids.

Maybe i Film? In a box shaped like an apple with a bite out of it?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Am I the only person who's never shot Kodachrome? Maybe if I was into colour when I started out, I would have tried it. I've only shot Velvia, Provia, and Reala, and those were quite lovely, especially Reala. If Kodak made a film that mimicked it, I might try it but I wouldn't know what I was looking at...

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Am I the only person who's never shot Kodachrome? Maybe if I was into colour when I started out, I would have tried it. I've only shot Velvia, Provia, and Reala, and those were quite lovely, especially Reala. If Kodak made a film that mimicked it, I might try it but I wouldn't know what I was looking at...

I'm not sure how well it translates to jpegs on the internet but Kodachrome slides have a distinctive look in person. https://tomkershaw.com/gallery/kodachrome/

 

[Sirius Glass]

Am I the only person who's never shot Kodachrome? Maybe if I was into colour when I started out, I would have tried it. I've only shot Velvia, Provia, and Reala, and those were quite lovely, especially Reala. If Kodak made a film that mimicked it, I might try it but I wouldn't know what I was looking at...

I shot both Kodachrome and Ektachrome. You did not miss anything. Ektachrome and Velvia were better.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'm not sure how well it translates to jpegs on the internet but Kodachrome slides have a distinctive look in person. https://tomkershaw.com/gallery/kodachrome/

I've seen examples online, but hard to trust. I would like to see in person... I'll bet @MattKing has some!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I shot both Kodachrome and Ektachrome. You did not miss anything. Ektachrome and Velvia were better.

What's the big hoopla then? Nostalgia?

 

[mshchem]

Am I the only person who's never shot Kodachrome? Maybe if I was into colour when I started out, I would have tried it. I've only shot Velvia, Provia, and Reala, and those were quite lovely, especially Reala. If Kodak made a film that mimicked it, I might try it but I wouldn't know what I was looking at...

I shot Kodachrome. When Provia F came out I left Kodachrome behind. I shot more black and white and Color negative film all Kodak.

 

[Minoltafan2904]

Kodachrome was getting long on the tooth by the 90s, the latter and modern Ektachrome E100 and Provia 100F are finer grained and shaper than K64.

What Kodachrome had was a unique color pallet that i do find very pleasing and that can't really be emulated.

Sadly in the latter years the processing quality that was done by some labs was not up to scratch too.

 

[Minoltafan2904]

But up to the mid 80s, K25 was the industry's gold standard.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What's the big hoopla then? Nostalgia?

It is like when a child learns a new funny sounding word for the first time, they keep repeating it. Even more often if they think it is a dirty word.

 

[George Mann]

The Kodachrome 25 had much finer grain, was sharper -probably the sharpest film ever- and had better colours than the 64. Simply 25 blows 64 out of the water.

Whether this is true or not, I preferred the look of K64.

 

[K25]

Today if most of the people in the US were asked, they would not know what Kodachrome was, nor would they know what Kodak means. When people ask me who I worked for in New York and I say Kodak, they say things like "What is Kodak?" or "What does Kodak make?" Just because you love Kodachrome, does not mean that the world ever thinks of Kodachrome. The world moved on and Kodak and Kodachrome have been largely forgotten. Neither one carries any recognition nor market value. Today, most people have largely forgotten that cameras take photographs; when photographs are mentioned, they think iPhones and Androids.

I am not expecting Kodak to produce quantities like they did in the 70's. Hence, the ones who do care about film photography know well what Kodak or Kodachrome are / is / was etc.

 

[1kgcoffee]

Kodachrome was more resistant to fading and shifting, had a unique pallet. I would love to shoot k14, but I doubt they could bring it back economically, and how much would I shoot as more than a novelty? E100 fills that gap. If they created a e6 film with the same pallet, then I may give it a shot. But Velvia is still the winner for slide

The advantage of film is that it does NOT look digital. This is partly why I love Kodak Gold so much. There is currently lomo film in that Niche, but it sells like hotcakes. It is a growing market. I would love to shoot some Gold in 120(or superia). This may cannibalize ektar and portra sales a little.

I could see something unique coming out of the vision e technology. A cinematic film would be interesting to most film photographers. Maybe something HDRIsh without being too gaudy.

As for B&W, Kodak should stick to their current lineup.

 

[1kgcoffee]

Something interesting I noticed just now. The lomography CN films appear to be discontinued. These were of course toll-coated by Kodak and quite popular. Could this mean Kodak decided to sell the films themselves?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Kodachrome was more resistant to fading and shifting, had a unique pallet. I would love to shoot k14, but I doubt they could bring it back economically, and how much would I shoot as more than a novelty? E100 fills that gap. If they created a e6 film with the same pallet, then I may give it a shot. But Velvia is still the winner for slide

The advantage of film is that it does NOT look digital. This is partly why I love Kodak Gold so much. There is currently lomo film in that Niche, but it sells like hotcakes. It is a growing market. I would love to shoot some Gold in 120(or superia). This may cannibalize ektar and portra sales a little.

I could see something unique coming out of the vision e technology. A cinematic film would be interesting to most film photographers. Maybe something HDRIsh without being too gaudy.

As for B&W, Kodak should stick to their current lineup.

K14?

 

[MattKing]

I've seen examples online, but hard to trust. I would like to see in person... I'll bet @MattKing has some!

Everything from badly faded 1940s vintage Kodachrome to a few rolls that were developed in the last month of 2010, after which Dwayne's shut down the last remaining Kodachrome line.
Plus a whole bunch of double 8 and Super 8 movie film.
Strictly speaking, the majority of what I have was actually shot by my Dad.
Including this one, on 828, shot in 1961 on Kodachrome II - I'm the one in the brown jacket:

That colour is a decent facsimile of nearly 60 year old Kodachrome.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Everything from badly faded 1940s vintage Kodachrome to a few rolls that were developed in the last month of 2010, after which Dwayne's shut down the last remaining Kodachrome line.
Plus a whole bunch of double 8 and Super 8 movie film.
Strictly speaking, the majority of what I have was actually shot by my Dad.
Including this one, on 828, shot in 1961 on Kodachrome II - I'm the one in the brown jacket:
View attachment 263076
That colour is a decent facsimile of nearly 60 year old Kodachrome.

Looks pretty good for being nearly 60 years old. Do you know who took the photo?