Open post to "Kodak's" APUG members

[Ian Grant]

From various threads and also PM's we know you lurk, read our threads and even post.

I cannot speak for other APUG members, subscribers or the council

But as a photographer who has been using Kodak products for over 40 years, (not exclusively I'll add), I feel Kodak owes us "loyal customers" some respect.

Now let's look at reality, Kodak's publicity is all about finding new directions new markets, but they are forgetting us, we are not talking about the digital issue many of us are using digital to its full for other work anyway.

Now to another truth, if your a "Kodak" lurker you are also committed to film & wet processing.

We need you, we need you to help us, we need you to respond.

I guess we also need to say lets draw a line in the sand, lets be positive, and become pro-active, with Kodak actually listening to what we think we need.

So come out of the closet, have dialog with us.

Ian

 

[jim appleyard]

Ian, I guess your asking us to tell Kodak what products we use and what we would like to see from them? Are you starting a "bitch session"?

OK, here's my $.02. I shoot weddings with Portra film, 220 and at the odd reception, Portra 800 in 35mm. I would like to see these films continue to be made.

I love Tri-X (stunning in WD2D+) and Plus-X, but have gone to other films to save money.

I miss Pan-X!

I shoot a lot of Kodachrome and miss both the 25 & 200.

Kodak's FB paper was good. I miss that.

 

[djhopscotch]

Your loyalty doesn't equate to much if the company isn't turning a profit from your purchases. Kodak's goal isn't to make hobbyist happy, it is to turn a profit. If you want to make sure the products you use are still manufactured, you need to encourage others to take up your hobby, and purchase products from Kodak.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I suspect the most appropriate people who could answer this query are likely to be on their way to PhotoPlus Expo at the moment.

Tri-X user in many different formats myself.

 

[clay]

I have two cameras that use Kodak manufactured sensors :^)

Oh, and I use Tmax 400, TriX and Tmax 3200. I think the only one of these items that has no equivalent anywhere is Tmax 3200. It is in a class by itself.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I have two cameras that use Kodak manufactured sensors :^)

Oh, and I use Tmax 400, TriX and Tmax 3200. I think the only one of these items that has no equivalent anywhere is Tmax 3200. It is in a class by itself.

You're right. It's slower than the alternative, less sharp, and tonally inferior, though it is finer grained.

It's still a good film -- but if it were in the class of Delta 3200 it would be even better.

Kodak makes many superb products, and I'm very much looking forward to trying the new TMY; some that are outclassed, or at least matched by other films offering a different balance of characteristics (like TMZ); and a few that are downright awful, such a Ektachrome 64, which last time I checked was inexplicably still in production.

Don't get me wrong: I have no wish to knock the great majority of Kodak products, some of which (such as HIE) are indeed in a class of their own, and others of which (such as Tri-X) go head-to-head with the finest alternatives, including Ilford HP5. But TMZ? The only reason I'd go back to it (and I used to use it, gladly) is if Delta 3200 were discontinued.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

I shoot 50 to 100 sheets of 4x5 Ektachrome EPP every month, and develop them in my own lab with Kodak E-6 chemistry. I use Kodak (branded) b/w chemistry in my lab also for my sheet-film processing. I also use a couple of Kodak 14mp DSLR's in my studio business.

 

[haris]

I understand Ian's dedication to try to do something, but I don't think it will be successfull.

There are people, companies and mindsets which are only maximum profit oriented, and there are people, companies and mindsets who untill they make profit will make something even if making of something else will bring higher profit. Something like socially or emotionally reponsibile companies. I am afraid Kodak belong to first group.

Next time when you (anyone) start to thing that we, socialists, yelling too much without reason when asking for better working conditions, bigger minimum sallaries, more employees with shorter working hours instead minimum workers who like slaves will work longest hours for minimum possibile sallaries empoyers can pay, remember this discussion. Remember that same companies who doesn't care for theire workers, or for people in society in which they having their businesses, those companies won't care about their loyal customers. Because mindsets of leading people in those companies are only maximum profit even if that means "stepping over dead bodies".

I don't know (and don't really care) if management in Kodak is like that, but there are too much companies like that, and in general multinational coorporations are almost by definiton like that, so I am not surprised when situation like Kodak (stopping manufacturing of bw papers), or Agfa, or Forte or... happens.

And there is nothing you can tell which will hit emotions of those people, because they (business) doesn't speak emotional language, only nubers, charts and stock value language.

Welcome to globalization, liberal capitalism and brave new world...

 

[Photo Engineer]

I think with over 22,000 members, APUG has some clout. If every member bought one roll of Kodak film at $2.00, that would be $44,000 in sales. If they did that every month it would be over $400,000 in sales!

I think they will at least listen.

BTW, those are made up prices! I didn't go look anything up. You all can do the math better than a post OTOMH.

PE

 

[Andy K]

How much is a roll of 35mm HIE in the US? Store price, not online price.

 

[haris]

I think with over 22,000 members, APUG has some clout. If every member bought one roll of Kodak film at $2.00, that would be $44,000 in sales. If they did that every month it would be over $400,000 in sales!

I think they will at least listen.

PE

I sincerely hope...

I am atheist but this time I will say: "From yours mouth to God's ears!"

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

How much is a roll of 35mm HIE in the US? Store price, not online price.

$12.95--same price online or in the store at my local shop on the corner of 34th St. and 9th Ave.

 

[copake_ham]

I just bought two rolls of 135 Portra 160VC at lunchtime. It's my new favorite color neg.

Gonna shoot it off on a quick trip down to Annapolis this weekend (provided the sun gods show up).

 

[gr82bart]

... at my local shop on the corner of 34th St. and 9th Ave.

Regards, Art.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I use from Kodak:

* 100ft of Tri-X in 35mm every three or four months
* 5L XTOL at the same rate
* Indicator Stop bath (for B&W and RA-4)
* Selenium Toner
* Dektol (for making B&W slides)
* Portra 160/400 (NC+VC) in 35mm for jobs
* Ektachrome 100G and 100GX in 35mm (I like the GX more now) depending on the mood or the job
* Supra Endura RA-4 paper in 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14
* RA-4 Ektacolor 1-gallon developer kits (1 per month so far)
* RA-4 Ektacolor 10-L bleach/fix concentrate (halfway through in 2 months)

I can't let them go away.

The same way I can't let go of the Photographer's Formulary (for PF 130, test solutions), Ilford (B&W RC VC paper, rapid fixer), Kentmere (B&W FB graded), Maco (for Rollei Retro 100), Efke (R25 and KB100), Adox (ortho film, new Agfa products when they come out), Edwal (hypo-clearing), and Freestyle (cheap lith film).

 

[Paul Howell]

I still use a lot of Kodak or Kodak branded products:
TMAX P3200 in 35mm
TriX 400 in 120
Tmax 100 in 35mm
Plus X in bluk 35mm
Ultra Color 400 in 35mm
Kodachrome and Ektrachrome in 35mm
Ektrachrome in 120

Stop bath
Kodafix
Microdol X (last of my stock, I stopped buying when Kodak stopped selling in
quart sizes.)
HC110
Dectol

I want to try the new Tmax 400.

 

[roteague]

I think I'll order a ProPack of Ektachrome VS 100 in 35mm.

 

[removed account4]

i use lots and lots tri x, plus x and tmx, and tmy --
sheets and rolls ...

where's the petition, i'll sign it ...

john

 

[Andy K]

$12.95--same price online or in the store at my local shop on the corner of 34th St. and 9th Ave.

Its anything up to £12.00 a roll here (over US$24.00). If Kodak want me to buy more of their product they should study exchange rates more carefully. If I could buy HIE for £6.50 a roll I'd use a hell of a lot more of it.

 

[Snapshot]

Well, I've been happy using Kodak products and will continue to do so. I guess the question for me is that...

'Will I continue to use them if I feel they are not committed in providing them?'

To be honest, I feel less inclined purchase their products as I believe they are definitely transitioning out of analog process. I understand the profit motive but I also have to respond to my needs. So, if Kodak wants my business, they need to reassure me that, at some level, that they are my partner and not just a means for them to transition out of analog photography.

 

[rusty71]

I recently rediscovered Ektachrome 200 and use it in my Hasselblad for night shots. Also rediscovered D-76. Now that and Rodinal are the only 2 devlopers I'll ever need. Still shoot a lot of Tri-X in all formats. I'd shoot more Plus-X if my local shop stocked it. The Portra color neg films are excellent too.
And HIE has no equal. I've tried many rolls of the other "Infrared" films out there and they are dogs that won't run compared to HIE.

 

[declark]

Currently use:
Tri-X 400 120 primarily
400UC 35mm regularly for routine family pics
E100GX 35mm
Elitechrome
E100VS 35mm and 120

Will have to shoot some K64 soon as I have yet to have tried it and it amazes me when I see 50 year old Kodachrome slides that still look great!

Would love to try K25, but not at the ridiculous prices it fetches.

 

[gminerich]

Hi:

You may want to check out this link to Kodak 2006 annual report. You may want to read the Film Products Group section in the CEO's letter on page 6.

This is a quote from the CEO's letter, "As a result we are creating a sustainable business model for customers who use film and paper."

It doesn't seem like the Kodak plan is to leave film and paper in the near future.

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/annu...l?pq-path=8992

 

[film_guy]

Currently using a couple rolls of Kodak's BW400CN 36 exposures every month. Will move to Tri-X when I have more time to develop my own negs and the ability to do my own scans.

 

[gminerich]

Sorry I missed part of the link in my previous post about the Kodak Corp. Report.
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/annualReport06/index.jhtml?pq-path=8992