Shouldnt Kodak Make Film Cameras?

RattyMouse · Sep 27, 2012

Since there are virtually no reasonably priced film cameras in production now, shouldnt Kodak make some nice film cameras as a way to promote film? Or is that a hopeless, lost cause? I'm thinking about what Fujifilm is doing with their Klasse cameras. Something in the $400 range that can really get maximum results from good quality film.

Of course, Kodak should have done this 5 years ago. Now may be too late.

summicron1 · Sep 27, 2012

no. coupla reasons.

There's no money in them. cameras were always a loss-leader for kodak because there was an 85 percent profit margin on film. It has no idea how to make a really good camera, which would be the only point, seeing as how Holga has the crap market wrapped up.

Plus, anything it made would be overpriced junk compared to the $50 Nikkormats littering auction sites and thrift stores.

KEH sells SLR Leicas for less than $200. nuf sed?

MattKing · Sep 27, 2012

They already make and sell millions of them - they are called "disposable" cameras.

And apparently they have remained as a source of profits.

It would make more sense for them to have Cosina manufacture something badged with the Kodak name.

RattyMouse · Sep 27, 2012

MattKing said:
They already make and sell millions of them - they are called "disposable" cameras.

And apparently they have remained as a source of profits.

It would make more sense for them to have Cosina manufacture something badged with the Kodak name.

Well yes, that is what I meant. I know that Kodak can't make anything now like a camera. But they would have to get the ball rolling, spec out a nice decent film camera and then MARKET THE HELL OUT OF IT.

Keeping film in front of the public's eye is mandatory to keeping film ALIVE.

Jesper · Sep 27, 2012

I don't think anyone can make a profit out of selling new cameras today when the market is overflowing with excellent second hand cameras at next to nothing.

RattyMouse · Sep 27, 2012

Jesper said:
I don't think anyone can make a profit out of selling new cameras today when the market is overflowing with excellent second hand cameras at next to nothing.

How does Fujifilm do it? I mean really, why is it that Fujifilm can do things right but Kodak cant? Fuji doesnt even sell that camera outside of Japan, yet you see a dozen eBay sellers shipping them all over the world.

Can't can't can't is all you hear when it comes to Kodak.

Making a profit on cameras isnt the point. Keeping film in the public's eye is. How can film survive if it is invisible?

Steve Smith · Sep 27, 2012

MattKing said:
They already make and sell millions of them - they are called "disposable" cameras.

Actually, they're not. They are called single use cameras. I have no idea why they get called disposable as you don't throw them away after use.

Steve.

Ian Grant · Sep 27, 2012

Steve Smith said:
Actually, they're not. They are called single use cameras. I have no idea why they get called disposable as you don't throw them away after use.

Steve.

They get recycled, dismantled and many of the parts re-used. Hence theya ren't disposable.

Ian

lxdude · Sep 27, 2012

Jesper said:
I don't think anyone can make a profit out of selling new cameras today when the market is overflowing with excellent second hand cameras at next to nothing.

Somehow, Cosina does.

bsdunek · Sep 27, 2012

The idea is that the camera is not the profit item, the film is. Just like the old Gillett days. Razors were free, but had to keep buying blades, which were the profit item.
I don't think it would do much for Kodak though, as digital is firmly entrenched. Also, even digital cameras aren't selling as well due to camera phones. I understand the P&S digicam market is shrinking due to phones.
IMHO, there is no profit in the digital camera market. It has shifted to the software and tablet market. I think that's why Kodak shifted to the printer market. Sell printers so you can sell LOTS of cartridges. Unfortunately, they are late in the market which is already saturated. If I was CEO of Kodak, I'd quit - I sure don't know what they can do.

Jeff L · Sep 27, 2012

Kodak sell printer/scanners but they don't scan film. This always surprised me. I'd have thought a decent film scanner would have been a good idea.

Jeff Searust · Sep 27, 2012

lots of cameras available

There are MANY options for 35mm available. I thought a couple years back that Kodak was going to sell a Kodak branded Vivitar 35mm, but I think the bankruptcy put the nix on that.

Look for the Leica MP and M7, Nikon F6, FM10, FE10, Vivitar V3800-50, Voigtländer Bessa series, and Zeiss Ikon, low end Promaster, and I am sure there are other 35mm cameras, but all of these are current 2012 35mm cameras available right now.

For Medium format, there are even more options, remember that even the Mamiya RB series is still being produced.

lxdude · Sep 27, 2012

bsdunek said:
If I was CEO of Kodak, I'd quit

But he can't quit yet- his work is not finished. Kodak is still breathing.

I sure don't know what they can do.

Firing the CEO would be a start.

aleksmiesak · Sep 27, 2012

Ilford had a stroke of genius by introducing the Titan and selling it with a bag of goodies i.e. paper/film. Now it's gotten so popular they introduced 8x10 version at Photokina. There are ways to get out of the hole and get film in people's hands, you just have to stop thinking like the old Kodak CEOs do who are trying to play catch up with the rest of the world.

Simon R Galley · Sep 27, 2012

And in October 2012 we will launch another 3 new cameras......

Single Use Cameras with Flash 27 exp XP2 Super
27 exp HP5+
27 exp HP5+ ( Process paid / UK Only )

Not exactly what you meant, but they are nice and a bit of fun and they help younger ( and older ) ones experiment with film.....

Kind Regards

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Ian Grant · Sep 27, 2012

Any new film camera is a step forward, particularly these because they may introduce new people to film and get them hooked.

So that's great news Simon.

Ian

Prof_Pixel · Sep 27, 2012

Jeff L said:
Kodak sell printer/scanners but they don't scan film. This always surprised me. I'd have thought a decent film scanner would have been a good idea.

Kodak DID sell prosumer film scanners: the RFS 2035, RFS 2035 Plus and RFS 3570. The original RFS 2035 came out in the very early 1990's (and was one of the digital products I worked on).

MattKing · Sep 27, 2012

Prof_Pixel said:
Kodak DID sell prosumer film scanners: the RFS 2035, RFS 2035 Plus and RFS 3570. The original RFS 2035 came out in the very early 1990's (and was one of the digital products I worked on).

If Kodak had continued to work on scanners, I would be willing to bet that the state of the art in prosumer scanning would be much more advanced than it is now.

CGW · Sep 27, 2012

Simon R Galley said:
And in October 2012 we will launch another 3 new cameras......

Single Use Cameras with Flash 27 exp XP2 Super
27 exp HP5+
27 exp HP5+ ( Process paid / UK Only )

Not exactly what you meant, but they are nice and a bit of fun and they help younger ( and older ) ones experiment with film.....

Kind Regards

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Isn't the XP2 Super single use a revival of something Ilford had 10-12 years ago? A welcome break from grainy color.

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 27, 2012

RattyMouse said:
Can't can't can't is all you hear when it comes to Kodak.

These dozen words give voice to my most fundamental frustration regarding Kodak over the last five years. Not just limited to film. But everything. And I've been repeatedly thrashed for even bringing it up.

Everyone else who has survivedor been resurrected from the deadhas found new and different ways to move forward.* But for some reason all one ever hears from anyone connected with Kodak is "that can't happen."

Why the hell NOT???

I've never seen a more paralyzed organization in my life. The UN is lightning quick by comparison.

Ken (sorry, I try to stay away from this topic, but I'm so weak and they're SO frustrating)

* Impossible Project, Jobo film processors, Aristo replacement tubes, APX film, MCC paper, Lodima paper, Ilford pinhole cameras and accessories, Ilford postcard paper, Leica, Holga, Cosina, all of those toy camera Lomo products, and on and on...

DREW WILEY · Sep 27, 2012

Plenty of disposable cameras are being made. They're called "digital". Otherwise, I'll be disposed of
before any of my film cameras wear out.

Terry Christian · Sep 27, 2012

And for the lower end of the film camera spectrum, just imagine if Kodak had had the foresight to buy Lomography! They could have easily relaunched a new line of Pony and/or sub-Pony cameras to take low-to-decent quality 35mm pictures.

thegman · Sep 27, 2012

The problem is that film cameras don't really go out of date. My oldest camera is not just older than me, it may well be older than my dad, but it still works just fine. The market for new film cameras is always going to be a bit tricky, much like the market for new houses, they've always got to compete with old houses.

It would be pretty cool to see a Kodak branded camera though.

Dismayed · Sep 27, 2012

Cosina's annual sales are miniscule compared to Kodak sales. Form Kodak's perspective, why bother?

benjiboy · Sep 27, 2012

The parade has passed, the photograpic industry invented digital imageing and sold millions of cameras to people who already had them who have alrady junked their film cameras. To the average man in the street you might as well try to sell him a buggy whip, why should he even need a camera at all when he is happy with the pictures he takes on his smart phone ?

Shouldnt Kodak Make Film Cameras?

RattyMouse

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Shouldnt Kodak Make Film Cameras?

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